Home Secretary Suella Braverman says English Channel deaths show crossing is ‘lethally dangerous endeavour’ | Politics News

The Home Secretary said the deaths of migrants in the English Channel showed how crossing the border illegally was a “deadly dangerous endeavor”.

A major search and rescue operation involving helicopters and lifeboats was launched at 3:05 a.m. Wednesday after authorities were alerted to a small boat in distress in the English Channel. .

The search is ongoing, with 43 people rescued – some from the water, others from the ship involved.

Four people have died, the Defense Department confirmed.

Creek incident – latest update: Migrants killed as helicopters and lifeboats scramble to save ships

Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Commons: “These are the days we fear. Crossing the English Channel with unseaworthy ships is a deadly dangerous endeavor.

“It is for Above all, the reason for this is that we are doing our best to destroy the business model of people smugglers, evil organized criminals, that treat people like a commodity.”

She added that Wednesday’s tragedy “is the most sobering reminder” of why intersections need to end as she highlighted the government’s recent agreement with France to have more patrols. More checks on French beaches to prevent crossings.

But she said it showed “we have to go further” as she referred to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement on Tuesday that a new permanent, unified small boat operation command would be established to bring together military and civilian capabilities and the National Crime Agency.

Read more: Rishi Sunak promises new law to stop illegal migration

And she says the case shows why new legislation, to be introduced next year, is needed to clarify “if someone comes to the UK illegally, they won’t be able to stay here”. and will be “detained and promptly returned to their home country or to a safe country where their asylum claim will be considered”.

“It will be impossible to make late or false claims and complaints, and once someone has been deported, they will not have the right to re-enter, settle or citizenship,” she added.

According to a French source, the boat was carrying between 30 and 50 people when it crashed.

Exclusive footage obtained by Sky News shows a Black inflatable dinghy being picked up from the water by rescue teams.

Searches will continue all day, but at this stage many fear that many others have died from freezing water conditions as the UK is subjected to particularly frigid weather, a separate source has said. with Sky News.

“There are people in the water,” said Sky’s Lisa Holland, adding that sources told her they believe the temperature will be around -4 degrees Celsius.

While temperatures did drop last night, Holland said the weather conditions were mild – making it an “opportunity” for migrants to migrate. across.

Earlier, Mr. Sunak began the Prime Minister’s Questions by saying: “I am sure the whole House of Commons will share in my sadness over the capsizing of a small boat in the English Channel at dawn this morning and the damage to property. People.

“Our hearts go out to all those affected and our gratitude goes to those involved in the extensive rescue operation.”

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer added: “Our prayers go out to those who were capsized in the frozen waters of the English Channel last night.

“It’s a reminder that the criminal gangs that run those routes have put the lives of desperate people at risk and profited from their misery. They must be destroyed and brought out first. Justice.”