Look mum, we made it! Migrants pose for SELFIES in the sunshine on Kent coast after dodging border force patrol boats during dawn Channel dash in a dinghy
- The group of five set off from Calais but were not stopped by French authorities
- When they arrived near the shore of St Margaret's At Cliffe they left both
- The five swam to land before being met by police and then Border Force
- Two of the men took selfies of themselves before lazing on the shoreline
- Early this month record 180 migrants successfully crossed to the UK unstopped
A gang of five migrants used a dingy to reach Kent this morning – before taking selfies and laying back to sunbathe on the coastline as police spoke to them.
The group, who wrecked their inflatable boat before swimming ashore, arrived from Calais just off St Margaret's At Cliffe near Dover in the early hours.
They were seen lying back in the sun while border force officials dealt with them at the sea front just before 6am.
An eyewitness told MailOnline: 'They got near the shoreline, dumped the boat and swam the rest of the way. Police got them straight away, they didn't try to run off, they must have been tired.
Two of the group were seen taking a picture of themselves to send to family back home
One of the group took time to sunbathe while Border Force officials went to the scene
'Two of them took selfies before police took the phone taken from them.'
They went on: 'The dingy just drifted off into the sea. By the time border force got there it had been floating in the water for an hour.'The men were all handed face masks by police. Just yards away the migrants' wet clothes could be seen drying on the seafront railings.
The five did not try to run off after getting to land and sat calmly after being caught
Officials handed the group face masks when they arrived and will take them to centres later
The nationality of the five is not currently known.
They will be now processed by immigration officers who will interview them and discover if they are claiming asylum. If they do, checks will be made as to their history.
MailOnline revealed in April none of them will be tested for coronavirus by officials.
Home Office rules state doctors and nurses will examine them for any symptoms of Covid-19 instead of taking official swabs.
Anyone showing symptoms will be isolated, including those in detention centres, where special isolation areas have been set up, the Home Office has confirmed.
A spokesperson said at the time the policy was in line with guidance from Public Health England.
One migrant stripped off to try and dry his clothes on the seafront ahead of beach huts
Soon others in the five-strong group followed suit to dry their clothes in the morning sun
Police guarded the five migrants on the sea front until Border Force arrived to process them
They said: 'All individuals were brought to Dover and, in line with established processes, will be assessed to establish whether there are any medical requirements.
'All will be transferred to immigration officials. They will be interviewed and their cases will be dealt with in line with the immigration rules, transferring to detention where appropriate.
'In line with Public Health England guidance, Border Force and all operational staff have the relevant personal protective equipment available to them.'
Earlier this month on July 12 a daily record of 180 migrants successfully travelled through the English Channel to the UK.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, centre, and French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin in Calais
More than 220 that day had been intercepted by French authorities as they had tried to set off.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has been taking the problem so seriously she had travelled to Calais to speak with the French interior minister Gerald Darmanin.
They are creating a Franco-British intelligence cell to help tackle the growing problem.
Ms Patel said: 'Despite all of the action taken by law enforcement to date - intercepting the boats, making arrests, returning people to France and putting the criminals responsible behind bars - the numbers continue to increase.
'I have signed an agreement with the French to create a joint intelligence cell which will crack down on the gangs behind this vile people-smuggling operation and impressed on my French counterpart the need to stop these illegal crossings for the benefit of both our countries.
'This is the start of a new operational approach with the newly-appointed French interior minister.'
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