Small-boat arrivals in the Channel have reached 83,279 since the general election, exceeding the size of the British Army's 83,000 personnel. Wednesday saw the year's highest daily total of 781 migrants, with 1,085 arriving over the first three days of the week. The issue has intensified following two uncontrolled landings this week where dinghies reached UK shores without being intercepted by Border Force, prompting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to order an urgent review of security procedures.

The surge in crossings has drawn significant criticism from Conservative opposition figures, who argue the Government has lost control of borders. Cabinet ministers have acknowledged the challenge, with Education Secretary Lucy Powell stating the authorities "can't stop everything all of the time." The Border Force union has warned that undetected arrivals are occurring across the full south coast, not just near Dover, and suggested the Home Office may be reluctant to monitor comprehensive coverage. Former senior officials have noted that whilst surveillance technology exists, it failed to prevent the recent uncontrolled landings.