Asylum seekers jailed for steering dinghies across Channel despite ‘not being part of criminal gangs’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Migrants are being jailed for steering dinghies across the English Channel despite an official report finding that there are “no organised crime group members” on board. The document, which was completed in March, said immigration enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation team found small boat investigations “difficult because there were no organised crime group members onboard the boats, although one of the migrants might have agreed with the facilitators to act as a ‘chaperone’ for a reduced fee”. Bella Sankey, the director of Detention Action, said the Home Office was “conflating what everyone understands a people smuggler to be” with asylum seekers risking their own lives to reach the UK. “People coming to claim asylum themselves and risking their lives are clearly in a completely different category to organised crime bosses who don’t have respect or care for people’s lives.” Ms Sankey said asylum seekers who steer boats should be exempt from prosecution for facilitating unlawful immigration, and that the offence should be reserved for people “using it as a business”.