The Home Office's latest figures show that nearly 1,000 migrants crossed the English Channel over the bank holiday weekend, with a total of 989 people arriving in 14 boats. The busiest day was Friday, when 394 migrants landed in the UK in six boats.
Nearly 1,000 migrants crossed the English Channel over the bank holiday weekend, according to the Home Office 's latest figures. Between Friday and Monday, a total of 989 people arrived in 14 boats following nearly a fortnight without any crossings.
The busiest day was Friday, which saw a total of 394 migrants land in the UK in six boats. Saturday saw 284 people arrive in four boats, while 308 arrived in the UK in four boats on Sunday and Monday. Migrants were seen smiling and throwing up peace signs after boarding a dinghy in France before making the dangerous crossing to the UK on Friday.
The latest data shows that more than one in ten people entering the country illegally from Europe this year came into the UK this weekend, with 8,565 people arriving since the start of the year. The Home Office claims it is 'bearing down' on small boat crossings, saying that it has stopped more than 42,000 migrants from crossing the Channel since Labour came into power in 2024.
It added: 'We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.
' The number of people making the illegal crossing peaked in 2022, when more than 45,000 people made the journey.
Police watch on as migrants wait to board an inflatable boat at the beach at Dunkirk on May 23 2026 Between Friday and Monday, a total of 989 people arrived in 14 boats following nearly a fortnight without any crossings Police officers walk next to abandoned belongings left by migrants after they boarded and inflatable dinghy before leaving the coast of northern France in an attempt to cross the English Channel to reach Britain, on the beach of Petit-Fort-Philippe in Gravelines, near Calais, France, May 23, 2026 The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, making it incredibly difficult to cross in small boats.
Last month, the UK and France confirmed a £662million deal to stop migrants from crossing the Channel. This will see France using millions of pounds worth of drones, helicopters and camera systems to intercept people smugglers and illegal migrants. On top of this, riot police will be sent to French beaches to catch small boats before they make the crossing.
The Home Office said the arrangement would see officers 'targeting and detaining' migrants on the French coast with the aim of removing hundreds from beaches each year. Under the deal, Labour will hand over £501million to cover five police units and enforcement activity on French beaches, with an additional £160million only being paid if new tactics to curb crossings prove successful. The Home Office said the extra funding would stop after a year if the measures failed.
A group of migrants wade through the water to board an inflatable dinghy before leaving the coast of northern France in an attempt to cross the English Channel to reach Britain, from the beach of Petit-Fort-Philippe in Gravelines, near Calais, France, May 23, 202
Migrants English Channel Home Office Crossings Small Boat Crossings Incentives Labour Deal France Drones Helicopters Camera Systems Riot Police Police Units Enforcement Activity Migrants On Beaches New Tactics Curb Crossings Extra Funding New Specialist Vessel Trained Maritime Officers New Helicopters Surveillance Operations Border Security Legislation Alnour Mohamed Ali Deadly Crossing Four People Two Children Hypothermia
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