A new, high-end inflatable boat carrying 15 passengers was recently observed approaching the White Cliffs of Dover, highlighting a different approach to Channel crossings by migrants.
The vessel, described as brand-new and equipped with a 20hp Suzuki outboard motor valued at approximately £2,000, was spotted by fishermen early on a Saturday morning. The passengers, some reportedly wearing expensive attire, were in good condition and did not appear to be wearing life jackets, suggesting a perception of low risk during the journey. The boat itself is estimated to be worth around £1,500.
According to reports from fishermen who observed the boat, the driver signaled for assistance, feigning engine trouble. The driver allegedly asked passing vessels to alert the coastguard, a tactic believed to be a ruse to ensure pickup by Border Force officials and entry into the UK's asylum system. This system can grant access to accommodation, healthcare, and the possibility of settling in the UK. The fishermen noted that the driver seemed knowledgeable about maritime laws regarding distress signals.
The boat was reportedly within a mile of the Kent coast when a Border Force vessel intercepted it. This incident occurred days before a larger vessel carrying 230 migrants, described as the biggest traffickers’ vessel to date, crossed the Channel.
While the trend for people smugglers has been to cram increasing numbers of migrants onto larger dinghies, this incident suggests that those with financial means may be opting for more comfortable, albeit still illicit, crossings. The passengers on the white boat are suspected to be of Indian or Iranian origin. The journey from France to Britain, even with the staged delays, may have taken only a few hours, given the engine's capability of reaching speeds up to 20 mph.
A Home Office spokesperson stated that the government is making progress in reducing small boat crossings, noting that the number recorded in July was the lowest since 2020. The spokesperson added that further measures are being implemented, including a payment-by-results agreement with France to increase patrols on French beaches.