A man has been arrested in connection with an attempted migrant Channel crossing on Christmas Day.

He was taken in on suspicion of people smuggling offences as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into an attempt to reach the UK by a small boat.

The 37-year-old was detained by officers from the Met Police in north west London on Wednesday evening.

He remains in custody and is now being interviewed by NCA investigators.

Steve Reynolds, head of the NCA-led Invigor organised immigration crime task force, said: “We are committed to doing everything in our power to bring people smugglers targeting the UK to justice, whether they are operating in the UK itself or France.”

There had been a total five migrant incidents on December 25, involving a total 40 people.

Some had landed at Folkestone, others were spotted off Deal and the rest were picked up mid-Channel.

Invigor is the UK’s Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce set up to target the criminal networks behind people smuggling impacting on the UK and the European borders.

It is led by the NCA and includes Immigration Enforcement, Crown Prosecution Service, Border Force and the Home Office working in the UK and internationally.