Home secretary hits out at 'unacceptable' migrant landings

The Home Secretary has said migrant landings on UK beaches are "not acceptable", as she ordered an urgent review after two boats reached Kent without being intercepted.

Shabana Mahmood told Border Security Command to carry out the review after vessels came ashore at Samphire Hoe, between Dover and Folkestone, on Tuesday, and near Folkestone on Monday.

Twenty-one people were detained on Tuesday after the arrival at Samphire Hoe.

Five people were also detained on Monday after the uncontrolled landing near Folkestone, the first undetected landing for a year. The Home Office has not said whether more people are being sought.

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

Before Monday, no small boats had been officially recorded as arriving in the UK without an escort since 6 September 2025.

Uncontrolled landings of migrants in the UK, as seen on Monday and Tuesday, are so rare that the incident in 2025 was the only other one recorded since the Home Office began keeping data in 2023.

She said: "Our improved monitoring has led to uncontrolled crossings becoming incredibly rare, but even one is one too many.