Britain's human tide of misery: Astonishing images show exhausted migrants struggling ashore and collapsing on a Dover beach as a record 409 migrants make it across Channel to UK in ONE DAY
A record-breaking 409 migrants made it across the Channel today with eight dinghies managing to dodge Border Force entirely.
A total of 30 boats are believed to have made the crossing, the first setting off in the early hours of Wednesday, amid 'absolute mayhem' in the world's busiest shipping lane.
Astonishing photographs showed groups of migrants wading through the surf and staggering up the sand before collapsing on the rocks, exhausted after the perilous journey.
At least eight dinghies dodged Border Force boats to make it to the Kent coast unchecked. One woman was seen lying on concrete steps in sodden clothes complaining about stomach pains, while another was given a bottle of Coke for a sugar boost.
One of the group could be seen wringing out water from her clothes, while some helped each other walk along the beach and talked to Border Force officials who arrived on the scene before they could leave.
Other photographs showed the migrants sleeping on the sand and trying to get dry following the crossing, with most of them not wearing face masks despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Separate sets of pictures showed a family sitting on a bench after walking up a hill following their landing at St Margaret's at Cliffe near Dover, and groups of migrants being brought into the town's harbour by the Border Force.
Questions will be raised over how some of the groups of migrants successfully evaded Border Force boats before making it to the shore, and whether any of them then made it further inland without being caught.
The arrivals along the coast mean today's crossings have shattered last month's single-day record of 235 migrants who arrived in 17 vessels.
So far this year, at least 5,025 migrants have arrived in small boats - including a single-month record of 1,468 in August.
That figure does not include the 100-odd who made the trip on around 15 boats Tuesday. Official Home Office statistics are yet to be released for those crossings or the ones today.
A group of migrants wade through the water onto a beach at Dover in Kent this morning after crossing the English Channel
The migrants look exhausted as they walk onto the beach at Dover in Kent this morning following the crossing
The group of migrants arrived at the coast in Dover on two boats this morning following their crossing over the Channel
A migrant sits on the rocks at the beach in Dover today (left), while another is collapsed on the steps this morning (right)
Migrants walk onto the shore at the beach in Dover this morning after making the journey across the English Channel
Migrants get some rest on the beach at Dover this morning after making the perilous journey across the Channel
A boat carrying one set of the migrants is pulled into shore at Dover this morning following the crossing
The group of migrants walk onto the beach at Dover this morning after travelling across the English Channel
Two migrants, one wearing a face mask, walk up the beach at Dover in Kent this morning following their arrival
Border Force officers wearing face masks stand near the group on the beach at Dover following their arrival this morning
French authorities dealing with migrants in La Manche on Wednesday
French authorities cruising in the English Channel on Wednesday on the lookout for migrants
One onlooker told MailOnline that he was at the beach with a group of other people when the migrants arrived and managed to convince them to avoid escaping.
He said: 'We were there before the police. The lifeboat couldn't get in – it was too shallow. So if we weren't there, they were have run off and escaped. The Border Force arrived within 20 minutes - it's next to the dock.
'Some did try and make an escape but we managed to round them up and persuade them not to, because there's railway lines and roads nearby - so if you don't know the area you get killed instantly.'
Speaking about the blonde lady wearing trainers, he said: 'She was absolutely exhausted, she fell on the floor after getting there. She was given a bottle of Diet Coke and she perked up, but she was shivering to the bone.'
Referring to another woman who was lying on the steps, he added that she 'collapsed complaining of pains in her stomach, and they were trying to establish what it was' with an English-speaking member of the group.
He said Coastguards, medics and Border Force officials were all at the scene following the arrival of the migrants on the two boats and 'have been run off their feet, big time'.
Speaking about the migrants, he said: 'They were all focused, they all got off the craft and you can see them falling over, because obviously it's low tide, and it's a bit of a further walk. They were just about to disperse.'
He also took a separate series of photographs of a family who landed at St Margaret's at Cliffe, saying they were caught at the top of the hill after climbing up from the beach and taken in by the Coastguard.
A woman sits on the rocks at the beach in Dover this morning after making the journey across the English Channel
The migrants sit on rocks at the beach in Dover this morning after making it across the Channel to Britain today
The group of migrants walk up the beach today after a potentially record-breaking number were picked up off the coast
One of the migrants falls into the water after stepping off the boat following the arrival on the Kent coast this morning
The migrants look exhausted as they make their way onto the beach at Dover following their crossing over the Channel
The two boats carrying the migrants arrive on the Kent coast this morning after they travelled across the Channel
Coastguard workers pictured today as bosses said they were 'committed to safeguarding life around seas and coastal areas'
A woman gets some rest on the beach at Dover this morning after making the perilous journey across the Channel
One of the boats carrying the migrants is pulled into shore during their arrival off the Kent coast this morning
Coastguar workers and Border Force officers wearing face masks work together on the beach at Dover this morning
A woman wrings out water from her clothing after arriving on the beach at Dover following the crossing this morning
A group of migrants arrive on a boat at Dover following their crossing over the English Channel today
The rescue operation was going on since at least 6am. The Channel was calm and there were clear skies - making it easier to make the perilous journey across the world's busiest shipping lane, the Dover Strait.
