Boat-Loads of Illegal Migrants Start to Turn Up on Britain’s Coasts

As of this morning more than fifty illegal migrants have been caught trying to enter the United Kingdom in just the last three days.

Nine migrants including three children were detained in Kent last night after crossing the English Channel in a dinghy, and a further four were picked up in a small boat just off Dover this morning.

This comes just as a wave of Forty migrants, only two of those being children were rescued in separate incidents on Christmas Day in the English Channel.

Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter intercepted a boat carrying 12 people and a child off the coast of Deal, Kent, at about 04:30 GMT.

The Home Office confurmed some of the migrants identified as Iraqis, Iranians, and Afghans.

Officials said the children will come under the care of social services.

All of the migrants have undergone a medical assessment and the adults have been transferred to immigration officials to be interviewed.

In French waters within the English Channel, nine migrants were also rescued however ended up in UK after their vessel’s engine failed.

French maritime officials tweeted two images of the rescue.

Another lifeboat was later spotted a rowing boat with two people on board about eight miles from Dover heading towards the UK

“The evidence shows there is organised criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel.

We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk.”

HM Coastguard said in a statement:

“[We are] committed to safeguarding life around the seas and coastal areas of this country. We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities.”

November and December has seen Constant attempts at illegal entries into the United Kingdom.