Migrants arrive by boat in Farage's constituency

Migrants have been arrested after arriving by boat off the coast of Essex, the National Crime Agency has confirmed.

"Six people who were on board the boat have been detained for immigration offences," an NCA spokesperson said.

The boat arrived early on Wednesday at Holland-on-Sea in the Clacton constituency of Nigel Farage.

It was reported to have dropped a number of people off at the shoreline.

The Reform UK leader posted on X: "The National Crime Agency has launched a full investigation. Nowhere is safe. These men must be kept under detention and deported."

Three men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

A fourth man, the boat's pilot, was arrested later by Border Force, assisted by the coastguard.

The six migrants have also been detained and will be dealt with by Immigration Enforcement officers.

Peter Harris, the Reform leader of Essex County Council, told the BBC it is "quite sinister and shocking news to hear that we've got illegal migrants that are landing on the coast of Essex now" and that "residents will be deeply concerned that this is happening".

But Maria Wilby from Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Migrant Action, in Colchester, said it was wrong to call them "illegal". She described them as "irregular migrants" and said if they claimed asylum they would legally be allowed to be in the UK.

She added: "People can't be deported until they have been subject to the process in this country. Deportation can only happen when everything has been exhausted."

Between the start of this year and 25 June, 11,638 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France. That number is down by 37% on the same period last year.

Most of the arrivals were in Kent, and Wednesday's incident is understood to be the first time migrants have been detained off Essex, although an inflatable boat thought to have carried migrants from the continent was found in Walton in 2022.

Nearly all those who arrive by small boat claim asylum. Under international law, they are allowed to stay in the country while their applications are considered.

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