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Migrant crossings: Record 202 migrants cross English Channel to reach Kent coast in single day

More than 200 migrants have crossed the Channel - a new record figure for a single day.

As temperatures soared today, 202 people made the risky crossing in 20 small boats, and were intercepted by Border Force patrols.

Picture: PA
Picture: PA

The Home Office has branded the the number "unacceptably high".

Border Force intercepted the first craft at about 3.25am and the last about 12 hours later, at about 3.25pm.

The people found on board the 20 vessels presented as being Sudanese, Chad, Iraqi, Yemini, Syrian, Palestinian, Egyptian, Eritrean, Kuwaiti, Iranian, and Mali nationals, respectively.

All were brought to Dover and were assessed to establish whether they have any medical requirements.

They have now been transferred to immigration officials for interview.

French authorities also rescued at least 20 migrants today whose boat was taking on water, including five children who were found in a boat off the coast of Escalles, near Calais, this morning.

Some of those on board were find to be hypothermic and one migrant had to be put on oxygen on the way back to the port.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp is calling for stricter measures to clamp down on migrant crossings.

He said: “The number of illegal small boat crossings we are seeing from France is unacceptably high.

“France have stopped thousands of migrants this year and they stopped more today, but more needs to be done.

“We need stronger enforcement measures, including interceptions at sea and direct return of boats and the French have heard that directly from the Home Secretary.

“We continue to go after the criminals who facilitate these crossings, and are setting up a joint intelligence cell with France. This year, 22 people smugglers have been jailed and earlier this week our investigations resulted in 11 more arrests.”

Earlier this month, more than 380 migrants tried to cross the English Channel in a single day, but 200 were stopped by French authorities while on beaches or shallow waters off France's shoreline; Border Force and its partners intercepted 180.

Today's 20 incidents

At 3.26am a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 12 males and four females who presented themselves as Yemeni, Iranian, Sudanese and Iraqi nationals.

At around 3.26am a Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of 14 males who presented themselves as Eritrean and Sudanese nationals.

At around 3.26am a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 17 males and one female who presented themselves as Yemini, Syrian, Palestinian and Iranian nationals.

At around 4.01am a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 11 males and two females presented themselves as Kuwaiti, Egyptian, Iraqi and Iranian nationals.

At 4.50am a Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of five males who presented themselves as Sudanese nationals.

At 5.20am a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of eight males who presented themselves as Sudanese nationals.

At around 6.40am a Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of 11 males and six females who presented themselves as Iraqi, Kuwaiti and Iranian nationals.

At around 8.45am a Border Force vessel intercepted a craft which was carrying a group of 10 males and one female who presented themselves as Eritrean, Sudanese, Chad and Egyptian nationals.

At around 08.30am a Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of 12 males who presented themselves as Iraqi and Kuwaiti nationals.

And Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of nine males who presented themselves as Sudanese and Chad nationals.

A around 08.40am a Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of 14 males and two women who presented themselves as Kuwaiti, Iraqi, Iranian and Indian nationals.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of four males who presented themselves as Sudanese and Mali nationals.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of three males who presented themselves as Sudanese nationals.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of eight males.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a craft which was carrying a group of 10 males who presented themselves as Sudanese nationals.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 10 males who presented themselves as Sudanese nationals.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of seven males and seven females who presented themselves as Iraqi nationals.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of four Iranian males.

At about 3.24pm Border Force vessel intercepted a vessel which was carrying a group of four Sudanese males.

A Border Force vessel intercepted a craft which was carrying a group of six males presenting as Sudanese and Eritrean.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

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