Around 100 people were trying to cross the Channel to France from France. They were saved off the coast England and taken to Dover.

After a coastguard plane flew over Channel, a pilot reported seeing several migrants in distress just after noon.

Pilots claimed that they witnessed migrants desperate to escape water and get air in their doomed dinghy, which had burst. 

After air started to escape from their small inflatable boat, one group of migrants were saved by the UK Border Force vessel “Hurricane” to save them. 

Others were also transported to shore by a small inflatable boat (RHIB), which was deployed alongside the RLNI’s Dover Lifeboat by UK Border Force vessels ‘Searcher and RLNI.

It comes just one day after it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly gave Home Secretary Priti Patel the green light to develop new powers that would allow male asylum seekers crossing the Narrow Sea to be held in immigration removal centres.

The government was also accused of being ‘cowardice” earlier in the week when it emerged that the Home Office intends to release a total of migrants crossings only four times per year and not on a daily basis.  

After crossing the Channel, at least 28381 migrants reached England in 2021. This is more than the total number who made it in 2020. However, there was significant investment by both the UK and French authorities in order to stop crossings.

Nearly 100 migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France were rescued off the coast of England and brought to Dover today (migrants pictured in a RHIB dispatched by the UK Border Force)

A total of nearly 100 migrants trying to cross the Channel to France from France were saved off the English coast and taken to Dover by today’s Border Force.

It came after a coastguard spotter plane flying over the Channel reported a sighting of several migrants in severe distress around midday today (migrants pictured aboard Border Force RHIB)

This happened after the Channel’s coastguard plane reported seeing several migrants in distress just before noon today. 

The migrants were transported to shore aboard a small rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) deployed by UK Border Force vessel 'Searcher', the UK Border Force vessel 'Hurricane', and the RLNI's Dover Lifeboat (pictured)

These migrants were taken to shore on a small, rigid inflatable boat (RHIB), deployed by UK Border Force vessels ‘Searcher, ‘Hurricane,’ and the RLNI Dover Lifeboat (pictured).

Official statistics show that more migrants have entered Britain in this month’s than any other time since January. UK authorities have intercepted more than 950 migrants so far this year – more than three times the 223 in January 2021. In 2020, only 8,410 people were caught in the Channel. Last year, 28381 migrants were captured in the Channel.

After it was revealed yesterday that the Prime Minister encouraged Priti Patel, Priti Patel and others to continue with the policy of detaining all male migrants, the Prime Minister appears to be taking steps to reduce the flow of migrants into the UK through the Channel.

The Home Office doesn’t publish any breakdowns of Channel migrants by gender or age, but Miss Patel claimed that 70% of Channel migrants who cross the Narrow sea are single men aged 40 and under. 

Mr Johnson’s new gung-ho attitude to border security is part of a series of populist policies which are intended to shore up his tottering premiership as the embattled Tory leader faces calls to quit over the ‘Partygate’ lockdown scandal enveloping Westminster.

According to The Times Miss Patel works closely with Suella Braverman, Attorney-General of India to find out what existing laws allow detention and what powers new MPs would need to approve.

At the moment, only UK-bound migrants can be held and are subject to the law. 

Next month, a Royal Navy announcement will be made as part of larger plans to assume operational control over Channel crossings.

These plans would be accompanied with powers to remove Channel migrants from the UK, including proposals to ‘outsource’ asylum claims to third countries.

Crew are pictured aboard a UK Border Force rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) on their way to rescue migrants from the perilous waters of the English Channel

Pictured are crew members aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RHIB), which is part of the UK Border Force. They were on the way to help migrants escape the dangerous waters of English Channel.

The UK Border Force Hurricane was tasked to rescue several migrants today who attempted to make the perilous Channel crossing aboard tiny vessels

Today, the UK Border Force Hurricane was dispatched to assist several migrants who tried to cross the Channel aboard small vessels.

Priti Patel has been accused of 'burying bad news' after it emerged the Government plans to scrap the publication of daily Channel migrant figures. Though the Home Office has not published a breakdown of Channel migrants by age or gender, Patel claims that seven in ten of all people who cross the Narrow Sea are single men under 40

After it was revealed that the Government intends to stop publishing daily Channel migration figures, Priti Patel was accused of “burying bad information”. Although the Home Office does not publish a breakdown by gender or age of Channel migrants, Patel asserts that 7 in 10 people crossing the Narrow Sea from India are men aged 40 and under.

What happens if someone crosses the Channel and arrives in the UK?

Rory Tingle

According to Refugee Council, the vast majority of those who cross the Channel by small boats seek asylum. This is where the difference between an adult and unaccompanied minor, or even a family unit can make a difference in what happens. 

ADULT 

1 – Immediately transferred into a short-term facility. These facilities are usually located in the south of England. After being fingerprinted, they are interviewed for a screening interview in which they give their nationality and date of birth. The screening interview allows them to register into the asylum program. 

