Five people have been arrested on people smuggling offences after 27 people died when a boat they were travelling in sank when attempting to cross the English Channel from France yesterday.
French officials confirmed that five people had been arrested and that at least one of the victims of the tragedy was a young girl.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke yesterday evening following the distressing loss of life in the Channel.
They agreed on the urgency of stepping up joint efforts to prevent these deadly crossings and to do everything possible to stop the gangs responsible for putting people’s lives at risk.
They underlined the importance of close working with neighbours in Belgium and the Netherlands as well as partners across the continent if we are to tackle the problem effectively before people reach the French coast.
Both leaders were clear that today’s tragic loss of life was a stark reminder that it is vital to keep all options on the table to stop these lethal crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs behind them.
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