Police and Border Force launch search for dozens of Channel migrants who ran off in Dover

Police and Border Force launch search for dozens of Channel migrants who ran off in Dover
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Mark White

By Mark White


Published: 23/10/2022

- 13:05

Updated: 23/10/2022

- 15:18

Around 80 people were onboard two inflatables which landed on Shakespeare beach near Dover harbour, just after 7am today

Police and Border Force officers are searching for dozens of Channel migrants who ran off after their boats landed on a beach in Dover.

Around 80 people were onboard two inflatables which landed on Shakespeare beach near Dover harbour, just after 7am today.


The 80 who made it to the beach were among more than 350 who crossed the English Channel this morning
The 80 who made it to the beach were among more than 350 who crossed the English Channel this morning
GB News

Police, Border Force, a Coastguard helicopter and the local lifeboat began a large-scale search of the area, including the local shoreline.

GB News understands that within a few hours of the landings, around 50 people had been detained.

Authorities are still understood to be searching for at least 30 others.

The 80 who made it to the beach were among more than 350 who crossed the English Channel this morning.

They were the first to arrive in UK waters since 502 people crossed in 12 small boats last Tuesday.

Bad weather in recent days has prevented others from successfully making the crossing.

However, a short break in the weather first thing on Sunday allowed people smugglers to launch around 8 small boats from the north west coast of France.

Dover, Ramsgate, and Dungeness lifeboats, along with several Border Force vessels were all involved responding to small boat sightings.

Since the beginning of this year, almost 38,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats.

The figure is almost 10,000 more than the 28,526 who crossed in the whole of last year.

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