Official Statistics

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.

From:
Ministry of Defence
Published
25 April 2022
Last updated
31 January 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 23 January to 29 January 2023

HTML

Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 16 January to 22 January 2023

HTML

Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 January to 15 January 2023

HTML

Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 2 January to 8 January 2023

HTML

Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 26 December 2022 to 1 January 2023

HTML

Details

This page is updated weekly with the latest figures on migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats.

From 14 November 2022, any revisions to the number of migrants or small boats detected will be published in the Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - monthly data webpage. Data from previous months will be removed from this webpage from 1 December 2022. Please see Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - monthly data to see all data from 14 April 2022.

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

Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - daily data

Migrants detected crossing the English Channel in small boats - monthly data

Irregular migration to the UK

Published 25 April 2022
Last updated 31 January 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 23 January to 29 January 2023

  2. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 16 January to 22 January 2023

  3. Removed Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats 21 November to 25 December 2022 as this data can now be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-monthly-data.

  4. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 January to 15 January 2023

  5. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 2 January to 8 January 2023

  6. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 19 December to 25 December 2022 and Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 26 December 2022 to 1 January 2023

  7. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 12 December to 18 December 2022 and Updated: Details - information about the publishing of weekly data 19 to 25 December 2022 and 26 December to 1 January 2023

  8. Removed Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats 14 April to 20 November 2022. This data can now be found at www.gov.uk/government/statistics/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-monthly-data.

  9. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 5 December to 11 December 2022

  10. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 28 November to 4 December 2022

  11. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 21 November to 27 November 2022

  12. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 14 November to 20 November 2022

  13. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 7 November to 13 November 2022 and Updated: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 24 October to 30 October 2022

  14. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 24 October to 30 October 2022' and Addition: 'Details - new information about any revisions and previous data'

  15. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 31 October to 6 November 2022'

  16. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 24 October to 30 October 2022'

  17. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 17 October to 23 October 2022' and 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 10 October to 16 October 2022'

  18. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 17 October to 23 October 2022'

  19. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 17 October to 23 October 2022’

  20. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 10 October to 16 October 2022'

  21. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 3 October to 9 October 2022'

  22. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 26 September to 2 October 2022'

  23. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 19 September to 25 September 2022'

  24. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 19 September to 25 September 2022'

  25. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 12 September to 18 September 2022'

  26. 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'

  27. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 5 September to 11 September 2022'

  28. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 29 August to 4 September 2022'

  29. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 15 August to 21 August 2022'

  30. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 15 August to 21 August 2022'

  31. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 15 August to 21 August 2022'

  32. 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'

  33. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 8 August to 14 August 2022' will be published on Wednesday 17 August.

  34. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 1 August to 7 August 2022'.

  35. Added attachment "Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 25 July to 31 July 2022"

  36. Added "Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 18 July to 24 July 2022"

  37. 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'.

  38. Added: "Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 11th July to 17th July 2022"

  39. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 4 July to 10 July 2022'.

  40. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 27 June to 3 July 2022'.

  41. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 20 June to 26 June 2022'.

  42. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 13 June to 19 June 2022'.

  43. Updated figure for Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats 16 April 2022.

  44. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 14 April to 17 April 2022'.

  45. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 6 June to 12 June 2022'.

  46. Added: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 30 May to 5 June 2022'.

  47. Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 23 May to 29 May 2022'.

  48. Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 16 May to 22 May 2022'.

  49. Updated: 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 May to 15 May 2022'.

  50. Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 9 May to 15 May 2022'.

  51. Addition of 'Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 2 May to 8 May 2022'.

  52. Added: Weekly number of migrants detected in small boats - 25 April to 1 May 2022

  53. First published.

Related content