Four Die in Channel Crossing Attempt, Man Arrested on Suspicion of Endangering Life

British police arrested a 27-year-old Sudanese man at the Manston migrant processing centre on suspicion of endangering life after four people died attempting to cross the English Channel from France. Two men and two women were swept away by currents while trying to board a small boat with dozens of others off the coast of Saint-Etienne-au-Mont near Calais on Thursday. The journey involved 74 people, with 38 returned to France, while French prosecutors lead the investigation into the deaths. The National Crime Agency is interviewing the suspect under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which provides stronger powers to disrupt criminal smuggling gangs. The incident follows two other Channel crossing deaths last week involving a Sudanese and Afghan man, marking the first reported fatalities in the Channel this year.

Fatal Channel Crossing Incident and Arrest

• ▪The suspect was arrested on suspicion of endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act
• ▪Two men and two women were swept away by the current after trying to board a small boat with dozens of others off the coast of Saint-Etienne-au-Mont, near Calais in northern France, on Thursday
• ▪French prosecutors are leading an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the deaths of the four people and the launch of the boat
• ▪The National Crime Agency detained the 27-year-old man at a migrant processing centre in Manston, southern England, on Friday
• ▪The journey that led to the arrest included 74 people, of whom 38 were returned to France
• ▪British police arrested a 27-year-old Sudanese man on suspicion of endangering another person after four people died while trying to cross the English Channel from France

Water-Taxi Method and Recent Crossing Deaths

• ▪Two men, one Sudanese and the other Afghan, died trying to make a Channel crossing last week in the first reported deaths in the Channel this year
• ▪Water-taxis are inflatable boats that cruise along the coastline picking up migrants and refugees who wade into shallow waters to climb on board
• ▪The water-taxi method is used to avoid security forces from stopping the boats from launching

Law Enforcement Response and Border Security Powers

• ▪The National Crime Agency is interviewing the suspect and speaking to those who made the journey
• ▪National Crime Agency Deputy Director Craig Turner said the agency would work with colleagues at home and abroad to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the four tragic deaths
• ▪Mike Tapp is the minister for migration and citizenship

Perspective of National Crime Agency

• ▪The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act gives UK officers stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt criminal smuggling gangs bringing illegal migrants to UK shores

Perspective of French authorities

• ▪Of the 74 people involved in the Channel crossing journey, 38 were returned to France after the incident

Perspective of Smuggling networks

• ▪Smuggling networks use water-taxi inflatable boats that cruise along the coastline to pick up migrants and refugees wading into shallow waters