French police stand and watch as migrants pack themselves into overloaded dinghy to make perilous journey across the Channel to Britain

Four people have died in an attempt to cross the English Channel in the latest migrant tragedy. 

The tragedy occurred overnight just hours after dozens of migrants were pictured setting sail from Gravelines beach, in Normandy.

Some 60 people had to be rescued from the sea by the authorities, French media La Voix du Nord and BFM TV reported, citing local state authorities.

A French coast guard spokesperson said its services were still collecting verified information on the incident, adding that he could not comment further.

The incident came as French police were seen standing by and watching as dozens of migrants packed into an overloaded dingy and set off across the Channel. 

About a dozen officers, some armed with riot shields and batons, were pictured at the water's edge in Gravelines.

The coastal route is a well-known jump off for human trafficker gangs seeking to illegally smuggle asylum seekers into Britain.

Groups of migrants often camp in the sand dunes or use old Second World War fortifications dotted around the beach before the leave.

In the latest images from the beach, French cops appeared to try and deter the group of 'screaming' migrants by firing tear gas. However, when this failed, the helpless officers then stood by and watched as the packed boat sailed away.

A witness who saw the drama claimed French officers had initially tried to stop migrants as they dashed out from the encampments close to the beach. 

But when this failed, they resorted to blasting them with tear gas as the asylum seekers entered the sea - as officers refused to give chase. 

'The whole thing was just a complete waste of time,' one witness told MailOnline. 

They added: 'The police fired tear gas and you could hear all this screaming. They clearly fire it as a warning.'

Speaking to the Mail earlier this week about their futile efforts to clampdown on the migrants, one French officer said: 'We catch some - but we can't catch them all.

'While my colleagues were arresting some of the "ferrymen" in town, then slashing their boats, scores more migrants were hiding in the dunes waiting for dinghies to arrive from the sea to pick them up.'

The latest images from the coastline in northern France came as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was forced to admit Britain's small boats crisis will get worse before it gets better. 

The number of small boat migrants having illegally arrived in Britain in 2024 topped 14,000 this week. 

Home Office figures show 419 people made the journey in six boats on Tuesday, suggesting an average of around 70 people per boat and taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058.

This is 10 per cent higher than the number recorded this time last year (12,772) and up six per cent on the same period in 2022 (13,318).

The latest crossings mean 484 migrant arrivals have been recorded over two days of activity in the Channel since Sir Keir became PM in the wake of Labour's election victory last week.

Meanwhile, for the first time in two years, migrants no longer face the threat of being flown to Rwanda upon arrival in Dover, after Labour scrapped the policy on day one of Sir Keir's administration.

Poor weather meant the first crossing under the new Labour Government came on Monday after a six day pause, with 65 migrants on a dinghy from France later brought ashore at Dover, Kent.

In a statement on Wednesday Sir Keir said his plan to 'smash' the people-smuggling gangs would eventually 'stop those crossings' but admitted it could take years.

But he refused to guarantee the boats will have been stopped by the next election.

Speaking to reporters on a trip to Washington DC, the Prime Minister said: 'Nobody but nobody should be making these crossings. The numbers are going up, not down. That is why we want to smash the gangs to stop those crossings.

'What I'm not going to do is pick an arbitrary date, an arbitrary number because that hasn't worked in the past. But I do want to be clear that my intention is to break down the gangs that are running this vile trade putting people into boats on the coast of France.' 

Pressed again on whether the situation will deteriorate before it improves, he added: 'It can't be changed overnight. What we can do is set up our first steps straight away.

'The Border Security Command... will lead on smashing the gangs.

'I do not accept these are the only gangs that can't be brought down. I'm determined that our Border Security Command working with others will do so. That's why it's got such a rich mix of security and intelligence, alongside prosecutors, alongside law enforcement.

'And we will get on with the recruitment and setting up that Command at speed.'

On Thursday a migrant clutching a what appeared to be a Louis Vuitton manbag was among those joining the rush to cross the Channel on a packed dinghy from France.

The bearded man was one of dozens to set off from Gravelines beach near Dunkirk - as French, police dressed in riot kit, watched on helplessly. 

Smoking a cigarette, the soaked asylum seeker dangled the brown bag from his neck as he waded into the sea to pile onto a people smuggler's boat destined for the UK. 

Earlier on Tuesday. several children were among those pictured being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, amid calm weather conditions at sea.

Groups of people were seen being escorted from Border Force boats and lifeboats wearing life jackets, with some wrapped in blankets.

Adult life jackets have sold out in the Dunkirk area - so migrants are instead taking children's toy rubber rings and arm bands in a feeble bid to protect themselves if their overloaded dinghies sink. 

New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is to launch a new Border Security Command which will supposedly be key to reducing the flow of small boats across the Channel.

The Border Security Commander, who will be given 'anti-terror-style' powers, is, however, yet to be named.