Two RNLI lifeboats were sent to assist a small boat carrying illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel after those on board had been at sea for more than 36 hours.
The lifeboats were tasked by HM Coastguard shortly after 11am on Tuesday, 22 September, after Border Force vessels were initially unavailable to respond.
The RNLI said a Border Security Command cutter was launched a short time later.
HM Coastguard asked the lifeboats to remain nearby because of concerns that the inflatable dinghy could fail, potentially leaving those on board in the water.
The RNLI said the decision reflected lessons highlighted by the public Cranston Inquiry, which examined the deaths of more than 30 people attempting to cross the English Channel.
Before Border Force arrived, HM Coastguard directed the RNLI crews to take the people off the dinghy because of concerns about their safety and deteriorating health.
At that stage, those on board had been at sea for more than 36 hours.
The RNLI then helped transfer the casualties to the Border Force cutter before the lifeboat crews were released from the incident and returned home.
The charity said crossing the Channel in small inflatable boats is extremely dangerous, even in calm conditions, because of the heavy shipping traffic, overcrowding and the length of time people can be exposed to the elements.
In a statement, the RNLI said: “The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. We are a voluntary lifesaving rescue service, and when tasked by HM Coastguard we will rescue anyone in trouble at sea, as we have been doing for more than 200 years, without judgement or preference.”
It added that decisions over whether people have the right to remain in the UK are a matter for the Government.
“Our core purpose as a charity has always been to save lives at sea and this remains our focus,” the RNLI said.
At this time, it's unclear where the illegal immigrants were landed or if they have yet landed or are still on board the Border Force cutter.
HM Coastguard has declined to comment further on the ongoing incident and has directed media enquiries to Border Force, which is part of the Home Office.
V2 Radio has made repeated attempts to contact the Home Office through its out-of-hours media service this evening but, at the time of publication, has been unable to reach a spokesperson.
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