What is the government doing to tackle illegal immigration? - Numbers Still Not Good

9th September 2025

For the first time, small boat migrants arriving in the UK face being detained and returned to France.

For the first time, small boat migrants arriving in the UK face being detained and returned to France.

The message to the criminal people-smugglers is clear: we will end your vile trade.

Working with our partners, we are seizing boats and engines, stopping online advertising and anyone coming here illegally by small boat faces detention and return.

Since June 2024, the government has returned more than 35,000 people with no right to be in the UK – a 28% increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and a 13% increase in overall returns compared to the previous year.

Securing our borders is part of the government’s Plan for Change

What is the UK-France treaty?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to take forward a groundbreaking partnership to address illegal Channel crossings and dismantle the people-smuggling gangs.

A new pilot scheme will see small boat arrivals being returned to France then an equal number of migrants will be able to come to the UK from France through a new legal route – fully documented and subject to strict security checks.

The pilot agreement is intended to prevent irregular migrant journeys across Europe to the UK and prevent dangerous small boat crossings, helping to undermine the business model of organised, criminal gangs profiting from people’s misery by showing others these journeys could result in them being returned back to France – ultimately saving lives.

How many people are returned from the UK?
in the year ending June 2025 there were 9,100 enforced returns, an increase of 25% on the previous year, continuing an increase seen over the last 4 years

there were 5,300 foreign national offender returns in the year ending June 2025, an increase of 16% compared to the previous year

there were 26,761 voluntary returns in the year ending June 2025, up by 13% compared to the previous year.

How many illegal (irregular) immigrants came to the UK in the last 12 months?
Detected Irregular Arrivals (Year Ending June 2025)

In the 12-month period ending June 2025, there were 49,341 detected irregular arrivals, an increase of 27% compared to the previous year

Of these, 42,446 (about 88%) arrived via small boats, which remain the most common method of irregular entry

The remaining irregular entries include:

3,266 by inadequately documented air arrivals,

2,409 detected within the UK within 72 hours,

357 recorded at UK ports

Prior Period Comparison:

In the year ending March 2025, there were 44,000 detected irregular arrivals, of which 38,000 (86%) were small-boat crossings

Summary in Simple Terms

Year ending June 2025: approximately 49,300 detected irregular arrivals.

Year ending March 2025: around 44,000 detected.

Small-boat crossings accounted for the vast majority (over 80%) in both periods.

Clarifications & Limitations

"Illegal" vs. "Irregular":

These figures refer to detected irregular arrivals—people entering the UK without valid documentation or through unofficial routes.

The term doesn’t include visa overstays, undocumented individuals already residing in the UK, or those who enter undetected.

Detection Gaps:

Not all irregular entrants are caught or recorded. The real number may be higher than official detections

Between July 2024 and June 2025 (the 12-month rolling period ending June 2025), the UK detected approximately 49,300 irregular (i.e., "illegal") arrivals, with around 42,400 arriving via small boats.

Detected Irregular Arrivals (Year Ending June 2025)

How many people immigrated to the UK and how many left
Most Recent Official Figures (Year Ending December 2024)

Immigrated (long-term arrivals): 948,000 people moved to the UK in that period.

Emigrated (long-term departures): 517,000 people left the UK.

Net migration (immigrants minus emigrants): +431,000, meaning 431,000 more people arrived than departed over the 12 months.

Office for National Statistics

Comparable Data for the Year Ending June 2024

Another snapshot period brings similar insight:

Immigrated: approximately 1.207 million people to the UK.

Emigrated: about 479,000 people left.

Net migration: +728,000, a higher net inflow than the most recent December figures.

This shows a notable decline when comparing the two periods—net migration dropped significantly from +728,000 to +431,000.