Channel crossings: White on 'dangerous' conditions for migrants

       Criminal gangs who transport migrants across the channel have been blasted as “crazily stupid” as they show complete “disregard” for the safety of those they’re transporting.

       With temperature plummeting across the UK, the Channel is ice-cold - meaning falling out of the flimsy boats used to carry them could be fatal. It comes after five lost their lives making the dangerous crossing and Rishi Sunak faces a rebellion over his Rwanda plan, which he says will “stop the boats”.

       Speaking on GB News, the broadcaster’s home and security editor Mark White said of today’s crossings: “When the weather conditions are so bad, they reduce the number on the boats to make sure they get across. Normally they’d be stuffing 60-70 people on these boats, so they put them down to about 25-30.”

       As many as a further 200 may have made the perilous journey today (Image: Getty)

       READ MORE French mayor blames UK 'El Dorado' appeal for migrants crossing the Channel

       The outlet estimated that around 200 crossed this morning in around five boats despite the freezing temperatures.

       Mr White quoted a maritime security source who said that the decision by these criminal gangs to push the boats out is “crazily stupid”.

       The source said: “The criminal gangs have a callous disregard for the safety of those they push ashore in these flimsy boats. It’s crazily stupid.

       “These winds make conditions very dangerous and with sub-zero temperatures, anyone who does end up in the water has minutes to live.”

       It follows the deaths of five migrants after around 70 people trying to get into a small boat attempting to launch from a beach overturned in the early hours of Sunday.

       Dozens were pulled from the water in an overnight rescue effort.

       One person remains in a critical condition after being transferred to a hospital in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, and one person suffered non-life threatening injuries.

       An investigation has been launched by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office into "aggravated manslaughter".

       Jacques Billant, prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, told reporters that criminal networks were endangering the lives of migrants.

       "Going out to sea in 7C water means going to your death,” he said. “With a lifespan limited to 10 minutes in the event of capsizing. Unfortunately, that's what happened".

       No Channel crossings were recorded for an almost four-week period up to January 12. The Home Office attributed this to poor weather conditions.

       Don't miss...

       Migrants see Britain as 'El Dorado', French warn amid boats crisis [REVEAL]

       'Let's get Rwanda done and prove Labour wrong' [INSIGHT]

       Sunak vows to 'ignore European judges' and deport illegal migrants to Rwanda [ANALYSIS]

       Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading

       Start 30-day

       FREE trial

       Mr Sunak insists his Rwanda deal would help stop the small boats (Image: Getty)

       In the same period 12 months earlier, 503 migrants were detected in the Channel.

       The provisional total for 2023 sits at 29,437, which is substantially lower than than the 45,775 which were recorded in 2022.

       It comes as the Prime Minister faces a growing rebellion over his Rwanda bill, which would enable the Government to deport migrants to the east African country, and which he claims would ease the small boats crisis.

       Two Conservative deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide have resigned to rebel over the issue, demanding the legislation be toughened up. Mr Sunak has insisted the current version of the bill is the only viable option.

       Trending

       On Tuesday, Lee Anderson, Brendan Clarke-Smith and Jane Stevenson stepped down to vote for amendments. 60 Tory MPs backed the amendments in a blow to Mr Sunak.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Rishi Sunak 'playing chicken' with Tory rebels as MPs back last minute Rwanda Bill changes

       611 Comments

       Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote

       81 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough

       43 Comments

       Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg threatens to vote against Rwanda policy if it's not 'effective' enough

       89 Comments

       Keir Starmer slammed for 'cosy deal with EU' on illegal immigrants

       16 Comments

       Rwanda amendment: Rishi Sunak suffers blow as Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quits

       713 Comments

       The Rwanda resettlement plan will be part of our deterrent - James Cleverly

       29 Comments

       All the questions on the Rwanda Bill answered

       13 Comments

       The Rwanda Bill 'doesn't end the merry-go-round of legal challenges', protests Mr Jenrick

