More than 150 migrants are still being unloaded from Bembridge and Yarmouth RNLI lifeboats tonight (Sunday) as processing of the illegals continues at Eastney Beach in Portsmouth.
The large-scale operation began at around 10:35 this morning when both Bembridge RNLI and Yarmouth RNLI were tasked to intercept a large dinghy in the English Channel, roughly halfway between the Isle of Wight and Cherbourg.
Volunteer lifeboat crews from the Island have remained involved throughout the day and into the night, with their involvement now approaching the 12-hour mark.
A significant multi-agency presence has now been established on the Hampshire coast, where those intercepted in the Channel are now being brought ashore at the entrance to Langstone Harbour.
South Central Ambulance Service has deployed multiple resources to Eastney Beach with mass casualty triage tents erected as part of the operation.
Police have locked down the area and established cordons to keep members of the public away while the migrants are unloaded and processed by Border Force officials.
Protesters have arrived on scene, some of whom were involved in a protest at the Port of Dover earlier this week.
Several coaches have also arrived at the scene to transport the migrants away from the beach to a detention centre.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson has tonight said:
“In response to a report on 6 September of a small boat heading towards the Hampshire coast, HM Coastguard sent lifeboats, an HM Coastguard helicopter, an HM Coastguard aeroplane and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams.
“Border Force, Border Security Command, Hampshire Police and South Central Ambulance Service were also sent.”
The incident has already prompted political reaction on the Isle of Wight, with MP Joe Robertson saying earlier today that he intends to contact the Home Office to establish where the vessel was heading.
Read more on the polticial reaction at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/mp-to-question-home-office-after-migrant-boat-intercepted-by-island-lifeboats/.
The multi-agency operation remains ongoing tonight.
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Disgusting. More invaders
no more donations for these illegal taxi service facilitators
they should be shipped straight out of the country – no detention centre, nothing
Absolutely
I bet Reformers are getting their knickers in a twist
this evening.
That’s Bojo’s oven ready Brexit for you!
Lol
Are you that pathetic that you actually find this situation funny. You sad sad creature
People who voted to leave a union that meant migrants could be sent back whence they came are now complaining migrants are not being sent back. It is both ironical and amusing.
Mmm so the rest of Europe are returning their illegals are they? Can you provide verified proof of that?
Try telling that to Sanchez you halfwit!
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has denounced the “selfish” response of several EU member states to an influx of illegal migrants crossing into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco.
The whole of Europe has the ex-Stasi Officer Merkel to thank for all these illegals when she said “if you can get here – you can stay here”.
Muppet!
Sorry but that was so uneducated of an answer it makes my head scratch. The so called union was a few countries who were paying for smaller countries like welfare. Migrants are illegals forcing the way into a country so they can sponge off welfare. No irony at all its time to stop the welfare until you can fix your own country.
The ‘so-called union’ was Europe, in which agreements are in place to return undocumented migrants IF their acceptance quota is exceeded. We opted out, ergo there is no longer the same agreement, or safe passage. No countries allow for applications outside their borders, people have to be inside the country to claim.
Those fleeing war, persecution or an oppressive regime rarely have, or can get in a hurry, documents and so all countries do and share status checks.
But not us, we opted out.
Still scratching your head are you? If it bothers you so very much why don’t you learn the facts?
Perhaps you would like to mention how many were returned under that scheme, I believe according to the government it was four.
Because the scheme you’re referring to was illegal. There is a scheme to send asylum seekers back, it’s called right to remain (or not). Up to March this year 80,000 were refused. The general trend is 60% refused, 40% admitted, and yes, it can take a year to process claims. Why? Because the previous gov’t wouldn’t take advice on this when they banged the door for Brexit and didn’t up the immigration staff. They also didn’t heed what was legal, and what wasn’t in terms of universal human rights, which is why those removed are claiming compensation and why we are still trying to claw back the millions we gave to Rwanda for the failed (£290m to them, total cost to tax payer £700m). That’s £175 MILLION pounds per person.
