The number of irregular migrants crossing the Channel to the UK in small boats surged by 25% in 2024, with 36,816 arrivals compared to 29,437 in 2023. This marks a sharp rise, though still below the record 45,774 seen in 2022.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office in July, has pledged to tackle the issue, vowing to dismantle people smuggling networks. He scrapped the previous government’s controversial Rwanda deportation plan, calling it a “gimmick.”
Starmer’s government has worked with countries like Germany and Belgium to curb smuggling gangs. In December, a joint action plan was launched to combat the issue.
Afghan migrants made up 17% of arrivals in 2024, with significant increases from Vietnam, which saw its share grow from 5% in 2023 to 13% last year.
Despite efforts, 2024 saw the second-highest number of arrivals since data collection began in 2018. Starmer also faces pressure to reduce legal migration, as net migration reached historically high levels.
