Migrant crossings of the English Channel to the United Kingdom resumed on Saturday after the longest uninterrupted pause in small-boat arrivals in seven years, according to official figures.
No boats reached the English coast for 28 consecutive days prior to the weekend, data from the UK Home Office showed. The last recorded arrivals took place on November 14, marking the longest gap in Channel crossings since a 48-day pause recorded in late 2018, Britain’s PA Media news agency reported.
Updated figures for Saturday are expected to be released later in the day after several small boats were sighted in the Channel.
December is typically the quietest month for Channel crossings, as the journey becomes increasingly dangerous due to low temperatures, poor visibility, shorter daylight hours, and rough seas. Despite these conditions, the highest number of migrant arrivals ever recorded in December occurred in 2024, when 3,254 people reached the English coast.
Small-boat crossings across the English Channel remain a central issue in Britain’s immigration debate, with authorities closely monitoring weather conditions and maritime activity along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
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