The migrant dinghy, which set sail from Normandy on Monday morning, was shadowed by a French coastguard vessel. Authorities said the occupants refused assistance, declaring they were "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom".
Upon reaching Dover, the boat was taken to the Border Security Command compound, where police vehicles were seen on site. Local officials expect the migrants to be transferred to Gosport, a prospect echoed by MP Dame Caroline Dinenage, who said the Home Office had warned that a small boat would likely need to be disembarked in the area within hours.
Hampshire Police announced the arrest of six individuals in connection with the incident. Two men from Salisbury, aged 19 and 36, were detained on suspicion of aggravated trespass, while four people from Gosport – two men aged 33 and 67 and two women aged 31 and 32 – were held on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
The arrival follows a similar incident earlier this month when a dinghy that had set off from the Cherbourg area was intercepted by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight, sparking protests in Portsmouth. The current crossing is believed to be one of the longest journeys made by a small boat across the Channel.
Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities are preparing for the likely disembarkation of the migrants in Gosport, while the arrested individuals will face further questioning and possible court proceedings.