Latest news with #smallBoats
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
More than 15,000 people in small boats cross Channel in 2025
More than 15,000 people have crossed the English Channel on small boats so far in comes as 400 people in six boats reached Dover in Kent on Wednesday, taking the yearly total to 15,212 - an increase of 35% compared with the same point in 31 May, 1,195 people crossed the channel in 19 small boats - the highest daily number recorded in Home Office said it had put together a "serious plan" to take down people-smuggling gangs at every stage. The Home Office added: "We are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders."At the start of the month, the yearly number of arrivals was up 42% on the same period in 2024, and up 95% on the same point in 2023.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Migrants hoping to cross English Channel contemplate future
People along the French coast hoping to cross the English Channel on small boats have spoken to the BBC about their 15,000 people have reached the UK in small boats so far in 2025 - a rise of about a third on the same period in the previous a makeshift camp in Dunkirk, one man who did not give his name said although his first attempt to cross the Channel was stopped by police, he was undeterred and would try man hoping to cross the Channel, who also did not give his name, said: "I want documents and work and safety." A man from Afghanistan, who did not want to be identified, said he would be attempting to cross the Channel."The small boats are very dangerous," he added."France is good [but the] UK is good for the immigrants."Although one man, who did not give his name, said he was thinking about returning home."I think I need to go back home," he said."I miss my family, I miss my children." The Home Office has said it wants to end "dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security" and will "stop at nothing" to dismantle people-smuggling gangs.A spokesperson added: "We are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders."
