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Home secretary says undetected migrant landings 'unacceptable'
Mahmood said the rare beach arrivals were not acceptable and ordered Border Security Command to review how surveillance failed.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by Border Security Command on Wednesday after two uncontrolled migrant boats reached Kent beaches, calling the landings "not acceptable."
People smugglers are adopting new tactics, including launching boats from further west in France, forcing migrants to spend more than 33 hours at sea on dangerous crossings.
Despite a 44.7% decrease in total arrivals this year to 17,784, these breaches are rare; no small boats had officially arrived without an escort since September 6, 2025.
Border Security Command officers and Kent Police detained 21 people at Samphire Hoe on Tuesday, transferring them to Western Jet Foil for processing under swift enforcement protocols.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labeled the response "a day of despair," claiming border security has "descended into chaos," intensifying political pressure on the Home Office to address the breach.