Dozens of desperate people crossed the English Channel on Christmas Day

Migrants have been helped to safety over the festive period (Picture: PA)

Nearly 70 people were helped to safety by British authorities on Christmas Day, after attempting to cross the Channel.

Border Force agents took a group of people to Dover, Kent, in the early hours of Saturday, following an incident involving two small boats.

Late on Saturday afternoon, they said 67 people had been rescued after trying to cross the Channel.

Meanwhile, the French authorities also intercepted a boat, though it is not known how many people were on board.

Pictures showed UK agencies bringing a group of people in shortly before 1.30am on Christmas Day.

They were huddled in white blankets and wearing blue surgical masks.

Very young children were among them.

A young child is carried by a Border Force officer (Picture: PA)

A group of people were brought in to Dover, Kent in the early hours (Picture: PA)

Another boat was intercepted by the French (Picture: PA)

The minister for justice and tackling illegal migration, Tom Pursglove, said people should not be trying to cross the Channel, and instead suggested they claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

He said: ‘The public have been crying out for reform for two decades and that’s what this Government is delivering through our new plan for immigration.

‘The Nationality and Borders Bill will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally, and introduce life sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country.

This Christmas reinforces to me how vital it is that we bring the treacherous small boats crossings to an end once and for all.

— Natalie Elphicke MP (@NatalieElphicke) December 25, 2021

Nearly 70 people were rescued after trying to cross the Channel on Christmas Day (Picture: PA)

The group were given blankets and masks in the freezing conditions (Picture: PA)

‘It will also strengthen the powers of Border Force to stop and redirect vessels, while introducing new powers to remove asylum seekers to have their claims processed outside the UK.’

The crossings have continued for months on end despite claims from Home Secretary Priti Patel that she was taking action to stop them.

The highly dangerous crossings, often on unseaworthy vessels, have repeatedly resulted in the deaths of vulnerable people.

Meanwhile, the Conservative MP for Dover was criticised for comments about the Channel crossings on Christmas Day, which were deemed by many to lack festive good will.

Natalie Elphicke tweeted: ‘This Christmas reinforces to me how vital it is that we bring the treacherous small boats crossings to an end once and for all.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE : UK and France sued for ‘manslaughter’ after 27 migrants drown in Channel

from News – Metro https://ift.tt/3Ep8UhH