Home Secretary Ms Mahmood criticized Border Security Command after two boats carrying migrants landed undetected on UK shores near Dover and Folkestone within a week, calling it "not acceptable." The first such incident occurred in over a year. Ms Mahmood ordered an urgent review into the matter, emphasizing that these crossings are rare due to improved monitoring but noted new smuggler tactics pose challenges. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the government of losing control over border security, highlighting the significant decrease in Channel-crossing migrants this year compared to last.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In late September 2025, two small boats carrying migrants landed undetected on British shores within 24 hours in Kent and Folkestone, drawing criticism from opposition figures. The first dinghy arrived in Folkestone with up to seven people, while a second boat reached Samphire Hoe near Dover the following day, where 21 individuals were detained by Border Security Command and RNLI boats. These incidents are unprecedented since September 6, 2025, as uncontrolled landings had been rare due to improved surveillance technology and resources. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent review into the events, acknowledging that even a single uncontrolled landing is unacceptable. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Mahmood of losing control over borders, while Labour's Lucy Powell admitted on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it's impossible to stop every migrant boat. Additionally, concerns have been raised about security risks after reports emerged that a Russian national was among the migrants who landed in Dover last week.
Written for “Migrant Boats Evading Border Force” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Twenty-one people were detained after a boat arrived on the beach of Samphire Hoe, Dover, on Tuesday afternoon.
asserted
boat → detain → afternoon
It came after a dinghy made it to shore at Folkestone on Monday morning – the first undetected landing for a year.
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dinghy → come → year
The thousands of migrants crossing the Channel are usually brought to shore by Border Security Command or RNLI boats.
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thousands → cross → boats
Before Monday, no small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort had been officially recorded since September 6 2025.
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arrivals → record → September
Uncontrolled landings are so rare that last year’s incident was the only other one recorded since the Home Office began keeping data in 2023.
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Office → record → 2023
It will come as a blow to Border Security Command, which had suggested they were a thing of the past thanks to new surveillance technology and improved resources.
uncertain
they → come → technology
But Ms Mahmood said new smuggler crossing tactics were a sign that the Government’s efforts are “having an impact”.
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efforts → say → impact
She said on Wednesday: “This was not acceptable.
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This → say → Wednesday
Our improved monitoring has led to uncontrolled crossings becoming incredibly rare.
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crossings → lead → ?
“That is why I have ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command into how this happened, and what must be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
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it → order → Command
“The new tactics adopted by the smugglers, like launches from much further west in France, are a reminder of two things.
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tactics → adopt → things
Firstly, these gangs have no regard for human life.
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gangs → have → life
They are putting people on increasingly long and dangerous crossings.
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They → put → crossings
Secondly, our efforts are having an impact.
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efforts → have → impact
We are making it much harder for gangs to launch vessels, forcing them to change their approach, and as a result we are significantly reducing the numbers coming here by small boat.”
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we → make → boat
“Twenty-one individuals have already been detained under a swift enforcement response.
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individuals → detain → response
“There is a thorough investigation ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
The Home Office has not said whether more people from the boat were being sought.
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people → be → boat
Local outlets reported the man thought to be in his twenties was found hours after a small boat departed for the UK and while other migrants hoping to make the journey remained in the nearby dunes.
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migrants → report → dunes
Some 17,784 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,315 since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
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Burnham → arrive → 5,315
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Yesterday was a day of despair for the Labour Government.
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Yesterday → say → Government
Our border security has descended into chaos with illegal immigrants crossing at will over ever larger distances and in ever larger boats.
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security → descend → boats
“This latest fiasco shows that the French are not even trying to stop the illegal immigrants’ boats in French waters, instead they are escorting them here.
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they → show → them
“What’s more, there have been two uncontrolled migrant landings in a week.
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What → ’ → week
It is a complete free for all – the Labour Government have no idea who is coming into the country.
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who → have → country
“The only way to stop Channel crossings is to deport anyone who arrives illegally to their home country or a safe third country.
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who → stop → country
That’s the only way we can end this madness.”
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we → ’ → madness
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