Migrant flashes 'V for victory' sign as he is among another 30 would-be refugees delivered to UK shore by Border Force vessel in first Channel crossings for 10 days

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A migrant was pictured flashing the V for victory sign as he was among a group of men detained by Border Force and delivered to UK shores after making the perilous crossing across the English Channel.  

The group of around 30 men were brought into the harbour at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning on board the Border Force vessel Hurricane - the first to make it UK waters in more than a week due to bad weather at sea.

They were led up a gangway from the pontoon to the immigration processing facility Tug Haven.

They are the first to make the crossing since December 5 due to bad weather conditions in the channel when 100 people were picked up by Border Force officers in three boats.

So far this year, more than 26,000 migrants have reached Britain since the start of the year, compared with just 8,410 in the whole of 2020. 

Pictured: A group of around 30 men were brought into the harbour at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning on board the Border Force vessel Hurricane after making the perilous journey

The migrants were the first group in more than a week to cross the channel due to bad weather

And it comes three weeks since 27 people died trying to reach the UK across the 21-mile wide Dover Straits after their inflatable dinghy sank off Calais on November 24.

It was the worse loss of life seen in the Channel since the migrant crisis began.

French authorities have formally identified 26 of the 27 bodies recovered after the tragedy.

A total of 16 Kurdish people from Iraq and four Afghans were among the victims, whose families are being informed.

On Tuesday French officials revealed five people had to be rescued after their boat got into trouble off Calais.

The French navy hydrographic vessel Lapérouse was dispatched to rescue the group who were brought ashore at Calais where they are taken care of by border police.

It comes three weeks after 27 people died trying to cross the channel when their dinghy sank

A migrant who arrived onboard a Border Force rescue boat is escorted into Dover harbour for processing on Wednesday

 

Meanwhile on December 10, a fishing vessel unfortunately discovered a body in its nets off Calais.

The vessel immediately reported this discovery to French coastguard officers.

The fishing vessel then made its way to the port of Calais so that the body could be taken care of by the Calais maritime gendarmerie.

The prosecutor's office of Boulogne-sur-Mer opened an investigation which was entrusted to the maritime gendarmerie.

So far this year 26,711 migrants have been detained after reaching the UK in small boats compared to 8,410 in 2020. 

Yesterday, the National Crime Agency warned that gangs are turning to ever more dangerous and rickety boats to sneak desperate refugees across to the UK.

Officers said people smugglers are using custom-made inflatable dinghies with plywood floors and held together with gaffer taper to transport as many migrants across the Channel as possible.

So far this year 26,711 migrants have been detained after reaching the UK in small boats compared to 8,410 in 2020

Migrants are escorted by Border Force staff, after having crossed the channel, at Dover harbour in Kent on Wednesday, December 15

Pictured: Inflatable boats believed to have been used by migrants that cross the channel

The National Crime Agency has warned that inflatable dinghies are being custom made for people smuggling gangs to transport as many people across the Channel as possible. Pictured, migrants and a dinghy used to cross on the beach at Dungeness, on November 24

In recent months, larger inflatables, sometimes more than 30ft long, have been used in the cruel human trade.

Investigators believe many of these large grey or black unbranded vessels have little or no commercial use and are being purposefully manufactured for people smugglers.

Other boats are also being adapted or improvised using substandard materials in a bid to increase the amount of people they can carry and make them more solid.

Martin Grace, head of organised immigration crime operations for the NCA, said: 'It is clear to us that with some of the boats being used there is little or no genuine commercial use for them.

'They are likely being manufactured and sold online for the sole purpose of being used for people smuggling, and this is now something we are focusing on.'

The NCA said a high percentage of attempted Channel crossings are still facilitated by organised criminal gangs - some operating a sophisticated network, while others are less established.

In November, the NCA worked alongside French police as part of an operation to dismantle a gang supplying boats that could carry between 40 and 60 people.

The group were also recruiting migrants from camps in northern France to travel in the dangerous vessels.

