Shabana Mahmood orders urgent review into undetected illegal Channel crossings as failure to intercept boats 'not acceptable'

Shabana Mahmood has told Border Security Command to launch a review after a series of undetected illegal Channel crossings.

The Home Secretary, said "even one” uncontrolled landing is "one too many". at Samphire Hoe, between Dover and Folkestone, on Tuesday, and near Folkestone on Monday.

She added it was "not acceptable" small boats were crossing without being detected.

GB News initially understood a third undetected crossing took place at around 9pm last night, however this has now been denied by the Home Office.

In total, 21 people were detained on Tuesday after the arrival at Samphire Hoe, with five detained on Monday. The Home Secretary described the situation as "not acceptable".

Thousands of migrants crossing the Channel are usually brought to shore by Border Security Command or RNLI boats.

Before Monday, no small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort had been officially recorded since September 6 2025. 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.

This week's set of undetected crossings has raised concern among security and border experts.

Tony Smith, a former director general of Border Force, told The Telegraph: "To avoid our controls altogether does worry me as it poses a much greater security risk than the ones we are picking up in the Channel.

"It may be that they are criminals. They may be people previously deported from the UK. If they were picked up on a small boat as normal, they would likely be detained or prosecuted if they were returnees or wanted.

"It is definitely a different business model [from the people smuggling gangs] to the one we are used to."

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "It is a free for all, the Labour Government has no idea who is coming into the country. The only way to stop Channel crossings is to deport anyone who arrives illegally to their home country or a safe third country."

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.

The total so far for 2026 is down 45 per cent on the same point last year.

Meanwhile, a man believed to be a migrant was found dead on a beach in northern France on Wednesday, French authorities have said.

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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Last night, two women and a man were charged with assaulting an emergency worker following protests in Gosport as a small boat carrying migrants was rescued at sea.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said they had sent officers to the town on Tuesday to police a peaceful protest. As a result, six people were arrested.

Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Sally Pearson, 31, also from Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.

Both have been remanded into custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Toby Matthews, 33, of Forton Road, Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He has been bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on November 9.