Smugglers’ New Routes Increase Risk of a Deadly Channel Crossing
A mass-casualty disaster in the English Channel could happen this winter as sea conditions worsen. Major General Duncan Capps, head of the UK’s Border Security Command, warned MPs on October 21 that new smuggling tactics are making crossings more dangerous. Reported by The Maritime Executive.
Smugglers now use larger inflatable boats and longer routes to avoid French patrols. Previously, boats travelled about 25 nautical miles from Dunkirk to Dover with around 60 people on board. Now, some carry more than 200 migrants on journeys from the Normandy coast to southern England. One boat had 230 people on board.
These boats are not designed for long journeys in rough seas. Many are overcrowded, and passengers may be unable to swim or lack reliable life jackets. Women and children are especially vulnerable. French forces say stopping people from boarding on beaches can be more dangerous than letting the boats leave. But stronger checks have pushed smugglers to find other departure points. Meanwhile, around 3,800 people are waiting in camps near Dunkirk and Calais — about twice as many as at the same time last year.
