LONDON: The number of irregular migrants arriving in the UK via small boats surged in 2024, according to new data, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to address the dangerous Channel crossings.
Immigration, both legal and illegal, was a central issue in the July general election, which saw Labour return to power, while Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party gained traction.
In 2024, approximately 36,816 migrants were intercepted crossing the Channel, marking a 25% increase from 2023’s 29,437. However, the 2024 figure remained lower than the record 45,774 recorded in 2022. Tragically, at least 76 lives were lost in 2024 due to dangerous crossings, making it the deadliest year for migrants attempting to evade UK border controls.
French authorities reported rescuing over 5,800 individuals at sea last year, while preventing more than 870 crossing attempts.
In response to this crisis, Starmer has vowed to curb the crossings after Labour’s victory. He ended the Conservative government’s controversial Rwanda deportation plan, calling it a “gimmick.” Instead, Starmer is focusing on dismantling human trafficking networks, describing them as a โglobal security threatโ comparable to terrorism. He has also signed agreements with international partners to enhance law enforcement cooperation.
The latest statistics reveal that 2024 had the second-highest number of migrant arrivals since data collection began in 2018, with over 150,000 people arriving by boat in the last seven years.
Among the largest groups of migrants in 2024 were Afghans, who made up 17% of arrivals in the first nine months. Vietnamese migrants, who represented just 5% of arrivals in 2023, saw a significant increase in 2024, making up 13% of the total.
Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, noted that fluctuations in the numbers are difficult to pinpoint, but there was a noticeable rise in crossings during the latter half of 2024, particularly in October, November, and December when weather conditions are typically less favorable.
In December alone, over 3,200 migrants crossed, including hundreds during the Christmas period. Starmer has responded by setting up a Border Security Command and strengthening collaboration with European counterparts, including Europol. Additionally, the UK has signed action plans with Germany and Iraq to combat migrant smuggling operations.
