Channel Crossings Plunge: Migrant Numbers Drop 36% in 2023
The UK has seen its first-ever year-on-year dip in English Channel migrant crossings. Provisional government stats reveal just 29,437 arrivals in 2023—a sharp 36% slide from the record 45,774 in 2022.
Quiet December as Crossings Halt
The last migrant boat touched British shores on December 16, carrying 55 people from France. Remarkably, no further arrivals came in the remaining 15 days of the year, thanks to rough weather—making it the longest dry spell of 2023 for Channel crossings.
Sunak’s ‘Stop the Boats’ Promise Under Fire
PM Rishi Sunak’s vow to end illegal crossings is on shaky ground. Despite asylum reforms passed in July, key details are still hazy. The promised laws to detain and swiftly remove migrants still lack a clear enforcement date.
“We remain committed to stopping the boats, but legal hurdles and weather play their part,” a government insider said.
Rwanda Scheme Hit by Legal Blows
Ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda has stumbled. A Supreme Court ruling shut it down as unlawful. New legislation expected in January aims to fix these legal woes and firm up the deal.
Since April 2022, about 70,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, with nearly 40,000 arriving under Sunak’s watch. The Illegal Migration Bill passed six months ago but still awaits proper enforcement.
Backlog and Housing Woes Persist
The UK’s asylum system remains swamped. November saw 109,442 outstanding cases. Sunak’s pledge to end housing asylum seekers in hotels hasn’t materialised. Controversy continues over the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge off Dorset to house migrants.
Monthly Arrivals Drop as Winters Bite
The chilly end to 2023 may have cooled migrant numbers too. December arrivals fell to 1,077 from 1,744 the year before, showing a clear seasonal dip alongside tough weather conditions.
