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'Migrants' found on boat off Dover included toddler 'Migrants' found on two boats off Dover included toddler
(about 4 hours later)
Another boat with suspected migrants on board has been picked up by the coastguard off the Kent coast. Two more boats with suspected migrants on board have been picked up by the coastguard off the Kent coast.
The Home Office confirmed there were seven men, one woman and a toddler on board the "small open boat". They are believed to be Iranian. Seven men, one woman and a toddler were on board a "small open boat", while 10 men were understood to be on another. They are all believed to be Iranian.
The coastguard was alerted to the vessel "in distress in the south west shipping lane" at 04:30 GMT. The coastguard was alerted to the first vessel "in distress in the south west shipping lane" at 04:30 GMT. The second boat was spotted at about 09:00 GMT.
It is the third discovery of suspected migrants at or near the Port of Dover this week. It is the latest discovery of suspected migrants at or near Dover this week.
On Tuesday, a French fishing boat thought to have been stolen was stopped as it entered the Port of Dover with 17 suspected migrants on board. On Tuesday, a French fishing boat that was thought to have been stolen was stopped as it entered the Port of Dover with 17 suspected migrants on board.
In a separate incident, seven suspected migrants were also found in a lorry at Dover docks.In a separate incident, seven suspected migrants were also found in a lorry at Dover docks.
'Desperate migrants' The latest boats to be found were brought into Dover Harbour and the occupants have been handed over to Border Force officers.
The latest boat to be found was brought into Dover Harbour and the occupants have been handed over to Border Force officers. Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke urged the Home Office to tackle the growing problem of "these attempts to break into Britain", which were coming "thick and fast and becoming more shocking by the day".
Speaking on Wednesday, Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke urged the Home Office to tackle the growing problem of "these attempts to break into Britain", which were coming "thick and fast and becoming more shocking by the day". "That people would take the risk of crossing the Channel on a small open boat with a toddler on board shows just how desperate they are," he said.
"That people would take the risk of crossing the Channel on a small open boat with a toddler on board shows just how desperate they are. Labour peer and former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, added that it was clear that migrants were taking advantage of "a real weakness in our ability to patrol and secure our territorial seas and exclusive economic zone".
"It underlines yet again why we need to increase the number of vessels patrolling our border. Having just two cutters is simply not enough of a deterrent. 'Law abiding country'
"The Home Office must act urgently to tackle this growing problem and boost our borders budget," he said. In a statement the Home Office confirmed a coastal patrol vessel (CPV) had intercepted a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) shortly before 05:00 GMT.
In a statement the Home Office confirmed a coastal patrol vessel (CPV) had intercepted a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB). It also said the 10 men on the second boat, which had been spotted at about 09:15 off the Kent coast, had "presented themselves as Iranian nationals".
A spokesperson said: "CPV Hunter escorted the RHIB with nine people on board to Dover's Western Docks where they were met by Border Force and immigration officials. Middle East commentator Hazir Teimourian told BBC Radio Kent that Iran was one of "the most repressive states in the world".
"The nine, consisting of seven men, a woman and a child, have presented themselves as Iranian nationals and are now being assessed by paramedics." "On top of that, Iran's economy is a basket case," he said, adding that Iranian migrants who make it as far as Europe saw Britain as a law abiding country, and "being soft on people who claim asylum".