The number of migrants reaching the United Kingdom after crossing the English Channel fell by 41% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to figures released by the British Home Office.
Some 11,884 migrants arrived on British shores in small boats between January 1 and June 30, down from 19,982 during the corresponding period in 2025.
The decline offers a boost for the governing Labour Party, which has faced mounting political pressure from the anti-immigration Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage.
Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer had pledged to dismantle migrant smuggling networks, despite 2025 recording the second-highest number of Channel crossings since the route surged in popularity in 2018.
The government recently introduced legislation aimed at reforming the asylum system, accelerating deportations and curbing irregular migration. Britain has also signed agreements with countries including Germany and Iraq to strengthen enforcement measures and facilitate migrant returns.
In April, London agreed to provide £662 million over three years to support French patrols along beaches frequently used by migrant boats departing for the UK.
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