French police stop and stare as overloaded dinghy sets off

‘Scrapping Rwanda without a plan was sheer stupidity’

- Michael Knowles

DOZENS of migrants risk their lives as they prepare to cross the Channel in a dangerously overloaded dinghy yesterday despite Sir Keir Starmer's vow to "smash the gangs".

The French police once again failed to stop a boat launching, despite the alarming sight of people wading into the water after it.

More than a dozen officers wearing armour and carrying batons watched as the dinghy struggled out into the Channel at Gravelines Beach, Calais.

They had fired tear gas in a desperate attempt to break the group up.

Dozens of young men dangled their feet over the sides of the dinghy, with more sitting in the middle on a piece of plywood holding the boat together. A hooded man, apparently trying to conceal his identity, steered the vessel.

Labour has vowed to "smash the gangs" and set up a Border Security Command to hunt down the people smugglers.

This will be partly funded by Sir Keir's decision to axe the Rwanda deportation scheme.