Border Force officials stop 52 migrants in four dinghies trying to sneak across Channel into the UK

Fifty-two migrants were caught trying to reach Britain by crossing the Channel in flimsy boats over the weekend.

Border Force officials intercepted four dinghies carrying men, women and children as they made the journey from northern France to the Kent coast.

The incidents will heap pressure on Home Secretary Sajid Javid as he attempts to tackle the growing problem of migrants paying people-smuggling gangs thousands of pounds to cross the world’s busiest shipping lane.

Calm weather has provided perfect conditions for traffickers to send a new wave of migrants on the perilous trip.

Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, who represents Dover and Deal, said: ‘The best deterrent is for migrants and traffickers to know there is no hope of getting to the UK. The French authorities taking these boats safely back to the French coast is the best way to achieve that.’

The influx began at around 5.30am on Saturday when 11 men, believed to be Iranian, were picked up off the Kent coast. One man was unconscious.

Concerns are likely to be raised that the Home Office’s decision to deploy cutters encourages migrants to travel in the belief they will be rescued and brought to the UK. Experts believe the number of arrivals will increase in the next few months as the weather improves [File photo]

A second boat carrying six men, two women and a 12-year-old child was then intercepted near Folkestone at about 7.50am after a 999 call from the stricken boat.

Seven of the migrants on board are believed to be Iraqis, and two Iranian. At 4am yesterday, HMS Seeker – a Border Force cutter – intercepted a third boat carrying 13 people. The six men, two women and five children were from Iran and Iraq.

Soon afterwards, a fourth boat carrying 19 men was also intercepted. The passengers all said they were from Iraq or Iran.

All the migrants have been handed over to immigration officials. Most will be processed at the Kent Intake Unit, where they are fed, given medical attention and undergo security screening. 

If classed as asylum seekers, they will be released to specialist accommodation or allowed to live with family.

Experts believe the number of arrivals will increase in the next few months as the weather improves.

The incidents will heap pressure on Home Secretary Sajid Javid as he attempts to tackle the growing problem of migrants paying people-smuggling gangs thousands of pounds to cross the world’s busiest shipping lane

Concerns are likely to be raised that the Home Office’s decision to deploy cutters encourages migrants to travel in the belief they will be rescued and brought to the UK.

In another rescue yesterday, nine migrants were stopped in French waters. The eight men and a child were suffering from mild hypothermia and taken back to France.

Last week, the Home Office revealed that 739 migrants had planned or attempted to cross the Channel in small boats in just over a year.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Anyone crossing the Channel in a small boat is taking a huge risk with their life and the lives of their children.

‘We have agreed a joint action plan with France. Those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and since January more than 25 people who arrived illegally in small boats have been returned to Europe.’