Revealed
DINGHY GRAVEYARD
Hundreds of migrant boats intercepted crossing the Channel stored at Kent warehouse as 2,800 people reach UK this year
HUNDREDS of migrant boats stopped in the Channel are being stored at a Kent warehouse - as thousands of people reached the UK this year.
New figures show that more than 2,800 asylum seekers have managed the perilous journey from France to Britain in the first seven months of 2020.
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It comes as the number of illegal migrants crossing the Channel hit a new daily record of more than 180 last week.
Now it's been revealed that all of the migrant boats are being stored at a complex in Dover, the reports.
The boats are stacked three high and in multiple rows.
And they vary from fibreglass rowing boats to high tech large ribs used by smuggler gangs who exploit migrants' desire to come to the UK.
Thousands of people have made the crossing this year.
On Friday, 125 migrants in nine boats made it to British waters.
Another 180 arrived on Sunday.
They were among more than 380 migrants who attempted the crossing that day, according to the Home Office.
The French authorities intercepted 200 migrants and prevented from reaching UK waters.
The recent increase in numbers is thought to be down to the clear, calm conditions in the past few weeks.
It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel has warned that illegal Chanel crossings "cannot go on" as she struck a deal with France to crack down on migrants arriving in the UK.
Speaking last week, she said: "I have been in France seeing first-hand the significant work undertaken on that side of the Channel to address the unacceptably high levels of small boats, alongside the efforts of Border Force and the National Crime Agency in the UK.
"But despite all of the action taken by law enforcement to date - intercepting the boats, making arrests, returning people to France and putting the criminals responsible behind bars - the numbers continue to increase.
'This simply cannot be allowed to go on.
"Today, I have signed an agreement with the French to create a joint intelligence cell which will crack down on the gangs behind this vile people smuggling operation and impressed on my French counterpart the need to stop these illegal crossings for the benefit of both our countries."
A Home Office source told the Mail: "Priti is incredibly unhappy with the number of small boats making this journey."
Pictures emerged after The Sun exclusively reported that one desperate migrant tried to reach Britain in a pedalo stolen from a French beach.
He was among 200 stopped by Border Force teams on the worst day on record for illegal Channel crossing bids.
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Another two migrants tried to reach Britain by paddling a canoe across shipping lanes.
And others were picked up in inflatables dropped by “mother ships” in choppy seas.
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A source said: “Many migrants see it as a ‘now or never’ moment before the UK government cracks down on crossings.
“They fear there will be a major push to curb the attempts and see July as their best opportunity."
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Skipper claims French patrols 'not interested' in stopping migrants crossing channel
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