Nineteen migrants have been rescued from the English Channel after their inflatable boat began to sink, raising concerns of security at the UK’s coastal borders.
The UK coast guard received a call for assistance just off the coast of Dymchurch in Kent at 11.40pm on Saturday.
A search and rescue helicopter was deployed, as well as lifeboats from Dungeness and Littlestone and coast guard rescue teams.
The rigid-hulled inflatable boat (rhib), with 19 people on board, was found at 2am and the matter was handed over to the border force.
Reports say the people on board the boat had alerted their families in Calais when it got into trouble, who raised the alarm with the French authorities.
A coast guard statement said: “The UK coast guard has co-ordinated an incident off Dymchurch to rescue the occupants of a rhib overnight.
“A call was received at 11.40pm yesterday requesting assistance to the rhib, which was taking on water.
“The HM coast guard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd, RNLI lifeboats from Dungeness and Littlestone, and coast guard rescue teams from Dungeness and Folkestone were sent.
“The rhib, with 19 people on board, was located at 2am and the incident handed over to UK border force.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “A total of 19 people were picked up in a search and rescue operation.
“They were taken to Dover and are currently being interviewed by border force officers.”
Councillor Mary Lawes, Ukip group leader on Shepway District Council, said she was concerned for the security of the region as well as the safety of migrants seeking to cross the Channel in unsafe boats.
She said: “We are not doing enough to control our coastline, the government has to address border controls, something has to be done to protect these people from harm and our borders.”
David Monk, Conservative leader of the local authority, said he believed high levels of surveillance in the English Channel would mean most boats crossing the channel would be identified.
He added: “I am pretty sure our security is good. I cannot recall a previous incident but this should act as a warning to the authorities to be even more vigilant.”
Arrests
The incident comes after 17 suspected Albanian migrants and a British man wanted on suspicion of murder in Spain were detained after a catamaran arrived at Chichester Marina in West Sussex on Tuesday.
The 55-year-old man, who was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant, was also detained on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration, while the 17 Albanian men were held on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.
The Albanians have been detained pending Home Office consideration of their cases.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) recently revealed migrants trying to reach the UK are paying smuggling gangs up to £13,500 (about €18,000) for their journey.
PA