A total of 605 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on Wednesday, marking the highest single-day figure recorded so far this year. According to the UK Home Office, the migrants either reached British shores or were intercepted while heading toward the coast. Reports earlier in the day suggested lower numbers, but official figures later confirmed the total had passed 600.
The surge came as southern England experienced unusually warm February weather, with temperatures reaching up to 18 degrees Celsius. Just a day earlier, only 74 migrants had arrived. Before that, there had been a two-week period with no recorded crossings. Wednesday’s total also slightly exceeded the total number of arrivals recorded earlier in February, which stood at 597.
British media outlets reported varying figures throughout the day. The Daily Telegraph initially reported 450 arrivals before updating the number to 550. GB News predicted the figure would top 600 while broadcasting live from Ramsgate, a prediction that later proved accurate.
The rise in crossings has increased pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose government has faced criticism over migration levels. Since the Labour Party took office in July 2024, more than 65,000 migrants have crossed the Channel. However, political observers note that recent prime ministers, including Boris Johnson, did not complete full terms in office, making direct comparisons more complex.
Statistics show that during Johnson’s time in office, there was an average of 404 arrivals per week. Under Starmer, the weekly average has risen to around 790. Another major concern is that more migrants are now being placed on each boat. Previously, there were about 26 migrants per boat on average, but that figure has risen to around 59 per dinghy, even though boat sizes have not changed significantly.
The government says it is working closely with France to reduce crossings. A Home Office spokesperson stated that about 40,000 crossing attempts have been stopped through joint operations with French authorities. The government also reported that nearly 60,000 people living illegally in the UK have been removed or deported. However, some media sources claim that many so-called “stopped” crossings were actually rescue operations due to engine failure, overcrowding, or bad weather.
Recent statistics reported by the BBC show that asylum claims in the year ending December 2025 dropped by 4 percent compared to 2024. This decrease happened even though small boat arrivals increased by 13 percent. The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels also fell by 19 percent, and the backlog of pending asylum cases declined for the fourth consecutive quarter to 64,426.
More than 2,500 people who arrived by small boat were returned in 2025, a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year. Most of those returned were Albanian nationals, following a bilateral agreement between the UK and Albania. Overall, enforced returns rose by 21 percent, voluntary returns increased by five percent, and returns of foreign national offenders rose by 11 percent. Eritreans were the largest group arriving by small boat in 2025, followed by Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese, and Somalis.