French riot police funded by UK taxpayers used teargas on asylum seekers in an attempt to stop them from boarding a boat in which three women were later found dead, a charity has claimed. The incidents happened hours after the busiest day for small boat crossings so far this year, which totalled 752 arrivals in the UK. View image in fullscreen People thought to be migrants are rescued from the sea on Thursday after they attempted to board a small boat from the beach near Dunkirk. Two years ago, leaked WhatsApp messages showed CRS officers had exchanged an image of a sinking small boat laden with migrants. View image in fullscreen People leave the sea after failing to board a small boat from the beach near Dunkirk on Thursday.