Asylum seekers on vessel 'are brought ashore in UK'

Asylum seekers on vessel 'are brought ashore in UK'

Emerson 0 11 04.28 15:29
Asylum seekers travelling on an overloaded inflatable boat that motored away from the French coastguard have been 'brought ashore in the UK', it is believed. 

Two RNLI lifeboats were dispatched from Dover and Walmer to the English Channel when fears were raised the vessel would capsize having veered into a shipping lane off Calais. 

MailOnline understands the migrants were rescued and taken ashore in the UK. 

The small inflatable boat was launched from Sangette Beach in northern France early this morning, with those on board hoping to take advantage of the millpond conditions to make the dangerous crossing.

Shocking video showed a French coastguard boat trying to assist the vessel as it drifted helplessly into shipping lanes in the Dover Strait.




The boat was packed with migrants, many of whom did not appear to be wearing life jackets





A French coastguard vessel approached the boat, which continued on its journey











Small children and babies appeared to be among those on board





A French rescue ship, the Abeille, was seen near the boat as it drifted towards British waters





Pictures shows the boat struggling under the weight of the many people on board





The boat was seen chugging along, away from French rescuers, towards UK waters







A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible. 

'We continue to work closely with French police who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journeys. 

'We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats.' 

Despite it struggling under the weight of the many people on board, its engine appeared to have feebly powered it away from the coast of Calais and miles out into the open sea.

Disturbing pictures showed many of those clinging on to the boat were not wearing life jackets and that there also appeared to be young children and babies on board. 

The boat is believed to have drifted into UK waters, with British lifeboat and coastguard vessels being launched in an effort to rescue the asylum seekers. 

An eyewitness said that around 50 people had managed to board the flimsy vessel.

It was seen chugging along, away from French rescuers, towards UK waters, where RNLI and coastguard teams were likely to intervene.




The boat was launched from Sangatte Beach, near Calais in northern France. Pictured: Tracker shows French patrol vessel changing course to intercept the boat off the coast of Sangatte





Coastguard officials were seen approaching the overfull boat as it drifted in the open sea





People on board the inflatable vessel are seen clinging on, with many dangling their legs over the side





The migrants, who launched the boat from Sangatte Beach, are likely to have wanted to take advantage of the calm conditions





A group of people believed to be migrants are seen being brought ashore in Dover today





Boats used by people thought to be migrants are lifted on to the quayside in Dover, Kent, following small boat incidents in the Channel today





A RNLI lifeboat carrying a group of people believed to be migrants are seen being brought in to Dover, Kent, this morning





A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover onboard the RNLI Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel this morning





People thought to be migrants are seen being brought in to Dover, Kent, this morning

Maritime tracker showed that BF Defender and RNLI vessels had been launched and were operating in the middle of the Channel. 

The dramatic sequence of events unfolded after migrants reportedly overpowered police officers on Sangatte Beach, in northern France, earlier this morning.

They managed to launch the vessel with dozens jumping on board, a witness said, before the boat drifted along the coastline.

The boat's overloaded condition posed a significant risk, with fears that it may capsize or become unseaworthy.

Earlier today, another group of migrants was intercepted by a Border Force vessel and escorted into Dover, Kent.

The mostly male group, wearing orange life jackets, could be seen disembarking the catamaran amid foggy conditions shortly after 8am this morning.

In the early hours of yesterday French police stormed a beach near Calais preventing 60 people from attempting the crossing in a number of inflatables.

They also seized cannisters of fuel and an outboard engine.

The French Police Nationale tweeted: 'On the night of Monday to Tuesday on the beach of Hemmes de Marck, the #policiers of Pas-de-Calais prevented the departure of about sixty people aboard several makeshift boats towards Great Britain.'

It came on the same day that 61 migrants were intercepted in one dinghy, according to official figures, and brought into Dover on a Border Force vessel.

Last year, Tony Smith, the former director-general of the Home Office agency, told The Times that migrants 'resist rescue' from French authorities in the hope that they will be picked up in British waters, allowing them to seek asylum in the UK.

'Those on board are not seeking rescue, because... then they'll be taken back to France,' he said.

'So there is evidence that people are resisting rescue until such a time as they reach our waters and of course we are duty bound — Border Force is duty bound — to rescue them.




A total of 2,255 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, on a par with 2022 which saw a record number of people making the Euro travelogue journey





A separate rescue this morning saw dozens of migrants escorted from a boat in the Channel





A separate Border force vessel carrying 50 migrants docked in Dover this morning





People believed to be migrants are seen being brought ashore in Dover, Kent

'Once they're on board a British vessel they will claim asylum and that's been the business model for some time now.'

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said of the ongoing operation in the Channel: 'HM Coastguard is coordinating the response to reports of a small boat crossing the English Channel this morning. 

'RNLI lifeboats and Border Force vessels have been sent.'

After weeks of poor conditions in the Dover Strait during the first two months of 2024, people smugglers have been taking advantage of calmer weather this month.

A total of 1,213 asylum seekers have crossed the Channel in 25 boats so far this month, according to official government figures.

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