The UK Home Office has started an advertising campaign in Iraq to discourage people from crossing the English Channel in small boats. This follows similar campaigns in Albania and Vietnam in 2023 and 2024.
On Sunday, 592 migrants crossed the Channel in 11 boats—the highest number recorded in a single day in March, according to Home Office data.
UK’s Strategy to Tackle Illegal Crossings
Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said criminal gangs deceive people with false promises on social media, putting their lives in danger.
“We are exposing their lies by sharing real stories of victims,” she stated.
One of the adverts features an image of a broken boat in the sea, with a message from a migrant saying,
“The boat was too crowded… people disappeared into the sea.” Another ad highlights human trafficking, with a woman saying, “I was promised a well-paid job. Instead, I was a slave.”
Rising Numbers and International Cooperation
So far in 2025, 2,716 people have crossed the Channel—20% more than the same period last year, though still lower than previous years. In 2024, a total of 36,816 people were detected making the journey, with over 2,000 migrants coming from Iraq.
Last week, Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt visited Iraq to strengthen international cooperation and combat smuggling gangs.
He said, “Our campaign sends a strong message that these criminals cannot be trusted.”
The ads, primarily targeting the Kurdistan region in Iraq, will be promoted on social media, mobile apps, and news websites.
Agreement with Vietnam to Prevent Illegal Migration
The Home Office also announced that UK ministers will soon sign an agreement with Vietnam. The deal aims to prevent migrant exploitation, disrupt smuggling networks, improve intelligence-sharing, and ensure the return of individuals who have no legal right to stay in the UK.
Labour Government’s Policy Shift
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had made “stopping the boats” a key priority and introduced the Rwanda plan, which aimed to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as a deterrent. However, legal challenges prevented its implementation before the 2024 general election.
After winning the election, the Labour government abandoned the Rwanda plan and is now focusing on dismantling the smuggling networks responsible for these dangerous journeys.
