More asylum seekers arrive in Kent as 174 people come ashore after crossing the English Channel
18:46, 17 September 2021
updated: 19:04, 17 September 2021
A further 174 people have been rescued or intercepted in the Channel today as they made the dangerous crossing in small boats.
Among a group of people seen arriving in Dover earlier today was a man carrying a young child - who was wrapped in a blanket and wearing a woollen hat - on his shoulders.
It is understood more than 480 asylum seekers have arrived in the UK since Monday after making the journey across the busy shipping lanes from France.
The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, was in Dover yesterday to meet with the teams who are dealing with the ongoing arrival of people in small boats.
She met with Border Force and immigration enforcement teams during the private meeting, the Home Office said.
At least 14,900 people have crossed to the UK on board small boats this year.
The numbers arriving this week are substantially lower that the previous week. According to data compiled and analysed by the PA news agency, 1,959 people made the crossing in the week to September 10.
Asylum seekers arriving at Dungeness on Monday
A Home Office spokesman confirmed that UK authorities had to rescue or intercept 174 people as part of six separate events today, with the French authorities intercepting 10 people in two events.
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