Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Migrants in inflatable dinghies land on beaches in Kent

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children wait on side of road to be picked up after crossing English Channel as another 40 are brought ashore by coastguard in Dover

  • At least 20 suspected migrants landed on Kent shores and 40 migrants were picked up by Border Force today 
  • Large Iraqi family of five including two children aged six and seven dodged Border Force to reach Kingsdown
  • Another group of Asian migrants also made it to shore at Folkestone this morning after Channel crossing
  • Staggering 826 migrants have arrived over six days in September, and 5,581 have crossed into UK this year 

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today.

At least 20 suspected migrants crossed from France into Britain today and landed on Kent shores, while another 40 were brought into the busy Kent port by Border Force patrol boats. 

Photos show tired migrants wearing lifejackets and being escorted up the gangway to the harbourside, where they will be processed by Home Office immigration officials. 

A large group, including an Iraqi family of five with children aged six and seven, dodged Border Force to reach Kingsdown, Kent, on a huge green inflatable boat.  

Another group of three Asian migrants, wrapped in blankets and wearing lifejackets, also made it to shore at Folkestone this morning.  

After a lull in people attempting the dangerous crossing over the last few days, crossings resumed in large numbers amid low winds.

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today 

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today 

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today 

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

One of the dinghies, packed with lifejackets, that dozens of exhausted migrants used to cross the English Channel today

It is understood more dinghies believed to be carrying migrants remain in the Channel and are being monitored by the Coastguard.

The latest arrivals come despite Home Secretary Priti Patel’s vow to make the route ‘unviable’, and the continued row between the Home Office and the legal profession on how to tackle the crossings.  

One Border Force rib was later seen towing four dinghies into Kent harbour, which are believed to have been used by the migrants.

The Coastguard, the RNLI and the Border Force cutter Seeker are all active this morning responding to migrants making the dangerous journey. French patrol forces are also active across the water border.   

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today 

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today 

Dozens of exhausted migrants including families with young children waited on the side of the road to be picked up near Kingsdown Beach in Kent after crossing the English Channel today 

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel 

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel 

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel 

Responding to reports of more migrant crossings today, Nigel Farage said: ‘Total chaos in the Channel this morning. Border Force can’t cope, there have been several beach landings and some migrants have now disappeared into the hills.’

It comes after 17 refugees crammed on one boat reached the UK yesterday.

So far in September, a staggering 826 migrants have arrived over six days, including a single-day record of 416 on 28 boats on September 2.

At least 5,851 migrants have reached Britain so far this year. 

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel 

A Border Force Officer carries a child migrant at Dover Marina after being rescued in the English Channel by the Border Force

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel 

Suspected migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel 

Border Force officials have detained 223 migrants in 18 dinghies after they crossed the English Channel to reach the UK on Monday – as French authorities stopped another 106 people making the crossing.

More migrants have been setting out from the coast of France while the weather is warm in a desperate attempt to reach the UK before autumn.    

Dan O’Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said he has been working with counterparts in France to ‘make this route completely unviable’.  

They also revealed a further 106 people in eight boats were stopped by French authorities before they could get into UK waters. 

An empty migrant dinghy is collected by the Border force off the beach at St Margaret’s Bay after the occupants landed from France on September 11, 2020 in Dover

Migrants wait on the beach at St Margaret’s Bay after landing by dinghy from France on September 11, 2020 in Dover

Migrants wait on the beach at St Margaret’s Bay after landing by dinghy from France on September 11, 2020 in Dover

Mr O’Mahoney said: ‘These crossings are facilitated by criminals willing to risk people’s lives for money. 

‘France is a safe country with a fully functioning asylum system – those seeking refuge can and should claim asylum there.

‘I continue to work with my counterparts in France on a daily basis to make this route completely unviable, and this morning the French stopped more migrants leaving the coastline – though I recognise the number still reaching the UK remains too high.

‘We continue to return those who do not have a legitimate asylum claim despite barriers to removals under the Dublin Regulations and legal challenges.’  

A migrant removes his wet clothing at the beach at St Margaret’s Bay after landing by dinghy from France on September 11, 2020 in Dover

Migrants wait on the beach at St Margaret’s Bay after landing by dinghy from France on September 11, 2020 in Dover

Migrants wait on the beach at St Margaret’s Bay after landing by dinghy from France on September 11, 2020 in Dover

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