Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

(asked on 2nd September 2022) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of people reaching the UK via the English Channel in small boats since 2019.


Answered by
Tom Pursglove Portrait
Tom Pursglove
Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
This question was answered on 20th September 2022

These dangerous and unnecessary crossings are facilitated by people smugglers, putting profits above the lives of vulnerable people. Since 2019, these organised criminal groups have expanded their tactics covering a wider stretch of French coastline, launching over longer timeframes and increasing crossing attempts in riskier weather conditions.

We are determined to tackle illegal migration and to render small boat crossings unviable. Our Nationality and Borders Act is breaking criminals’ business model. We have introduced tougher sentences for facilitators of illegal entry and are making arrests under the Act.

This year, over 19,000 crossing attempts have been prevented – around 85% more than to this point in 2021. Our work with the French and our Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda reflects the fact that this is an international problem requiring international solutions.

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