First migrants detained by border force agents under new UK-France deal

People arriving to the UK on small boats have been detained in Dover for the first time.

Migrants who arrived in Dover on small boats from France were detained yesterday after a new agreement between the UK and France.

The ‘one in, one out’ deal means people who arrived into the UK illegally will be deported to France.

The first spate of detentions was carried out in the port city yesterday, targeting those who had just crossed into UK waters.

Footage shows a border force vessel packed with people in lifejackets docking at the port yesterday.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘Yesterday, under the terms of this groundbreaking new treaty, the first group of people to cross the Channel were detained after their arrival at Western Jet Foil and will now be held in detention until they can be returned to France.

‘That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives and throwing away their money if they get into a small boat.’

As part of the deal, migrants can submit an expression of interest to come to the UK while in France. They must meed the government’s eligibility criteria, including uploading a passport document. They will then have to go through further security checks and biometric controls.

By the end of July, more than 25,000 people had made the crossing over the English Channel in small, often not seaworthy boats.

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.