The French coastguard could face criminal charges for its failure to help a boat that sank in the channel last November, killing 27 migrants, reports The Times.
An inquiry by Cherbourg gendarmes into the cause of the disaster blamed the Calais coastguard and said its refusal to help could warrant criminal charges, according to a report leaked to Le Monde newspaper.
Investigators questioned why French rescuers failed to send a rescue ship when the boat was in French waters, despite receiving more than a dozen distress calls.
The French coastguard was also accused of failing to tell Britain that the boat was sinking as well as ignoring a rescue offer from a passing tanker.
While previous reports suggested the two coastguards passed the buck over who should send help, investigators praised British rescue teams for their quick response.
French authorities were first notified of the boat sinking at 1.35am and were made aware of its location at 2.05am.
“No French rescue means were engaged to provide assistance… despite numerous distressed calls received from this boat,” the gendarmes wrote in their report, pointing to the fact that a French patrol boat was at one point about 12 miles away from the scene.