Today, 45 additional migrants arrived in British waters. This brings the number of people that have fled to Britain to nearly 27,000 people just days before Christmas.
Border Force officials from Dungeness in Kent helped the migrants ashore after they had crossed the English Channel during heavy fog.
Tired and freezing from the winter cold, the migrants were seen without lifejackets stepping on to dry land Dungeness in Kent at around 7am after being picked up in the English Channel by the RNLI.
After walking up the vast beach of shingle, they were wrapped in blankets and escorted along by officers before being transported to the police station.
Border Force officials from Dungeness in Kent helped at least 45 migrants ashore after they had crossed the English Channel from France.
For warmth, migrants (mostly men) were dressed up in scarves, hooded jackets, and gloves.
Border Force officers in Dungeness and Kent assist the men at sea this morning
The Coastguard Rescue helicopter arrived to rescue five migrants from the dinghy they jumped out of eight miles away, just off Dungeness.
It comes after another 100 were intercepted yesterday, bringing the grand total of migrants crossing to British soil this year up to at least 26,792, compared with just 8,410 for the whole of 2020.
Before Wednesday the last groups to make the crossing came on December 5, when Border Force needed three boats to deal with the numbers.
Border Force officers detained 40 migrants on Thursday, after they landed at Dungeness at 11.30pm. They had been brought by RNLI lifeboats to the shore.
This is despite assurances by the Home Office that there had been’significant improvements’, inspectors discovered migrants still living in very poor conditions upon their arrival on shore.
Workers for Border Force and the RNLI helped the large number of migrants to shore this morning.
The men walked along the vast, sandy beach in their blankets before they were escorted to police.
Officials from the Border Force and the RNLI assist migrants as they reach shore using a ladder.
According to reports published three months ago, migrant detention centers were visited and found that women who claimed they were raped were not being adequately supported. Lone children are also being held together with non-related adults.
This week the Home Office has confirmed that part of Manston (MoD site) will be used by the Ministry of Defence to handle migrants.
French prosecutors have confirmed that all 27 people who drowned crossing the English Channel last month by boat to get to the UK were identified.
Two small children were part of yesterday’s group – one was a toddler, and immigration officers were on the lookout for them
About 30 people were photographed walking up the large shingle beach with police escorting them.
This group consisted of seven girls, one teenager, and one seven-year-old girl. They drowned in Channel waters while trying to reach Britain.
According to Paris authorities, the final identification was made by a Vietnamese-born man aged 29.
The 26 previously identified victims of the boat crash were mostly Iraqi Kurds. The disaster also claimed the lives of four Afghan men and three Ethiopians.
The majority of the deceased were men. However, there were seven females among those that died: a sixteen-year old and a seven year-old.
Because they don’t have official documentation, authorities often struggle to identify dead migrants. Family members also frequently travel far from home to view the bodies.
It was the Channel’s most tragic accident involving a migrants boat. This incident brought to light the desperate attempts of many people crossing the waterway between France & England.
This also led to major diplomatic tensions in Paris and London.
Within 48 hours, the French President Emmanuel Macron had accused Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister of not being serious in his efforts to stop the crossings.
France was offended by Johnson’s initial response, seen as shifting blame onto France. He then decided to write Macron a complete letter, which he shared on Twitter, before Macron received it.
According to investigators, migrants fled from Loon-Plage (northern France) in an inflatable vessel at night.
Only two people, one an Iraqi Kurd (and one a Sudanese) were able to be rescued from the water after their boat capsized. The French interior ministry said that they were able to rescue the two men.
The survivor from Iraq said that there were 33 persons aboard.
French investigators continue to try and get an even clearer understanding of the tragedy.
Investigators are currently looking into claims that the victims had called British and French emergency service lines, appealing for help as the vessel was sinking.
Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney stated that the last month’s tragedy was a reminder of dangers associated with Channel crossings. He added: “Last Month’s tragedy is devastating and reminds us of these dangers. We are determined to partner with European and International partners in pursuing the organised criminal gangs responsible.”
“Unbelievably these gangs continue their deadly trade with more crossings happening today, shamelessly putting life at risk.
‘The Government’s New Plan for Immigration will be firm on those coming here via illegal routes and fair for those using safe and legal routes. This will lower the attraction factors for the current asylum system and immigration system.