The number of small boats that attempted to cross the Channel in March this year was down by more than 50% compared to the year before.
According to figures collected by British think-tank Migration Watch UK, 35 small boats were involved in illegal Channel crossings last month, down from 80 incidents in March 2025.
This was also the lowest March total since 2023, and the second-lowest March total in the last six years.
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The same can be said for the number of migrants crossing the Channel as well.
Migration Watch’s figures show that 2,232 migrants were detected crossing the Channel in March this year. This was down by more than half on March 2025 (4,586) and was also the lowest figure since 2023.
Sharing the figures on X, some expressed hope that this was early signs that the Home Office’s migrant policies would finally bear fruit.
Between January 1 and 26 March 2026, a total of 4,441 people crossed the Channel by small boat from France.
This was down 33% over the same time frame in 2025, when 6,642 people crossed.
This week, the UK signed a two-month extension on a £476m deal made with France by the previous government for extra patrols to disrupt migrant smuggling gangs.
The UK and France are trying to agree a deal for more French enforcement officers to be deployed on beaches.
Also this week, the Home Office highlighted that net migration in the UK was down by almost 70% as visa numbers continue to fall.
In a post on X, the department said: “By introducing higher salary thresholds, stronger English language requirements and preventing visa abuse, we’re building a system that backs British workers while attracting high-skilled labour.”