Manslaughter charges filed against Britain and France over channel crossing deaths

A French NGO has filed manslaughter charges against rescue services in Britain and France over the deaths of 27 people who drowned while crossing the English Channel. 

Utopia 56 filed charges against high-ranking officials for not helping save the people who drowned on 24 November. 

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The charges accused Philippe Dutrieux, the coast prefect of Cherbourg, Marc Boffaous, director of the French regional coastguard, and Claire Hughes, director of Britain's coastguard, of "involuntary manslaughter" and "failure to help people in need."

Two people who survived the incident, as well as relatives of the victims and people who crossed on the same day, told Utopia 56 that British and French rescue services ignored distress calls made before a French fishing trawler eventually found them.

Among the dead are seven women, a seven-year-old child, and a 16-year-old. Most of the people who drowned in the channel incident in November were Iraqi Kurds. 

Four Afghan men, three Ethiopians, a Somalian, an Egyptian, and an Iranian Kurd also died in the incident. 

An Iraqi survivor told Utopia 56 that at least 33 people were onboard the boat before it capsized. 

Utopia 56 has criticised France for focusing its investigation on human traffickers and not the authorities.  

Britain had not opened an investigation but said on 24 November that it had received more than 90 alerts from the Channel area, including 999 emergency calls. 

According to the French authorities, at least 31,500 people have attempted the crossing to Britain since the start of the year, with 7,800 people rescued at sea. The rate of crossings has doubled since August.