The United Kingdom (UK) Government recently announced a new £75 million investment to combat illegal migration.
People smuggling has continuously intensified as more people attempt dangerous illegal crossings into Britain.
Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer emphasized that the funding will target criminal gangs profiting from migrants’ risky journeys.
It will also focus on boosting border security and enhancing law enforcement capabilities.
“This is a vile trade that must be stamped out – wherever it thrives,” he said via a news release.
“We’re taking our approach to counter-terrorism, which we know works, and applying it to the gangs with our new Border Security Command (BSC),” Starmer added.
The Prime Minister stressed that it will take a united effort between the police, the Border Force, and the UK’s intelligence agencies.
The BSC leads the charge as the new investment brings its funding over the next two years to £150 million.
The announcement comes a month after the UK joined a new G7 plan to boost border security, fight organized crime, and protect vulnerable people from smugglers.
The BSC’s £150 million funding allocations
In his speech at the INTERPOL General Assembly, Starmer outlined the £150 million BSC funding allocations.
The goal is to ensure that people smuggling gangs that fuel illegal immigration and take advantage of vulnerable people are stopped and brought to justice.
Some of the key areas include:
Enhanced surveillance capabilities
The BSC will invest significantly in NCA technology to investigate, improve data use, and strengthen partnerships with Europe.
Hiring more personnel and specialists
It will hire 300 new staff to strengthen global partnerships, execute new legislation, and guide the system through investment and strategy.
Additionally, the BSC will add 100 more specialist investigators and intelligence officers dedicated to dismantling human smuggling operations.
Improving intelligence sharing
A new specialist OIC Intelligence Source Unit will help improve intelligence sharing between UK law enforcement agencies and international partners.
The new unit will enhance the country’s ability to track and stop smuggling activities both within the UK and abroad.
Strengthening the Justice Department
The investment also includes enhancing the Crown Prosecution Service’s capacity and making decisions more quickly in international organized crime cases.
This expanded approach reflects successful efforts by other European countries to reduce illegal crossings through enhanced enforcement and stronger partnerships.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the new BSC investment will bring about real change in targeting criminal gangs.
Rising numbers of illegal crossings in the UK
Over the last few years, illegal migrant crossings into the UK have been rising steadily, with 2024 seeing record numbers.
Per a report by The Telegraph, the number of Channel migrants arriving in the UK has surpassed the total number for 2023.
As of October 2024, a total of 29,451 migrants have made the dangerous crossings, compared to 29,437 for the whole of last year.
Maritime experts estimate that this year’s total could reach between 35,000 and 40,000, depending on weather conditions.
This prediction would surpass the record number of 45,774 migrant crossings in 2022. This makes the UK one of the busiest spots for illegal migrant crossings in Europe.
Many of these migrants try to cross the English Channel in small, overcrowded boats, often with help from organized smuggling networks.
These smugglers operate on what officials call an “industrial scale,” profiting from people who risk their lives to make it to the UK.
Tragically, these crossings have led to several fatalities and serious injuries among migrants.
Starmer said, “There’s nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women, and children die in the Channel.”
NCA Director General of Operations Rob Jones has assured that the agency remains committed to tackling immigration crime.
A global response to people smuggling and illegal crossings
The UK’s plan highlights the need for a worldwide response to the issue of people smuggling.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that people smuggling must be treated as an international crime that threatens multiple nations.
“The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge,” he said.
Cross-border cooperation is crucial to jointly combat smuggling networks and tackle the root causes of migration.
The UK’s enhanced commitment to cross-border security initiatives reflects this approach.
UK leaders have been working closely with European and other international allies to address common migration challenges.
The UK government has increased its funding for INTERPOL’s global operations with a £6 million investment.
This new funding aims to leverage the organization’s capabilities to tackle serious organized crime affecting the UK.
Concerns about stricter enforcement against illegal crossings
Some critics expressed concern that stricter border enforcement might force smugglers to resort to even more dangerous routes.
Migrants may feel compelled to risk crossing the channel to escape the hardships in their home countries.
Human rights organizations have urged the government to tackle the root causes of migration, such as poverty and instability, to reduce risky journeys.
Cooper emphasized the government’s commitment to border security while ensuring the humane and respectable treatment of vulnerable migrants.
“We are determined to protect our borders, but also to ensure that no person’s safety is compromised,” she said.