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Nine suspected migrants land at Folkestone beach
18:51, 19 August 2020
updated: 18:52, 19 August 2020
Nine suspected migrants were detained in Folkestone today after landing on the beach in an inflatable boat.
The arrival was witnessed by Cllr Ray Field, a member of Folkestone and Hythe District Council, who was walking his dog along the cliff top when he spotted the men climbing out of the dinghy.
The councillor said they immediately left the beach after taking off their life jackets and the 'suspicious' behaviour prompted him to follow them.
He said: "People arriving for asylum is fine, we can offer that. But walking away is very suspicious.
"If they had just stood on the beach I might have approached them to see if they needed help. But they left and seemed to know where they were going."
Cllr Field dropped his dog home, called the police and then pursued the group.
He said: "I informed the police and followed them to Sandgate. They turned up Wilberforce Road and followed the footpath to Enbrook.
"I waited for the police cars to arrive in Sandgate Road and directed them and the suspects were detained."
Cllr Field said he then returned to the beach and saw a group of people moving the inflatable boat which had been left behind.
A spokesman for the force said: "Kent Police was called at 10.14am on Wednesday, August 19 to a report that suspected migrants were in the Lower Sandgate Road, Folkestone.
"Officers attended and located a number of people who have now been passed into the care of Home Office Immigration Enforcement."
The HM Coastguard search and rescue vehicle was also spotted along Folkestone beach today.
A spokesman for the agency said they had been "assisting Border Force with incidents" today, including off Dover.
It comes after it was revealed that a young migrant was assaulted just moments after stepping onto UK land on Sunday .
Police are now appealing for information after the man was hurt on Kingsdown beach near Deal.
Today it was also announced that a 16-year-old boy was found washed up on a French beach after trying to cross the Channel .
