In 2025, the UK saw over 41,000 individuals arriving by small boats, according to the Home Office. The data revealed that 41,472 people undertook the risky journey, marking a 13% increase from the previous year’s 36,816, but still below the record set in 2022 with 45,774 arrivals. The number of small boat crossings has significantly risen since 2018, when only 299 arrivals were recorded.
Recent reports from The Mirror highlighted that 36 individuals lost their lives attempting to reach the UK from France in 2025, a decrease from the 78 fatalities in 2024. Tragically, among the deceased were a mother and daughter, Kazaq Ezra, 40, and Agdad Hilmi, eight, who perished in a small boat accident in May.
The highest number of arrivals, 1,195 people, was recorded on May 31. The government has implemented various measures to reduce these crossings, including changes to asylum protections and a pact with France for a one-in-one-out policy for returning migrants.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, emphasized that individuals making these perilous journeys are often fleeing oppressive regimes like the Taliban in Afghanistan and brutal civil conflicts in countries such as Sudan. He criticized proposed plans by the government to penalize refugees, deeming them unfair and ineffective in deterring crossings.
The Home Office disclosed that no crossings occurred on New Year’s Eve, continuing a trend of minimal activity during the festive season. While arrival numbers in 2025 remained high, there were extended periods with no migrants, including a 28-day stretch from November 15 to December 12. The average number of people per boat increased to 62, up from 53 in 2024 and 49 in 2023.
A Home Office spokesperson expressed concern over the escalating number of small boat crossings, asserting that significant actions are being taken to address the issue. Efforts to combat smuggling routes have been ongoing, with the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Act becoming law in December, introducing new criminal offenses and enhancing law enforcement capabilities against human-trafficking networks.
In a bid to deter individuals from coming to the UK and streamline deportation processes, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a series of asylum system reforms, including extended waiting periods for permanent settlement applications and regular status reviews for asylum recipients. Additionally, a return agreement was reached with France in the summer, marking the first such agreement with a European nation post-Brexit.
Border security minister Alex Norris reported that under the returns deal, 193 migrants had been repatriated to France, while 195 had arrived in the UK by December 16.