Boatload of 12 lands on Kent coast
TWELVE illegal migrants were held in Kent yesterday after crossing the Channel in an inflatable dinghy.
Nine men, two women and a 10-year-old child – claiming to be Iranian nationals – were found on the coast at Greatstone, a few miles west of Folkestone.
The group, who had landed from France, were detained.
Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, called for “a modern Dover Patrol”. He added: “The best deterrent is for it to be clear that no crossing will be successful.”
His call comes a month after the Daily Express revealed Britain’s woefully inadequate sea defences.
Up until last night there were just two Border Force ships patrolling 7,723 miles of UK coastline.
Combat
Its three other cutters – vessels built for speed to patrol large areas – are deployed to help combat the Mediterranean migrant crisis.
Britain’s capability compares to 600 cutters patrolling the Italian coastline. The Home Office said it was reviewing the situation.
Tony Smith, former UK Border Agency director-general, said attempts to stop trafficking in vehicles were proving successful, but warned: “As we shore up our border defences in one area, we see fresh attempts to breach others.
“Such is the profit margin and supply chain of this evil trade that the smugglers will not be deterred.”
He added: “These scenes would not look out of place off Italy. They are not something we would normally expect to see off the coast of Dover or Folkestone.
“The UK has long been a target for human smugglers. But as we shore up our border defences in one area, we see fresh attempts to breach others.”