       510 Comments

       Brexiteer issues 'get out now' warning over EU red tape

       277 Comments

       Rishi Sunak in last-minute crisis talks to stop Lee Anderson from quitting over Rwanda

       359 Comments

       Rebel Tory MPs called on to ‘continue showing backbone' in Rwanda revolt

       17 Comments

       Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against voting down Rwanda deportation plans

       12 Comments

       Fury as criminal gangs make ￡500m out of small boats crisis

       507 Comments

       'Huge risk!' Rishi Sunak warned he faces 'complete catastrophe' over fresh Tory rebellion

       12 Comments

       Rishi's plea for party to "come together" on Rwanda bill

       845 Comments

       James Cleverly makes desperate last-minute plea as Tory rebels threaten to bin Rwanda plan

       31 Comments

       Nadine Dorries launches furious three word attack on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda 'karma'

       44 Comments

       Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as Prime Minister with Rwanda Bill rebellion

       659 Comments

       Rishi Sunak to deploy last-ditch secret weapon with career on knife-edge over crunch vote

       88 Comments

       Rishi Sunak 'playing chicken' with Tory rebels as MPs back last minute Rwanda Bill changes

       611 Comments

       Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote

       81 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough

       43 Comments

       Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg threatens to vote against Rwanda policy if it's not 'effective' enough

       89 Comments

       Keir Starmer slammed for 'cosy deal with EU' on illegal immigrants

       16 Comments

       Rwanda amendment: Rishi Sunak suffers blow as Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quits

       713 Comments

       The Rwanda resettlement plan will be part of our deterrent - James Cleverly

       29 Comments

       All the questions on the Rwanda Bill answered

       13 Comments

       The Rwanda Bill 'doesn't end the merry-go-round of legal challenges', protests Mr Jenrick

       510 Comments

       Brexiteer issues 'get out now' warning over EU red tape

       277 Comments

       Rishi Sunak in last-minute crisis talks to stop Lee Anderson from quitting over Rwanda

       359 Comments

       Rebel Tory MPs called on to ‘continue showing backbone' in Rwanda revolt

       17 Comments

       Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against voting down Rwanda deportation plans

       12 Comments

       Fury as criminal gangs make ￡500m out of small boats crisis

       507 Comments

       'Huge risk!' Rishi Sunak warned he faces 'complete catastrophe' over fresh Tory rebellion

       12 Comments

       Rishi's plea for party to "come together" on Rwanda bill

       845 Comments

       James Cleverly makes desperate last-minute plea as Tory rebels threaten to bin Rwanda plan

       31 Comments

       Nadine Dorries launches furious three word attack on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda 'karma'

       44 Comments

       Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as Prime Minister with Rwanda Bill rebellion

       659 Comments

       Rishi Sunak to deploy last-ditch secret weapon with career on knife-edge over crunch vote

       88 Comments

       Rishi Sunak 'playing chicken' with Tory rebels as MPs back last minute Rwanda Bill changes

       611 Comments

       Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote

       81 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough

       43 Comments

       Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg threatens to vote against Rwanda policy if it's not 'effective' enough

       89 Comments

       Keir Starmer slammed for 'cosy deal with EU' on illegal immigrants

       16 Comments

       Rwanda amendment: Rishi Sunak suffers blow as Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quits

       713 Comments

       The Rwanda resettlement plan will be part of our deterrent - James Cleverly

       29 Comments

       The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has said the Bill even in its current form breaks international law. They said it “does not meet the required standards relating to the legality and appropriateness of the transfer of asylum seekers and is not compatible with international refugee law”.

       If around 30 Tory MPs join opposition parties in voting against the bill at its final Commons hurdle, it could be defeated.

       Very few Conservative MPs have explicitly expressed a commitment to voting against it, however.

       Related articles Beautiful but tense autonomous region split between Finland and Russia Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against voting down Rwanda deportation plans Finland to extend Russian border closure for another month UK to explore additional safe routes for refugees Five migrants die while trying to cross English Channel in perilous conditions