102 migrants intercepted in Channel – highest number in one day
Written by News on 09/02/2020
More than 100 migrants, including seven children, have been intercepted in the English Channel – the highest number in one day.
Five inflatable boats were stopped by Border Force, the Home Office said.
The vessels contained 102 people, nine of whom managed to get to a beach in Kent before being held by police.
They are believed to be from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.
French authorities said they had detained “around 30 people”.
Dover & Deal MP Natalie Elphicke hit out at “serious security lapses” and said it “beggars belief that another flotilla of small boats got past the French again today”.
It is the second day in a row to produce a record high after 90 migrants were intercepted on Thursday.
There were six incidents on Friday, spanning a time period between 1am and 10.45am.
Those that reached the shore were held at Sandgate Beach by Kent Police, while the boats stopped by Border Force contained varying numbers of people.
Ms Elphicke called for an “urgent explanation from the French as to what they are doing to get a grip on this situation”.
She added: “I am mindful that the search and rescue operations this week have involved all three border force vessels, RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard, a plane, a helicopter, ambulance services, police and much besides.
“These are emergency services for the UK, diverted from vital day-to-day operations.”
Speaking previously, Home Office director Tony Eastaugh said: “We have extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment which has been deployed to stop small boats leaving European shores.
“And it’s working. Last year one hundred people smugglers were convicted for a total of 320 years.”
The English Channel is the world’s busiest shipping lane, with 500 to 600 ships passing through it every day.
(c) Sky News 2020: 102 migrants intercepted in Channel – highest number in one day
