People smugglers sending fleets of migrant boats at the same time to overwhelm patrols

PEOPLE smugglers are sending fleets of small boats across the Channel at the same time hoping to overwhelm patrols. French coastguards stopped eight boats full of migrants heading to Britain in one day, as criminal gangs changed their tactics. In the 24 hours to dawn yesterday, 13 vessels, carrying more than 200 migrants heading for […]

PEOPLE smugglers are sending fleets of small boats across the Channel at the same time hoping to overwhelm patrols.

French coastguards stopped eight boats full of migrants heading to Britain in one day, as criminal gangs changed their tactics.

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Migrants packed tightly onto a small inflatable boat attempt to cross the English Channel[/caption]

In the 24 hours to dawn yesterday, 13 vessels, carrying more than 200 migrants heading for Britain, were intercepted.

French authorities have deployed an extra 450 officers to the area.

A source in Calais said: “It appears to be a tactic to try to overwhelm both the French and British authorities so at least some get through.”

Last year, six people died trying to cross the Channel and so far this year almost 1,500 migrants have arrived compared with 511 for the same period last year.