For almost a month, the waters of the English Channel saw an unusual calm. Small boat crossings to the UK had paused for 28 days, marking the longest break in arrivals in seven years. This quiet period, which began after November 14th, was the longest stretch without new arrivals since a 48-day gap back in late 2018.
But the pause is now over. This past Saturday, several small boats were once again spotted in the Channel, signalling the resumption of these challenging journeys. Official figures for Saturday’s arrivals are still pending, but the temporary lull provided a brief respite from the constant flow seen in recent years.
December is typically one of the quieter months for Channel crossings. A harsh combination of freezing temperatures, poor visibility, shorter daylight hours, and stormy seas makes the perilous journey even more dangerous. Despite this, December 2024 surprisingly saw a record 3,254 arrivals for that specific month.
Looking at the bigger picture, this year is shaping up to have the second-highest annual number of small boat arrivals since data collection began in 2018. While not reaching the all-time peak of 45,774 arrivals recorded in 2022, the numbers remain significant, highlighting the ongoing complexities surrounding migration across the English Channel. The brief 28-day pause offers a rare glimpse into how natural factors can influence these human movements, even if only for a short while.
