More than 3,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in the busiest 14-day period of crossings so far this year, as the UK continues its push to combat human smuggling networks. Between October 24 and November 6, 3,197 people arrived in the UK by small boat, according to Home Office data, bringing the total number of crossings for 2024 to nearly 32,000.
The surge in crossings comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer takes steps to strengthen international cooperation in tackling smuggling. During the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Starmer announced new agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo aimed at boosting intelligence sharing and operational support to intercept gangs moving people through the Western Balkans.
Starmer emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to dismantle smuggling networks. “With agreements like this, we can take these gangs down,” he stated, adding that lawful international collaboration is critical to reducing the dangerous journeys that often end in tragedy.
The crossings occurred alongside reports of four bodies being recovered from the waters off Calais, while Kent Police confirmed a separate incident involving the body of a man pulled from the Channel near Dover. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have yet to confirm if the deceased were migrants. These incidents contribute to a tragic tally of approximately 50 deaths recorded in the Channel this year, according to the French coastguard.
In a related effort, Starmer recently pledged an additional £75 million for border security, vowing to treat people smugglers with the same severity as terrorists. This announcement followed the conviction of a ringleader and 17 members of a smuggling network responsible for tens of thousands of Channel crossings, with the ringleader receiving a 15-year sentence in a French court.
Interpol’s recent operation targeting organised crime, which led to thousands of arrests worldwide, underscores the growing scale of human trafficking. Richard Chambers, Interpol’s director of organised and emerging crime, acknowledged the “significant” scale of Channel crossings and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions.
The ongoing crisis remains a focal point for the UK government and European partners, who are committed to tackling the dangers of people smuggling and providing safer pathways for those in need of asylum.
