Arrests as migrant boat reaches UK unintercepted

Five people have been detained and sent to border security command after a migrant boat reached Kent without being intercepted.

The dinghy made it to shore at Folkestone on Monday morning. The Home Office says an investigation has begun.

All on the boat are believed to have been accounted for.

The thousands of migrants who cross the Channel are usually brought to shore by border security command or RNLI boats but this one is thought to have slipped through undetected.

No small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort have been officially recorded since 6 September, 2025.

Kent Police said it became aware of the incident at about 09:25 BST on Monday.

"Patrols attended and five people were detained and passed to border security command officers," the force said.

The Home Office called the incident "isolated and rare".

It said: "Officers responded quickly, detaining five individuals. There is an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Also on Monday, people in life jackets were pictured being taken into the border security command compound in Dover.

Other migrant dinghies were also believed to be in the Channel, with French lifeboat and navy vessels tracking one as far west as Normandy.

Some 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,011 since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.

The 2026 total is down 46% on this time last year.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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