Tajik Mohammad, 32, First Convicted Under New Channel Law
Summary
Tajik Mohammad, 32, an Afghan national, became the first person convicted under the new Channel crossing endangerment offence created by the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which came into force in January 2025. Mohammad pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to abandoning the dinghy he was driving across the English Channel when a rescue ship arrived, leaving overcrowded passengers, some without life jackets, in poor weather conditions. He is due to be sentenced on June 10, facing up to five years in prison, or six years if found to be in breach of a deportation order.
“The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and we argued Tajik Mohammad abandoned the tiller on the arrival of the rescue ship.”
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What changed
This article reports the first conviction under the new Channel crossing endangerment offence introduced by the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. The offence targets individuals who cram migrants into unsafe boats, act with aggression or intimidation, or resist rescue during crossings of one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Legal professionals and immigration authorities should note the practical application of this new offence: Mohammad faced prosecution for abandoning the tiller when a rescue ship arrived, leaving passengers in an overcrowded dinghy without life jackets in poor weather. Defence practitioners should be aware that a 16-year-old Afghan has also been charged with the same offence, indicating the law is being applied across age groups. The separate case of Alnour Mohamed Ali facing charges over the deaths of four migrants signals further enforcement activity under this legislative framework.
Penalties
Up to five years in prison; up to six years if in breach of a deportation order
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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A migrant has become the first person convicted of endangering others during a sea crossing to the UK.
Tajik Mohammad, 32, abandoned the dinghy he was driving across the English Channel and its passengers when a rescue ship arrived, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
The vessel was overcrowded, with some passengers lacking life jackets, during the attempted crossing in poor weather on January 17.
Mohammad, an Afghan national, travelled to the UK that day before his arrest.
He pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday and will be sentenced there on June 10.
The offence, part of new measures to curb Channel crossings, only came into force weeks prior under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.
open image in gallery
Tajik Mohammad pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday and will be sentenced there on June 10 (PA)
A 16-year-old boy was the first person to be charged with the offence.
The teenager – who is also an Afghan – has denied endangering 46 people on January 5, telling a court hearing he was “forced to do so”.
James Fisher, a senior CPS prosecutor said: “I’m pleased the CPS has secured the first conviction for endangering the lives of others during a Channel crossing since it became an offence in January.
“We will carry on using new laws to prosecute individuals and gangs who undermine UK border security.
“The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and we argued Tajik Mohammad abandoned the tiller on the arrival of the rescue ship.
“That, along with the boat being overcrowded, some passengers not wearing life jackets, the weather conditions that day, and that small boats are shoddily made, meant he was endangering the lives of others, which he’s accepted.”
According to the Home Office, the offence is designed to stop more people being crammed into unsafe boats and would apply to those involved in physical aggression and intimidation, as well as anyone who resists rescue.
When the plans for the new laws were first announced last January, Home Office sources said there had been instances of “floating crime scenes” where people had acted in such a reckless way people died on board in crushes and drownings.
Those who commit the offence could face up to five years in prison, or up to six years if they are in breach of a deportation order.
Earlier this month, another alleged dinghy pilot appeared in court over the deaths of four migrants.
Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali, 27, appeared before Folkestone Magistrates’ Court charged with endangering life, after two men and two women died trying to board a boat on April 9.
Some 6,000 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel by inflatable dinghy so far this year.
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