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At least three people have died while trying to cross the English channel to the UK.
A a major rescue operation was launched from the beach in Sangatte, northern France, on Sunday morning.
Four others were taken to hospital after trying to cross the English Channel from France in small boats, France’s Maritime Prefect said.
Many firefighters and law enforcement officials are deployed in large numbers at the Tom Souville air base, and authorities warn that the death toll could rise as the operation continues.
Around There were reportedly 50 migrants was taken over by the French humanitarian charity Utopia 56, while 10 people with severe hypothermia were taken care of by firefighters.
The deaths, which occurred in French waters, are the first in the Channel since October and bring the total number of people who have died attempting the crossing this year to at least 52.
Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said lives were being lost at sea “because ruthless criminals running the small boat trade are loading people into unseaworthy vessels”.
She added: “We continue to support the French authorities who are leading the response to the incident that took place in French waters.
“This government is committed to cracking down on these gangs as part of our Plan for Change, and since July we have created a new Border Security Command, launched a major crackdown on illegal work, increased deportations and agreed a landmark plan with Germany to disrupt people smuggling supply chains.”
The incident followed four days of crossings that saw a total of 1,485 people travel – the busiest Christmas period since records began in 2018.
Figures released on Sunday showed 322 people crossed the Channel in six boats on Saturday, while more people were seen arriving in Dover on Sunday.
More than 150,000 people crossed the English Channel small boats over the past seven years, with the government blaming the “terrible legacy of broken border security” left by the Conservatives.
Secretary of Internal Affairs Chris Philp meanwhile he said Labor had failed Britain by “ending the Rwandan deterrent before it started”. “It is an insult that Labor allowed 858 illegal immigrants into the country on Christmas Day and Boxing Day,” added Mr. Philip.
More than 22,324 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel since Sir Keir entered No 10 when Labor won the election in July, up 24 per cent on the same period in 2023 but down 32 per cent compared to the record year 2022.
So far this year, 35,898 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel, provisional Home Office figures show.
That’s 22 percent more than this time last year, but 22 percent less than in 2022.
Yvette Cooper claims to have broken the link between favorable weather conditions and an increase in migrant crossings, pointing to a drop in the average number of arrivals on typically favorable “red days”.
As the death toll in the Channel mounts, the smugglers are revealed to be human offering “package deals” to migrants crossing the English Channel consists of travel, accommodation and business development work.
Albanian gangs are urging migrants hoping to take advantage of “messy and busy” airports over Christmas to enter the UK with stolen passports.
The TikTok ads allegedly feature TV-style marketing for packages costing as little as £2,500, paid on arrival in Dover, which include “specialist people” waiting to pick up migrants, take them to properties and find them paying black market jobs cash.
The messages he saw The Times a smuggler is shown telling a would-be migrant that they can fly him and his fiancee to the UK, find a house to rent for £1,000 a month in London and a “simple job”, all for £12,000. The message included photos of the house in the style of an online real estate agent.