bringing the annual total to 25,436. The 25,000 mark has been passed much earlier this year than in previous years - in the record year of 2022 is was not passed until 27 August. It comes as ministers continue to grapple with the challenge of cracking down on people-smuggling gangs. Chris Philp MP, shadow home secretary, called it a "national emergency", and accused Labour of "doing nothing" to stop the crossings. The government has said it is sharing intelligence and strengthening cross-border cooperation with France to "smash" people-smuggling gangs. 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, while 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 annual total for 2025 hit 10,000 at the end of April, and 20,000 by the end of June. The jump in arrivals this year has coincided with a rise in the number of people making the journey in a single craft. The average for 2025 is currently running at 59 people per boat - up from 49 in 2023. (BBC)