More than 100 migrants suffer freezing temperatures to get to UK while French coastguard pluck another 45 from the sea as Channel crossings resume

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More than 100 migrants braved freezing temperatures in the English Channel on Tuesday to reach the UK in dinghies - after 45 people were rescued by the French coastguard earlier in the day. 

Two boats were intercepted by the Border Force vessel Defender with a total of 106 migrants - including children and a baby - on board according to official government figures.

They were brought on board the patrol boat before being taken into the harbour at Dover, in Kent. It takes the total arriving so far in 2023 to 150 migrants.

Before the incident, no migrants had crossed the Channel to the UK for a fortnight amid bad weather conditions. 

It came after migrants were rescued off the coast of Pas-de-Calais on Tuesday afternoon, according to a translation of a statement from the Prefecture maritime de la manche et de la mer du Nord. 

A group of migrants are pictured being brought into Dover by Border Force officers last night, after the French coastguard has rescued 45 migrants in the Channel in a separate incident earlier on Tuesday

The group arriving at Dover included a woman and a baby and other children. Above: Some of the migrants are seen in life jackets 

Those rescued off the coast of France were brought to Calais and met by emergency services and police, an official statement said.   

Conditions are particularly perilous in winter when freezing temperatures can kill people within minutes if they end up tossed into the sea. 

The 14-day hiatus between January 3 and January 16 was the longest stretch without any arrivals for several months.

Before yesterday's arrival, the only crossing recorded by the Ministry of Defence was on January 2 when 44 people made the journey in one boat.

The news comes on the same day the government announced it had amended the Online Safety Bill to help tackle 'TikTok Traffickers' who encourage small boat crossings.

Natalie Elphicke MP along with veteran MP, Sir John Hayes led an amendment to the Online Safety Bill, supported by other MPs. The Government has now agreed to add illegal immigration and modern slavery offences to the list of priority offences covered under the Bill.

Posting videos that portray this activity in a positive light would therefore be a priority crime and platforms would have to proactively remove it.

Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover, said: 'The small boat crossings must be stopped. It is absolutely right that the Prime Minister has made this one of his five key pledges for 2023.

'I am very pleased that the Government has listened and is taking firm action on online activity which encourages the dangerous and illegal small boat crossings. Tackling the TikTok traffickers will make a real difference.

'Small boat crossings are not just illegal, they are incredibly dangerous and lives have been lost at sea. We must use every tool in the toolbox to tackle illegal immigration and modern slavery.'

Photos taken last night show migrants including women, children and a baby being brought ashore

The migrants who arrived yesterday are seen walking into Dover Marina after their crossing from France

Last month, four migrants died when the dinghy they were travelling in deflated. Thirty-nine survivors, including 12 children had to be rescued. 

Detectives have since launched an investigation into the tragedy.

It emerged earlier this month that migrants could face an automatic ban on making asylum claims under tough measures being drawn up by the Home Secretary.

Suella Braverman is set to change the law so that every migrant who has passed through a safe country - such as France - will have applications for refugee status declared void. 

They could then face 'rapid removal' from Britain.

Lat year, a record 45,728 migrants arrived from Franc in 1,104 boats. This figure dwarfed the 28,526 who came in 2021.

Ms Braverman revealed last year that housing asylum seekers will cost £3.5billion this year, up from £2.1billion in the previous 12 months.