More than 60,000 could cross the Channel this year, Migration Watch has warned (Image: Getty)
Labour’s border tsar was accused of a “pathetic” capitulation to small boat gangs after saying halving crossings in three years would be a success.
Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt provoked fury during an interview at the Home Office’s Organised Immigration Crime Summit by only saying he wants to see a “very, very significant reduction” in arrivals.
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But when pushed on what a successful reduction would look like, Mr Hewitt told the Financial Times “halving crossings” during his three-year tenure would be considered a win.
More than 60,000 migrants could cross the Channel this year, think-tank Migration Watch warned.
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Martin Hewitt has been heavily criticised for his comments during an interview (Image: Getty)
A chart showing Channel crossings (Image: Daily Express)
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said of Mr Hewitt's comments: “This is defeatist nonsense.
“Australia completely stopped illegal boat crossings about 10 years ago using a removals deterrent.
“It was a catastrophic mistake to cancel the Rwanda removals deterrent before it started.
“So far, 2025 has been the worst year ever for crossings.
“And now the border chief is saying they’re not even going to try to stop the boats completely. That kind of defeatist capitulation is pathetic and wrong.”
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson added: "Martin Hewitt is a pathetic excuse for a Border Security Commander. He was hired to do a job but has now pledged to do only half of it.
"This is Labour openly admitting that border security is not a priority. They are content with reducing crossings by just 50%, but I will not accept any number higher than zero.
"Reform UK will stop the boats, deport foreign criminals, and remove anyone living in the UK unlawfully.
“Labour has no intention of doing this, and Martin Hewitt is the perfect example of their lack of action.”
More than 6,600 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year.
This includes 4,586 in March – the highest figure ever recorded in the first six months of a calendar year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used an immigration summit in London to urge more than 40 countries to do more to tackle smuggler supply lines and cash flows.
He wants nations to share intelligence, resources, tactics and equipment to “smash the gangs.
But Labour is coming under intense scrutiny over its “smash the gangs plan” as three of the top ten months with the most arrivals have come under Sir Keir’s premiership.
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Officials believe there have been far more “red days” – when crossings are considered likely because conditions are calmer – than in previous years.
Mr Hewitt told the Financial Times of his targets: “I think what [success] looks like is a very, very significant reduction in the level of crossings,” he said, adding that he would be pleased “if we can get to literally halving [crossings] and consistently” by the end of his tenure.
But he warned: “There are conflict regions around the world which are going to make people want to move.
Mr Hewitt added there is “no quick answer to solving this issue”.
He said: “The drug trade has significantly larger amounts of money involved, significantly larger numbers of organised criminals involved.
“I think [small boats] is beatable in a way that I wouldn’t make the same argument with the drugs trade.
“That cost [of equipment] is now being borne by criminals but there will have to come a point where they’re going to have to start passing some of that on to the people that are trying to travel,” he said.
A Labour source said: "Martin Hewitt has dedicated his life to protecting the British public and keeping our country safe, including leading the policing response to Covid, so for Chris Philp to launch this personal attack on him is nothing short of a disgrace.
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"Even worse, this is the same Chris Philp who watched 75,000 people cross the Channel during his time as a Home Office minister and did nothing about it.
"Even now, while Martin Hewitt is working flat out to smash the smuggling gangs, all Chris Philp can offer is a return to the Rwanda Scheme, which cost ￡700 million and never succeeded in deterring a single boat or deporting a single migrant against their will.
"Under Philp's Rwanda Scheme, all he ever achieved was four volunteers agreeing to start a new life in Kigali at a cost of ￡150,000 each, to enjoy free housing, free private healthcare and free university education at the British taxpayers' expense. If that's the policy Chris Philp wants to go back to, give us Martin Hewitt going after gang leaders any day."