More than 25,000 migrants cross Channel in 2024

A total of 717 people were detected crossing the Channel on Sunday

More than 25,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year.

A provisional total of 25,052 was reached as Home Office data confirmed 717 migrants arrived on Sunday.

The figure is higher than that for the same timeframe last year, but lower than in 2022.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute."

More than 10,000 people have made the journey across the Channel since Labour won the election in July.

The government said it is "making progress" in its bid to stop the crossings, having recruited former police chief Martin Hewitt as its new Border Security Commander.

The government said it is making progress in its bid to stop small boats crossings

Last week, the prime minister said he is “not going to put an arbitrary date” on stopping the small boat Channel crossings.

In an interview with BBC South East, Sir Keir Starmer said he was "absolutely determined" to tackle the smuggling gangs who facilitated the crossings, but would not commit to a timeframe for doing that.

The total number of migrants to arrive between 1 January and 22 September this year is higher than the same period in 2023, when 23,996 arrived.

The total for the same period in 2022 was 31,440.

The Channel is one of the most dangerous and busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Many migrants come from some of the poorest and most chaotic parts of the world, and many ask to claim asylum once they are picked up by the UK authorities.