Worse than that though is the knowledge that the wasted money could have FREELY (because that’s all people like you really care about) fed and housed 41,000 people for a year. It could have built 4000 council houses to help our own poor. It would have funded between 8 and 14,000 care home places for a year to help our elderly. It would have funded 4,800 cancer hospice spaces. It would have funded the 3 year education and training of 10, 450 nurses. In terms of regional business support it could have created 40,000 new job vacancies.
But instead of challenging the government on the waste not just in terms of money but of chances, let alone the immorality of ignoring basic human rights atrocities you actively encouraged it, and continue to do so in spite of all the evidence. Not only does that show us that you care nothing for foreigners, but of all people with any form of need. Everyone except yourself. And I’m sick to the back teeth of hearing people like you with your privilege and self-entitlement whining on about things you clearly know or understand f-all about.
And at your age, it’s high time you got an education. Which is free.
Send them home
What, like Palestians?
It seems to me that successive governments have continued to use the RNLI as a free service to undertake a role that should be carried out by government agencies. I’m seriously considering cancelling my contributions to the RNLI. At some point if the charity can no longer cover the costs of these activities then government would have to deal with the matter properly which might encourage a more proactive approach to stemming these illegals.
It was a matter of time. Where are the French? We’re giving them millions every week and they do nothing!
The French escort them to the edge of the English side of the channel and then hand them over to border force
Thereby changing their status from illegal immigrant to refugee.
Once they have been
rescuedtheir status changes from illegal immigrant to refugee.Thats just the governments inpersonation of the emperors new clothes, they will say crossings of ilegal immigrants are down, thats because the name changing from illegal to migrants or refugees takes a percentage oput of the figure, those claiming so called regugee status is hugely up in the last three years.
Ignorant as well as self-centred. Lovely.
No it doesn’t.
They were coming to the Isle of Wight but the government couldn’t afford the Ferry fare to remove them to the Hotel
They don’t need the ferry fare , they are being ferried over at night by wight link and red funnel
I am the same will never give and mo ey to the RNLI again its bloody disgusting
Before all the human rights wrist wringers get going just think on – if this is going to be an established boat route then before long these mega dinghies could be landing on the shores of south and east Wight! I think your point of view will change very rapidly when this becomes a reality.
It will give the Reformers something to talk about
whilst getting their Tatts done.
Tatts all folks!
Unload them back at Cherbourg. We’ve got enough problems here without importing more.
When will the RNLI start doing taxi services to the mainland for free ?
They’re closing their facility on the island costing us valuable jobs
No more donations from me.
Thank you to the amazing volunteers and staff of our RNLI. Another donation is on its way.
Saving lives at sea is not only required by SOLAS and UNCLOS, but is also a moral imperative.
War, famine and climate change will all fuel irregular migration in the future. We need to change our approach to it.
Demonising those who seek to improve their own chance of survival is a deeply concerning and ugly trait.
I sincerely hope that survivors of today’s incident are treated with dignity, kindness and humanity.
Uneducated fool
I don’t think there is a war or famine in france….. why come here.. We give the french millions so why aren’t they stopping them..
You’re the only person in these comments with a brain!
No, there’s me too. There are more than a few of us.
I do not disagree with your statement, however what you fail to say, these were not mariners in distress, even the bembridge lifeboast said the sea condtions were excellent, I have never heard of the RNLI being called out to all the boats or even large dinghies that regularly travel the channel, no only those that contain illegal immigrants
Some thoughts for those incapable of generating their own:
Saving lives at sea is a legal requirement of all mariners. (SOLAS & UNCLOS)
Asylum seekers are not required to claim in the first safe country they enter. (Refugee Convention 1951)
Those claiming asylum are not to be punished for entering a safe country illegally and claiming refugee status. (Refugee Convention 1951)
The international treaties and conventions the UK is party to defend these protections for everyone.
You. Me. Everyone.
The brave balaclava’d lads protecting the nation uninvited not so brave that they could let themselves be recognised.
Deform thugs. Deport the lot of them, they’re not British.
OOOOh what a good idea, let the corrupt Police, Government and Judiciary identify people standing up for something that said officials hate. I cannot blame them for wanting anonymity, every sane person knows how this new 2 tier policing works. A knock at the door at 5am and arrested for some made up charge. The protest was peaceful, organised quiet and even policed, and when asked to move on, they did! They made a valid point, just like all the protesters in Pompey yesterday, but unlike some of those yesterday, they shouldn’t be getting the ‘naughty words’ arrests.
