Police Prepare for Small-Boat Arrival After Channel Dinghy Sighting

Police are making preparations for the possible arrival of another migrant dinghy on the south coast after a small boat was spotted crossing the English Channel from France.

The vessel was seen heading towards the Channel boundary after apparently launching near Utah Beach in Normandy on Sunday morning.

The dinghy is understood to be under observation by French coastguard and rescue vessels as it continues towards Britain.

The boat’s movements have prompted preparations in Hampshire, where local officers are understood to be ready to respond if it reaches the coastline.

However, there is currently no indication that the vessel is specifically heading for Gosport or any other location in Hampshire.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative MP for Gosport, said she had sought an urgent update from the Government: ‘I am aware of reports of a migrant boat crossing from Normandy towards the south coast of the UK.

‘I have contacted the Home Office border security minister and requested an urgent update.

‘At present, there is nothing to suggest that the boat will be landing in Gosport. Understandably, local police will be making preparations should that situation change.’

Reform UK Hampshire councillor George Madgwick also shared images that appeared to show police officers and coaches in the Fareham area.

He said they were there in preparation for ‘a small boat due to land locally’.

The latest crossing comes only days after a similar incident sparked tension in nearby Gosport, where hundreds of protesters gathered following reports that a migrant boat was expected to arrive.

That dinghy had also travelled from Normandy before eventually reaching Dover after spending more than 30 hours at sea.

The 51 people aboard had reportedly declined assistance from the French coastguard before British rescue vessels intervened.

The incident led to a major police operation in Gosport, during which six people were arrested as officers dealt with protesters.

Three people were later charged with offences including assaults on emergency workers.

Departures from further west along the French coast have been relatively uncommon in recent years, but three such crossings have now taken place within a month.

The longer routes can leave boats at sea for many hours before they reach British waters, while their eventual landing point may be difficult to predict.

The Government has said Border Security Command monitors the Channel around the clock, with people arriving by small boat subject to checks and processing.

A Government spokesman said: ‘The Border Security Command works around the clock to monitor the Channel and protect our border. It is vital we continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival.’

Official figures show the number of small boat arrivals remains significantly lower than at the same point last year, despite continued crossings.

The Home Office recorded 526 arrivals on September 27 and a further 61 on September 29, with no arrivals recorded on several other days in the final week of September.

The provisional total for Channel crossings this year is 19,451, according to figures cited by officials, down 43 per cent on this point last year and 23 per cent below the figure at the same stage in 2024.

The latest Border Security Command annual report said small boat crossings had begun to fall but remained a ‘persistent and adaptive threat’, warning that organised crime groups could change their tactics and seek to increase journeys when conditions were favourable.

The Government has also been working with France to prevent departures, with French authorities reporting hundreds of small boat crossing attempts stopped under the latest UK-France arrangements.

Lettice.bromovsky@dailymail.co.uk