Three small boat pilots facing prison as thousands of asylum seekers cross Channel over Bank Holiday weekend

Three small boat pilots are facing prison as thousands of asylum seekers crossed the English Channel over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The trio were arrested and charged for endangerment under the Border Security Act, a new offence introduced back in January to deter the people-smuggling gangs operating across the Channel.

As a result, it is now illegal to endanger the life of others during a small boat crossing - an offence which threatens a maximum sentence of six years behind bars.

Those charged with endangering the lives of others during a sea crossing and remanded in custody included Jiechlat Buom, 25, a Sudanese national. He arrived on May 23 in a small boat with 78 others.

He first appeared in court on May 26. A plea hearing will be held on June 29 at Canterbury Crown Court.

Kueth Gatkuoth, 31, a Sudanese national, arrived on the same day and first appeared in court on May 26. A plea hearing will take place on June 29 at Canterbury Crown Court.

Mehdi Najafi, 42, an Iranian national, arrived in a small boat with 21 others on May 22. His first court appearance was on May 25 and a plea hearing will be on June 22 at Canterbury Crown Court.

The Home Office lauded the arrests as "a direct blow to the gangs facilitating Channel crossings and putting lives at risk".

The endangerment offence aims to cut down illegal immigration, working as a deterrent to people smuggling gangs looking to assist migrants crossing the Channel.

More than 1,000 migrants made the perilous journey over the calm waters while Britain basked in temperatures soaring as high as 35C over the sweltering weekend.

A further three migrants were arrested and charged as they attempted to illegally cross the border.

The group have been handed sentences with a combined total of 24 months.

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Migration Minister Mike Tapp said: "This Government is taking the fight to the people smugglers behind these unacceptable small boat crossings.

"In addition to our joint work with the French to prevent Channel crossings and put people smugglers behind bars, we have introduced new, stronger measures to ensure those who undermine our border security face the full force of the law.

"We are relentlessly pursuing the despicable criminals who bring illegal migrants to our shores, with disruptions against people-smuggling gangs up by nearly 50 per cent."

Meanwhile, Sarah Dineley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, boasted that "many" of the cases were charged within mere hours over the weekend.

As a result, the defendants were brought before a court within days upon their arrival in Britain.

Ms Dineley added: "We charged the pilots of these boats with endangering the lives of others. These boats are overcrowded and people’s lives are being put at risk in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world."

The CPS is continuing to work alongside international partners to "disrupt and dismantle" organised crime groups responsible for the illegal crossings.

"We will use the laws available to us to prosecute where there is sufficient evidence, and it is in the public interest to do so," she vowed.