'PLAYING WITH LIVES'
More than 1,000 migrants make desperate bid to cross the Channel to the UK in just ten days
MORE than 1,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to reach UK shores in just 10 days, according to the Border Force.
The number of people arriving on the country's beaches illegally in small boats has doubled since 2019.
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Between August 4 and 13, 1,004 migrants were brought ashore by Boarder Force - bringing the total so far this year to at least 4,511.
Today, the Home Office confirmed that 89 migrants who made the crossing in five boats were brought to the UK on Thursday, as well as another 48 who arrived in four boats on Friday.
Around 16 migrants were pictured today arriving in Dover, with two Border Force vessels carrying five women spotted.
All the people, who were wearing orange life jackets, were helped by officials off boats and onto dry land.
Hundreds of boats used by migrants have been stacked and stored at Dover.
It is believed that they have come over from countries including Iran and Syria.
This comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to end the illegal crossings through the Channel and crackdown on criminal gangs who prey on families desperation to find a way to get to the UK.
Yesterday, child migrants were seen arriving at Dover after making the dangerous journey across the Channel.
'PLAYING POLITICS'
Earlier this week Ms Patel reportedly told Tory MPs the asylum system was 'broken' as she promised to bring forward legal reforms while she claimed laws were being exploited by 'leftie Labour-supporting lawyers' who were trying to frustrate Government efforts to deport people.
Human rights campaigners and lawyers hit back at the comments, with one accusing her of 'playing with people's lives'.
Bella Sankey, director of Detention Action said: "The mishandling of this situation continues and now the Home Secretary is nakedly playing politics with people's lives and the UK's proud tradition of providing refugee protection.
"This cruel political strategy is divisive, dangerous and unnecessary - Government needs to do better."
11 migrants who made it to a beach near the Port of Dover were rounded up by police - including a distressed mother and what appeared to be her teenage son.
A man on a mobile phone was seen running off by witnesses after nearly a dozen migrants - men and women including a family - were intercepted under the iconic white cliffs near the town centre at the Kent port town.
But 15 lifejackets were counted at the spot where they made it to shore, suggesting four others might have slipped away.
Immigration minister Chris Philp failed to get a deal with the French to turn back migrant boats.
He also stumbled over his words during a live TV interview on August 11 - managing to confuse Britain and Germany before suggesting he started again.
Speaking to reporters after the talks, Mr Philp said “France and Germany” were working together in the spirit of cooperation.
They have their face masks on and just look like they’ve won the lottery.
He quickly corrected himself to say, “France and the United Kingdom.”
Moments later, seemingly not realising the broadcast was live, he asked to start over, saying: “Do you want to that last bit again because I got the Germany thing muddled?”
The minister insisted he was still hopeful of getting an agreement to stop the surge in cross-Channel migrants.
He said: “We have worked on a joint operational plan — a revised, new operational plan — with the objective in mind of completely cutting this route.
“We are going to be working at pace in the coming days to make that plan a reality.”
Mr Philp did not rule out increasing the UK’s financial contribution to the French to help them patrol their northern shores. The UK has contributed £100million since 2015.
He said it would be “premature” to publicly discuss money.
Mr Philp said the sheer numbers of migrants crossing the Channel was “completely unacceptable” to both the French and UK governments.
Earlier this week migrants landed on Kent's beaches in small boats, with one arrival giving the thumbs up as he was guided ashore.
An onlooker said: “They looked thrilled to bits to have arrived. It’s shocking to see. They have their face masks on and just look like they’ve won the lottery.”
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