Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged that his government will be “relentless” in tackling illegal migration across the English Channel, promising tougher action against people smuggling gangs while maintaining safe and legal routes for those with genuine protection needs.
Burnham said his government had already begun changing its approach, revealing that the number of enforcement officers targeting smuggling networks on both sides of the Channel had doubled. Speaking during a visit to Dover, he said the public expected stronger border control but also a fair asylum system.
Burnham said tackling criminal gangs was central to reducing small boat crossings, arguing that expanding safe and legal migration pathways would also undermine smugglers by removing their business model. He added that the government wanted to “deal with the issue rather than play politics with the issue.”
The Home Office announced that the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers dedicated to combating people-smuggling had increased to nearly 800, up from 376 at the start of 2025. Authorities also reported almost 300 arrests of suspected smugglers last year and the seizure of more than 1,100 boats and engines used in illegal Channel crossings.
The renewed focus on migration follows a major border crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, where tens of thousands of migrants entered from Morocco last week. Burnham noted that most of those migrants had already been returned, but said the broader issue required continued dialogue between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The government’s approach drew criticism from opposition parties. The Conservative Party accused Labour of failing to deliver on its migration promises, while Reform UK proposed using the Royal Navy to turn migrant boats back to France. Defence experts questioned the practicality of that proposal, noting that existing maritime agencies are better equipped for border operations.
Burnham also stressed that effective border management must be balanced with humanitarian responsibilities, saying the government would continue supporting people who qualify for asylum while restoring confidence in the UK’s immigration system.
Official figures released alongside the announcement showed that around 326 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday, bringing the total since Burnham became prime minister to more than 2,000. Despite the recent arrivals, Home Office data indicates that small boat crossings so far this year remain significantly lower than during the same period in 2025.
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