Storm Chandra sees lowest number of January Channel migrant crossings in five years

A total of 933 migrants arrived on UK shores by small boat in the first month of 2026, the lowest number since January 2021 when 224 migrants made the journey.

Reports indicate bad weather in the region, including last week’s Storm Chandra, is likely to have been a factor in putting people off attempting the journey.

Think tank organisation Centre for Migration Control attributed the reduced number of crossings to the harsh weather, claiming the Labour Government would be dishonest to take credit.

Robert Bates, research director at the centre for migration control told GB News: “It would be ridiculous to claim that Labour’s plans are working because of relatively low numbers last month.

“Adverse weather conditions have been more of a deterrent than any plan cobbled together by the Home Office.

“Those trying to claim this as some kind of win are either disingenuous or do not understand the nature of the small boats crisis.

“Labour’s deal with France has been a disaster and not a single people smuggling gang has been smashed under Starmer.”

The Home Office confirmed on Sunday that no migrants crossed the Channel on January 31, continuing a run of 12 days with no crossings whatsoever.

The figure is also 15 per cent down on the 1,098 arrivals recorded in January last year, and 30 per cent below the figure for January 2024, when there were 1,335 arrivals.

Despite the adverse weather, The Home Office insist a strong stance to crackdown on illegal immigration through the channel, with ongoing measures to keep numbers down.

Alex Norris, border security minister, told the Press Association his message to people smugglers is: “We are coming after you.”

The Home Office have launched measures to reduce net migration to the UK via the Channel, including a crackdown on adverts informing migrants on how to circumvent immigration checks.

Social media users who tout illegal routes into the UK face up to five years in prison starting on Monday, after the Government activated part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) Online Communications Centre will trawl through thousands of social media accounts as part of the crackdown.

It is thought so-called “service agents”, middlemen who link migrants up with facilitators for small boat crossings and other routes, could be targeted with the new powers.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also announced during his trip to China that he had negotiated a deal with the Chinese authorities aimed at preventing boat motors made in the country from ending up in the hands of people smugglers.

Some 60 per cent of the boats to have crossed the Channel last year had motors made in China.