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| Migrant crossings: Another boat intercepted amid lockdown spike | Migrant crossings: Another boat intercepted amid lockdown spike |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Another boat carrying migrants has been intercepted by the Border Force off the Kent coast following a spike in the number of incidents in recent days. | Another boat carrying migrants has been intercepted by the Border Force off the Kent coast following a spike in the number of incidents in recent days. |
| The Home Office said there were 11 men and six women on board who presented themselves as Iraqi nationals. | |
| More than 280 people have now crossed the Channel since Friday, with a further 44 stopped by French officials. | |
| Minister for immigration compliance Chris Philp said the recent increase in crossings was "totally unacceptable". | Minister for immigration compliance Chris Philp said the recent increase in crossings was "totally unacceptable". |
| He said it was "sickening that smugglers are willing to put people's lives at risk, including children". | He said it was "sickening that smugglers are willing to put people's lives at risk, including children". |
| Mr Philp said the government was "stepping up action to stop the crossings, going after the criminals perpetrating these heinous crimes and prosecuting them for their criminal activity". | Mr Philp said the government was "stepping up action to stop the crossings, going after the criminals perpetrating these heinous crimes and prosecuting them for their criminal activity". |
| Eight boats carrying 145 people were stopped on Friday, the Home Office confirmed - a record for a single day. | Eight boats carrying 145 people were stopped on Friday, the Home Office confirmed - a record for a single day. |
| A further 82 were intercepted on Saturday. | A further 82 were intercepted on Saturday. |
| Those picked up by Border Force officials said they were Iranian, Iraqi, Kuwaiti, Syrian and Afghan nationals. | Those picked up by Border Force officials said they were Iranian, Iraqi, Kuwaiti, Syrian and Afghan nationals. |
| Friday's total included 51 people packed on board a single inflatable boat, the Home Office said. | Friday's total included 51 people packed on board a single inflatable boat, the Home Office said. |
| Of 82 people detained on Saturday, 70 were aboard inflatable boats, while 12 men were found at Dungeness on the Kent coast. | Of 82 people detained on Saturday, 70 were aboard inflatable boats, while 12 men were found at Dungeness on the Kent coast. |
| The Home Office said the migrants had "left a safe country - generally France - and where appropriate we will be seeking to return them". | |
| Home Secretary Priti Patel has acknowledged that a recent increase in the number of migrant boats making the dangerous crossing is linked to the Covid-19 lockdown. | Home Secretary Priti Patel has acknowledged that a recent increase in the number of migrant boats making the dangerous crossing is linked to the Covid-19 lockdown. |
| She has spoken to her French counterpart, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who reaffirmed the commitment to carry out more returns at sea to stop the illegal crossings. | She has spoken to her French counterpart, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who reaffirmed the commitment to carry out more returns at sea to stop the illegal crossings. |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. |