The UK government has stopped publishing figures on the number of migrants halted from crossing the Channel by boat, less than one week after discussions with French authorities.
Previously, the Home Office had given daily updates on how many migrants were prevented from crossing the sea. Late on Wednesday night however, the department announced it will cease sharing this data “until further notice.”
They will continue to share arrival statistics and “provide updates on the publication of this prevention data as soon as possible.”
Wednesday’s update revealed that 116 people arrived in small boats the previous day, bringing the total number of arrivals via the Channel to 8,790 this year, a 34% increase compared to the same period last year (6,549 recorded crossings). It also represents a 13% rise compared to the same period in 2022 (7,750), according to the British Press Agency's analysis.
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Before their removal from the government’s website, figures showed that 1,048 people had been stopped from making a Channel crossing as of 29 April. Nonetheless, the ministry clarified that these statistics were “estimates” and could contain “measurement errors.”
It was also unclear whether the data accounted for repeated crossing attempts by the same individuals seeking asylum in the UK. A spokesperson for the British Home Office had stated earlier that French authorities had stopped 26,000 people from embarking on a Channel crossing in 2023.
