Daily Mail investigation reveals Border Force waves hundreds of Channel boat migrants through Ramsgate port in Kent with minimal security checks before transfer to Manston processing centre

For years, small boats crossing the Channel have been a political flashpoint.

Now a fresh concern has surfaced: migrants arriving on the Kent coast are reportedly being moved on with remarkable speed, raising fears that proper security checks may not be happening at the point of entry.

A recent investigation suggests that since the temporary switch from Dover to Ramsgate, the window between disembarkation and transfer to a processing centre has shrunk to well under an hour in many cases.

The Home Office insists nothing has changed in terms of security. Critics aren’t so sure.

From Sea To Shore In Minutes

The relocation from Dover to Ramsgate — roughly 20 miles along the coast — was presented as a logistical adjustment.

But whistleblowers claim the move has opened what they describe as a “dangerous” gap.

Border Force vessels including Typhoon, Defender, Volunteer and Ranger have been ferrying intercepted migrants into Ramsgate harbour since early February.

Observers timed several arrivals.

On one occasion, migrants stepping off Typhoon were at the dockside for just 27 minutes before being driven away.

The total time from landing to arrival at the Manston processing centre: 38 minutes.

On another day, those brought in by Defender were on coaches within half an hour.

Volunteer’s passengers were transferred in 44 minutes. Ranger’s arrivals were moved on in under 30 minutes.

For critics, that pace is startling.

A Brief Stop At The Quayside

What happens in those short windows? According to accounts gathered from recent arrivals and staff sources, migrants hand over lifejackets, are given dry clothing, basic medical wipes and scanned for weapons using handheld devices.

Then they board coaches bound for the Manston site, around three miles away.

There are no full security interviews at the port itself.

Those are said to happen later — if at all.

The concern raised by whistleblowers is simple: is half an hour enough time to screen for criminal histories, extremist links or false identities when many arrive without documents?

Inside Manston

The Manston facility is described by the Home Office as secure.

New arrivals typically stay up to three days.

During that period, fingerprints are taken, identities recorded and background checks initiated.

Interviews reportedly last around 45 minutes.

Afterward, migrants are dispersed to hotels or Home Office accommodation across the country.

Yet critics argue the initial lack of in-depth checks at the port could be significant.

One whistleblower claimed there have been instances of individuals leaving the site temporarily or being collected by relatives. “It’s not a prison,” they noted. “Nor is it meant to be.”

The Dover Difference

Previously, arrivals at Dover reportedly underwent longer screening procedures before being transported onward.

Those checks included health assessments and more detailed questioning — sometimes taking hours.

The intention, officials said at the time, was to identify those carrying weapons, those with criminal convictions, or individuals who might pose a national security risk.

The shift to Ramsgate, even if temporary, appears to have streamlined that first stage considerably.

Political Fire Ignites

The controversy has quickly spilled into politics.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp warned that the Government must ensure “proper checks” are conducted on every individual arriving illegally, arguing that without documentation it is impossible to know who is entering the country.

Meanwhile, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf went further, calling for immediate detention and deportation of all those arriving via small boats.

The Government maintains that security procedures remain unchanged despite the relocation and insists that all arrivals are processed “in the usual way.”

The Numbers Keep Climbing

The timing of the controversy is significant.

Small boat crossings have surged again this year.

Seventy-four migrants arrived in Ramsgate on Tuesday alone — the first arrivals there since February 9 — bringing the 2026 total at that point to 1,604.

The following day was reportedly the busiest of the year so far, with estimates suggesting more than 400 crossings in a single day.

That would push the total since January 1 beyond 2,000.

These crossings are typically coordinated by smuggling networks operating from northern France.

Migrants often discard passports or identification en route, making verification far more complex upon arrival.

A Long-Running Crisis

The Channel migration issue has plagued successive governments.

From increased patrols to deals with France, and proposals to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, ministers have tried a range of strategies to stem the flow.

None has fully stopped it.

The crossing remains perilous. Overcrowded dinghies, freezing waters and nighttime departures make each journey risky.

Border Force’s primary stated objective at sea is saving lives.

But critics argue that life-saving must not come at the expense of security.

What’s Next?

Pressure is likely to mount for transparency over exactly what checks are conducted, and when.

Parliamentary scrutiny could follow, particularly if whistleblower claims gain traction.

There may also be renewed calls for tighter maritime enforcement or changes to asylum processing rules.

If arrivals continue at current levels, the logistical strain on facilities like Manston — and on local communities — will intensify.

The debate ultimately hinges on balance: humanitarian response versus border control.

And with numbers rising, that balance is under sharper examination than ever.

A System Under Strain

Whether the Ramsgate relocation proves a short-term adjustment or a sign of broader operational change remains to be seen.

But the optics are powerful: migrants arriving, scanned briefly, then moved inland in under an hour.

For supporters of stricter controls, that’s alarming. For the Government, it’s business as usual.

The Channel, once simply a stretch of water between two allies, has again become one of Britain’s most politically charged frontiers.

---

Summary

An investigation claims migrants arriving by small boat at Ramsgate are being transferred to the Manston processing centre in under an hour, raising concerns about the thoroughness of security checks.

Border Force vessels including Typhoon, Defender, Volunteer and Ranger have brought in arrivals who were reportedly scanned and moved on within 30 to 45 minutes.

Critics argue this rapid process may leave gaps in vetting undocumented individuals.

Politicians including Chris Philp and Zia Yusuf have called for stricter controls, while the Home Office insists security procedures remain unchanged.

With more than 2,000 migrants estimated to have crossed the Channel so far this year, the debate over border security and processing standards shows no sign of easing.