More migrants have now crossed the English Channel than there members of the British Army, Navy and Air Force combined, unearthed data has revealed. And Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch, has warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s Government “does not have the will” to stop what he called “the tide of illegal boats”.
Migration Watch’s assessment makes the scale of the Channel crisis unambiguous. Their research shows that since December 2018 more than 181,000 migrants have been intercepted attempting to cross in small boats, with almost nine in ten being male and around two-thirds between the ages of 18 and 39. In other words, the overwhelming majority are young men of so-called “military age”, as pointed out by Express.co.uk earlier this week.
Mr Mehmet commented: “It has taken eight years to reach 181,000 – at the current rate as many will come in little more than three.
“Most worrying is that nothing the government has done or proposes will stem the tide of illegal boats. The will is simply not there.”
As of July 1, 2025, the total strength across all branches stood at 180,779 personnel.
The scale of small-boat crossings has placed considerable strain on the UK asylum system, say critics. Thousands of arrivals are being accommodated in hotels, stretching local services including housing, schools, and healthcare.
Councils report rising costs and logistical pressure, while charities highlight the uncertainty faced by migrants awaiting processing and the impact on local communities.
Government figures indicate that, in the year ending March 2025, more than 44,000 irregular arrivals were detected, with 86% arriving via small boats. Of those intercepted, only a small fraction are returned to other countries, including under the UK–France Returns Agreement.
The Home Office has said the agreement allows people arriving illegally to be detained and removed to France, with the first returns expected soon. Ministers also report an increase in overall removals of people with no lawful right to be in the UK, alongside reductions in hotel accommodation usage and actions against illegal working.
While the government emphasises these measures, the scale of arrivals continues to outpace removals. Migration Watch and other analysts highlight that the number of arrivals each year remains significant and that enforcement and return capacity are limited.
The demographics of the crossings, predominantly young men from countries with low rates of asylum grant, have been noted as an area of policy concern.
The data underscores the ongoing challenge for UK authorities in managing Channel crossings.
Officials continue to stress that measures are in place to deter illegal crossings and dismantle smuggling networks, but arrivals by small boat remain a persistent feature of the UK migration landscape.
Express.co.uk has approached the Home Office for comment.