People smugglers were today accused of taking advantage of D-Day commemorations after launching perilous crossings while world leaders attended historic events along the French coast.
Around 80 migrants including a baby and two other children were rescued this morning after a dinghy capsized in the Channel.
The boat is believed to have set off from Calais, before getting into difficulty and sending out a mayday to the Coastguard.
A huge rescue operation was launched, with helicopters and lifeboats scrambled to pull people out of the water.
The group were then seen being brought to shore before lunch time in Dover, where they are now being processed.
Pictures from Dover appear to show the rescued migrants - including the small children (pictured the children being carried to shore)
A baby and small children are among over 80 migrants who have been brought shore after a small boat capsized in the English Channel
The small boat capsized after setting off from Calais. Up the French coast, world leaders came together to commemorate the D-Day landings
Border Force vessel Defender was mid channel, according the Marine Traffic website. Defender, as well as Border Force vessel Ranger, have since been spotted at the immigration processing centre in the Western docks at the Port of Dover, Kent
A group of migrants spotted on Gravelines Beach, near Calais, this morning
Meanwhile, the French authorities are currently dealing with a large number of other migrants attempting to make the crossing - with reports the French police have used tear gas
In recent days a number of dinghies have attempted to make the dangerous 20 mile journey from France to England. Yesterday saw at least three attempted crossings by giant dinghies - two witnessed by the Mail.
And on Wednesday the Mail saw two dinghies set off. In total four boats with 234 migrants onboard reached England on Tuesday, June 4.
June 3 saw one boat containing 63 people get across - and all this compared to zero crossing over the five previous days.
While police were around, the dinghy surge coincided with hundreds of officers being diverted from Channel patrols around Calais to Normandy, where heads of state including King Charles and American president Joe Biden are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944.
The massive security operation started in Normandy on Monday, and will continue through to the weekend.
A French emergency services source based near Calais said: ‘President Macron began the commemorations in Normandy today, which is also when Mr Biden arrived in France.
‘Including soldiers, there will have been some 45,000 security officials in Normandy. This naturally means a reduction elsewhere.
‘It certainly appears that those launching the boats are attempting to take advantage of the reduction in police numbers on the coast around Calais and Dunkirk’.
French authorities have been photographed dealing with a large number of other migrants trying to make the perilous crossing, with reports of police using tear gas against them.
Group of migrants seen in the water off the coast of France. Around 80 migrants are understood to have been rescued after a boat got into difficulty while crossing the Channel
Two large coaches are parked up inside the compound waiting nearby while an ambulance also remained on standby near the tent
French migrant charity Utopia 56 had a van waiting for them by the beach, and dished out dry clothes and foil blankets to thwarted migrants including a three-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy.
Paid charity co-ordinator Thomas Chambon told the Mail: ‘We have complained about the police using tear-gas and slashing boats – and they have said since they will not touch migrants if they have even one foot wet.
‘But what has happened today shows they still do it. And most of the people who drown do so not in the middle of the Channel but in the first 300 metres from shore.
‘Even when the police do stop migrants though, they sometimes tell them “You will have more chance tomorrow”.
‘And this Rwanda policy in England that has been talked about for two years? The numbers of migrants are bigger than ever before, they are not wanted on mainland Europe and have nowhere else to go.’
Among the migrants trudging back to camp was Iranian Kurd baker Kamo, 27.
He has paid Euros 2,000 for his place, but has been thwarted three times by police, with yesterday’s boat-slashing his latest disruption.
Kamo was undeterred, saying: ‘The police today went into the sea up to their chests and slashed the dinghy.
‘Families with kids, everyone on board, all went into the water. They were scared.
‘I don’t know why it happened today. Often, the police are helping migrants. Maybe they didn’t like there being so many boats.
‘Britain’s plan to send people to Rwanda is deterring some migrants – I’ve been in the camp three weeks and am told there were more people a few months ago.
‘But I’m just going to wait for another taxi-boat. In England I’ll have a better job and life.’
British and French vessel were sent out to assist the boat this morning - which is believed to have gotten into difficulty halfway between Dover and Calais.
French police entering the water with tear gas earlier today
Migrants off the coast of France. Government figures reveal that in past week alone, 331 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats
The Dover lifeboat as well as an RNLI Rhib could be seen mid channel off the Cap Griz Nez on the French coast.