Sounds as though you’ve been on the wrong end of police attention. That really isn’t how it works.
Oh bless, you stay in your happy place throwing out nasty snide remarks but when reality bites many of us will welcome a bit of support. The only police attention I have ever had was when I managed promotion to sergeant. I realise that you will, as always, take the last word so, as we northerners say, “fill ya boots”
But got chucked out for being a racist?
If they want to fight they should be conscripted into the army
just a load of football hooligans with nothing better to do.
Labour & Burnham, pretend to act over illegal entry.
Mostly collected by the free taxi service, rnli.
But are swift to punish any who dare to complain.
These are not seafarers you were set up to rescue but French people leaving a safe country to invade the UK illegally. You are complicit in law breaking. Time to defund and stop supplying RNLI on IW.
stop the benefits, stop free housing, stop free nhs …. stop the boats coming .. simple
What about stopping benefits for Britains too!
good idea……
And the disabled, the elderly? What about the feeble minded? Accidental brain injured? Stop them too? Stop taxation because it’s not needed? Or fund eugenics with the savings maybe?
What the Hell do the members of both Portsmouth RNLI & Coastguard think they were doing last night. They really should be bought to task for bringing those services into disrepute. They joined those services to assist people in trouble on the coast & at sea.
There is a Hierarchy of rescue, which states, the rescuer should NOT put themselves in harms way. So wading into the sea at night to splash water into the faces of those, who were within their rights to express their thoughts at the Helping of 160 ILLEGAL Men being bought to our shores by a charity which they may well have supported. Is despicable.
The very charity born to preserve lives from ship wrecks, which is now choosing to spend the cash donations by of people this country to taxi ILLEGAL Immigrants to our shores.
At no time were these ILLEGALS in any Danger. They were shadowed into our waters by the French. The the Lifeboat Operation Managers of both Yarmouth & Bembridge agreed to drag the crew from their work & families to launch the boats & bring those ILLEGALS to our shores. Therefore you should all be ashamed of your actions. I stopped my donations to the RNLI a few years back. It now looks like others are doing the same. Bem & Yarm RNLI hang your heads in shame.
The boat was overladen, low in the water and also included 20 women and 8 children. There were 120 people in total, the French border force did not shadow them with sufficient capacity lifeboats but with small, border force boats.
Grow up, learn facts, get some humanity and stop flinging mud at the emergency services for doing the job they are tasked to do.
Wow the French boat had not capacity for a single one what a surprise. And how many migrants have the French saved . Basically they couldn’t give a monkeys. Perhaps if our laws and benefits system were the same as France they wouldn’t want to come here
Well said
The comments above make me ashamed to be British. What has Farage brought us to?
Farage, Yaxley-Lennon, Lowe, Griffin and their stooges in the nationalist-right press have shifted the Overton Window to a terrifying point that I’ve never seen before.
Some of the opinions expressed here would’ve been unacceptable to most civilised citizens in years gone by and some are indeed sailing very close to the wind with regard to unlawfully inciting hatred and violence.
The best we can do is not to despair and counter disinformation with truth and honesty.
No, if this continues on this platform we can complain. The language used IS hate crime but it needs all like-minded people to be willing to flag it for the message to get through that it’s unacceptable. Simply giving factual evidence is useless…their personal opinions are not informed by fact but xenophobia. Drive it back underground where it belongs. Fewer people hurt then.
grow up
Our brave lifeboat men and women who genuinely are the best of the best are caught in a horrible situation, they have to turn out when ordered to do so by their political masters and they are very political,now their photos are being published onsome media and on socials asking if you know them which is pretty frightening, they never wanted to be taxi drivers for illegals, it was foisted on them, but they can do something about them, they can decline to be called out if it is a taxi run and save them for real emergencies.
Just imagine if they landed on the island
they would have been in for a shock.
Drunks and druggies everywhere not to mention all
that tattoo’d reformers, they had a narrow escape.
Protesting thuggishly is not the answer, it is showing
the nation what the Reform party voters stand for!
Makes a complete joke coming back to UK going through Airport passport control. Passport please /Where have you come from.? Just a minute open your case.
