Groups of migrants have been brought into Dover by the Border Force following a series of overnight Channel crossings.

More than 41,000 people have now made the dangerous small boats journey this year, after a record day of activity for a December on Saturday, the latest Home Office figures have revealed.

Some 803 people crossed in 13 dinghies from northern France, starting overnight on Friday and into Saturday.

The total number of Channel crossings for the year now stands at 41,455 people.

Saturday’s crossings are the largest number of people to have made the journey since October 8, when 1,075 crossed in a single day.

It also appeared to be a record number of crossings for a day in December, when compared with data stretching back to 2018. It is not however, the largest total across the month of December compared with previous years.

While the number of people making the dangerous journey across the English Channel has risen more swiftly in 2025 than past years, the yearly total has still not surpassed that of 2022, when 45,755 arrived: the highest on record.

The Government meanwhile continues efforts to grasp the so-called “upstream” causes of the migration crisis, including through work with neighbouring countries.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into the Border Force compound in Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Last week Germany passed a new law which could see people smugglers face up to 10 years in prison for trying to bring migrants to Britain.

The law change, which will come into force before the end of the year, aims to give more powers to law enforcement and prosecutors, and boost information sharing between the UK and Germany.

It follows a deal agreed between the two countries in December last year to tackle illegal migration, including taking action to remove smugglers’ advertising on social media.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This major change in German law is the result of our close partnership working to tackle illegal migration and organised immigration crime.