An investigation has begun into whether a migrant boat reached the Kent coast without being intercepted by Border Force. The incident allegedly occurred on Saturday, marking the first time this has happened since December 2022.
Nearly 100,000 people have made the perilous Channel crossing since that date. More than 1,000 migrants were recorded arriving on Saturday alone.
Saturday's incident near Dover
Kent Police responded to reports of suspected migrants near Kingsdown, Deal at 7:50pm on Saturday. Five people were detained and passed to Border Force officers, according to a Kent Police spokeswoman.
No small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort have been officially recorded since 10th December 2022. Home Office figures currently show zero unescorted arrivals for Saturday.
Continued Channel crossings
More migrants crossed the Channel on Tuesday, with at least five boats arriving in Dover. Footage showed people disembarking from Border Force boats at the Kent port.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed they sent Border Force vessels, RNLI lifeboats and aircraft in response to small boat activity in the Channel on Tuesday. Two RNLI vessels were tracked heading to a possible rescue site about 10 miles from the coast.
Political response intensifies
The crossings come as newly-appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood faces pressure to ramp up the UK's response to record arrivals. Since starting her role days ago, the number of migrants crossing the Channel has topped 30,000 for the year.
This represents the earliest point in a calendar year that the 30,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018. Mahmood called the numbers "utterly unacceptable" and said she expected migrant returns under a deal with France to begin "imminently".
France agreement delays
The "one in, one out" agreement with France detained the first migrants on 6th August but has not yet returned anyone to the continent. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said returns were expected to begin this month, adding that political turmoil in France was not to blame for delays.
The Home Office declined to comment on the investigation as it remains ongoing.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
