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Boat migrants hit 25,000 in July for first time

Story by Bob Dale - BBC News, South East
• 12h • 2 min read



This group of migrants were brought ashore to Dover on Wednesday© PA Media

More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far in 2025, the first time that number has been reached in July, according to official figures.
The Home Office said 898 people were brought ashore in Dover on Wednesday, bringing the annual total so far to 25,436.

Since the government started releasing the numbers of arrivals in 2018, the earliest the annual total reached 25,000 was on 27 August in 2022.
The government said it was sharing intelligence and strengthening cross-border co-operation with France to tackle people smuggling gangs, and on Thursday the National Crime Agency announced it had worked with Bulgarian authorities to seize 25 small boats intended for use in the Channel.
In the whole of 2020 there were 8,461 crossings, and in 2019 that number was 1,835.
In 2018 there were 297 people recorded making the journey, although figures were only published from 3 November.
The dates on which 25,000 people made the crossing in previous years are:

  • 2021 - 20 November
  • 2022 - 27 August
  • 2023 - 2 October
  • 2024 - 4 October


The annual total for 2025 hit 10,000 at the end of April, and 20,000 by the end of June.
Also in June the government released figures highlighting the increased number of days with favourable weather for making the journey in 2024 and 2025.



2025 is the first year in which more than 25,000 migrants have made the crossing before the end of July© PA Media



A Home Office spokesperson said: "We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

"The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
"That is why this government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.
"Through international intelligence sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in Northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders."

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Boat migrants hit 25,000 in July for first time