In total 18 people were arrested in the Calais, Le Havre and Paris regions of France, the NCA said.

Dan O'Mahoney, Home Office clandestine Channel threat commander, said: 'The recent tragedy in the Channel is a devastating reminder of the dangers of Channel crossings choreographed by organised crime groups who are profiteering from these deadly and unnecessary Channel crossings.

'We work closely with our European and international partners and police, hand-in-glove, day in, day out to arrest, investigate and prosecute organised criminals, preventing numerous departures and saving lives.

'But this is a complicated issue and we are determined to do all we can to work with the NCA to tackle criminal gangs and prevent further loss of life.'

The NCA alone has around 50 ongoing investigations linked to the top tiers of immigration crime and since the start of this year has been involved in more than 140 arrests.

Mr Grace added: 'While the events of last month in which at least 27 people died were an absolute tragedy, unfortunately it was not a surprise when you consider the types of boats we have seen people being put in. Frankly, they are death traps.

'If you add that to the increasing crowding we are seeing on these vessels, and the poor weather and colder seas of winter, it all adds to a greatly increased risk.

'It demonstrates further to us that the people smugglers involved in these crossings don't care about the wellbeing of those they put on the boats. They don't care if they die. They just want to exploit their desperation for money.

'I would also reiterate our appeal from earlier in the year to those involved in the maritime industry, both here in the UK and on the Continent.

'Please be on alert, and if you have suspicions around the purchase of the kinds of items that can be used in these crossings, please report it.'

It comes as conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said the military base chosen by the Home Office to process migrants in Kent has been described as an 'unworkable and unacceptable'.

On Tuesday, the Home Office confirmed part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site in Manston, Kent, will be used as a 'processing site for illegal migrants by January 2022'.

The secure site will be able to hold people 'for a maximum of five days while their security and initial asylum processing checks are undertaken'.

Pictured: A group of migrants are brought into Dover accompanied by Border Force today

Pictured: migrant makes 'V for victory' signs as he arrives in the UK after crossing the channel

However, the announcement was not welcomed by the constituency's MP, Sir Roger Gale, who told the House of Commons the site was 'inappropriate'.

Asking an urgent question, the MP for North Thanet said 'there is no indication as to how the site will accommodate these human beings, will be made secure or what facilities will be made available, other than statutory (rules) on the site medical services'.

Sir Roger added: 'I have identified at least one clean, comfortable and secure operational vessel that can, if commissioned, meet the immediate and longer term need and I'm advised that there are others available.

'I will be grateful if the minister will now instruct the team to do as I've already requested, put this unacceptable and unworkable proposal on hold and properly, thoroughly and swiftly examine the viable alternatives. And if while doing so he will conduct the consultations that ought to have been held weeks ago.'

Home Office minister Tom Pursglove confirmed a 'consultation is ongoing', adding: 'I would make the point again, we are having to respond to these challenges at pace. 

'But that consultation is ongoing, including with local authorities, including with the NHS and of course including with him as the constituency Member of Parliament, and with the police.'

Sir Roger was not the only MP concerned about welfare at the site.

The SNPs' Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) said: 'A cross-party report by the all-party parliamentary group on immigration detention called on the Government to end its military-style accommodation for asylum seekers, which it described as 'fundamentally unsuitable for survivors of war, torture or serious violence'.

'Why is the Home Office ignoring these warnings from parliamentary colleagues?'

He added the Government had 'previously ignored warnings' of conditions at Napier Barracks which 'inevitably' led to a Covid outbreak, and also asked: 'Can the minister confirm the situation in Manston, that parts of that estate are currently condemned as a result of asbestos being on the site?'

Mr Pursglove said: 'I would just make the point that I wouldn't consider that we are ignoring concerns that are raised.

'That is why I have set out for the House we have consistently been responsive, for example to the reports of the inspectors and where they made recommendations, we considered those recommendations and we acted appropriately.'

The minister also said the Government would 'act entirely appropriately with safety at the forefront' in regards to asbestos at the site.