Education Secretary Lucy Powell admitted on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it is impossible for the government to stop all migrant boats from reaching Britain, following two recent unchallenged landings in Kent. On Tuesday, 21 people were detained after arriving at Samphire Hoe near Dover, and earlier on Monday, seven migrants landed undetected in Folkestone, marking the first such incident since September 6, 2025. Powell acknowledged that while overall efforts to secure borders are improving, there remain challenges requiring continued effort from border forces, security services, and police cooperation with France and other countries.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
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.
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A Labour minister admitted the government was powerless to prevent all Channel migrant boats reaching Britain, amid a furious row over unchallenged landings in Kent.
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boats → see → Kent
Education Secretary Lucy Powell made the admission the day after 21 people were detained after a boat evaded Border Force to arrive at Samphire Hoe near Dover.
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boat → make → Dover
That was the second such landing in two days, with a dinghy carrying seven making it ashore at Folkestone on Monday morning – the first undetected landing for a year.
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dinghy → carry → year
Channel boat arrivals are becoming a major flashpoint, with police investigating the anti-migrant activist 'Danny Tommo' after he livestreamed himself appearing to slash a dinghy while a rescuer was still onboard.
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rescuer → become → dinghy
As pressure grows on the Government to deal with the crisis, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review, admitting even one uncontrolled landing was 'too many'.
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landing → grow → review
But asked about the problem today, Ms Powell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: '(You) can't stop everything all of the time.
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You → ask → time
Education Secretary Lucy Powell made the admission the day after 21 people were detained after a boat evaded Border Force to arrive on a beach near Dover
A
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boat → make → Dover
still from footage that appeared to show migrants arriving on Samphire Hoe Beach in Kent on Tuesday
'
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migrants → appear → Tuesday
That's why the Home Secretary has demanded and ordered this urgent review because this is not what we want to see.
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we → demand → what
'But the overall picture is an improving picture.
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picture → improve → ?
It is hard, difficult work that requires constant, constant effort by our border forces, our security services, police, our partnerships with France and other countries.
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that → require → France
This is a mammoth and huge task, which is now starting to reap some dividends.
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which → start → dividends
But of course, you know where there are still issues arising, we must absolutely tackle them.
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we → know → them
But shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: '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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immigrants → say → 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
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.'
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 → end → September
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.
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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
Meanwhile, a man believed to be a migrant was found dead on a beach in northern France on Wednesday, French authorities have said.
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authorities → believe → Wednesday
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
The Aporia
