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Channel migrants: More than 100 people bid to reach UK in 24 hours Channel migrants: More than 130 people bid to reach UK in 24 hours
(about 4 hours later)
More than 100 suspected migrants have attempted to reach the UK from France in the past 24 hours. More than 130 suspected migrants have attempted to reach the UK from France in the past 24 hours.
A French patrol vessel collected 27 people from two separate boats off the coast near Boulogne in the early hours of Monday. The Home Office said the Border Force intercepted a small boat containing 16 suspected migrants off the Kent coast on Monday morning.
A third vessel was escorted into Dover by Border Force officials. Hours earlier, French officials had collected 39 suspected migrants from three small vessels near Boulogne.
The Home Office said three more dinghies, with 49 people on board, were intercepted on Sunday morning, while another 31 were stopped in France. On Sunday, 49 people were intercepted in UK waters as well as another 31 in France.
Shortly after 01:00 BST on Monday, a small boat containing eight men, two women and six children, was found in trouble just off the French coast near Cap Gris-Nez. Fifteen males and one female, who said they were Iraqi and Iranian nationals, were picked up from their small rigid inflatable boat at about 07:00 BST on Monday.
French maritime officials said its engine had fallen into the water. They were taken to Dover, where they are to be interviewed by immigration officials.
The occupants and their boat were taken to border police in Boulogne. Hours earlier, three small boats containing 39 suspected migrants - including seven children - were intercepted by a French patrol vessel and taken to border police in Boulogne.
Heading for KentHeading for Kent
A second small boat, containing 11 people including four women and a child, was then intercepted by the French Public Service Patrol ship Cormoran. French maritime officials said one of the boats, which contained 16 migrants, including six of the children, had lost its engine.
The UK Coastguard said a third boat was found in UK waters, but details have not yet been released. On Sunday morning another 49 suspected migrants were intercepted as they headed for the Kent coast in three dinghies and a further 31 were prevented from leaving France for the UK.
On Sunday morning, 49 suspected migrants were intercepted as they headed for the Kent coast in three dinghies. More than 1,000 people have reached the UK by boat so far this year - 559 of them in March, a record for a single month.
The Home Office said the 43 males and six females were being interviewed by immigration officials, as a further 31 people were prevented in France from travelling to the UK. Home Secretary Priti Patel spoke to her French counterpart last week about possible ways of returning more migrants to France, amid concern at the numbers attempting to cross the English Channel during the UK's coronavirus lockdown.
Minister for immigration compliance Chris Philp said: "Criminals are abusing vulnerable men, women and children by trafficking them across the channel."
Home Secretary Priti Patel spoke to her French counterpart last week about possible ways of returning more migrants to France.
The government said coronavirus had had no impact on the response to small-boat incidents, and border control staff have PPE available to them.The government said coronavirus had had no impact on the response to small-boat incidents, and border control staff have PPE available to them.