Only handful of Channel migrant smugglers convicted despite Labour promising to 'smash the gangs'

Olivia Utley
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:02 +0000

Only a handful of people smugglers were sentenced for bringing illegal migrants into Britain last summer amid a large wave of asylum seekers attempting to cross the English Channel, GB News can reveal.

Between July and September 2025, just 33 individuals were convicted for piloting dinghies destined for Britain, despite 16,972 migrants arriving during the same time period.

They were rapped under Section 24 and Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971 between July 1 and September 30, 2025, figures obtained by the People's Channel under Freedom of Information requests show.

The revelation raises fresh questions about the Labour Government’s ability to tackle people-smuggling networks, given approximately 275 boats made the perilous journey from France last summer.

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All journeys require someone to operate a boat's outboard engine and steering.

During the three-month timeframe, the number of people convicted after arriving on small boats who were identified as passengers was just 17.

It comes as Britain's migrant deal with France was extended this week by two months at a cost of £16.2million.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood continues to negotiate terms for a new accord with Emmanuel Macron's administration.

Last night, talks between the Home Office and France's Ministry of the Interior hit a standstill.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly pledged to “smash the gangs” behind illegal crossings and claimed his premiership will “take back control of our borders” and “dismantle the criminal networks profiting from human misery".

Government officials defended its record, pointing to broader enforcement activity against organised immigration crime.

In a statement, it said: “2025 was a record-breaking year for organised immigration crime disruptions.

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"This includes arrests, convictions and seizures of associated criminal cash and assets of those involved in organised immigration crime.

"This is up more than a third (37 per cent) compared to 2024.

"Our new reforms will fix the broken asylum system we inherited, restoring order and control and removing the incentives which draw people to come to the UK illegally.”

Ministers maintain their strategy goes beyond individual prosecutions, focusing on international cooperation, intelligence-led operations and financial disruption of criminal networks.

Nevertheless, the figures are likely to fuel ongoing political debate over whether current policies are delivering on high-profile promises to curb Channel crossings and dismantle networks fuelling the migrant crisis.