Police Investigate Danny Tommo Over Dinghy Slashing in English Channel Police are investigating anti-migrant activist Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, after he slashed a dinghy in the English Channel while a French rescuer was on board. Police are investigating anti-migrant activist Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, after he shared footage of himself slashing a dinghy in the English Channel while a French rescuer was still on board. The incident occurred on September 22, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The 37-year-old began puncturing the boat with a knife after all the migrants it was carrying had been picked up by the RNLI. Moments later, a French rescuer stepped onto the empty dinghy to secure it, before Thomas sliced through one side of it.Thomas told the rescuer that he was on English territory and not in France anymore. He then repeatedly urged the Frenchman to get off the dinghy and return to his own boat, shouting that he had time to get off before sailing away.Background of the Channel IncidentThe migrants' voyage started from Port-en-Bessin, north of Bayeux in Normandy, just before 10am on Monday. The 51 migrants arrived in the Kent port of Dover after midnight following reports they had been bound for Gosport.It is thought to be the longest duration of any voyage undertaken by small-boat migrants, lasting 38 hours. The Conservatives branded it a fiasco.Thomas had told his online audience that he was heading towards Gosport, where a crowd of black-clad protesters from his group, Patriot Platform, were expecting the migrants to be taken ashore from lifeboats. But they were instead taken ashore at Dover early this morning.Police Investigation and ProtestsHampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said they are aware of a video circulating online relating to damage being caused to a boat in the English Channel on the afternoon of September 22, and they are conducting enquiries into the matter.Following reports yesterday that the dinghy was to dock in Hampshire's Gosport, hundreds of protesters turned out in the town and in nearby Portsmouth. The effort dissipated after the boat was rerouted to Dover.Hampshire Police described some of those who remained in Gosport thereafter as hostile towards officers and said it arrested six people for offences including careless driving, assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass. Around a dozen protesters were seen in Dover as the migrants arrived, and officers closed nearby roads in anticipation.Government Deal and Political ReactionThe dinghy incident raised serious questions over the effectiveness of Labour's 662 million pound deal with the French to prevent crossings. French authorities, who shadowed the dinghy across the Channel, said they decided not to intervene due to safety concerns.As tides took the boat back towards the French coast on Monday evening, it was so close to shore that another ten to 15 migrants were able to board, it is claimed. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the latest fiasco shows that the French are not even trying to stop the illegal immigrants' boats in French waters, instead escorting them here.He added that border security has descended into chaos with migrants crossing at will over ever larger distances and in ever larger boats, and that the Government's claim to smash the gangs is laughable and their deal with the French is clearly not working. The Conservatives have a plan to end all accommodation and benefits for illegal immigrants and instead deport them on arrival, so these farcical crossings would soon stop.Rescue Operation DetailsFour French lifeboats plus the search-and-rescue tugboat Abeille Liberte, along with a French Navy helicopter, were scrambled to the 40ft dinghy's location on Monday. A spokesman for local rescue services said the boat was in a very bad way and very low in the water, with just a single small outboard motor to power it.The sea was calm and weather conditions were good, but the decision was taken to escort the boat without intervening. The Abeille Liberte continued to follow the migrant boat yesterday morning and afternoon.At about 4.30pm, the migrants were transferred from their dinghy to two RNLI lifeboats. Half an hour later, they switched to Border Force's HMC Vigilant.