Migrant dinghy nears UK after 24 hours at sea

A migrant dinghy is heading towards the United Kingdom after more than 24 hours at sea. The vessel departed from the Normandy coast on Monday morning and is being shadowed by a French coastguard vessel. Ship tracking data indicates the dinghy is approaching the Channel boundary line, having set off near Vierville-sur-Mer, west of Bayeux.

Daniel Thomas, founder of the anti-migration group Patriot Platform, announced on social media that he was entering the Channel to locate the boat. Mr Thomas, who has previously organised demonstrations against migrant crossings, posted a YouTube livestream on Tuesday showing him on a high-speed boat at sea.

Unusual Departure Point

Departures from the Normandy coast are considered rare. Earlier this month, a dinghy that set off from the Cherbourg area required rescue by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight. This journey was believed to be one of the longest undertaken by a small boat crossing the Channel.

Officials at the time suggested the Cherbourg departure was an isolated incident rather than an indication of new tactics. The UK's borders remain secure, according to Defence Minister Luke Pollard, despite a recent undetected landing.

On Monday, a migrant boat reached Folkestone in Kent without being intercepted. Five individuals were detained and transferred to Border Security Command following this landing, which was the first undetected arrival in a year. Mr Pollard stated that a Home Office investigation is underway to understand how the boat evaded detection.

Typically, migrants crossing the Channel in small boats are brought ashore by Border Security Command or RNLI vessels. No small boat arrivals without an escort have been officially recorded since 6 September 2025.