Small boat crossings of the English Channel resumed for a second day this week, with rescue and border agencies attending to groups of people arriving on UK shores following a pause caused by poor weather.
Response from maritime and border agencies
On Thursday, Border Force vessels, a UK Coastguard aeroplane and the RNLI's Dungeness lifeboat were recorded responding to "small boats activity" in the Channel. Photographs from Dover showed men and women wearing life jackets being brought ashore at the Kent port, while a Border Security Command vessel towed a large dinghy.
Recent numbers and official data
Press Association analysis of government data notes that a total of 77,183 people arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel during Sir Keir Starmer's premiership following Labour's July 2024 election victory. Home Office figures show 12,641 arrivals so far this year — a decline in comparison with previous periods.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Arrivals during current premiership | 77,183 |
| Arrivals so far this year | 12,641 |
| Change versus same point last year | 46% lower |
| Change versus same period in 2024 | 20% lower |
The Home Office will publish confirmation of how many people made the journey on Thursday in its regular statistics release due on Friday.
Prosecution linked to a dangerous crossing
Separately, an Afghan national, identified as Basir Ramatullah and also known as Baseer Ahmad, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday to a two-year term for endangering others during a sea crossing on 2 May. The offence — introduced in January as part of new border security legislation — was cited in the case.
- Coastguard and Border Force assets were involved in the response.
- Photographs show arrivals at Dover and a dinghy being towed by Border Security Command.
- Official statistics releases are expected to confirm the precise numbers for Thursday.
For communities across the North West, including Wirral, these developments underline ongoing concerns about maritime safety and migration policy. Local emergency services and charities often play supporting roles when crossings occur on any stretch of the English coastline; national figures and prosecutions of this kind also shape the wider policy debate that affects local services and planning.
Readers seeking the latest official totals should consult the Home Office statement due on Friday. InfoRadar will report on those figures and any local implications as they are published.
