UK invokes new law after fatal Channel crossing kills four migrants

A Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants drowned trying to cross the Channel.

The 27-year-old was arrested at the Manston processing centre in Kent, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Two men and two women died as they attempted to climb onto a so-called "taxi boat" at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Thursday morning.

The new people-smuggling tactic, designed to avoid detection by French police, involves dinghies traveling along the coast with just a driver to pre-designated beaches where migrants enter the water to climb onboard.

Two children were among those taken to hospital as a precaution after the incident, and another person was treated for hypothermia.

Thirty-eight people were returned to the French shore after the incident south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais, but 74 migrants traveled on to the UK.

The arrested man remains in police custody, and The NCA is interviewing those who made it to the UK.

Endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK is a new offense introduced as part of border security legislation earlier this year.

In January, an Afghan national, who cannot be named because of his age, became the first person to be charged.

According to the Home Office, the offense is designed to stop more people being crammed into unsafe boats and would apply to those involved in physical aggression and intimidation, as well as anyone who resists rescue.

French government official Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, told reporters on Thursday the people who died were "already quite far into the sea", adding: "The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away."

The agency is helping French authorities with their investigation.

It came a day after French emergency services took part in a training exercise to practice dealing with migrants in the water at the same beach where the deaths happened.

Last week, two migrants died in a similar crossing attempt – thought to be the first of the year.

Home Office minister Mike Tapp said: "Every death in the Channel is a tragedy. Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.

"Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores."

More than 5,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, according to Home Office data.

Migrant charities repeated calls for the Government to provide safe and legal ways for asylum seekers to arrive in the UK to prevent more deaths while the Conservatives accused Labour of being "weak" over tackling crossings.

The Government said it was "deeply saddened" by the deaths.