Northern France port city on the North Sea
BBC and other outlets report that Twana Jamal, once dubbed the godfather of Calais camps, has been found living and working in Blaby, Leicestershire, under a false name. He allegedly earned large sums moving people across the Channel between 2012–2016 and is now subject to asylum claims. Authorities warn Brexit-era data checks hinder border enforcement.
A raft of new data shows a record-breaking group of migrants crossing the English Channel in a single dinghy, while authorities warn that overcrowding and dangerous routes persist. Across multiple reports, the total number of arrivals so far this year remains lower than last year, but per-boat capacity is increasing and enforcement efforts are expanding.
Record crossings by mega-dinghies have surged across the English Channel, with boats carrying hundreds of migrants. Authorities are reinforcing enforcement and international cooperation as numbers fall overall but risks rise for those onboard.
Since 2022 the UK has prosecuted those who pilot illegal small-boat crossings. Recent convictions show the government is intensifying enforcement, with multiple pilots receiving prison terms as fatalities at sea underscore ongoing risks and political pressure to curb crossings.
The government has doubled National Crime Agency officers tackling smuggling and is changing the approach to small-boat crossings. Crossings are down this year, and officials say this reflects tough enforcement and new cooperation with French authorities. The PM stresses safe routes and dialogue with the EU as Ceuta incidents reshape EU dynamics.
France’s Gravelines nuclear plant is running only one reactor at full capacity after jellyfish clogged cooling systems, forcing three reactors offline and cutting another’s output in half. EDF says safety remains intact and on-site teams are mobilised, while preventive fishing and cleaning efforts continue.
The UK and France have expanded a security pact to curb Channel crossings. French police have intercepted hundreds of small-boat attempts this summer, while UK officials say the joint effort is reducing crossings. Critics warn that heavy policing risks migrants’ safety as they push to reach Britain.
Protests against migrant arrivals in Portsmouth have intensified after a small boat carrying about 140 people reached the port. Authorities have moved the migrants to Manston in Kent for processing, while protesters wearing black masks have blocked roads and police have issued a dispersal order.