KENT, July 5, 2025 — Kent County Council (KCC) is grappling with an unprecedented influx of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) arriving by small boats, with 70 children entering the council’s care in a single day this week — the highest number ever recorded.
The surge continued the following day with an additional 48 lone children arriving on the Kent coast after crossing the English Channel from France. The figures, confirmed by the council, mark a sudden and significant rise, raising concerns about the pressure on local services.
Despite the spike, the total number of unaccompanied minors received by KCC from January to June 2025 stands at 705 — down from 1,165 during the same period last year. Officials attribute the earlier decline to a combination of poor winter weather and more precise age assessments conducted by Border Force teams, which may have reduced the number of minors wrongly classified at the border.
The sharp rise in child arrivals comes amid a broader increase in small boat crossings. Nearly 20,000 people have arrived in the UK via small boats during the first half of 2025 — a 48% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Government data suggests this is the highest number of crossings in the first six months of any year since records began in 2018.
The issue is expected to feature prominently in upcoming discussions between UK officials and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is scheduled to visit Britain in the coming days. The UK government has already labelled the Channel situation as “deteriorating,” and French authorities are reportedly exploring new measures to allow police and coastguards to intervene earlier — potentially in shallow waters — to disrupt “taxi boat” operations ferrying migrants from beaches.
Meanwhile, humanitarian groups working on the French coast have noted changes in the profile of those attempting the crossing
Under current arrangements, Kent County Council is responsible for caring for unaccompanied children who arrive in Dover. Many of them are later transferred to other parts of England through the National Transfer Scheme, but Kent has consistently shouldered the largest share of arrivals.
Over the past two years, the government has funded five new reception centers in Kent to help manage the burden. However, local leaders argue that more must be done. In March, the former Conservative leader of the council urged ministers to support councils in expanding their capacity to meet growing demand.
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services also issued warnings earlier this year, saying that gateway authorities such as Kent are facing “unprecedented demand” and require greater national support.
The Home Office has been approached for comment on the latest figures and the wider implications for child protection and immigration policy.
Written by: LIIE IMMIGRATION
