A record 128 people crossed the English Channel in a single small boat on Friday, the largest number ever documented in one vessel, surpassing the previous high of 125 set in September 2025.
The vessel was among three boats that brought a total of 225 migrants to England on 10 July. Overall arrivals remain well below recent years: Home Office figures show 11,884 people reached the UK between January and June 2026, a 41% drop from the same period in 2025, though the average number per boat has risen to 65.
The UK government has moved to deter crossings through a three-year agreement with France signed in April, under which Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood committed £662 million to fund French beach patrols. The Labour government also introduced legislation in early July to overhaul the asylum and immigration system.