The Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke has called for an immediate 14-day quarantine for all illegal entrants to the UK following an apparent surge in attempts to cross the English Channel despite the nation going into ‘lockdown’ this week.
A total of 169 people were intercepted by UK and French authorities as they attempted to make the journey to the United Kingdom.
The Home Office has denied that the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting its ability to respond to migrant crossings and insisted it still has the resources it needs to be effective.
Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke called for immediate action to be taken, she said: “Testing kits are limited and should be prioritised to frontline health workers – not illegal entrants.
“Anyone breaking into the country illegally, whether by small boats or lorries, should be immediately quarantined for 14 days to protect our community and country”.
In one of the busiest days for migrant crossings, Border Force dealt with six incidents in the Channel.
A total of 95 people were taken to Dover, including nine who identified themselves as children.
Meanwhile, French authorities have detained “around 74” people, making a total figure of 169 migrants.
At 5.20am on Wednesday 42 people were found on a single inflatable boat, the Home Office said.
They presented themselves as Iranian and Iraqi nationals.
A spokesman for the Home Office said: “All the cases from today will be dealt with according to the immigration rules, with detention used where appropriate.
“Coronavirus is not having an impact on our operational response to clandestine incidents and we still have the resources to deal with it.”
Mrs Elphicke called on the British and French authorities to take rapid action to put an end to the illegal migrant crossings, she said: “If people break into the country illegally, whether by small boats or lorries, they should be immediately quarantined for 14 days for the protection of our community and our country.
“The Port of Dover, the ferry companies, lorry drivers and other local workers are a key part of the vital supply line of food, medicine and goods.
“These illegal crossings cannot be allowed to put any part of our national operation at risk. Illegal migrants picked up at sea must be taken to other smaller ports.
“We must protect the nation. We need to be fully focused on beating the virus at this time.”
A list of the other incidents included:
- At about 1am an inflatable boat carrying ten men was intercepted. Those aboard presented themselves as Iraqi and Iranian nationals.
- At about 2.30am a Border Force vessel picked up a group of 13 males who said they were Iranian and Afghan nationals.
- At about 4am, an inflatable boat carrying 11 individuals was intercepted. The males aboard presented themselves as Iraqi, Iranian and Kuwaiti nationals.
- At 5.30am Border Force rescued a group of eight males who claimed to be Iranian nationals.
- At 7.30am an inflatable boat carrying a group of 11 people was intercepted. Those on board presented themselves as Iranian and Iraqi nationals.
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