Home Office data released on New Year's Day reveals that 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats during 2024, marking an increase from the previous year, though still fewer
than the record-breaking numbers of 2022.
The final group of the year, comprising 291 individuals, arrived on December 29. Tragically, 2024 has been declared the deadliest year on record for these crossings, according to a United Nations agency.
The government has reiterated its commitment to working with French authorities to deter small boat crossings.
In comparison, 29,437 people made the journey in 2023, while 2022 remains the busiest year to date, with 45,774 arrivals. Since 2018, over 150,000 people have crossed the Channel.
French authorities report that 77 individuals lost their lives attempting the crossing in 2024. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, expressed concern over the alarming number of fatalities, saying:
"The record number of deaths in the Channel this year should serve as a stark reminder that the current approach is not working.
"More safe and legal routes are needed to provide a lifeline for those fleeing war and persecution.
"The government needs to take a different approach if it is to ensure everything possible is done so that 2025 does not see a repeat of last year's devastating loss."
Images from Dover reveal rows of small boats and outboard motors seized from crossings, underscoring the scale of the issue. Home Office statistics show that 695 small boats successfully crossed the Channel in 2024.
A controversial plan introduced by the previous government to deport migrants arriving illegally in the UK to Rwanda was scrapped by the Labour government following the July 2024 general election.
As 2025 begins, the challenges of managing Channel crossings remain at the forefront of public and political discourse. Photo by Steve Cadman, Wikimedia commons.