Police arrest 10 as 'migrants' found in back of lorry

Traffic on the M3 was brought to a standstill today after suspected migrants were discovered in the back of a lorry.

Drivers faced 10-mile tailbacks back to the M25 after police shut off the road at Junction 3 for Woking, Bracknell and Lightwater on Thursday morning (February 27).

Pictures from the scene show officers surrounding the Spanish HGV with migrants wrapped in foil blankets at the side of the southbound carriageway. The lorry company have been approached for comment.

Surrey Police said in a statement that 10 people were found in the back of the vehicle and 10 people have been arrested on suspicion of entering the UK without leave.

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Two people taken to hospital 'as a precaution'

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has just issued a statement saying a number of people required medical attention inside the lorry.

A spokesperson for SECAmb said people were assessed and treated at the scene before two were taken to hospital as a precaution for further checks.

People inside the lorry called police, force says

Surrey Police has said in a statement that the force was called at 10.25am today (27 February) by people inside the lorry on the M25.

The force added: "Officers identified the lorry and stopped it on the M3. Officers found 10people in the back.

"Ten adults have been arrested on suspicion of entering the UK without leave and are currently in custody."

The driver has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry into the UK under the Immigration Act and is currently in custody, according to the force.

Two people have been taken to hospital as a precaution.

Migrant lorry discovery comes as enforced returns jump to highest level in six years

The discovery of the suspected migrants comes as figures show the number of enforced returns of people who do not have a right to stay in the UK jumped to the highest level in six years.

Some 8,164 enforced returns took place in 2024, up 28% on the previous 12 months. It is the highest annual total since 2018, when the figure was 9,236, according to Home Office data published earlier today.

A breakdown of the figures show there were 4,428 enforced returns in the second half of last year, compared with 3,736 in the first six months.

The Home Office is responsible for returning people to their country of origin if they do not have a legal right to remain in the UK.

Traffic is easing

The RAC has said traffic is now easing after the incident on the M3 Southbound from J2 M25 J12 to J3 A322 (Lightwater/Bagshot).

Latest photos show migrant lorry and queues of traffic

These are the latest photos of the scene, showing a gridlocked lane of the M3 and a view of the lorry by the roadside.

First pictures from scene

Migrants sit on the barrier as the lorry is parked with it's doors open.

Police and ambulance crews surround the scene.

Those from the back of the HGV are wrapped in blankets.

Where is the motorway closed?

The M3 and closed southbound between junctions 2 and 3.

Take a look at our interactive map below.

What do we know so far?

A lorry has been pulled over and traffic stopped on the M3 southbound after migrants were found in the back.

Police and paramedics are at the scene, with migrants pictured wrapped in foil blankets sitting at the side of the busy motorway.

There are 10 mile queues back to junction 2 for the M25, up until junction 3.

The lorry is a Spanish HGV and police have been seen speaking to the driver.

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We'll be bringing you all the latest updates after a group of migrants were found in the back of a lorry on the M3. More to follow.