Channel migrants: More than 100 people bid to reach UK in 24 hours

Border Force patrol boat Image copyright PA Media
Image caption Border Force picked up 49 migrants in the early hours of Sunday but 31 more were stopped in France

More than 100 suspected migrants have attempted to reach the UK from France in the past 24 hours.

A French patrol vessel collected 27 people from two separate boats off the coast near Boulogne in the early hours of Monday.

A third vessel was escorted into Dover by Border Force officials.

The Home Office said three more dinghies, with 49 people on board, were intercepted on Sunday morning, while another 31 were stopped in France.

Shortly after 01:00 BST on Monday, a small boat containing eight men, two women and six children, was found in trouble just off the French coast near Cap Gris-Nez.

French maritime officials said its engine had fallen into the water.

The occupants and their boat were taken to border police in Boulogne.

Heading for Kent

A second small boat, containing 11 people including four women and a child, was then intercepted by the French Public Service Patrol ship Cormoran.

The UK Coastguard said a third boat was found in UK waters, but details have not yet been released.

On Sunday morning, 49 suspected migrants were intercepted as they headed for the Kent coast in three dinghies.

The Home Office said the 43 males and six females were being interviewed by immigration officials, as a further 31 people were prevented in France from travelling to the UK.

Minister for immigration compliance Chris Philp said: "Criminals are abusing vulnerable men, women and children by trafficking them across the channel."

Home Secretary Priti Patel spoke to her French counterpart last week about possible ways of returning more migrants to France.

The government said coronavirus had had no impact on the response to small-boat incidents, and border control staff have PPE available to them.