Migrants English Channel: the Home Secretary had to cut short a holiday to help with the 'incident' (Image: GETTY)
A 33-year-old Iranian male national and a 24-year-old English man were detained on Wednesday evening. Their arrests come after the Home Secretary requested the Navy help with the “major incident” in the English Channel. The Royal Navy have been asked to patrol the narrow strait, which is one of the busiest shipping passages in the world.
Critics of the move have suggested the presence of the Navy could actually attract more people to attempt the “perilous” crossing.
Of the recent arrests, a National Crime Agency spokeswoman said: “NCA officers have tonight arrested a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man in Manchester, on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants across the English Channel into the UK.
“As the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
The arrests come as it was revealed Home Secretary Sajid Javid had written to the Ministry of Defence to request use of the Royal Navy.
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English Channel migrants: Border Force on patrol in the narrow strait of ocean (Image: GETTY)
An MoD source said HMS Mersey, an offshore patrol vessel, is “available and ready” to be deployed.
It would represent a significant escalation of Britain's response to the migration issue after Mr Javid earlier this week announced the redeployment of two Border Force cutters from the
