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English Channel small boat crossings hit lowest summer level since 2019
The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats during the summer months of June, July, and August has reached its lowest level since 2019. Official data indicates that 102 small vessels were used for these crossings, with a total of 7,371 migrants making the journey.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the government’s crackdown is ‘bearing fruit,’ citing a three-year cooperation agreement with France. Under this deal, the UK has committed up to 766 million euros to enhance French security measures. The Home Office reported that collaborative actions have prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts since the 2024 election.
Despite the decrease in the number of vessels, authorities noted a trend of smuggling gangs using larger, more crowded boats. In August, a single inflatable raft carried a record 230 migrants. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp contested the government's success, suggesting that rougher sea conditions rather than policy changes were responsible for the decline.
Entities
Chris Philp · English Channel · Home Office · National Crime Agency · Shabana Mahmood
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A total of 102 small boats crossed the English Channel between June and August. www.dnoticias.pt · www.independent.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] London signed a three-year agreement with Paris to pay up to 766 million euros to bolster French security forces. www.dnoticias.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] Smuggling gangs are increasingly using fewer but larger vessels to transport migrants. www.dnoticias.pt · www.independent.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] 7,371 migrants crossed the Channel via small boats during the June to August period. www.dnoticias.pt · www.independent.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The National Crime Agency and international partners have seized over 1,100 boats and engines. www.independent.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that government efforts to curb Channel crossings are starting to show results. www.dnoticias.pt · www.independent.co.uk