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Border Force intercept small boats in English Channel off Kent coast during Good Morning Britain broadcast

A small boat carrying suspected migrants was filmed crossing the English Channel today live on Good Morning Britain.

Reporter Jonathan Swain was in the channel and reporting back to presenters Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway when the inflatable carrying 10 men passes him.

The boat was filmed live in the Channel on Good Morning Britain. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain
The boat was filmed live in the Channel on Good Morning Britain. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain

All occupants are seen wearing life jackets and at least one is seen to be wearing a face mask.

One man in the boat is trying to remove water from inside the dinghy.

Concerned Mrs Garraway said that the boat looked very low in the water, adding: "They all looked quite wet and somebody on the left, on the port was bailing out water.

"I don't think that boat is meant to hold that many people."

Mr Swain says that his team had informed the coastguard and that they would be keeping an eye on the boat.

Reporter Jonathan Swain and the boat behind him. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain
Reporter Jonathan Swain and the boat behind him. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain
A group of men are seen on the small boat. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain
A group of men are seen on the small boat. Picture credit: Good Morning Britain

He added that the men on board would have paid thousands of pounds for their spot on the small vessel to come to the UK.

Good Morning Britain also reported that "the boat had been shadowed by French border forces before being left to cross into English waters".

It was one of many incidents this morning off the Kent coast.

Between 5.05am and 11am, Border Force intercepted eight boats carrying men and women who presented as being from Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

The first boat carried 22 people, the second nine men, the third 17 men, the fourth six men, the fifth three men, the sixth 10 men, the seventh carried 15 men and two women and the eight carried 26 men and 10 women.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said: “France have stopped thousands of migrants this year and made more interceptions today, but the route has not been cut. If the route is cut completely, migrants will have no reason to come to France in the first place.

“Migrants have no need and no right to leave France which is a safe country with a well-functioning asylum system and attempt to come to the UK by illicit means.

“We are determined to make this route unviable. We have offered to work with France on safe returns at sea and we will continue work to return anyone who attempts the crossing.

“We are continuing to go after the heinous criminals and organised crime networks putting people’s lives at risk. Twenty-two people smugglers have been jailed this year and two more were charged last weekend.”

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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