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Around 40 men and women and five young children, including a baby, were intercepted and brought into Dover on an RNLI lifeboat at around 11am. The baby girl – in a pink onesie – was carried ashore by her father yesterday before being helped by a border official.

The migrants were escorted up the gangway by immigration officials before being taken off to be processed.

The group had endured volatile weather during the dangerous crossing.

Around four hours later, another 20 people were taken into Dover on Border Force vessel Hurricane, including one man who was pictured creating a dove gesture with his hands, used to signify freedom and peace. The latest arrivals – believed to be the first this year – came after more than 28,300 people crossed the Dover Strait on small boats during 2021 – triple the number for 2020.

Home Office minister Tom Pursglove said: “Seeking asylum for protection should not involve people asylum shopping country to country, or risking their lives by lining the pockets of criminal gangs to cross the Channel.”

He said the Government was “making tough decisions to end the overt exploitation of our laws and taxpayers”.

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Border Force and French boats have been active in the Channel this week as renewed attempts were made to cross the dangerous waters. The last 12 months have seen smugglers packing more people aboard larger dinghies.

Clare Moseley, founder of charity Care4Calais, which supports refugees living in northern France, said increased boat arrivals reflected a shift from attempts to cross by lorry.

She said: “They are some of the most vulnerable people in the world, having lost family in conflicts, suffered horrific torture and inhumane persecution.”

Yesterday’s crossings came just days after French police demolished makeshift camps in Calais. Clashes broke out as police dismantled the site near a roundabout where migrants try to board lorries in the hope of reaching the UK.

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