A total of 90 migrants have been brought to Dover after this morning's mass air and sea search.

The Home Office said that first, at around 2.15am, a Border Force vessel stopped a RHIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) which had five males.

They said they were Senegalese, Malian and Guinean.

In the second case, at around the same time a Border Force vessel intercepted another RHIB.

It had 21 males who presented themselves as Syrian, Yemeni and Egyptian nationals.

All those found were taken to Dover where they were medically assessed, before being transferred to immigration officials to be interviewed.

Their cases will be dealt with according to the immigration rules.

These were the six other incidents today (Thursday) with approximate times:

• 7.40am. A Border Force vessel intercepted a RHIB which was carrying a group of 12 males and females who presented themselves as Iranian and Iraqi nationals.
• 7.40am,. A Border Force vessel intercepted a RHIB which was carrying 16 men who presented themselves as Iranian and Iraqi nationals.
• 8.40am. A Border Force vessel intercepted a RHIB which was carrying a group of 12 people. Their nationalities are yet to be established.
• 9.20am. A Border Force officers detained a group of five people at Shakespeare Beach / Samphire Hoe who presented themselves as Iraqi and Yemini nationals.
• 10.20am.An RNLI vessel intercepted a RHIB which was carrying a group of 14 people – 12 men and two woman – who presented themselves as Iranian and Iraqi nationals.
• 11.20am. Kent Police officers detained five suspected illegal migrants in Dover town centre. No further details are available at this time.

This morning's search and rescue involved use of the Border Force vessels Searcher, Speedwell and Alert and they went out with the Dover and Littlestone RNLI lifeboats.

HM Coastguard meanwhile scrambled a fixed light wing aircraft and search and rescue helicopter from Lydd.

Kent Police were also involved in the early morning operations.

The figure of 90 has broken the previous record of 79 migrants in a day, on December 4.

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke said: "It is essential that we put a stop to this appalling trafficking trade and protect vulnerable people from making these dangerous crossings.

“A fresh approach is needed, so wherever boats are picked up in the English Channel they are returned safely and securely to France.

“We already have territorial agreements for border controls and these should be extended. It’s in France’s interest too – because they don’t want Calais to become a migrant magnet again.

“Today's crossings demonstrate why talks on this should progress immediately."

Tony Eastaugh, Home Office director for crime and enforcement, said: “We are tackling illegal migrant crossings on all fronts with every agency including Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, NCA and policing teams working in tandem with the French and Belgian authorities.

“We have extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment which has been deployed to stop small boats leaving European shores.

“And it’s working. Last year one hundred people smugglers were convicted for a total of 320 years.”

The Home Office also says that there are multiple live investgations going into illegal immigration and people smuggling.

Last week week the Home Office met with border officials from both Belgium and France and a UK Border Force officer will soon be based in Zeebrugge to work side by side with Belgian counterparts.

Since January 2019 more than 135 migrants who entred the UK illegally in small boats have been returned to Europe.

The Home Office stressed that those coming to this country in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

Between the Decembers of 2018 and 2019 there were 15 successful French prosecutions, which have seen 30 people convicted with sentences ranging from three months to six years.

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