Home Office pays firms £2.5m to pick up people trying to cross Channel

Aeolian Offshore and CWind, both of which usually serve offshore wind industry, providing boats and crew

The Home Office has paid private companies more than 2.5m this year to charter boats and crew to pick up people trying to cross the Channel, amid tension with the Royal Navy over its role in the home secretary Priti Patel's plans to deter asylum seekers.

Contract disclosures published on a government portal show that Aeolian Offshore, which is based on the Isle of Wight and usually serves the offshore wind industry, is the largest beneficiary.