Border Force vessel Defender was also mid channel, according the Marine Traffic website.
Defender, as well as Border Force vessel Ranger, have since been spotted at the immigration processing centre in the Western docks at the Port of Dover, Kent.
Two large coaches are parked up inside the compound waiting nearby while an ambulance also remained on standby near the tent.
People could be seen walking around inside the fenced off area used to process small boat arrivals, with the large gate occasionally opening to allow cars to leave.
Around lunchtime, it was reported that one coach had left the compound and drove northbound heading for the immigration holding centre at Manston near Ramsgate, Kent.
Three coaches have left the holding area set up on the harbourside. The third left the fenced area at 4.10pm.
It remains unconfirmed how the ship got into trouble.
The operation to rescue the occupants of a small boat crossing the Channel has now concluded with 'all people accounted for and back on land', a Coastguard spokesperson said.
They said: 'HM Coastguard has been coordinating the response to a small boat incident in the Channel this morning, June 6.
'Coastguard helicopters from Lydd and Lee-on-Solent, RNLI lifeboats and Border Force were sent.
'The search has now concluded with all people accounted for and back on land.'
The RNLI said: 'Dover RNLI all-weather lifeboat and Walmer inshore lifeboat were tasked by HM Coastguard to launch this morning (6 June) to an incident in the English Channel.'
Charity the International Rescue Committee UK said: 'This is yet another completely preventable incident in the English Channel and a reminder that deterrence policies don't work.
'People will continue to put their lives at risk if they feel they have no other choice.
Since January 1, almost 11,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel on small boats
A small boat off the coast of France with a French police officer in the water nearby. If Labour win the upcoming General Election, they have pledged to tackle the migrant crisis by pursuing 'new agreements with France and other countries on returns and family reunion'
A deflated dinghy on a beach near Calais today. French police have previously said: 'When we used to find them with their boats in the dunes, it was much easier, we just slashed the dinghies with knives'
'The government must scale up safe routes to ensure fewer people are forced to take dangerous journeys in the first place - resettlement schemes, a refugee visa and family reunion schemes are more effective and humane alternatives that would offer orderly routes to protection for refugees.'
A Home Office spokesman said: 'We continue to work closely with our French partners to prevent crossings and save lives.'
Government figures reveal that in past week alone, 331 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats.
A shocking 711 people made the treacherous journey on May 1 in 14 boats according the the Home Office.
This is the highest recorded number of people having made the crossing in a single day.
Since the government announced its controversial Rwanda scheme more than 80,000 migrants have successfully made the journey. Sir Keir Starmer has said he will cancel the scheme 'straight away' if Labour wins.
If Labour win the upcoming General Election, they have pledged to tackle the migrant crisis by pursuing 'new agreements with France and other countries on returns and family reunion' and 'deeper security co-operation with Europe'.
However, Home Office insiders have told the Mail that similar request for new returns agreements have been rejected by the French government.
On Gravelines beach at 9.15am yesterday a dozen migrants – mostly young men – up to their knees in the sea were spotted waiting to make the crossing. Police were quickly on the scene, yet they let the migrants wait for more than half an hour in shallow waters as they waited for their 'taxi boat'.
Around 30 migrants are seen arriving into Dover Docks yesterday
A group of migrants are seen in the water on gravelines beach yesterday morning
A group of French police officers are seen standing idly by while a group of migrants headed for Britain. Officers are barred from intercepting people or boats even in ankle-deep water. A police chief at the scene told us: 'The boat was already in the water – and so were migrants. So we couldn't touch them'
Officers are barred from intercepting people or boats even in ankle-deep water. A police chief at the scene told us: 'The boat was already in the water – and so were migrants. So we couldn't touch them.
'When we used to find them with their boats in the dunes, it was much easier, we just slashed the dinghies with knives.'
Up to 18 officers stood between a further 20 or so migrants on the beach – including women, a young girl and a toddler in arms – and those in the water.
Officers were able to stop the women and children, but the rest simply ran into the waves and stood laughing and shouting as they awaited their 'taxi', which arrived at 9.45am.
In total over 125,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in the last six-and-a-half years as the recent crisis unfolded.
The Home Office said 34 people made the journey in one boat on Wednesday, taking the provisional total number of crossings for the year so far to 10,779.