A separate set of photographs taken in another area of Dover this morning appeared to show more babies and children than usual among the latest migrants to arrive by dinghy today.
The pictures showed at least five children being led or carried into the port by rescuers this morning after they made the dangerous journey into the UK aboard flimsy boats.
Some of the children - as young as a few months old - were not wearing lifejackets as they were led up the gangway, although they could have been already removed.
Others were being carried by officials, rather than their parents, after making the treacherous trip across the Channel. The youngest baby was carried onto shore by what appeared to be a Border Force official.
Another baby was strapped to a woman's front, and was wearing warm coats. A couple with two small boys were photographed being escorted up the gangway, and 14 boats were pictured tied to the side of the port.
At least 100 people were brought into Dover today, packed on Border Force patrol vessels and sitting on lifeboats. Some smiled and waved as they arrived into the busy port while others carried toddlers too young to walk.
Lashing winds and choppy seas brought on by Storm Francis at the end of August made crossings impossible for several days, but conditions have improved in the first two days of September.
The group of migrants are led up the steps at the beach in Dover this morning by mask-wearing Border Force officers
The migrants walk up the steps at the beach in Dover this morning following their crossing over the English Channel
The migrants arrive at the beach in Dover this morning after making the perilous journey across the Channel today
A woman sits on the sand and shingle at the beach in Dover today after making the journey across the English Channel
A man sits in the sunshine on the rocks off the Kent coast this morning after completing the journey across the Channel
Two boats carrying the migrants are pulled as close as possible to the shore at Dover today before they get off
Border Force officers speak with each other as they stand next to the group of migrants who arrived at Dover today
Two powerboats are pictured on the Kent coast at Dover this morning following the arrival of the migrants
A man and woman help each other along the beach at Dover this morning following their journey across the Channel
A pair of jeans are left to dry out on the beach at Dover this morning following the arrival of the group of migrants
One of the migrants falls into the water while wading up to the Kent coast following the crossing this morning
Today has seen bright sunshine and winds under 5mph in Kent, with temperatures expected to reach 18C (64F). The Home Office has yet to confirm how many migrants successfully crossed to the UK yesterday.
Immigration officials at the port of Dover were busy this morning, with dozens of migrants waiting aboard Border Force vessels and lifeboats in the harbour. Among their numbers were adults carrying young children.
After waiting to be brought ashore - some for about an hour - the migrants were led up the gangway towards the Border Force processing centre. Once ashore, they will be assessed for symptoms of coronavirus, as is protocol.
Several empty dinghies with outboard motors attached were also seen being towed into the port throughout the morning. French marine patrol boats remain active on the other side of the Channel.
In the House of Commons today, Boris Johnson claimed Britain is a 'target and magnet' for people traffickers as he pledged to make changes to the law.
Conservative Lee Anderson (Ashfield) told the Prime Minister the asylum system is 'broken and being abused', to which Mr Johnson replied in the Commons: 'I have a great deal of sympathy with those who are so desperate as to put their children in dinghies or even children's paddling pools and try to cross the Channel.
'But I have to say what they're doing is falling prey to criminal gangs and they are breaking the law. They're also undermining the legitimate claims of others who would seek asylum in this country.
'That is why we will take advantage of leaving the EU by changing the Dublin regulations on returns and we will address the rigidities in our laws that makes this country, I'm afraid, a target and a magnet for those who would exploit vulnerable people in this way.'
A group of migrants are pictured after being picked up by a lifeboat and brought ashore at Dover Harbour this morning
A migrant raises his hands following his arrival at Dover this morning after being picked up by a lifeboat
Migrants are brought to shore after arriving at Dover today as huge numbers of them continue to arrive in Kent
The scene in Dover today where adults and young children were seen arriving after having crossed part of the Channel
A baby is carried off a boat by a woman following the arrival of the migrants off the coast of Dover this morning
The scene in Dover today after adults and young children were seen arriving having crossed part of the English Channel
A man wearing a face mask carries a young child following the arrival of a group of migrants at Dover this morning
Border Force officers patrol the area off the coast of Dover this morning as groups of migrants arrive in Britain
A man holds the hand of one child while carrying another as he arrives at Dover after crossing the Channel this morning
A woman is helped to shore after arriving at Dover this morning after groups of migrants crossed the Channel
A man walks with two children while a woman carries a young child after arriving at Dover this morning
Home Office minister Chris Philp said 24 people have been jailed for facilitating illegal immigration so far this year.
Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, he said: 'The majority of these crossings are facilitated by ruthless criminal gangs who make money from exploiting migrants who are desperate to come here.
'We're working with the National Crime Agency to go after those who profit from such misery. Already this year 24 people have been convicted and jailed for facilitating illegal immigration.'
Mr Philp said 34 people who attempted to cross the Channel today were picked up by the RNLI. He said the French authorities also stopped 84 migrants from making the journey on the French side today and over 3,000 crossing attempts have been stopped this year.
Britain's human tide of misery: Astonishing images show exhausted migrants struggling ashore and collapsing on a Dover beach as a record 409 migrants make it across Channel to UK in ONE DAY
![Britain's human tide of misery: Astonishing images show exhausted migrants struggling ashore and collapsing on a Dover beach as a record 409 migrants make it across Channel to UK in ONE DAY]()
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September 03, 2020
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