France investigates UK Coastguard over migrant deaths in Channel

Charity accuses rescuers of being too slow to respond to reports of a sinking boat

French prosecutors are investigating the British Coastguard following the deaths of four UK-bound migrants in the English Channel.
It follows the filing of complaints for “involuntary manslaughter” and “failure to render aid” by the refugee aid charity Utopia 56.
In legal documents, the association complains to the Boulogne-Sur-Mer public prosecutor about a maritime disaster on Dec 14 2022, when dozens of people on a small boat ended up in the sea.
Many were pulled out of the water by rescuers in the early hours of the morning, but – it is claimed – both the British and the French were too slow in their response which led to the death of four people. 
The boat was being piloted by Ibrahima Bah, a Senegal national who is currently on trial at Canterbury Crown Court on four counts of manslaughter and one of breaking immigration law.
The 19-year-old denies any wrongdoing in connection with the disaster. He claimed he was assaulted by people smugglers who threatened to kill him if he did not go ahead with the voyage.
As Bah’s trial continues, the French authorities will be focusing on any possible culpability by official agencies.
A legal source in Boulogne said: “The complaint was filed to the prosecutor early this month, and it focuses on the way the British and French authorities dealt with mayday calls for help. The complaint is currently being investigated.”
Those facing allegations that could lead to prison sentences and fines are His Majesty’s Coastguard, the Maritime Prefect in France and the director of the Cross de Gris-Nez emergency centre, near Calais.
Tapes released by Utopia 56 record the boat sinking, as the migrants plead for help.
A distress message received at 2.54am includes the message: “Please help. We have children and family in the boat.”
The unnamed caller to an emergency line set up by Utopia 56 says: “Please help me, brother. Please. Please. Please. We are in the water; we have a family.”
A Utopia 56 email was then sent to the Cross de Griz-Nez, and also to the British emergency services.
It read: “Problem: water in the boat … There are families with children on board … They are urgently asking for help.”
Despite this, Utopia 56 claims, it was not until 3.40am that the first rescue boat left the coast of England.
The English fishing boat Arcturus was able to rescue 11 people in the sea, but many remained trapped inside the dinghy, which had 48 passengers on board when it left France.
Emergency response times by coastguards vary enormously, depending on sea and weather conditions, but sources on both sides of the English Channel told The Telegraph that up to 45 minutes for a night-time launch was “about right”.
A lifeboat worker in the UK said: “Currently we’re looking at around 15 minutes during the day, and 45 minutes at night, when clearly getting a boat out is harder.”
A French emergency services official said: “Lots of factors can hold launches up, and that’s why there is so much reliance on boats already at sea. But, generally speaking, a launch time of around 45 minutes would be about right.”
A criminal investigation has also been opened in France into another boat disaster on Nov 24 2021, when 27 people died.
Seven French military personnel who were manning phones at the Cross de Gris-Nez centre on the night face charges.
A total of 29,437 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2023 despite efforts by both the UK and French governments to halt the perilous journeys.