Britain's border security chief has resigned after failing to reduce the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Martin Hewitt, a former senior Metropolitan Police officer, will leave his post as border security commander at the end of March, the Home Office confirmed, after just 18 months in the role.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Hewitt shortly after Labour's general election victory, tasking him with curbing the rising number of small boat arrivals. However, crossings surged during his tenure, with almost 60,000 people making the journey since September 2024. Last year saw the second-highest annual total, with 41,472 arrivals.
A Home Office spokesperson thanked Hewitt for his “dedicated leadership,” noting that the Border Security Command had brought together government agencies, law enforcement, and international partners to tackle people smuggling gangs. An interim replacement is expected to take over at the end of the month before a permanent successor is announced.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp blamed the government's “complete failure” on small boats, arguing that Labour's cancellation of the Rwanda removals plan was a disaster. He claimed that since the election, 67,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel, a 45% increase compared to the same period before.
