10,000 small boat migrants since Shabana Mahmood became Home Secretary

10,000 Small Boat Migrants Since Shabana Mahmood Became Home Secretary

Over 10,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Shabana Mahmood took office as Home Secretary, marking one of the fastest increases since records began in 2018. The figure was reached after 2,000 crossings in just four days.

Breakdown of Recent Arrivals

Altogether, 10,072 migrants arrived in the first 66 days of Ms Mahmood’s tenure. Her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, reached the same number after 74 days before being reassigned to the Foreign Office by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer following difficulties in controlling the Channel crossings.

Comparison with Previous Home Secretaries

By contrast, the same threshold was reached in 171 days under James Cleverly and in 583 days under Priti Patel. Only Suella Braverman saw the 10,000 milestone reached faster, in just 43 days during 2022, a year marked by record-breaking migrant arrivals, particularly from Albania.

“The timing of the mark being hit was unfortunate,” a government source told the Daily Mail, noting that Ms Mahmood is simultaneously preparing 10,000 new asylum accommodation places in former military barracks and other facilities.

Context and Outlook

The milestone underscores the continuing pressure on the UK’s border policy and asylum system, as officials attempt to manage migrant arrivals and address the long-term challenges along the Channel route.

Author’s summary: The UK saw over 10,000 Channel crossings within two months of Shabana Mahmood’s tenure as Home Secretary, exposing persistent challenges in migration control.

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Daily Mail Daily Mail — 2025-11-11

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