Border Force vessel investigates after empty boat seen off Dover
Written by News on 24/02/2019
A Border Force vessel and RNLI lifeboats have been launched after a small empty boat was seen floating off the Dover coast.
The small rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was spotted just after 7am on Sunday in St Margaret’s Bay, about 2.5 miles (3.9km) east of the Port of Dover in east Kent.
A helicopter was also seen searching the bay.
There were reportedly some lifejackets found on Shakespeare Beach, which is just west of the port.
A Home Office spokesman told Sky News: “Border Force is currently dealing with an ongoing small boat incident off the Kent coast.
“Further details will be provided once the situation has been resolved.”
On Monday 34 migrants were rescued by the RNLI and Border Force officials after they were seen crowded into a small RIB off the Port of Dover.
The men, women and children were brought to Dover and medically assessed before being transferred to immigration officials to be interviewed.
Three men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences, the Home Office said.
The government declared a “major incident” in the Channel after a sharp rise in the number of migrants being picked up by UK authorities in December.
(c) Sky News 2019: Border Force vessel investigates after empty boat seen off Dover
