Three bodies found within half a mile of each other at the bottom of the cliffs of Dover died in separate incidents as calls grow for a 'suicide patrol'
Police are today trying to identify three bodies all found at the bottom of 400ft cliffs in Dover on New Year's Day.
Officers were called yesterday when a man was seen at the cliff-edge above and later found a body at the base of the cliffs at 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon.
During the search the bodies of a different man and a woman were found less than half a mile away.
Kent detectives do not believe their deaths are connected to the first man's - but they do not know yet if the man and woman were known to each other.
The deaths, which are most likely to be suicides, has increased calls for volunteers to patrol the cliffs.
Tragedies: Police are trying to identify three people who jumped to their deaths from cliffs near Dover on New Year's Day (pictured)
Probe: The bodies of the man and the woman were discovered near an engineering compound under the cliffs (pictured)
Plea: This Facebook user has asked that something must be done to protect people from taking their own lives at the suicide hotspot
Dawn Hyde posted on the Dover RNLI facebook page: 'Three more to add to last year's total? How many people have died this way from the cliffs of Dover....Will anyone release to true amount of lives lost in this way?
'We have street pastors on the streets of Dover & No one on top of our Cliffs to help people in need Surely someone must understand we need help on top of the cliffs.'
She added: 'You all have had a horrible job to do today. I don't want your crew to go through anymore. When perhaps some of these lives could of been saved. Your crew have enough horrors at sea as it is.'
One RNLI crewman said: 'It is tragic case. The cliffs are notorious for people taking their own lives. The cliffs are so high that if they jump, sadly there is only outcome.'
Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said last night: 'This is a truly tragic incident.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.
'Dover Lifeboat were once again called out in the most difficult of circumstances this afternoon.
'We must never forget the critical work these dedicated volunteers do.'
The bodies were discovered near an engineering compound under the cliffs. Directly above the cliffs is a nature reserve.
Ed Baker of Dover RNLI said: 'This is a tragic incident. We were called in by the Coastguard to help with the search of the first man.
'But his body was found on a ledge near the bottom of the cliffs.
'It was too high up for our lifeboat crew to reach so the Coastguard helicopter was used to winch the body to the top. He was taken to the Dover Coastguard HQ nearby and then removed to the mortuary.
'While the search was underway, a Coastguard Search and Rescue team found two more bodies close to the engineering compound on the Harbour arm of the Port of Dover.
'Directly above the cliffs there is the Eastern Heights Nature Reserve.'
Officers who were alerted to concern for the welfare of a man at Langdon Cliffs found a body at the base of the cliffs on Sunday afternoon (stock image)
Police officers were first called out over concern for a man seen at 400ft high cliffs along Langdon Bay and later found a body at the base of the cliffs on Sunday afternoon
Pictured: Emergency services gather close to the scene of where two of the bodies were found along the cliffs of Dover
Rescue teams from the Dover RNLI, Deal Coastguard and Langdon Battery were deployed to search the water.
A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Kent Police was called at 2.27pm due to concern for the welfare of a man at Langdon Cliffs, Dover.
'Officers attended and the body of a man was subsequently discovered at the bottom of the cliffs by the coastguard.
'During the search the coastguard also discovered the bodies of a second man and a woman.
'Officers do not believe their deaths are linked to that of the first man. Enquiries into the circumstances behind all three deaths are ongoing.'
A Coastguard search and rescue helicopter crew from Lydd was also launched and spotted the man's body on the rocks, as well as the other bodies just half a mile away.
A spokesman for the Maritime Coastguard Agency said: 'At about 2.30pm today Kent Police requested assistance from the UK Coastguard in the Dover Docks area.
'Langdon Battery and Deal Coastguard Rescue Teams, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd and the Dover RNLI Lifeboat were sent to the area.'
A spokesman for the Port of Dover, where two bodies were found near a harbour arm, said: 'The Port of Dover is aware of today's events and our thoughts are naturally with those affected.
'We have a dedicated team who are supporting the relevant agencies dealing with the matters in Dover.
'The incidents themselves are unrelated to Port activities, which continue normally.
'We cannot say anymore at this stage as it is a police investigation.'
All three bodies have been removed to a mortuary and post mortem examinations are due to take place on Tuesday to determine the cause of death.
The ages of the victims are not known at this stage.