More than 10,000 migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats have reached British shores during Shabana Mahmood's first 66 days as Home Secretary, according to official figures.
This significant milestone was reached more quickly than under most of her predecessors, highlighting the ongoing challenge facing the UK's border security. The total includes approximately 2,000 arrivals recorded in just a four-day period last week.
Rapid Arrivals Under New Leadership
The pace of crossings has accelerated markedly under the new Labour government. Approximately 10,100 migrants made the dangerous journey across the Channel during Ms Mahmood's initial tenure at the Home Office.
This compares starkly with her immediate predecessor, Yvette Cooper, who took 74 days to reach the same number of arrivals. Ms Cooper was subsequently moved to the Foreign Office by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after struggling to manage the Channel crisis effectively.
The recent surge included 621 arrivals on Thursday, 648 on Friday, and 503 on Saturday, followed by an estimated 380 on Sunday, though this final figure awaits official confirmation from the Home Office.
Historical Comparison and Trafficker Tactics
The current rate of Channel crossings represents the second-fastest accumulation of 10,000 migrant arrivals since records began. Only under Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman in 2022 was the milestone reached more quickly, taking just 43 days during a period that saw record annual numbers driven by a surge of Albanian arrivals.
Under other Tory home secretaries, the 10,000 mark took considerably longer: 171 days under James Cleverly and 583 days under Priti Patel.
Government insiders attribute the increased pace partly to people smuggling gangs deploying larger vessels, often described as 'mega-dinghies,' with many now capable of carrying close to 100 migrants per crossing. This development comes despite Labour's pledge to 'smash the gangs' responsible for these dangerous crossings.
Challenges to the Returns Agreement
Labour's flagship 'one in, one out' returns deal with France, announced in July, has faced significant operational challenges. Since the agreement was implemented, 17,609 confirmed arrivals have crossed the Channel, but only 94 migrants have been successfully deported.
Meanwhile, 57 individuals have been brought into the UK under the reciprocal terms of the same agreement, raising questions about its effectiveness in deterring crossings.
The policy suffered a notable setback last month when it emerged that a small boat migrant managed to return to Britain after being deported. An Iranian man arrived on August 6—the very day the returns deal came into force—was removed to Britain on September 19, but subsequently left a migrant shelter in Paris and successfully re-entered Britain on another small boat on October 18.
The unnamed man was finally removed for a second time on November 5, 18 days after his re-entry. Reports indicate that other migrants deported under Labour's scheme have similarly attempted second crossings after returning to the French coast.
Since Labour came to power last year, 61,968 Channel migrants have reached British soil, not including Sunday's estimated arrivals. The timing of the 10,000 milestone has been described as 'unfortunate' by one government source, coming as Ms Mahmood works to create 10,000 new asylum accommodation places in former army barracks and other sites.
