UK Government Migrant Crisis to Intensify Pressure on Anti-Smuggling Efforts

[Social Media]

 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has emphasized the "moral imperative" to dismantle the criminal networks facilitating dangerous small boat crossings to the UK. Her statement comes ahead of a critical summit involving ministers, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement officials. The meeting follows a tragic incident in which 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, lost their lives attempting to cross the English Channel—the deadliest such event in 2024.

 

The devastating incident has brought renewed scrutiny to the government’s strategy for addressing the crisis. Conservative shadow home secretary James Cleverly criticized the government, stating that merely "talking about 'smashing the gangs'" is insufficient given the serious real-life consequences. Yvette Cooper echoed the urgency of the situation, describing how people had been "packed into an unsafe boat which literally collapsed in the water." She reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that these networks are dismantled and brought to justice.

 

To date, more than 21,000 people have made the perilous crossing this year—slightly more than the same period last year, but still 20% lower than in 2022. Following the scrapping of the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan, which aimed to curb the number of crossings, the current Labour government faces mounting pressure to prove the effectiveness of its approach. The government has vowed to focus on disrupting smuggling gangs, with Mr. Cleverly advocating for the re-establishment of the Rwanda policy to "stop vulnerable people being exploited and secure our border."

 

The summit, chaired by Ms. Cooper, includes participation from Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Attorney General Lord Hermer, and representatives from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Forces, and the Crown Prosecution Service. NCA head Graeme Biggar is expected to highlight recent successes, including cooperation with Bulgaria that led to the seizure of more than 40 small boats and engines, which could have been used to transport 2,400 people across the Channel. Since last spring, the NCA has seized more than 410 small boats and engines and is currently involved in 70 other investigations, including raids on warehouses in Libya where migrants were being held.

 

The Home Office has announced a "rapid" recruitment of a border security command chief to target these gangs, though no appointment has yet been made. Downing Street has promised an announcement "in the next few weeks." Ms. Cooper highlighted the "encouraging progress" made over the past two months, citing significant seizures of boats and equipment in Europe. She stressed the need for continued efforts, stating that the Border Security Command would unite relevant bodies to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these networks while deepening ties with international partners.

 

Ms. Cooper also emphasized the government's commitment to swiftly removing individuals with no right to remain in the UK, aiming to establish a "fair, firm and functioning asylum system" where the rules are both respected and enforced. The Home Office pointed to a "reset in the relationship with Europe" that has resulted in a 50% increase in NCA officers based with Europol and the deployment of officers to Romania and Southeast Asian countries where gangs are promoting Channel crossings.

 

The recent tragedy in the Channel, the department argued, underscores the "increasingly extreme measures the gangs are willing to contemplate as more people are crammed into less seaworthy vessels." Intelligence reports indicate that smugglers have raised the prices for migrants to cross the Channel, including charging for children to board boats, as their business model faces growing pressure from UK and partner law enforcement.

 

Steve Smith, head of the charity Care4Calais, contended that the "only way to stop the crossings is to create safe routes for people to claim asylum in the UK," urging the government to focus on this solution. Christa Rottensteiner, chief of the UN’s migration agency, echoed this sentiment, stating that more safe and legal routes would reduce demand for smugglers. She also stressed the importance of "good international cooperation" in tackling smuggling along the entire migration route.

 

However, Tony Smith, the former head of the UK Border Force, expressed hope that the government would reconsider scrapping the Rwanda scheme. He argued that the UK must make it clear to migrants in France that getting into a small boat will not guarantee a stay in the UK and that they are likely to be relocated elsewhere.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-09-07

 

 

 

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[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has emphasized the "moral imperative" to dismantle the criminal networks facilitating dangerous small boat crossings to the UK. Her statement comes ahead of a critical summit involving ministers, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement officials. The meeting follows a tragic incident in which 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, lost their lives attempting to cross the English Channel—the deadliest such event in 2024.

 

The devastating incident has brought renewed scrutiny to the government’s strategy for addressing the crisis. Conservative shadow home secretary James Cleverly criticized the government, stating that merely "talking about 'smashing the gangs'" is insufficient given the serious real-life consequences. Yvette Cooper echoed the urgency of the situation, describing how people had been "packed into an unsafe boat which literally collapsed in the water." She reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that these networks are dismantled and brought to justice.

 

To date, more than 21,000 people have made the perilous crossing this year—slightly more than the same period last year, but still 20% lower than in 2022. Following the scrapping of the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan, which aimed to curb the number of crossings, the current Labour government faces mounting pressure to prove the effectiveness of its approach. The government has vowed to focus on disrupting smuggling gangs, with Mr. Cleverly advocating for the re-establishment of the Rwanda policy to "stop vulnerable people being exploited and secure our border."

 

The summit, chaired by Ms. Cooper, includes participation from Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Attorney General Lord Hermer, and representatives from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Forces, and the Crown Prosecution Service. NCA head Graeme Biggar is expected to highlight recent successes, including cooperation with Bulgaria that led to the seizure of more than 40 small boats and engines, which could have been used to transport 2,400 people across the Channel. Since last spring, the NCA has seized more than 410 small boats and engines and is currently involved in 70 other investigations, including raids on warehouses in Libya where migrants were being held.

 

 

The Home Office has announced a "rapid" recruitment of a border security command chief to target these gangs, though no appointment has yet been made. Downing Street has promised an announcement "in the next few weeks." Ms. Cooper highlighted the "encouraging progress" made over the past two months, citing significant seizures of boats and equipment in Europe. She stressed the need for continued efforts, stating that the Border Security Command would unite relevant bodies to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these networks while deepening ties with international partners.

 

Ms. Cooper also emphasized the government's commitment to swiftly removing individuals with no right to remain in the UK, aiming to establish a "fair, firm and functioning asylum system" where the rules are both respected and enforced. The Home Office pointed to a "reset in the relationship with Europe" that has resulted in a 50% increase in NCA officers based with Europol and the deployment of officers to Romania and Southeast Asian countries where gangs are promoting Channel crossings.

 

The recent tragedy in the Channel, the department argued, underscores the "increasingly extreme measures the gangs are willing to contemplate as more people are crammed into less seaworthy vessels." Intelligence reports indicate that smugglers have raised the prices for migrants to cross the Channel, including charging for children to board boats, as their business model faces growing pressure from UK and partner law enforcement.

 

Steve Smith, head of the charity Care4Calais, contended that the "only way to stop the crossings is to create safe routes for people to claim asylum in the UK," urging the government to focus on this solution. Christa Rottensteiner, chief of the UN’s migration agency, echoed this sentiment, stating that more safe and legal routes would reduce demand for smugglers. She also stressed the importance of "good international cooperation" in tackling smuggling along the entire migration route.

 

However, Tony Smith, the former head of the UK Border Force, expressed hope that the government would reconsider scrapping the Rwanda scheme. He argued that the UK must make it clear to migrants in France that getting into a small boat will not guarantee a stay in the UK and that they are likely to be relocated elsewhere.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-09-07

 

 

 

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