Rise in asylum applications in Great Britain: A worrying record!

Rise in asylum applications in Great Britain: A worrying record!

Last year around 108,000 people applied for asylum in the UK, reaching the highest level in more than 20 years. These figures were announced by the Home Office in London on February 27, 2025 and show an increase of 18 percent compared to 2023. This even exceeds the previous record set in 2002, when there were 103,000 applications. The number of people who entered the country irregularly is also increasing significantly. Almost 44,000 arrivals were recorded, an increase of 19 percent compared to the previous year, reported crown.

Life-threatening escape routes

An alarming aspect of this situation is the danger of the escape routes across the English Channel. Migrants repeatedly risk their lives in overcrowded boats, often without the necessary documents. In 2024, according to French figures, 72 people lost their lives in these dangerous conditions. Overcrowding on boats is a big problem: while there were an average of 45 migrants on each boat in 2023, the number rose to 54 last year, leading to many tragic incidents, as the French maritime prefecture notes. People also face hypothermia if they try to reach the boats in danger daily news reported.

The British government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who belongs to the social democratic Labor Party, is now planning measures to strengthen border protection and combat smuggling. Starmer promised a tough crackdown on irregular migration and said he would take concrete steps to improve border security.