VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Asked by Sarah PochinReform UKHome OfficeTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 25901

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has set a target for reducing small boat arrivals during the remainder of 2026.

Answered by Home Office

The Government is committed to reducing dangerous small boat crossings and tackling the criminal gangs that facilitate them. The Border Security Command leads the cross-system response to organised immigration crime and reduce small boat arrivals.

We have recently published the Border Security Command annual report which sets out how we are tackling small boat crossings. The number of people arriving on small boats over the summer are at their lowest level since 2020 and year to date are down by over 40%. We continue to work with domestic and international partners to drive down crossings, disrupt organised immigration crime and strengthen border security.

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