Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham vowed to be "relentless" in stopping small boat crossings to the UK.
- The number of enforcement officers tackling smuggling gangs has doubled on both sides of the Channel.
- Nearly 300 smuggling gang members were arrested last year, with over 1,100 boats and engines seized.
- Over 2,000 migrants have arrived on small boats since Burnham took office two weeks ago.
- Small boat crossings are down approximately 43% year-to-date compared to the same period in 2025.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged a "relentless" approach to curbing the number of people arriving in the UK via small boats, emphasizing increased enforcement and the need for safe routes.
Speaking in Dover, Burnham stated that progress is being made, with enforcement officers targeting people-smuggling gangs doubled on both sides of the Channel. He highlighted the public's desire for controlled borders but also the need to support those genuinely in need. The Home Office reported nearly 300 arrests of smuggling gang members last year and the seizure of over 1,100 boats and engines, which they claimed could have facilitated passage for 72,000 more individuals illegally.
Burnham noted that the number of migrants arriving on small boats since he assumed office two weeks prior had surpassed 2,000, with 326 crossing on Saturday. Despite this, Home Office figures indicate a roughly 43% decrease in small boat crossings this year compared to the same period in 2025. The Prime Minister also mentioned the broader issue of the Schengen area and the desire for regular dialogue with the EU on related matters.