Man arrested after allegedly attempting to take Ramsgate trawler to France

A 30-year-old Sudanese man was arrested after allegedly boarding a shellfish trawler in Ramsgate and trying to take it to sea, saying he wanted to go to France to collect his family. The incident matters because the crew were asleep aboard and the boat’s skipper said the attempt put them and other people at risk.

Kent Police said officers were called to Royal Harbour at 3.17am on 3 November and that mooring ropes were damaged; the man remains in custody while police investigate. The skipper said the vessel may have suffered serious damage, with potential repair costs and lost earnings of up to £100,000, though the damage has not been assessed. His immigration status was unclear, and the article also reported 1,670 migrant arrivals in Britain over the preceding four days.