Major incident declared after string of migrant Channel crossings over Christmas

French authorities have rescued eight migrants, including two children, whose engine failed as they tried to sneak across the English Channel to Britain. Picture: Marine Nationale via AP

Sajid Javid has asked for an urgent call with his French counterpart in a bid to tackle the problem which has seen attempts by migrants to cross the Channel over the Christmas period.

After two boats carrying 12 men from Syria and Iran were intercepted while they attempted to make the crossing on Friday, Mr Javid also appointed a “gold commander” to oversee the situation and give daily updates.

He has also held a conference call with officials in the Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and the National Crime Agency (NCA) where he was briefed on the latest intelligence and action being taken.

Following Dover MP Charlie Elphicke’s calls for more patrol boats in the Channel, Mr Javid has also asked the Border Force to provide information on whether more vessels will act as a deterrent or encourage more people to make the crossing.

On Friday, Border Force officials brought the 12 men to shore at Dover and handed them over to immigration officials to be interviewed.

An inflatable boat, carrying one Syrian and three Iranians, was reported to the Coastguard at around 3am. And at around 9am a second boat, which was carrying eight Iranians, was also spotted.

On Christmas Day more than 40 migrants tried to cross the sea and enter the UK.

Boxing Day saw three more migrants intercepted in a small boat, and on Thursday an inflatable boat carrying nine people was rescued by a lifeboat crew three miles off the coast of Sandgate in Kent.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes will visit Border Force officers in Dover on Saturday, alongside Mr Elphicke, to discuss the situation.

Mr Elphicke said: “For too long the Home Office has not been taking this seriously enough and the crisis has continued to escalate to unprecedented levels.

“So it’s welcome that the Home Secretary has rightly declared the situation a ‘major incident’, taken personal control and appointed a gold commander.

“Now we need a clear strategy to defeat the traffickers. Let’s start by bringing back our cutters to the English Channel.”

Mr Elphicke added: “Now we need to see the French match the Home Secretary’s determination - stepping up action on their side of the English Channel to stop the trafficking networks and prevent people attempting dangerous crossings.”