French police rescue more migrants trying to cross Channel to UK

French authorities said they rescued 66 people from a boat trying to cross the Channel to the United Kingdom, which has recorded a record number of crossings from northern France since the start of the year.

A rescue boat in Channel of the coast of Northern France, 23 April 2024. © Yves Herman/Reuters

The boat was spotted in trouble off the coast of Dieppe, the Seine-Maritime prefecture said Wednesday.

The the Société nationale de sauvetage en mer, a voluntary sea rescue organisation which was operating in the area came to verify the boat, and the coast guard then came to their aid, taking 66 people on board, including women and three children.

The people were taken to Dieppe to have their documents checked, and three people were taken into custody by police, suspected of being traffickers.

At the start of April, UK officials said a record 5,373 people crossed the Channel from northern France in the first quarter of 2024 - an over 40 percent increase over the previous year.

Immigration has become a major political issue in the UK as it prepares for a general election expected later this year.

Earlier on Wednesday the UK government confirmed that it had begun detaining people for deportation to Rwanda, a week after adopting a controversial law allowing irregular migrants to be deported to the east African country.

The UK expects to deport nearly 6,000 migrants to Rwanda this year, a senior minister said Tuesday.

(with AFP)