Illegal No problem its your birthday ! presents
Sorry RNLI no more charity from me.
Hello Commentors
All we ever vote for (supposedly) and what truly occurs, is never what it says on the tin. Why do you think life is so expensive? I personally have no faith in what we have to attribute our compulsory taxes/payments towards and how they get spent.
When alot of the UK got flooded in 2023, our supposed leaders were doing more for international than our own people, yet they still demand our support and input. And we, the stupid, continue to feed them.
On this occasion, hats off to all those Brits claiming something from somewhere because otherwise its gonna get dished out anyway and not to us.
Where’s Enough is Enough when we need him? He was going to house them all!
Got the decorators in at the moment, could always house
them in empty hotels, the island is full of them.
Lock your doors and keep yourself safe.
Don’t know who these mostly male people are. It’s scary to say the least, thd island is slowly going to the dogs
Stick them all on a boat or plane and send them back. Unwanted and not welcome.
Get the army involved if necessary just clear the lot out
As for our lifeboats no more donations
Its strange how they had the coaches waiting for them and processing tents already set up at Portsmouth, it like they were expecting them.
Spot on, some people are awake to what is going on.
Exactly.. Get Rid..
For those who have chosen to suspend/stop supporting the RNLI, I’d say that’s shameful. All their prior work to help us residents and visitors to the island has been exceptional and needed.
If the RNLI hadn’t intercepted this boat and escorted them to Portsmouth, those 120 migrants woulda been on our Chale coast.
That’s more of a thankyou than a slating, don’t you think?
You have a good point.
Anyone who is still donating to the RNLI must need their brains testing and the lifeboats crews should be ashamed that they are assisting in the invasion of this country. The government had obviously arranged for this enemy vessel to be diverted to Portsmouth in the hope of avoiding the patriots who are taking great risks on our behalf.
It would only take a couple of weeks of just ploughing through every dingy mid channel and leaving them for the sharks, would pass the message perfectly.
Or commercialise it, heavy machine guns on the cliffs. Treat yourself to the full belt. Rent •50 cal sniper rifle, comes with 2 full clips. Family day on the trebuchet, see the innocent joy in your child’s eyes, as they realise the next rock will be on target.
Apparently donations to the RNLI have decreased? You are brave people, tho maybe if this awful situation arises again,dont take unnecessary risks please. Stay in port, or if you have to go wear blinkers.
Enough is most definitely Enough
I flagged this as inciting violence. THERE IS A LEGAL REASON. Why is it still here? Not only is approval worthless if you can’t discern right from wrong in online content in the first place, not doing anything about it once flagged is notifiable. And monitored.
I beg to differ I was not inciting violence, I was proposing an idea or two.
How gently ploughing thru the dingies and leaving for sharks to play with, incites violence I fail to see, boat hopefully not damaged, might need a scrub. Sharks happy as they have food at last they can feed their young, shivering on the sea bed with hunger.
Maybe your anti shark and consider them to incite violence,? That does make lot of sense. Although I and some shark experts both consider they are not inciting violence. Just being sharks.
The second point is a way to generate income for our bankrupt country, bit of cash to send some back.
It would also bring back the blitz spirit, communities out having fun together, maybe little gamble, Fiver says I can take the engine out and pop the dingy with one .50 round.
I must confess, my tiny brain, lost any point in anything you said, from when the caps came. So I have zero idea of wtf.
I did think your use of the “”Not only is approval worthless if you can’t discern right from wrong in online content in the first place”” addressed to a mod I assume.
So because we disagree and I hope we never do. Cos thats us gone then.Gone from all we grew up with, could go out without carrying a bladed item, go to a pub, fish and chips in the square, just walk in the country. That will all but disappear, country even poorer, violence increasing, drugs, gangs, rubbish everywhere, little fresh water, sporadic power cuts, no jobs, infrastructure collapsing
My comments wrong because of? A solution to a very bad situation cost effective, minimal paperwork, no vaccines for foreign diseases or ppe needs because no contact was made or needed.
Chance to make a difference with a weapon, fight for this country. Learn to shoot a whole day out. Generate income for the mass removal.
I would like to hear what the correct one is please