Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Dover on Sunday to review ongoing efforts to tackle small boat migrant crossings in the English Channel. During his visit, Burnham toured a joint command centre where the National Crime Agency (NCA), Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and Border Security Command coordinate surveillance and enforcement operations using drone technology.

Burnham emphasised that while progress has been made, authorities remain committed to a persistent approach to prevent illegal crossings. “We’re just going to be relentless,” he said, noting the importance of addressing public concerns and building safer, legal routes for migrants to reduce the influence of smuggling networks. Since early 2025, the number of NCA officers dedicated to combating organised immigration crime has increased to nearly 800.

The issue remains a diplomatic challenge, particularly involving France. Reform UK, a political party advocating for a hardline approach, has proposed a military-led strategy to intercept all small vessels attempting to cross the Channel and return their occupants to France. Dubbed “Operation Fortress,” the plan would deploy the largest naval presence in the Channel since World War II. Reform’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, described the migration flow as an “invasion” and pledged that under a Reform UK government, no unauthorised boat crossings would reach British shores.

Reform UK’s proposal includes employing His Majesty’s Royal Navy to physically intercept and escort boats back to the French coast, characterising the deployment as both “proportionate and necessary.” Party officials sharply criticised the current government’s response, claiming previous administrations had responded with “free ferry services and free hotels” instead of robust border enforcement.

However, Home Office officials and border security commanders have dismissed the idea of physically stopping boats at sea as unsafe and legally problematic. According to Border Security Commander Duncan Capps, interventions on the water frequently pose serious risks due to the overcrowded and fragile nature of the vessels. He told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that such tactics could breach international treaty obligations and potentially endanger migrants’ lives. Maritime teams within the government have reportedly examined various measures to prevent arrivals at sea, finding these approaches largely ineffective and hazardous.

So far in 2026, provisional figures indicate there have been approximately 14,526 migrant arrivals via small boats across the Channel. British authorities continue to face significant operational and diplomatic challenges in managing these crossings while balancing humanitarian considerations and border security objectives.