Small boat crossings in first half of year up 48%

Nearly 20,000 people arrived in the UK in the first half of this year by crossing the English Channel in small boats – up 48% on the first six months of 2024.

Just under 1,500 people have crossed since Sunday, taking the total until the end of June to 19,982, according to latest Home Office figures.

The figure for the first six months of this year is also 75% higher than the equivalent figure for 2023, which was 11,433.

The Conservatives said the government “broken a new national record – for failure”.

Ministers have previously pointed to clear weather and the willingness of people smugglers to put more people onto boats as factors driving the spike in migration crossings.

Since coming to…