12 of the key gateways to Britain

Hull

1The Port of Hull, on the north bank of the Humber Estuary, lies 20 miles from the North Sea. In February, 18 migrants suspected of trying to smuggle themselves into Britain illegally were discovered in a freight vehicle aboard a P&O ferry that had sailed from Rotterdam.

Immingham

2The Port of Immingham, on the south of the Humber, has easy access to major trade routes. Last month, an operation involving the UK Border Force was launched after 10 illegal immigrants from Albania were discovered on a lorry in the Lincolnshire docks. Nine of the men were deported while one is seeking asylum and has been detained.

Orford Ness

3The Suffolk village port is used for its small ferry service and fishing. In October 2014, three Ukranians were stopped by Border Force officers as they attempted to bring six Ukranians into the country illegally. One of them later claimed to have made the trip of seven previous occasions.

Harwich

4Harwich International is one of the UK’s leading multi-purpose ports. In June last year, 68 suspected illegal immigrants were found inside four lorries at the Essex port after a routine Border Force check. Four Polish lorry drivers were subsequently arrested

Tilbury

5The Port of Tilbury, in Essex, is now the main port serving London. In August 2015, a migrant died after 35 Afghan Sikhs, including 15 children, were found inside a container at Tilbury docks. Taha Sharif, a Kurdish national who was living in Tottenham, was convicted of conspiring to facilitate illegal entry in to the UK.

Purfleet

6Purfleet Freight Ferry Port is just 18 miles from central London. In April, the NCA’s Border Policing Command deputy director Tom Dowdall said they were seeing evidence of criminals using less busy ports such as Purfleet.

Whitstable

7The Kent town has a small working harbour. The National Crime Agency has said people smugglers were using rigid-hulled inflatable boats to get people across to “shallow beaches”, including Whitstable. One man interviewed by officials said he had been smuggled from near Dunkirk.

Dover

8The Port of Dover is Europe’s busiest ferry port. The number of illegal immigrants held or arrested by police rose nearly fourfold in a year to 563 in 2015. On Saturday night two British men were detained on suspicion of people smuggling after two boats carrying 18 illegal Albanian migrants were picked up off the Kent coast and taken ashore to Dover.

Newhaven

9Newhaven Ferry Port is the closest port to London with ferry links to France. In January, seven migrants were found at the port crammed inside a concealed compartment in the back of a van. Rekawt Kayani, the suspected head of an international peoplesmuggling ring, was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident and now faces extradition.

Chichester

10 Two weeks ago a British man, who is wanted on suspicion of murder in Spain, was arrested with 17 Albanian migrants detained at the West Sussex marina after crossing the English Channel in a catamaran. The Home Office will consider their cases.

Portsmouth

11 Portsmouth

International is Britain’s best connected port and a key destination for produce from all over the world. Earlier this month 28 suspected illegal immigrants were detained after being found in the back of a refrigerated lorry. One of the migrants was taken to hospital for urgent medical attention after suggestions he had inhaled fumes.

Royal Portbury

12Royal Portbury Docks has the largest entrance lock of any UK port and can accommodate vessels of up to 41 metres. In early 2015, the Border Force disrupted a people trafficking gang at the dock in Bristol.