Burnham Turns Up the Pressure on Small Boats ,Your Peaceful Crossing Days Are Over.

Andy Burnham has pledged that his government will be “relentless” in its efforts to reduce the number of people arriving in the UK by small boats, while arguing that tougher enforcement must be accompanied by safe and legal routes for people seeking protection. Speaking in Dover, the prime minister said progress had already been made and that the government was “changing the whole approach” to tackling illegal migration and organised people-smuggling networks. Burnham said the number of enforcement officers targeting smuggling gangs had been increased on both sides of the English Channel. The Home Office said the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers working against gangs involved in small-boat crossings had risen to almost 800, compared with 376 at the beginning of 2025. “People want to see this issue addressed,” Burnham said, while also stressing the importance of providing safe routes for people who genuinely need protection. He argued that expanding legal pathways could also weaken the business model of people-smuggling gangs by reducing demand for dangerous Channel crossings. Debate Reignited by Events in Ceuta Political debate over the UK's approach to irregular migration has intensified following reports that tens of thousands of migrants swam into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. Burnham said 98% of those who entered the territory by swimming had subsequently been returned to Morocco, describing the immediate response as having dealt with the situation. However, he said there were wider questions involving the Schengen area and the UK's relationship with the European Union. “I would want to be in regular dialogue with the EU on those issues,” Burnham said. Crackdown on Smuggling Networks The Home Office said nearly 300 members of smuggling gangs had been arrested last year, while more than 1,100 small boats and engines had been seized. Officials also claimed that the equipment seized by the NCA could otherwise have been used to facilitate crossings involving around 72,000 additional people. The BBC said it had been unable to independently verify that claim. Burnham acknowledged the progress but said the government would not become complacent. “Clearly, progress is being made, but we're not complacent,” he said. He also called for a change in the political debate surrounding small boats, saying the government should focus on addressing the issue rather than using it for political point-scoring. “The public don't like the idea that the border looks like it's not controlled,” Burnham said. “We need to bring back that control. But also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it.” Small-Boat Arrivals Remain a Major Challenge The number of people arriving in the UK by small boat since Burnham became prime minister a fortnight earlier passed 2,000 after 326 people crossed the Channel on Saturday. Crossings typically increase during the summer months, when weather and sea conditions can make the journey more feasible, although the route remains dangerous. Despite the recent arrivals, Home Office figures show that the number of small-boat crossings so far this year is around 43% lower than during the same period in 2025. The figures underline the challenge facing the government: while crossings have fallen substantially year-on-year, thousands of people continue to attempt the dangerous journey, keeping immigration and border control firmly at the centre of political debate. Burnham's pledge to be “relentless” signals that his government intends to combine enforcement against smuggling networks with efforts to develop alternative legal routes, as it seeks to reduce crossings while addressing concerns over border control and humanitarian protection.