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Three English Channel migrants brought ashore | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three migrants spotted in a small boat in the Channel have been brought ashore by the Border Force. | |
The men were about 10 miles (16.5km) off France when French authorities spotted them after midnight. the Prefecture Maritime de la Manche said. | |
Border Force officials brought the group ashore at Dover. | |
Forty migrants, including two children, were rescued on Christmas Day. The Home Office has blamed organised crime, but Dover's MP has demanded action. | |
Coastguards said they were not involved in the latest incident on Boxing Day. | Coastguards said they were not involved in the latest incident on Boxing Day. |
Forty migrants in Christmas Day rescues | Forty migrants in Christmas Day rescues |
Why are Iranians crossing the Channel in dinghies? | Why are Iranians crossing the Channel in dinghies? |
A Home Office spokesman said: "Evidence shows there is organised criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel. | A Home Office spokesman said: "Evidence shows there is organised criminal gang activity behind illegal migration attempts by small boats across the Channel. |
"We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk." | "We are working closely with the French and law enforcement partners to target these gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk." |
The Home Office said the three rescued by French teams overnight were transferred to UK authorities and brought to Dover. | |
The group, who presented themselves as Iranian, were medically assessed and passed to immigration officials, the spokesman said. | |
Those rescued on Christmas Day presented themselves as Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan. | Those rescued on Christmas Day presented themselves as Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan. |
'Incredibly dangerous' | |
Dover's Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke has said the Home Office and National Crime Agency "do not appear to be on top of this situation". | |
He said: "With well over 100 migrants having broken into Britain in recent weeks they need urgently to explain what they are doing to put a stop to these crossings. | |
"This is an incredibly dangerous crossing to make in the middle of winter. | |
"Our volunteer lifeboat crews are being called out nearly every day - even during Christmas. | |
"The British and French authorities must get a grip and find and stop the traffickers behind these crossings before there is a tragedy in the English Channel." | |
A statement from the French authorities also warned migrants planning to cross the the Dover-Calais strait - the world's busiest shipping lane - they were endangering lives. |