The Home Office does not hold centrally collated data on the number of occasions Border Force has exercised powers to stop, board and inspect vehicles, public transport, buses and boats for immigration purposes in each of the last five calendar years.

Border Force officers have powers under immigration legislation to stop, board, examine and search vehicles and vessels for immigration purposes. These powers are exercised routinely as part of day-to-day border operations and are not routinely recorded or centrally collated in a way that would enable the Department to provide the figures requested.

While Border Force maintains operational records relating to passengers and immigration checks, it does not hold data on the number of vehicles or vessels examinations undertaken.

Border Force officers have a range of powers to stop, board, examine and search vehicles and vessels for immigration purposes.

Under Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, immigration officers may board ships and aircraft in connection with the exercise of their immigration functions. They may also search vehicles or containers that have been brought to, or are to be brought to, the United Kingdom by ship, aircraft or train for the purpose of establishing whether there are persons whom they may wish to examine under the Act. These examination powers apply in respect of passengers travelling by private vehicle, public transport, coach, bus, rail, air and maritime services.

In the maritime environment, the Immigration Act 2016 included Part 3A and Schedule 4A, expanding the Immigration Act 1971 to include provide powers, in specified circumstances and where relevant immigration offences are suspected, to stop, board, divert and detain vessels for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting such offences.

The exercise of all Border Force powers is subject to the relevant statutory framework and operational guidance.

The Home Office holds information relevant to this question; however, further detail cannot be disclosed as this relates to commercially sensitive arrangements and release would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Home Office and third parties.

Information about what is included in our daily statistics on illegal crossing of the channel by small boats, including the definition of small boat and type of landing, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days#about-the-data.

Data published on migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats does not include individuals who arrive in the UK on larger vessels, such as go-fast craft, yachts (except those arriving in the area of operations of small boats), motor cruisers, tugs and fishing vessels – although these are rarely used by people arriving via illegal routes at present. This data also does not include those who arrive in the UK clandestinely on larger vessels not referenced above, including where hidden in a vehicle on a ferry.

We work closely with French counterparts to assure the daily data but, as set out in the publication notes, it is taken from provisional UK and French operational datasets and is subject to change.

Statistics related to other illegal entry can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-march-2026/how-many-people-come-to-the-uk-via-illegal-entry-routes.

The statistics presented here relate to the number of people detected on, or shortly after, arrival to the UK through various illegal methods of entry. They do not include all those who enter the UK through illegal routes.

It is not possible to know the exact number of people who enter the UK via illegal routes because some people will successfully evade border controls and remain in the UK undetected. We have not produced any official estimates for this number.

Data on recorded detections in the UK within 72 hours of arrival and recorded detections at UK ports, which may include arrivals via yachts, ferries and fishing boats, are published in Table IER_D01 available on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#illegal-entry-routes.

Latest data are up to the end of March 2026.

All vessels that have been subject to seizure are held by Border Force until the completion of criminal investigations and any resulting legal proceedings. The boats/dinghies/engines are disposed of by Border Force's approved contractors and, where appropriate, any suitable component materials are recycled.

We are empowering Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation, to drive economic growth in their region. including through support for the local visitor economy. Following the public consultation, decisions on the scope of the levy are still under consideration. The government will respond to the consultation in due course.

The UK is considering a bilateral programme with Norway to procure a Joint Commando Craft (JCC) and, working in conjunction with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, has released a Request for Information. The programme is intended to deliver vessels capable of transporting specialist personnel and equipment, including uncrewed and autonomous systems, for insertion and extraction in demanding littoral environments.

The Border Security Command oversees a system-wide, comprehensive strategy aimed at disrupting all elements of the business model that makes small boats crossings possible. Seizing small boats equipment, which is often conducted in collaboration with international partners, forms one strand of this approach.

Due to the operational nature of this data and the frequency of revision as a result of ongoing reporting, we cannot provide an accurate breakdown of this data on an annual basis.

This data includes information provided by international partners, working with the NCA and the Border Security Command, which may be revised as on-going reporting is received. Accordingly, seizures are reported over a longer time period to ensure accuracy.

Consideration of the inland waterways sector is included in the Department for Transport’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy (page 29) and accompanying Analytical Annex (page 12), published in 2025.

Officials in my department regularly speak to EU counterparts on a range of issues.

Private Pleasure Craft (PPC)) across the UK incur the full duty rate on fuel used for propulsion (52.95 pence per litre (ppl)) and the rebated rate (10.18 ppl) for non-propulsion use.

PPC that refuel in Great Britain can use red diesel provided they pay a top up to reflect the difference in duty between the red diesel rate and the full duty rate to cover their propulsion use. PPC in Northern Ireland are not permitted to refuel with red diesel, but a relief scheme is in place to cover diesel used for non-propulsion purposes (e.g. heating and lighting the boat).

The Border Security Command (BSC) works with partners across Government and further afield to disrupt the smuggling gang networks who facilitate small boat crossings, and to help bring those responsible to justice.

Since 2023, the BSC and National Crime Agency (NCA) have contributed to the seizure of over 950 small boats and engines related to Channel crossings.

The BSC and NCA work with a range of international partners to seize equipment, including Europol, Bulgaria, Belgium, France, and Germany. We do not routinely confirm the location of seizures publicly.