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Two more migrant boats totalling 10 people found near Dover and dealt with by Border Force

13:25, 14 February 2019

updated: 16:25, 14 February 2019

Two more boatloads of migrants have been intercepted on the coast.

Both vessels, containing a total of 10 people, were brought into Dover in the latest of dozens of attempts to reach Britain by small craft in recent months.

The Home Office said at about 2.15am today a boat was spotted at the entrance to Dover port.

Dover town and harbour
Dover town and harbour

HMC (Her Majesty's Cutter) Vigilant was sent to the scene and six people were brought to Dover and handed to immigration officials for interview.

At about 4.30am Dover coastguards was alerted to a second sighting of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat in the Channel.

It was located and escorted to Dover by Coastal Patrol Vessel Hunter.

The four people on board were also passed to immigration officials.

A Home Office spokesman said: "All 10 were found to be medically well. Their claimed nationalities have yet to be established."

A Border Force boat in Dover Harbour. Stock image
A Border Force boat in Dover Harbour. Stock image

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said: “While the number of migrant crossings has significantly decreased in the past few weeks following our campaign, these latest incidents underline why we must continue to be vigilant.

“That’s why there needs to be round the clock air surveillance along the French coast, so we catch traffickers on departure beaches and put a stop to their evil trade."

Between November 8 last year and and January 21 there wer a total 41 attempted arrivals by migrants to the UK.

Most came by small craft and some were stopped within French waters and brought to France for interview by the authorities there.

Today's news come just as a group of self-declared patriots from Romney Marsh called South East Coastal Defence said they would monitor the waters for migrants.

They say they will watch over the coastline between Dungeness and Deal.

Migrant landings and sightings have happened in the areas of Deal, Dover, Folkestone and Romney Marsh.

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