First small boat migrants reach Britain in freezing January conditions as Border Force intercepts Channel crossing near Dover

The first small boat crossings of 2026 reached Britain under brutal winter conditions, with migrants arriving as temperatures dipped well below zero.

Just before 4pm, a UK Border Force catamaran, Hurricane, docked in Dover carrying the year’s first arrivals.

How many people were on board wasn’t immediately clear, though the group was believed to include several dozen migrants.

Officials said the final number would be confirmed later by the Home Office.

Picked Up Mid-Channel After a Long Crossing

Those on board had begun their journey from northern France and were intercepted in the middle of the Channel after what was described as a lengthy and dangerous crossing.

It marked the first successful arrival by small boat since December 22, bringing an end to a brief winter lull in crossings.

How This Compares With Previous Years

The arrival comes after another high year for Channel crossings.

In total, 41,472 migrants reached the UK by small boat last year, making it the second-highest annual figure on record.

That total was 13 per cent higher than in 2024, when 36,816 people made the journey, and a striking 41 per cent higher than the 29,437 recorded in 2023.

Only 2022 saw more arrivals overall, with 45,755 people crossing that year.

Treacherous Weather in the Dover Strait

Conditions in the Channel were far from welcoming.

The Met Office forecast occasional sleet over the Dover Strait, with temperatures hovering around 1°C in Dover but feeling closer to -3°C due to wind chill.

Weather warnings were in place across much of the country, underlining just how risky these crossings were.

Failed Attempts and Hypothermia Rescues

Not every attempt ended in success. French authorities said two other groups trying to cross earlier in the day were turned back to France.

One group of around 30 people was found suffering from severe hypothermia near Ecault beach, roughly six miles south of Boulogne, and required urgent assistance.

Early-January Crossings: A Familiar Pattern

Crossings at the very start of the year are not unusual.

The earliest arrivals on record were on January 2 in both 2021 and 2023, when 10 and 44 people arrived respectively.

Last year’s first crossings were logged on January 4, involving 61 migrants.

New Powers Target Phones and SIM Cards

The latest arrivals coincided with the introduction of new enforcement powers aimed at disrupting smuggling networks.

From Monday, officers are able to seize mobile phones and SIM cards from migrants at the Manston processing centre in Kent, even if those individuals are not under arrest.

Officers can also search a person’s mouth for concealed SIM cards.

Faster Investigations, Tighter Controls

The Home Office said technology is already in place at Manston to download data from seized devices, with the goal of speeding up investigations into organised smuggling gangs.

The powers follow the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which became law in December.

Political Reactions to the New Measures

Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt described the changes as a “key moment,” saying they provide extra tools to go further in tackling people smugglers.

However, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was more cautious, suggesting the measures might help “at the margins” but would not, on their own, resolve the small boats crisis.

What Happens Next?

With winter crossings already underway and new enforcement powers now active, attention will turn to whether these measures have any real impact on the numbers attempting the journey in the months ahead.

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