Last ditch dash for Britain’s shores: Border Force catch migrants making desperate Channel crossing in freezing winds on day UK’s transition period ends
- Pictures show migrants being taken ashore in Dover after being intercepted
- The asylum seekers were spotted attempting to cross the Channel earlier today
- It comes as the Brexit transition period ends tonight, with a trade deal in place
- Rules will change on asylum seekers – but they will have little impact for now
- Number of people thought to have crossed the Channel in 2020 now at 8,500
Border Force officials have today rescued migrants making a desperate bid to cross the Channel in freezing winds – hours before the UK’s Brexit transition period ends.
Pictures show the asylum seekers being led ashore by Border Force officials in Dover after being intercepted in the English Channel this morning.
It is believed around 8,500 migrants have crossed from France this year.
The latest pictures come as Britain’s Brexit transition period ends tonight, with a new trade deal with the EU coming into force from 11pm.
Minor changes will be introduced on asylum seeker policy as a result, though they will have little practical impact at this point – until further agreements are reached with the EU.
Border Force officials have today rescued migrants making a desperate bid to cross the Channel in freezing winds – hours before the UK’s Brexit transition period ends
Pictures show the asylum seekers being led ashore by Border Force officials in Dover after being intercepted in the English Channel this morning
Earlier this month Britain introduced a new law – coming in from tonight – meaning it will no longer accept asylum seeker claims at sea when intercepted by Border Force officials.
But it will not have a practical affect until an agreement is reached with France on how to handle asylum seekers once they are brought ashore to the UK – with Britain wanting to return people back across the Channel.
As of tonight, Britain will leave the Dublin III Regulation, which establishes which European nation is responsible for examining an asylum request. This is usually the first ‘safe’ country an asylum seeker reaches.
But a full agreement to replace the deal has yet to be reached. The Government has said that if it doesn’t manage to reach a new agreement with the EU, it will negotiate bilateral agreements with individual countries.
Home Secretary Priti Patel earlier this year agreed to pay France £28 million to double the number of officers patrolling beaches to stop migrants crossing the Channel.
The deal was signed during a virtual meeting between the Secretary of State and France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin with a pledge to make the route ‘completely unviable’ for people smuggling gangs.
Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp told MailOnline today: ‘France is a safe country with a well-functioning asylum system. People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making a dangerous and illegally-facilitated crossing.
‘We continue to work closely with the French following our agreement to take further action to tackle illegal migration, through increasing police patrols and surveillance.
‘Since September, monthly crossing numbers have reduced by around 90% and crossings have reduced by around 60% on average per calm weather day.’
It comes after six migrants were rescued by French authorities on Bank Holiday Monday after attempting to cross the Channel by small boat in perilous conditions.
A French Navy Rhône metropolitan support vessel came to the aid of the first boat carrying two people after they called to say they were in difficulty.
On its way to Calais to drop them off, the ship discovered a second boat in trouble containing four migrants.
The Navy returned all migrants, including two suffering from mild hypothermia, to awaiting medics at the port shortly before 11.30am.
Meanwhile, a group successfully made the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Strait on Boxing Day.
It come as Britain’s transition period ends tonight, with a new trade deal with the EU coming into force from 11pm
As many as 10 were seen being escorted up the gangway at Dover Marina, Kent by Border Force immigration officers with their grey rigid hulled inflatable boat moored for evidence.
Although the Home Office has not confirmed exact numbers for the crossing, it is likely to take the total figure for 2020 over 8,500.
So far 8,493 have been confirmed to have made the dangerous journey this year.
December has been relatively quiet due to the awful conditions at sea, with 156 migrants making it to the UK in nine boats this month.
The Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea had issued a weather warning for strong winds in the world’s busiest shipping route from noon on Boxing Day to Bank Holiday Monday.
Average winds were estimated at up to 80kmh with gusts of up to 120kmh.
Seas were also expected to be mostly heavy throughout the entire festive period.