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| More migrant boat rescues off Walmer and Dover | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A boat carrying 13 suspected migrants and a rowing boat carrying another two have been stopped off the Kent coast. | |
| Lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter were involved in the first rescue operation two miles from Walmer at about 04:30 GMT. | |
| Those on board the boat were not thought to be wearing life jackets. | |
| Two others were rescued eight miles from Dover a few hours later. It is also understood Border Force officials stopped a third boat. | |
| The Home Office has not yet commented. | |
| HM Coastguard said in a statement: "[We are] committed to safeguarding life around the seas and coastal areas of this country. | |
| "We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities." | "We are only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities." |
| As recently as Saturday, a boat containing 16 migrants, including two children, was intercepted by the French authorities as it travelled towards the UK. | |
| It follows numerous attempts throughout November and December in which people on boats, many of them claiming to be Iranian, were stopped crossing the Channel. |