Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to be “relentless” in tackling small boat crossings after a visit to the operations hub in Dover where agencies co-ordinate surveillance and enforcement across the Channel.
Visiting the command room
Mr Burnham travelled to Dover on Sunday to see the joint command room where officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Border Security Command monitor crossings, including with surveillance drones. He was shown a small boat that, according to officials, had been used to carry 96 migrants in May.
“Clearly, progress is being made, but we’re not complacent, and it’s why I am here… So we’re just going to be relentless,” the Prime Minister told staff during the visit.
The visit underlined the Government’s emphasis on enforcement, alongside broader plans to reduce the incentives that lead people to attempt Channel crossings.
What ministers are pointing to
Ministers highlighted several operational changes since the Labour government took office in 2024. The NCA’s officer numbers in the strand tackling organised immigration crime have risen from 376 to almost 800, officials say. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood separately visited NCA headquarters in Stratford and described the measures as beginning to “bear fruit”, while stressing that further reforms are required.
- Seizures: More than 1,000 small boats or engines have been seized since 2024.
- Staffing: NCA officers tackling organised immigration crime have increased to almost 800.
- Surveillance: Drone technology and the joint ops room are central to monitoring activity in the Channel.
The Prime Minister said the Government also needs to create safe routes for people, arguing that legal pathways reduce the attractiveness of smugglers’ offers. He added that enforcement activity will be stepped up across the board.
Numbers at a glance
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| People carried in one small boat shown | 96 |
| NCA officers (tackling organised immigration crime) | From 376 to almost 800 |
| Small boats/engines seized since 2024 | More than 1,000 |
The visit comes amid political pressure to reduce Channel crossings and curb the activities of smuggling gangs. Officials demonstrated a surveillance drone and outlined how the joint command room coordinates incoming intelligence, assets at sea and local agencies.
For residents and local services around Dover, the Government says the aim is to drive down crossings through both stronger enforcement and measures designed to remove the pull factors exploited by criminal networks. How that balance will translate into policy and practical changes — and how quickly — remains a focus for ministers and civil servants alike.
As national debate continues, the Government’s emphasis during the visit was clear: increased resources, continued surveillance and a commitment not to become complacent on a problem that has drawn intense public and political attention.
