Border Force and coastguard conduct search and rescue mission off Kent coast

Thirty rescued in 'four small boat incidents'

A Border Force boat arrives in Dover, Kent [file photo] (PA)

Border Force patrol boats have rescued 30 people from small vessels in the English Channel.

The group, made up of 27 men, one woman and two children presenting themselves as Iranian and Afghan nationals, were transferred to a Border Force cutter and a costal patrol vessel and taken to Dover.

Authorities were alerted to the first of four "small boat incidents" at around 4am and the last at around 7am, the Home Office said.

The group have all been medically assessed, found to be well, and have been transferred to immigration officials for interview.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Anyone crossing the Channel in a small boat is taking a huge risk with their life and the lives of their children.

Last month a boat carrying 27 people from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan was intercepted off the coast near Dover.

“Since December, two cutters have returned to UK waters from overseas operations, we have agreed a joint action plan with France and increased activity out of the Joint Coordination and Information Centre in Calais.

“It is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and since January more than 60 people who arrived illegally in the UK in small boats have been returned to Europe.”

A spokesman for the coastguard said: "HM Coastguard has been coordinating a search and rescue response to a number of incidents off Kent, working with Border Force, Kent Police and other partners.

"We are committed to safeguarding life around the seas and coastal areas of this country.

"HM Coastguard is only concerned with preservation of life, rescuing those in trouble and bringing them safely back to shore, where they will be handed over to the relevant partner emergency services or authorities."