Border Force intercept first migrants to cross the Channel in 2023

The Border Force have intercepted the first group migrants to cross the Channel this year, while the French coastguard prevented a further 80 from reaching the UK.

A Border Force vessel intercepted the 44 asylum seekers from one boat off the coast of Dover, Kent, at around 2pm on Monday 2nd.

The migrants could be seen wrapped in hats, blankets and warm clothing - with one woman wearing a grey dressing gown.

They were escorted off the ship by UK officials in high-vis vests to be taken for processing. 

On the same day, the French coastguard prevented a further 80 asylum seekers from reaching the UK.

In the early hours of January 2, the French Navy boat Cormoran was tasked with assisting a boat in difficulty off the coast of Calais. 

Cormoran recovered 49 stranded people and dropped them off at the port of Calais.

A few hours later the all-weather boat Notre-Dame-du-Risban and the French Navy boat Pluvier were tasked with rescuing a further 31 asylum seekers who were then dropped off at the port of Calais.

Once docked, they were taken care of by the departmental fire and rescue service, the maritime medical coordination, and the border police.