An 18-year-old Afghan national has appeared in court as the first person charged under a fresh law designed to stop small boat crossings in the English Channel.
Aman Naseri stood before Margate Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He is accused of steering a boat that carried 46 people from France to the UK. The case follows the start of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, which launched its new enforcement powers on Monday, 5 January.
Mr Naseri, who has no fixed address, entered a not guilty plea. He is charged with endangering others during a sea crossing while arriving in the UK without a valid entry permit.
“I was forced to do so”
During the brief hearing, the teenager sat in the dock wearing a black coat and followed the case through a Dari interpreter. He spoke only to confirm his name and age before his plea was recorded.
“I plead not guilty, I was forced to do so,” Mr Naseri told the court through his interpreter.
Prosecutors claim that by piloting the vessel across one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, the teenager put 45 other lives at great risk. Julie Farbrace, for the prosecution, argued that by steering the boat, Mr Naseri “put them in danger.”
District Judge Archie Mackay noted during the hearing that the risks involved in such crossings included “potential fatalities.”
New legal powers
This prosecution is a milestone. It is the first time the government has used these specific powers to target those leading small boat arrivals. While the authorities used older immigration laws in the past, this new offence was created to specifically tackle the danger of overcrowded, flimsy boats.
Under the updated Act, anyone found guilty of endangering others during a sea crossing can face up to five years in prison. If the individual is already subject to a deportation order, that sentence can rise to six years.
The Home Office says the law should act as a deterrent to gangs. It aims to stop people from being “crammed into unsafe boats.” The legislation also covers anyone who uses threats or resists rescue teams during a crossing.
The first crossing of 2026
The event involving Mr Naseri occurred on Monday. It was the first successful Channel crossing recorded in 2026.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) gave the go-ahead for charges early on Wednesday morning after a Home Office investigation. By 3:30 am, CPS Direct—a 24-hour legal service—decided there was enough evidence to take the case to court in the public interest.
A Home Office spokesperson commented that these new measures help police to “disrupt and dismantle” the gangs behind the crossings.
Political context
There is ongoing pressure on the government to cut the number of migrants reaching UK shores in small boats. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has frequently promised to “smash the gangs” that run the trade.
Last year, official data showed that 41,472 people arrived in the UK via small boats. This was the second-highest annual total ever seen. Sadly, at least 29 people lost their lives making the journey in 2025.
Migration Minister Mike Tapp said these tougher laws are “restoring order and control” at the border. Even so, some critics worry that charging those who steer the boats might hurt vulnerable people who are being forced to act by traffickers.
Next steps in the case
District Judge Mackay decided to remand Mr Naseri in custody at the end of the hearing.
The 18-year-old will stay in custody until his next appearance. That hearing is set for 9 February at Canterbury Crown Court. As the legal process is now active, the public is being told not to share details online that might interfere with a fair trial.
