The Latest Breaking News from the English Channel

‘I’ve seen at first hand that stopping the boats is an impossible task – no matter how much money we throw at it’

After a week in which four people, including two children, died while attempting the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats, May Bulman watches the seemingly futile attempts being made to stop them from leaving French shores

The Independent UK · Sep 13, 2025

3 migrants die trying to cross the English Channel from France

Local authorities in France have reported that three migrants died while attempting to cross the English Channel from northern France

The Independent UK · Sep 10, 2025

‘Two children among dead’ after English Channel crossing attempt

Officials say the three people were likely killed after being crushed at the bottom of a packed boat

The Independent UK · Sep 10, 2025

Kemi Badenoch proposes housing migrants in ‘camps’ as crossings near 50,000 under Labour

Kemi Badenoch has suggested placing asylum seekers currently housed in hotels into “camps”, as new Home Office figures reveal that almost 50,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer took office.

The Independent UK · Aug 12, 2025

UK authorities detain 1st group of migrants under plan to thwart small boats crossing from France

British border authorities have detained the first group of migrants under a pilot plan that will send some who cross the English Channel on small boats back to France

The Independent UK · Aug 7, 2025

‘One in, one out’ deal now active with first migrants detained

The first migrants to cross the English Channel have been detained under a new 'one in, one out' deal. The detentions began on Wednesday, the initial day the pilot scheme became active, for people arriving in Dover. The agreement, announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel…

The Independent UK · Aug 7, 2025

First migrants detained under new 'one in one out' deal with France to be deported within weeks

Multiple people are understood to have been detained under the new ‘one in, one out’ deal after crossing the English Channel

Evening Standard · Aug 7, 2025

UK and France start migrant return scheme to curb illegal Channel crossings

A deal between Britain and France allowing the UK to return some migrants who cross the English Channel came into force on Tuesday. It's the latest step towards dismantling the criminal trade in small boat crossings and preventing dangerous journeys at sea.

Radio France Internationale · Aug 5, 2025

Refugee and migrant crossings to UK hit record high by end of July

More than 25,000 people have crossed the English Channel to the UK in 2025, the highest total this early in the year.

Al Jazeera · Jul 31, 2025

Dramatic footage shows RNLI lifeboat crew rescue 19 migrants from stricken dinghy in English Channel

Dramatic footage shared by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) shows volunteers rescuing migrants from the English Channel after their small boat capsized.

The Independent UK · Jul 29, 2025