Port security to be reviewed

Ten illegal immigrants arrived in Plymouth on board a ferry

Immigration officials say they are being forced to review security measures because of a rise in illegal immigrants coming into the South West.

It follows an attempt by 10 people to enter Plymouth illegally on board a ferry from Spain.

Seven men and two women, thought to be either Chinese or Vietnamese, were denied access to the UK on Wednesday and sent back to Spain.

A tenth man appeared before Plymouth Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, charged with assault and criminal damage after jumping from the Brittany Ferries vessel.

Tighter controls

The man was plucked from the water within minutes by officials.

The Brittany Ferries vessel Val de Loire had travelled from Santander in northern Spain.

Immigration officials say there could be more attempts by illegal immigrants to enter Britain further west along the south coast.

This is due to tighter controls in Paris and Calais stemming the flow of illegal immigrants into traditional ports of entry such as Dover and Folkestone.

Immigration officers from Plymouth are planning to travel to Santander to examine port security there.

They also plan to speak to Spanish police about what measures they are putting in place to deal with the problem.