FAR-RIGHT volunteers have started patrolling Britain’s beaches to hunt down desperate migrants.

The Britain First members have been branded ‘racist vigilantes’ for heading to the south coast with binoculars to look for asylum-seekers crossing from France in dinghies.

The group has vowed its ‘Operation White Cliffs’ will be stepped up in the coming weeks as families sleeping rough look to make the perilous trip before winter arrives.

Hundreds of people have crossed in small boats this year, with an RNLI crew rescuing a party that included a young girl last month.

And the first ‘patriot migrant patrol’, by burly men in Britain First Defenders T-shirts, took place last Saturday at Samphire Hoe Beach near Dover.

Group leader Paul Golding, a convicted criminal, revealed plans to station members on piers to spot migrants at the earliest opportunity. Stand Up To Racism’s Weyman Bennett said: ‘Given the hateful politics of this group, the name of their vile stunt — Operation White Cliffs — suggests a chilling echo of the ideologies of Germany in the 1930s. It aims to champion the hunting of the most desperate people who are only doing what any of us would do in embarking on the most horrendous and dangerous journeys to find a better life for their families.’

Britain First said volunteers who spotted migrants would call police.

It said of the Samphire Hoe patrol: ‘This particular beach has been the main landing ground for multiple illegal migrant crossings.

‘Equipped with torches, binoculars and hi-vis jackets, our activists patrolled the beach keeping a close eye out for migrant crossings.

‘Until this situation is dealt with decisively by the authorities, we will continue and escalate these patrols.’

Britain First calls itself a ‘patriotic political party and street movement’.

Leader Golding, 37, has served a jail term for religious harassment.

Formed in 2011 by ex-British National Party members, the group is widely condemned as racist because of its anti-Muslim stance and opposition to multiculturalism.

During previous ‘Christian patrols’ in east London, members were filmed emptying beer cans outside a mosque.

Clare Moseley, of the aid group Care 4 Calais, said: ‘We are shocked and concerned to learn of this unsettling development on our Kent coastline. When deeply traumatised men, women and children arrive on our shores, they are often in need of medical attention and should be met by professionals.’

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Members of the public should report any unusual or suspicious activity to their local police and must not take direct action.’ Kent Police said: ‘Officers will respond to reports along the coast in the same manner as when they respond to incidents inland, by assigning the most appropriate patrol depending on the circumstances reported.

‘In many cases of a maritime nature, Kent Police will liaise with partner agencies such as HM Coastguard.’

Eight migrants, including a child, were detained early yesterday by police and Border Force officers after a small inflatable boat was found on a beach near Dover. The group, who said they were Iranian, were medically assessed and sent for immigration interviews.