Staff at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent have been requested to work overtime following a record daily influx of over 1,100 migrants arriving via small boats, an unprecedented number for 2025 so far. The Home Office reported a total of 14,811 arrivals this year, marking a 42% increase compared to 2024 and a 95% rise from 2023 figures. Staffing shortages, especially during night shifts, have been a longstanding concern at Manston, which has faced criticism over substandard conditions.
Simultaneously, a new report from the University of Oxford highlights a sharp rise in prosecutions for illegal Channel crossings, doubling since the Nationality and Borders Act introduced the offence in 2022. Many of those convicted, including children misidentified as adults, come from war-torn countries like Sudan, Libya, and Syria. The report urges an end to the criminalization of asylum seekers compelled to enter via dangerous routes due to a lack of legal alternatives. In response, the Home Office emphasized efforts to toughen laws, disrupt smuggling networks, and prevent misidentification of minors during prosecutions.
