Latest statement in response to small boat crossings

A Home Office spokesperson said:

"This Government is bearing down on dangerous small boat crossings and restoring control at our border. Joint efforts have seen over 48,000 crossing attempts prevented and 1,100 boats and engines seized since the election.

“We are making progress, with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020.

“But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40% more boots on the ground on French beaches.”

Background:

• In the first three months of the UK-France deal, French enforcement officers prevented 185 small boat events and 4,300 crossing attempts between 27 April and 2 August. Action led to 61% of all small boat events stopped across this time, an increase in the event prevention rate of nearly 5% compared to the same time period in 2025.  For more information: France prevents 185 boats and 4,300 migrants reaching UK shores - GOV.UK
• Joint work with the French has prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts since the election. Our new landmark new deal will further boost enforcement action on French beaches with a 40% increase in personnel, new police units and expanded surveillance and maritime capabilities.
• This government will continue to use all available powers, like the new endangerment offence, to bring criminals facilitating crossings to justice and restore order and control to our borders. 10 small boat pilots in less than two months have already been jailed for endangering lives at sea.
• The number of NCA officers working on immigration crime has doubled since the start of 2025. Thanks to the efforts of all our enforcement and intelligence agencies, we have disrupted smuggling gangs on more than 5,600 occasions and seized 1,100 small boats or engines over the same period. Arrests for organised immigration crime surged by 74% between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
• Over 80,000 people with no right to be in the UK have been removed or returned since the election, a 52% increase. Removals of foreign national offenders, including murderers and rapists, are up by 36%, with nearly 12,000 returned since the last election.