2 – Usually, asylum seekers are sent to hostels run by the Home Office within a few days. However, these hostels have been overcrowded in recent years so official use hotels.   

They are then dispersed in a city or town in the UK to be ‘housing within the community’. However, these times have stretched in recent years. The Home Office relies on three private landlords for rented accommodation because dispersal accommodation is often full.  The asylum seekers receive housing and £39.63 a week as a cash allowance. 

4 – Asylum seekers will be given a preliminary information questionnaire (PIC), in which they answer questions about their fear of persecution. The Home Office invites them to substantive interview. They will then be asked questions using information from the screening interview and their PIC forms.

4. Applicants can appeal against a decision refusing to grant their request. They would be accommodated and supported. 

5 – They are considered to have exhausted their rights if they receive an initial refusal, don’t appeal, or the appeal is denied. They will get a letter from the Home Office informing them that they are being evicted, and that their weekly support is ending. 

Six – The Voluntary Return Scheme allows them to sign up, which will allow the Home Office to pay for their flight. They could be detained and even removed by immigration officers if they do not sign up. However, there is not enough space for them so people are often homeless and left without a home.

CHILD

The children under 18 are transferred for shorter periods to temporary housing facilities. They then transfer into the custody of local authorities. The social worker assigns them accommodation.

If minors have been divorced from their parents, the Home Office can’t remove them. They could, however, be allowed to remain in the country until 17 years and half if their asylum application is denied. 

FAMILY 

There is one slight exception: if the Family becomes an ‘appeal right exhausted’ case, then the Home Office won’t remove them from accommodation or end their financial support. 

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘The British public have had enough of seeing people die in the Channel while ruthless criminal gangs profit from their misery and our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system which encourages migrants to make this lethal journey.’ 

UK authorities have intercepted more than 800 migrants so far this year — more than three times the 223 who sailed across the Narrow Sea in January 2021. The Channel intercepted 28381 individuals last year, while only 8,410 were in 2020.

Home Office officials have warned Miss Patel that 65,000 migrants could cross the Channel this year – more than double last year’s 28,300 record number.

After it was revealed that the Home Office would soon cease issuing daily totals for migrant crossings, in favor of an announcement at every three months of a running total. 

Currently, the Home Office issues data once arrivals have been processed and confirmed by the UK Border Force. This is usually on the next day. However, this may stop if the Ministry of Defence (MoD), takes control of operations to intercept migrants. 

The move has drawn criticism from Tory MPs – with one saying it ‘seems more like burying bad news than being transparent about crossings. 

Unidentified Conservative added: “It looks like covering up. No doubt journalists will create their own figures, based upon people arriving at Tughaven.” [the migrant processing centre in Dover]Freedom of Information and Privacy of Information Requests 

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK which campaigns for tougher border controls, added: ‘This is a cowardly act. It is a sign that the Government runs scared.

‘I’m very surprised at Priti Patel, and the British people deserve better from her. 

‘Do they really think they can hide the figures from the electorate when all this takes place in the open on our beaches and at our ports?

‘The Home Office can’t simply pretend this problem is not happening, and hope it will go away.’

Internal Home Office documents show officials are planning for a ‘worst case scenario’ of up to 65,000 arrivals this year.

Dover’s Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke said: ‘We need to continue with daily updates. 

‘To start reporting them on any other basis I don’t think will be acceptable, particularly for such an important and immediate issue.

‘Not having accurate daily figures risks misinformation being spread about the number of arrivals, and that would be highly damaging to the attempts to try to solve this long-standing crisis.’ 

Philip Hollobone, another Tory backbencher who is MP for Kettering, said: ‘Any attempt to hide the scale of the problem will raise alarm bells among everyone who is concerned about this. 

“Maximum transparency” is required here. Public demand to see daily arrivals numbers.

‘Until the daily figure goes down to zero, they will not be satisfied.

‘Trying to cover up the scale of the problem is helping no-one but the Government.’

Hollobone stated that he will raise concerns with the Home Office.

‘Its strategy to stop people trafficking across the Channel isn’t working. Until we can take people back to France the numbers will keep on going up,’ he added.

In the meantime, furious activists are suing for putting up posters stating “safety at Sea” in Dunkirk’s migrant camp to warn people who might attempt crossing the English Channel.

Activists have sparked fury after putting up 'safety at sea' posters (pictured) in a Dunkirk migrant camp for people attempting to cross the English Channel

After putting up posters stating “safety at Sea” (pictured), activists have caused fury among people who are trying to cross the English Channel.

Posters in various languages advised the migrants to stay seated when crossing waterways and to point to anyone who falls in to the sea.

These posters are believed to be the work of activists for Watch The Channel. The poster has a QR code that links to its website.

Critics have condemned the posters for ‘encouraging’ migrants to make the dangerous crossing to England  from France.

‘This is dangerous and irresponsible communication being given out in the camps by social media and internet-based enablers,’ Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said.

“The Channel crossings can be extremely dangerous, and it puts lives at danger. People should be safe when they land in France.