Migrants found in back of lorry at UK ferry port

Holly Bancroft
·2 min read

Six migrants have been taken to hospital after they were found in the back of a lorry at Newhaven ferry port in East Sussex.

Police said they had arrested two men - one on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry to the UK, and the other for illegally entering the UK.

The discovery at the Sussex port on Friday morning sparked a major emergency services response, with border force, police and the ambulance service all attending the scene.

The vehicle is reported to have arrived on a passenger ferry from Dieppe on Friday morning.

The scene at Newhaven ferry port after migrants have been found in the back of a lorry at port in East Sussex amid a large emergency services presence. (PA)
The scene at Newhaven ferry port after migrants have been found in the back of a lorry at port in East Sussex amid a large emergency services presence. (PA)

Footage circulating online appears to show someone wrapped in a foil blanket being wheeled off a ferry on a stretcher. No fatalies have been reported.

Martin Sinnock, 70, whose home overlooks the entrance to Newhaven Harbour, said he saw “a lot of activity” and a “large” emergency services presence including a helicopter landing on the quayside shortly after the ferry arrived. He said he was “deeply sad” to hear migrants were inside the vehicle.

A spokesman for ferry operator DFDS said: “We can confirm that migrants were found onboard Seven Sisters [ferry]. Immediate medical attention was provided and as per normal procedure, relevant authorities were contacted. From there on our crew followed their instructions.”

Responding to media reports about the incident, Lewes MP Maria Caulfield, whose constituency includes Newhaven, said in a post on X, formely Twitter: “Very concerned about these reports.

Migrants have been found in the back of a lorry at Newhaven ferry port (Alamy)
Migrants have been found in the back of a lorry at Newhaven ferry port (Alamy)

“From my office in Newhaven we can see lots of activity opposite at the port and thanks to the emergency services responding.”

A spokesperson for the south east coast ambulance service said they were called at 9:40am on Friday morning to an incident at the port. “A range of ambulance resources have attended, including our HART (hazardous area response team), alongside other emergency service partners,” they added.

A spokesperson for Sussex police said a number of people had been found on a lorry on a boat in Newhaven port.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Border Force are supporting emergency services in response to an incident at Newhaven Ferry Port.

“While the incident is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”