Several migrant boats have been spotted off the Kent coast this morning, Sky News understands.

The area of response has stretched across from Dover to Winchelsea Beach in East Sussex, where border force agents have been seen engaging with some of the migrants.

It is believed up to eight migrant boats are involved.

Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, said if the number of boats is verified, it would be “a record number of boats arriving in a single day”.

In December, the home secretary declared a major incident regarding the channel crossings following a spike in migrants attempting to cross into the country by water.

Mr Elphicke added: “This crisis was meant to have been dealt with at Christmas, yet numbers continue to rise. It looks set to surge to record levels through the summer. The home office needs to get a grip on this crisis.

“This is about much more than simply border security. It is about the exploitation of vulnerable people by criminal trafficking gangs – gangs that Britain and France must work together to catch and bring to justice.

“These journeys are also incredibly dangerous. Overcrowded boats with men, women & children aboard. The risk of a tragedy in the middle of the English Channel resulting in loss of life is very real. This is why the home office and France must act now to bring this crisis to an end.”

A spokesperson for the maritime and coastguard agency said: “We have been assisting border force with incidents off the Kent coast this morning.”

A statement from the home office confirmed the border force “is currently dealing with ongoing small boat incidents off the Kent coast. Further details will be provided once the situation has been resolved.”

Seven days ago, eight migrants were found in a boat in the Channel heading towards the Kent coast and were taken to immigration centres.

The week before that, 52 migrants were intercepted by border force boats off the coast of Kent.

Speaking after the incident last week, a Home Office spokesperson said: “Anyone crossing the Channel in a small boat is taking a huge risk with their life.

“Since the home secretary declared a major incident in December, two cutters have returned to UK waters from overseas operations, we have agreed a joint action plan with France and increased activity out of the Joint Coordination and Information Centre in Calais.

“It is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and since January more than 30 people who arrived illegally in the UK in small boats have been returned to elsewhere in Europe.”

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