Home Secretary orders urgent review after two uncontrolled migrant landings in a week

On Monday a small boat reached Folkestone, marking the first undetected landing in a year, and a second vessel arrived at Samphire Hoe, Dover, the next day, both without the usual Border Security Command or RNLI escort. Such uncontrolled arrivals have been extremely rare, with the last recorded case before these being in September 2025. Home Secretary Suella Mahmood described the incidents as unacceptable and said they demonstrate that smuggler tactics are evolving.

She announced an urgent review by Border Security Command to determine the causes and corrective measures. A rapid enforcement operation detained several individuals from the arrivals, and a thorough investigation is underway. The government highlighted that new surveillance and resources have made these events “incredibly rare,” but stressed that any occurrence is too many.