Child wrapped in a blanket is carried ashore as more migrants arrive
Sleeping child wrapped in a blanket is carried ashore after RNLI rescue dozens of migrants from Channel – as up to seven boats are spotted making dangerous dash to UK today with 187 arriving so far this year
- Group of men, woman and children are brought into Dover by an RNLI lifeboat looking cold and tired
- They are helped ashore by immigration officials and paramedics amid freezing temperatures this morning
- It comes after first crossing of 2022 on January 4 when 66 migrants arrived, followed by 96 more on Monday
- Another 25 made the journey yesterday, taking total confirmed to arrive on UK shores so far this year to 187
- Last year a record-breaking 28,381 people reached Britain from northern France, well up on 8,410 in 2020
A migrant carrying a baby draped in a blanket was among a group arriving in Britain this morning after several vessels were allegedly reported in the thick fog in the English Channel carrying dozens of people on board.
The men, woman and children were brought into Dover by an RNLI lifeboat looking cold and tired amid freezing temperatures before dawn today as they were helped ashore by immigration officials and paramedics.
It comes after the first crossing of 2022 on January 4 when 66 migrants arrived, followed by 96 more on Monday. Another 25 made the journey yesterday, taking the total confirmed to arrive on UK shores so far this year to 187.
Last year a record-breaking 28,381 people reached Britain from northern France by making the perilous Channel crossing, a huge increase on the 8,410 who made the trip in 2020. November 2021 saw the worst tragedy since the start of the crisis when 27 men, women and children died after their dinghy sank in the freezing cold waters.
Home Office minister Tom Pursglove said last night: ‘People fleeing persecution should seek safety in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives paying criminal gangs to cross the Channel.
A man carries a sleeping child wrapped in a blanket ashore as more migrants arrive at Dover in Kent this morning
The man carrying the child is directed by an official at Dover this morning after another group arrive across the Channel
The group are brought ashore on an RNLI lifeboat in Dover this morning after making the perilous cross-Channel journey
Last year a record-breaking 28,381 people reached Britain from northern France by making the perilous Channel crossing
‘This Government is reforming our approach to illegal entry to the UK and asylum by making the tough decisions to end the overt exploitation of our laws and its impact on UK taxpayers. The public have rightly had enough of the blatant disregard of our immigration laws and we are bringing in necessary long-term changes.
‘The Nationality and Borders Bill will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introduce life sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country.
‘It will also strengthen the powers of Border Force to stop and redirect vessels, while introducing new powers to remove asylum seekers to have their claims processed outside the UK.’
Yesterday, 25 migrants made the perilous journey across the Channel in one boat. Two toddlers were among the group who managed to cross the Channel by boat under the cover of darkness.
Around a dozen people could be seen being brought into Dover on board Border Force cutter Speedwell at about 3am yesterday. Many were wearing red life jackets and thick puffer coats after spending hours at sea overnight.
The migrants are brought ashore at Dover this morning after becoming the latest to make the perilous journey
An official directs migrants onto shore after they arrive on the coast of Kent before dawn this morning
A man carries a sleeping child up a ramp at Dover after the latest group of migrants arrive in Kent this morning
An immigration official directs the group of migrants where to go after they arrive on the coast of Kent this morning
One young child aged around three, wearing a blue coat and navy woolly hat, was carried by their father. They were followed by a mother, draped in a light blue blanket, holding a large bag with the family’s possessions.
An Immigration Enforcement officer could also be seen holding a very little girl wearing a pink onesie and woolly hat flanked by her parents.
On Monday, three groups were brought into Kent – with the third amounting to at least 30 people who were escorted into Dover on Border Force vessel Searcher at around midday.
That was on top of 60 to 70 people who made the journey overnight into Monday morning, arriving in the UK before 5.30am this morning.
Border Force boat Speedwell brought around 35 migrants into the UK at 4.40am on Monday, with another 30 or so arriving by RNLI lifeboat less than an hour later.
A man carries a child after the group of migrants arrive on the coast of Kent at the Port of Dover this morning
The RNLI Lifeboat brings the group of migrants into shore at the Port of Dover in Kent before dawn this morning
Paramedics help a young woman, possibly a child, onto shore in Dover this morning after she made the crossing
The RNLI Lifeboat brings the group of migrants into shore at the Port of Dover in Kent before dawn this morning
Several members of the group, which included a baby, appeared to be suffering from cramp after the long journey. One was seen being carried in a fireman’s lift up the ramp towards the immigration facility at Tug Haven.
In the first crossings of the year on January 4 when 66 migrants arrived, some shouted ‘UK we love you’ and one blew kisses at onlookers as they were brought into Dover aboard an RNLI lifeboat.
The first group of men, women and five young children, including a baby, were intercepted in the Channel during the morning and led off the lifeboat before being taken to an immigration processing centre.
Later, a group of about 20 people were brought in aboard Border Force vessel Hurricane, including one man who was pictured creating a dove gesture with his hands.
He overlapped his hands and spread his fingers to mimic the shape of the bird, which is commonly used to signify freedom and peace. They were the first to make the perilous crossing since December 27.
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