STORY
A reported 230 people have arrived in Dover after crossing the English Channel in a single small boat, which would be the highest number recorded on one vessel. The boat arrived in the early hours of Monday after travelling from the French coast, surpassing the previous reported single-vessel record of 165 people set in July.
The development comes as smugglers have increasingly placed larger numbers of people on individual boats. A vessel carrying 173 people capsized earlier this month after its engine caught fire. Overall small boat arrivals in 2026 have nevertheless been lower than in 2025, with the total at the end of July reported to be around 45% below the equivalent point last year.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the latest crossing as evidence of what he called a national security emergency. The Home Office has previously said criminal smuggling gangs are using increasingly dangerous tactics and the Government has expanded co-operation with France, including additional resources for enforcement activity on the French coast.