Dozens of migrants climb on dinghy before French police intercept them

Dozens of migrants desperately clamber onto dinghy trying to reach Britain before French police intercept them…on the day Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker barge arrives in Dorset

  • Officers caught scores of migrants off a beach in Sangette, northern France

Dozens of migrants have been pictured clambering onto a flimsy dinghy off the French coast in a desperate attempt to reach Britain, before they were intercepted by police.

The foiled crossing comes as the Bibby Stockholm, a controversial floating barge set to house hundreds of male asylum seekers, arrived at its final destination on the Dorset coast this morning.

Officers caught scores of male migrants as they attempted to launch a vessel from a beach in Sangette, northern France, today.

Disturbing images show the sheer number of people clinging onto a tiny boat just a few yards from the shoreline, as they attempted to cross the English Channel.

A French police officer was seen gesturing to his colleagues as they attempted to prevent the departure of an inflatable boat, which was filled beyond capacity and barely staying above the water.

A French police officer was seen gesturing to his colleagues as they attempted to prevent the departure of an inflatable boat

Officers caught scores of male migrants as they attempted to launch a vessel from a beach in Sangette, northern France, today

Police officers carry out checks on a migrant who tried to board an inflatable boat to attempt to illegally cross the English Channel

Migrants sit onboard an inflatable boat before attempting to illegally cross the English Channel

Members of the public watch as migrants sit onboard an inflatable boat before attempting to illegally cross the English Channel

Police officers work to prevent the departure of an inflatable boat carrying migrants attempting to illegally cross the English Channel to reach Britain, on the beach of Sangatte

Dozens of migrants tried to cram onto one vessel, with a handful not even wearing life jackets for the perilous crossing

The officers involved in the operation are believed to be from the Direction centrale de la police aux frontières, which is responsible for border control. 

Sangatte, outside Calais, is known for being home an ad hoc camp built for migrants trying to reach Britain. 

It is a popular launching point for migrants who feel they have no choice but to make the perilous crossing to Britain.

There are constant patrols of the beaches in the area, and earlier this year, UK Border Force officers have joined patrols on French beaches for the first time in a bid to stem the flow of migrants into the country.

Last year, a record 45,755 people came to Britain in small boats across the Channel, mainly from France. 

More than 12,000 have arrived this year, a rate similar to 2022. 

The UK government has scrambled to work out how to house those arriving in the UK, with accommodation costs for those being processed soaring.

The Bibby Stockholm (pictured arriving in Dorset this morning) is a huge migrant barge capable of housing up to 500 migrants.

Amid a backlog of asylum cases in the UK, the Government is seeking to cut the cost of hotel bills by using alternative accommodation including the Bibby Stockholm and former military bases. 

The Bibby Stockholm, a three-storey, 93-metre long accommodation vessel, is capable of housing up to 500 migrants. 

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the vessel in the popular seaside resort later this month. 

It set sail from Falmouth in Cornwall yesterday to its final destination of Portland, near Weymouth. 

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the vessel in the popular seaside resort later this month. Pictured: The Bibby Stockholm being towed in this morning 

But the move has triggered protests from locals who are fearful about the impact the new arrivals will have on the town’s community.

This morning a crowd of people were seen holding signs saying ‘no the the barge’, ‘Portland Port betrays Portland’ and ‘Portland betrayed’ outside Portland Port near Weymouth as they awaited the vessels arrival.

Local politicians have slammed the plans as ‘cruel and unusual’ adding that the community does not have the right infrastructure to house more people in the area.

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