(Reuters) Britain’s Royal Air Force has sent a maritime patrol aircraft to help support border control operations in the English Channel after an increase in migrants seeking to cross from France.
Taking advantage of hot weather and calm sea conditions, hundreds of people have crossed the Dover Straits over the past week, many in overloaded rubber dinghies, a development described as “unacceptable” by British ministers.
“The aircraft will track vessels and pass information to the Border Force who will then take any appropriate further action,” a Ministry of Defence statement said. It replaces a different aircraft which undertook similar operations in recent days.
The Home Office, or interior ministry, asked the armed forces last week to help deal with the migrant boats.
