Border Force intercepts dinghy less than a MILE from Kent beach after illegal migrant on board dials 999

A migrant dinghy has been intercepted in the Channel this morning, less than a mile from landing on a Kent beach.

Multiple Border Security Command vessels and lifeboats responded to what is another apparent issue with the command-and-control systems that are meant to give French and UK authorities oversight of migrant activity in the Channel.

GB News understands that the authorities were only alerted after one of the illegal immigrants onboard the vessel used their mobile phone to call the Coastguard themselves.

The dinghy was eventually spotted in misty conditions less than a mile from the mouth of Dover Harbour, and intercepted by three Border Security Command vessels.

Those on board were transferred to the migrant processing centre at Dover, along with the dinghy, which was picked by another Border security vessel.

GB News counted 33 migrants, all men, as they were offloaded at the harbour and taken away for medical and security checks.

Authorities will now be trying to determine how the migrant dinghy made it all the way from the French coast and well into UK waters without being spotted by French and British aircraft and vessels.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have made progress tackling the small boats. Crossings are down significantly, and we have just recorded the lowest number of summer arrivals since 2020.

“We are taking action, with joint efforts preventing over 48,000 crossing attempts and seizing 1,100 boats and engines since the election.

“But we must go further, which is why we are boosting the number of officers on the ground in France and removing the pull factors drawing people here through illegal and dangerous routes.”

Last month, the Home Secretary announced an urgent review after two boats reached Kent beaches without being detected.

In one incident, 21 migrants were detained after landing on the beach at Samphire Hoe, near Dover.

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Five others were detained when their dinghy landed on a beach near Folkestone.

A Home Office source said, although the boat was intercepted near the coast, the command and control oversight still worked well, as the vessel was stopped before making it to shore.