Border Security Chief to Step Down After 18 Months in the Role

UK Border Chief Quits as Migrant Boat Crossings Surge

Britain’s top official tasked with tackling illegal Channel crossings is stepping down after failing to curb the crisis. Martin Hewitt, head of the Border Security Command, will leave his post at the end of March—well before the end of his three-year term—following mounting frustration inside the Home Office over persistently high migrant arrivals. His departure comes after more than 66,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since …

UK Border Chief Quits After Failing to Curb Migrant Channel Crossings

The head of the UK's border security command, Martin Hewitt, will step down at the end of March after failing to curb the surge in small boat Channel crossings, with nearly 60,000 making the journey on his watch.

Border security chief to step down after 18 months in the role

Martin Hewitt had been tasked with cutting the numbers trying to get to the UK in small boats.

Is controlling Britain’s borders an impossible job?

UK Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt today stepped down, only 18 months into his tenure. His role was to reduce small-boat Channel crossings by “smashing the gangs”.  Immigrant-smuggling networks would be treated like drug cartels or terrorist organizations, with Hewitt coordinating operations. By any metric, he failed: in 2025 over 41,000 migrants crossed the Channel, the highest number since 2020. It’s unknown whether the former police c…

UK border security chief quits after failing to bring down small boat crossings

Almost 60,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Martin Hewitt was appointed

Border security chief to step down as government fails to get a grip on small boats

Sir Keir Starmer appointed Martin Hewitt, a former senior police officer, shortly after Labour took power