26.08.2022
The recently released Home Office report provides an overview of illegal immigration into the UK by boat from June 2021 to June 2022.
A dinghy (small boat) is only one of a growing number of illegal methods a person may reach the UK border and seek entry without permission.
There were 12,747 illegal immigrants detected arriving by small boats from January to June 2022. This was more than double the number in the same six months in 2021 (5,917), with notably higher numbers of arrivals in the months of January, March and April 2022 compared to the previous year. There are now almost 25,000 illegal immigrants that have arrived by boat this year.
Following the arrival of 804 illegal immigrants by boat yesterday, August has now become the worst month on record for small boat crossings with 7,694 people crossing in 171 boats. The previous worst month on record was November 2021 when 6,878 illegal immigrants arrived by boat. By the time this article is released the figure will have been surpassed.
There were 28,526 people detected arriving on small boats in 2021, compared with 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019 and 299 in 2018.
In 2020, arrivals were higher over the summer and peaked in September, reflecting seasonal weather patterns seen in previous years. In 2021 however, while arrivals similarly increased over the summer months to September, they also rose sharply in the Autumn, peaking in November.
366 small boats were detected arriving in the UK from January to June 2022, compared with 285 from January to June 2021.
There were 1,034 small boats detected arriving in the UK in 2021, compared with 641 in 2020, 164 in 2019 and 43 in 2018.
There have now been over 700 boats arriving so far this year.
However, the increase in the number of people arriving was related to both more boats making the crossing and an increase in the average number of illegal immigrants in each boat.
From January to June 2022, over half (51%) of small boat arrivals were from just three nationalities – Albanian (18%), Afghan (18%) and Iranian (15%).
Since January 2018, Iranian (28%) and Iraqi (20%) nationals have represented nearly half of all small boat arrivals. Iranians represented the majority of small boat arrivals in 2018 (80%) and 2019 (66%). However, a greater mix of nationalities has been detected making the crossing since 2020, with Albanian and Afghan nationals becoming notably more common in 2022.
The number of Albanians arriving on small boats has increased substantially over the last quarter. Before this point, Albanians were not commonly detected on small boats.
The number of Afghans arriving on small boats has also increased since Summer 2021.
Young fighting-age males represented 87% of small boat arrivals from January to June 2022. This was similar to previous years.
Between January 2018 and June 2022, there were 50,297 small boat arrivals, of whom 94% applied for asylum (47,306), and 91% as main applicants (43,066).
43% (2,988) of applications were not considered, on third country grounds – this means that the UK will not consider the asylum claim and will instead seek the person’s removal to a safe third country.
Although we all know the probability of any deportations happening is very slim.
The statistics presented in the report relate to the number of people documented being detected on, or shortly after their arrival to the UK via boat.
It’s important to note that they do not indicate the total number of people currently in the UK who have entered the UK via what the government called ‘irregular’ routes but in reality, they are very much illegal.
It is not possible to know the full extent of the illegal immigrant population currently living in the UK, nor the total number of people who enter the UK illegally.
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