Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. All News Sport Culture Lifestyle 200,000 people have crossed the Channel on small boats (Getty) The total number of migrants and refugees arriving in the UK by small boats has surpassed 200,000 since records began in 2018, with 70 individuals crossing the English Channel on Friday. This milestone presents a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer's government, which has repeatedly pledged to take strong action against people-smuggling gangs and reduce dangerous crossings. Small boat crossings have significantly increased, with 41,472 arrivals in 2025, up from 36,816 in 2024 and 29,437 in 2023, though the peak was 46,000 in 2022. The perilous journeys continue to result in fatalities, with two women dying last Sunday and six other deaths recorded in April during attempts to cross the Channel.…