‘Significant progress’ made in mission to find out truth following English Channel tragedy

A member of the UK Border Force (R) helps asylum seeking children on a beach in Dungeness
-Credit: (Image: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)


A preliminary hearing has revealed “significant progress” has been made in a bid to find out the truth of what is believed to be the deadliest English Channel tragedy. The Cranston Inquiry was set up to investigate the events of November 24, 2021 when at least 27 people lost their lives crossing the Channel in small boats to reach British shores.

The independent inquiry is looking into who the deceased were and when, where and in what circumstances they came by their deaths. It is also exploring what further lessons can be learned and considering recommendations for the future.

During the hearing held on Thursday (October 24), Sir Ross Cranston praised the "huge amount of work" completed by the team so far, as he set out the detailed and specific protocols the Inquiry will follow in its pursuit of the truth. A "challenging timetable" for the remainder of the investigation was also announced, with the full hearings due to commence on March 3 next year.

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The full hearings will see witnesses answer questions put by Counsel to the Inquiry. Sir Ross reiterated his call for "commitment and full cooperation" from the involved parties to meet this timeline.

Over the coming four months the Inquiry will continue the process of disclosing documents to full participants, finalising witness statements and preparing for oral evidence at the Full Hearings in line with the protocols set out by the Inquiry. Sir Ross said: “Over the past seven months, my team and I have established the procedural framework for the Inquiry and have made a significant amount of progress in our investigation.

"There is but one purpose to the whole exercise: to find out the truth… [Our] task… is to identify those who so tragically died, to examine the circumstances of their deaths, and to make recommendations to reduce the risk of a similar event occurring.”

Looking ahead to the next stage of the Inquiry, Sir Ross said: ”Our Full Hearings will take place in March next year… so the [next] steps… must be completed in just over four months. That is a challenging timetable, but with commitment and full co-operation from Material Providers and a vast effort on the part of my team, the Full Hearings will start on March 3.”

At the time, the incident prompted fresh calls from Kent campaigners for the government to set up safe routes for those fleeing wars and persecution. Folkestone campaigner Bridget Chapman said at a vigil held shortly after the disaster: “The most frustrating thing for me is that we knew these deaths would happen. We all knew it.

"Every refugee and migrant charity has been warning of this. Without a change in the absolutely inhumane stance of the government it was only ever a matter of time.”

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