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Channel migrants: Dover visit for minister amid 'crisis' Channel migrants: Minister defends handling of 'crisis'
(about 7 hours later)
Immigration minister Caroline Nokes is to visit Dover amid growing criticism of the government's handling of the surge in migrants crossing the Channel. Immigration minister Caroline Nokes has defended the government's handling of the rise in migrants crossing the Channel during a visit to Dover.
More than 220 people have tried the crossing in small boats since the start of November and Home Secretary Sajid Javid has declared a "major incident". More than 220 people have attempted the crossing in small boats since November.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has called for more patrol boats in the Channel. Ms Nokes said Home Secretary Sajid Javid would now cut short a family holiday to deal with the "major incident".
He said the Home Office "has not been taking this seriously enough and the crisis has continued to escalate". Dover MP Charlie Elphicke called for more patrol boats and accused the Home Office of letting the crisis escalate.
The Conservative MP said the Home Office was not taking the matter "seriously enough".
It comes after another 12 people were detained off the coast of Dover in the early hours of Friday morning.It comes after another 12 people were detained off the coast of Dover in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mr Javid has been appointed "gold commander" to take control of the response and will now receive daily updates from the Home Office. Mr Javid has appointed a "gold commander" to take overall charge of the situation and make strategic decisions about the response.
He will talk to his French counterpart about the situation over the weekend. He was due to talk to his French counterpart about the situation over the weekend.
Mr Javid has also asked the Border Force to consider whether employing more vessels would act as a deterrent or encourage more people to make the crossing. The home secretary has also asked the Border Force to consider whether employing more vessels would act as a deterrent or encourage more people to make the crossing.
Ms Nokes said she had been in regular contact with Mr Javid and expected him back at his desk on Monday.
She said the number of patrol boats was being "constantly reviewed" and the UK was working with the French to prevent people from leaving beaches in northern France for the UK.
She said there was an enormous ongoing intelligence-led operation, with the Border Force working with the coastguard and the RNLI.
"This is a global migration crisis and it's important that we look at it through that lens," she added.
Only one of the Border Force's fleet of five cutters - specialist boats which the force describes as being capable of rescuing several migrant boats at the same time - is currently operational in the Dover Strait.Only one of the Border Force's fleet of five cutters - specialist boats which the force describes as being capable of rescuing several migrant boats at the same time - is currently operational in the Dover Strait.
Ms Nokes and Mr Elphicke are to discuss the situation with Border Force officers in Dover.Ms Nokes and Mr Elphicke are to discuss the situation with Border Force officers in Dover.
Mr Elphicke said "we need a clear strategy to defeat the traffickers", adding that the French authorities should step up action on their side of the Channel.Mr Elphicke said "we need a clear strategy to defeat the traffickers", adding that the French authorities should step up action on their side of the Channel.
'They were desperate to get on to dry land''They were desperate to get on to dry land'
British fisherman Matt Coaker first saw an overloaded three-man dinghy in September, carrying four adults trying to make it to UK shores.British fisherman Matt Coaker first saw an overloaded three-man dinghy in September, carrying four adults trying to make it to UK shores.
"They started waving their oars and tying T-shirts on the oars to get our attention," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."They started waving their oars and tying T-shirts on the oars to get our attention," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He said the dinghy had a lot of water inside and that the migrants "just looked like they had had enough", adding: "They had been drifting about for some time, they had no engine and just a few oars.He said the dinghy had a lot of water inside and that the migrants "just looked like they had had enough", adding: "They had been drifting about for some time, they had no engine and just a few oars.
"They were desperate for a bit of water, a bit of food and possibly just to get on to dry land.""They were desperate for a bit of water, a bit of food and possibly just to get on to dry land."
The fisherman pulled his boat alongside them to check how they were, and one of the men made a jump for it.The fisherman pulled his boat alongside them to check how they were, and one of the men made a jump for it.
"Luckily the customers I had on-board managed to grab him before he went back in the water, because the last thing you want is someone going down underneath the propeller," said Mr Coaker."Luckily the customers I had on-board managed to grab him before he went back in the water, because the last thing you want is someone going down underneath the propeller," said Mr Coaker.
"They got him over the side and, as they did, the others made a jump and we had all four on-board within minutes.""They got him over the side and, as they did, the others made a jump and we had all four on-board within minutes."
He has seen a number of dinghies since, including one at night carrying two families with an 18-month-old girl in tow. And while he said it wasn't the norm, it now "doesn't surprise you if you go out and see a rescue taking place".He has seen a number of dinghies since, including one at night carrying two families with an 18-month-old girl in tow. And while he said it wasn't the norm, it now "doesn't surprise you if you go out and see a rescue taking place".
Officials on both sides of the Channel have warned of the dangers of crossing what is the world's busiest shipping lane in a small boat.Officials on both sides of the Channel have warned of the dangers of crossing what is the world's busiest shipping lane in a small boat.
Police have likened the journey to trying to "cross the M25 at rush-hour on foot".Police have likened the journey to trying to "cross the M25 at rush-hour on foot".
Many of the migrants are Iranian or Syrian.Many of the migrants are Iranian or Syrian.
A BBC South East investigation last month found that people smugglers were telling migrants they must enter before "the borders shut properly" after Brexit.A BBC South East investigation last month found that people smugglers were telling migrants they must enter before "the borders shut properly" after Brexit.
British and French authorities have both said the rise in crossings is the result of "organised criminality" and "mafia networks".British and French authorities have both said the rise in crossings is the result of "organised criminality" and "mafia networks".
Responding to the suggestion that bringing rescued migrants to the UK could encourage people to attempt the journey, Steve Valdez-Symonds, from Amnesty International, said that was "nonsense".Responding to the suggestion that bringing rescued migrants to the UK could encourage people to attempt the journey, Steve Valdez-Symonds, from Amnesty International, said that was "nonsense".
"If people are in danger of their lives then they need to be saved," he told the BBC."If people are in danger of their lives then they need to be saved," he told the BBC.
The people found off the Kent coast since November:The people found off the Kent coast since November: