Docks shut down after illegal immigrants try to enter Southampton

A security lockdown was imposed after the migrants arrived on one of the ships and tried to make a run for it.

The suspects were seized by customs and security staff but a subsequent search of the site resulted in the port being shut down.

The container terminal was shut down overnight, and remains closed this morning.

The Daily Echo understands that the security operation resulted in long delays for lorry drivers, with truckers having to wait for up to two-and-a-half hours.

DP World, which runs the terminal, confirmed that three people were found on the site and detained by police.

A spokesman said: “They were found within the container terminal after being spotted by our staff. The container terminal was closed while a thorough sweep  was carried out.”  

In a bulletin to port staff DP World said: ”Please be advised that operations were suspended at the Terminal from 3:45am due to persons unknown being found in our stacking area.

“As a matter of safety and security operations were suspended so we could carry out a detailed search of our site. Please be aware that the MT Park resumed operations at 6:15am and landside operations will resume at 7am and shipside at 7.30am.”

The DP World spokesman confirmed that the terminal was fully operational by 10am.

The incident comes as a small number of refugees fleeing the war in Syria and atrocities by ISIS, camp near Calais In France as they try to enter the UK via Dover to claim asylum.

David Cameron has been criticised recently for using language such as "swarm" which opponents say dehumanises the refugees as they try and flee persecution for the safety of Europe.

Last year, the UK had 31,000 applications from asylum seekers, while Germany had 202,000, Sweden 81,000 and France and Italy had 64,000 each.

The UK has 494 asylum applications per 1m of population, which leaves the nation 20th out of 31 European states, when it comes to number of refugees per head of population.