Helmsmen of the small boats bringing illegal immigrants to the British shore can face life sentences, the Home Office said on Tuesday as parts of the new Nationality and Borders Act takes effect.
Under the new law, those who assist unlawful immigrants entering the UK will face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment instead of 14 years.
Highlighting the new rule on Twitter, the Home Office said it applies to people smugglers as well as small boat pilots.
Coastguard-coordinated rescuing of migrants when they are in danger or distress at sea is exempt from the rules.
Since 2019, crossing the English Channel in flimsy small boats from France has become the main mode of illegal entry into Britain detected by the authorities….