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

Martin Hewitt, the former police chief who was appointed to lead the UK’s Border Security Command with the aim of reducing small boat crossings across the Channel, has stepped down from his role after serving 18 months. His appointment was initially hailed by Sir Keir Starmer as a major advancement in combating illegal migration and dismantling criminal smuggling networks.

Despite Hewitt’s leadership, the number of small boat arrivals continued to rise, with last year recording the second highest total on record. Ministers are currently developing interim solutions to fill the vacancy until a permanent replacement is named. A Home Office spokesperson expressed gratitude for Hewitt’s dedicated service, highlighting how the Border Security Command has successfully coordinated efforts among government agencies, law enforcement, and international partners to fight people smuggling and advance legislation like the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.

During a Commons Home Affairs Select Committee session in October, Hewitt shared his frustration with the slow response from French authorities in preventing crossings, while acknowledging that deterring migrants from attempting the journey would be a gradual process. In reaction to his resignation, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp attributed the ongoing failures on the small boats issue not to Hewitt, but to the government’s leadership. Philp criticized Sir Keir Starmer and home secretary Shabana Mahmood, saying they lacked the will to implement harsh measures such as withdrawing from the European Court of Human Rights and deporting illegal immigrants swiftly.

The Labour government’s decision to cancel the previous Conservative administration’s Rwanda relocation policy, which sought to process asylum claims offshore, was also heavily criticized as a setback. Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf added that open borders persist because successive leaders, including Starmer, have failed to secure them. Hewitt’s prior role in policing, notably as chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, was praised at the time of his appointment, with the prime minister emphasizing his expertise in leading international enforcement against smuggling gangs to protect the UK’s borders and manage asylum effectively

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