Small boat migrant crossings across the English Channel resumed for the first time since Andy Burnham took office as Prime Minister, with approximately 100 people arriving on the UK coast on Wednesday morning. The crossing occurred during favorable weather, marked by calm waters and sunshine, conditions similar to the preceding week when no crossings were recorded.
The group, which included men, women, and children, set off from the French beach at Equihen-Plage near Boulogne-sur-Mer. French authorities intervened, briefly halting one family with a baby from entering the water. Nevertheless, other migrants seized the opportunity to board a large dinghy that departed before all individuals had safely embarked, prompting rescue efforts and the distribution of life jackets by officials.
The recent crossing broke a brief lull but contrasts with the overall trend of small boat arrivals, which have nearly halved compared to previous periods. During Sir Keir Starmer’s two-year premiership, a total of 77,183 migrants successfully crossed the Channel. However, current crossing numbers are expected to rise, according to Zia Yusuf, home affairs spokesperson for Reform UK, who criticized the new government’s immigration approach. Yusuf stated that migrant arrivals could exceed 13,000 this week alone, suggesting that the presence of Andy Burnham in Downing Street and continued stable weather conditions may contribute to a surge in crossings.
Efforts to curb illegal crossings on the French side have intensified, with deployment of around 50 officers from the Compagnie républicaine de sécurité (CRS), a specialized police unit, tasked with preventing asylum seekers from setting off. Additional maritime resources, including 30 officers, drones, helicopters, and a newly commissioned vessel, have been introduced to monitor beaches and disrupt the operations of people-smuggling networks.
On the enforcement front, UK authorities reported a major seizure related to Channel migrant smuggling at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk. On Saturday, the National Crime Agency (NCA) intercepted a container from China containing nearly 50 boats and engines intended for illicit use. Among the items confiscated were at least 25 dinghies approximately 33 feet in length, each capable of carrying more than 80 people, along with 25 Parsun outboard motors. This is believed to be the first large-scale shipment of this type seized in the UK and may have prevented up to 2,000 potential crossings.
NCA commander Adam Berry described the operation as a significant blow to the criminal networks profiting from Channel crossings, highlighting that removing these vessels and engines will prevent further risks to migrants’ lives. Investigators suspect the cargo was destined for Hamburg, a known transshipment point utilized by smugglers moving equipment toward northern France and Belgium prior to crossings.
As the weather forecast continues to show several days of calm seas, authorities on both sides of the Channel remain vigilant, aiming to disrupt smuggling operations and manage the ongoing challenge of irregular migration.