Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - weekly data
The Ministry of Defence is responding operationally to small boat migration in the English Channel. Data is published to this page on a Tuesday each week.
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Details
This page is updated weekly with the latest figures on migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Data on this page is provisional and may differ from figures published in the official statistics on Irregular migration to the UK, which will have undergone a more thorough quality assurance process.
Definition of a small boat
A ‘small boat’ is one of a number of vessels used by individuals who cross the English Channel, with the aim of gaining entry to the UK without a visa or permission to enter – either directly by landing in the UK or having been intercepted at sea by the authorities and brought ashore. The most common small vessels detected making these types of crossings are rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), dinghies and kayaks.
About the data
- Data are provisional management information from live operational systems and are subject to change, including reduction.
- Finalised and authoritative data on small boat arrivals will be included in the quarterly Irregular migration to the UK release.
The UK data includes individuals who:
- are detected on arrival in the UK
- are detected in the Channel by UK authorities and subsequently brought to the UK
These data do not include individuals who:
- arrive in the UK on larger vessels, such as go-fast craft, yachts, motor cruisers, tugs and fishing vessels – although these are rarely used by irregular migrants at present
- arrive in the UK clandestinely on larger vessels not referenced above, including where hidden in a vehicle on a ferry
- arrive in the UK undetected, or where there have been reports of people making the crossing, but no actual encounters
Related information
Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - daily data
Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - monthly data
Last updated 18 October 2022 + show all updates
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 10 October to 16 October 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 3 October to 9 October 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 26 September to 2 October 2022'
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Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 19 September to 25 September 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 19 September to 25 September 2022'
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Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 12 September to 18 September 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 12 September to 18 September 2022' and Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 5 September to 11 September 2022' and 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 22 August to 28 August 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 5 September to 11 September 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 29 August to 4 September 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 15 August to 21 August 2022'
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Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 15 August to 21 August 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 15 August to 21 August 2022'
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 8 August to 14 August 2022' and Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 1 August to 7 August 2022 - HTML attachment'
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Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 8 August to 14 August 2022' will be published on Wednesday 17 August.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 1 August to 7 August 2022'.
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Added attachment "Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 25 July to 31 July 2022"
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Added "Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 18 July to 24 July 2022"
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Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 2 May to 8 May 2022', 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 May to 15 May 2022', 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 13 June to 19 June 2022' and 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 11 July to 17 July 2022'.
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Added: "Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 11th July to 17th July 2022"
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 4 July to 10 July 2022'.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 27 June to 3 July 2022'.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 20 June to 26 June 2022'.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 13 June to 19 June 2022'.
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Updated figure for Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats 16 April 2022.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 14 April to 17 April 2022'.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 6 June to 12 June 2022'.
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Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 30 May to 5 June 2022'.
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Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 23 May to 29 May 2022'.
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Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 16 May to 22 May 2022'.
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Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 May to 15 May 2022'.
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Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 May to 15 May 2022'.
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Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 2 May to 8 May 2022'.
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Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 25 April to 1 May 2022
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First published.