Migrants taken to Dover after 33 hours at sea

Around 60 migrants who spent over 33 hours at sea in precarious conditions have been brought to Dover. The group refused help from the French coastguard, who stated the migrants were determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom. British rescue boats collected the passengers of the migrant dinghy on Tuesday. The migrants were then transferred to Border Security Command and taken to Dover.

Journey and Refusal of Aid

The French coastguard reported that the migrants were on a small boat and had spent more than 33 hours at sea. The vessel left the Normandy coast on Monday morning. Despite being shadowed by a French coastguard vessel, the migrants declined assistance. They were expected to reach Dover after 10pm on Tuesday.

Protests and Local Reaction

Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters gathered near Haslar Marina in Gosport, Hampshire, on Tuesday evening. Police had closed off the access road to the marina. Local MP Dame Caroline Dinenage had previously stated that the Home Office had informed her it was increasingly likely a small boat would need to be disembarked in the local area. However, she later confirmed that Border Force was taking those on board to Dover. Ms Dinenage said on social media that this was a good result and that she had argued against a disembarkation in Gosport.

Some protesters, described as men in black with face coverings, chanted slogans. These demonstrators left the protest site around 8:30pm on Tuesday.

Government Response and Statistics

A Government spokesperson stated that the Border Security Command works around the clock to protect the border and will continue to detain, check, and process every small boat arrival. Defence minister Luke Pollard had earlier insisted that the UK’s borders are secure, despite a migrant boat reaching the Kent coast at Folkestone without interception on Monday. Five people were detained following that incident. An investigation is underway to determine how that boat was not intercepted.

The total number of migrants crossing the Channel by boat so far this year is down 46% on the same point last year. Approximately 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat this year.