A Home Office spokesperson said:
"The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better.
“This Government is taking action. We have detained and removed more than 35,000 who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“But we must go further and faster – removing more of those here illegally and stopping migrants from making small boat crossings in the first place. "
Background:
- On 5 August, the UK-France Returns Agreement came into effect. This treaty enables the return of small boat arrivals from the UK to France, with an equal number of individuals eligible to come to the UK through a new legal route.
- The first return under the UK-France agreement occurred on 18th September 2025. The pilot will initially run until June 2026, allowing both countries to test and refine this new approach.
- A total of 94 people have been returned through the pilot and 65 people have been brought to the UK through the IN route. These people have undergone full documentation, security and eligibility checks.
- The Rwanda deal cost the taxpayer £700 million yet only removed four people, all volunteers.
- In one year, we have returned more than 35,000 people with no right to be here – a 13% increase compared to the same period 12 months prior.
- 5,200 foreign national offenders have been deported – a 14% increase on the same period 12 months prior.
- From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9 million a day, there are now fewer than 200 in use, and we will close them all by the end of this Parliament.
- We are taking the action to crack down on “pull factors” with illegal working arrests up by more than 63% in the last year [From 1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025].
- Under the Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are taking on the gangs with new counterterror-style powers to disable criminal activity faster.
- In addition to counterterror-style powers, officers will get targeted powers to seize electronic devices like mobile phones, suspected of containing information about organised immigration crime.
- Our Borders Bill will also make it illegal to supply or handle items, including small boat equipment, suspected of use for Organised Immigration Crime.
- 2022 saw the worst year on record for small boat crossings. Over 45,000 people arrived in the UK via small boat.