Prime Minister Keir Starmer vows to dismantle people-smuggling operations using strategies similar to those used against rioters, following a high-level summit with key law enforcement officials

 In a bid to combat the escalating crisis of illegal Channel crossings, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a new strategy to dismantle people-smuggling gangs, drawing on tactics previously employed to tackle rioting. Following a significant summit on Friday, which included senior ministers and top officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Force, and the intelligence community, Starmer is set to apply a rigorous, operational approach to border control.

The summit, held at the NCA headquarters in London, marked a pivotal moment in Starmer’s campaign to address the ongoing issue of small boats crossing the Channel. This initiative follows a recent wave of fatalities, with at least 12 people killed when their vessel was wrecked off the northern French coast. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for effective intervention.

During the summit, Starmer emphasized the parallels between the current situation and the government’s response to the riots earlier this year. He recalled how high-profile arrests and swift justice during the unrest served as a deterrent and expressed his commitment to applying similar methods to disrupt people-smuggling networks. The approach involved rapid, coordinated action and high-profile policing, which Starmer believes will be crucial in regaining control over the Channel crossings.

Attendees of the summit included Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Attorney General Richard Hermer, all of whom played a role in devising the new strategy. The meeting underscored the government’s determination to address the crisis comprehensively, utilizing both law enforcement and intelligence resources.

The Channel crossings have surged this year, with 1,276 people making the perilous journey in just one week. The total for the year so far stands at 22,328, representing a significant increase compared to last year but a decrease compared to 2022. Since the general election, 8,754 people have crossed, a lower figure than in the same period in previous years. Despite these numbers, the challenge remains acute, prompting the urgent need for a robust response.

The summit’s timing comes amidst criticism from former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, who accused Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper of capitulating to smuggling gangs by abandoning the Conservatives’ Rwanda policy. Jenrick, now a leading contender for the Tory leadership, argued that without a strong deterrent, efforts to combat smuggling will fall short.

Starmer responded to Jenrick’s criticism by defending the decision to scrap the Rwanda plan. He characterized the policy as an expensive gimmick that failed to produce results, citing the £700 million spent to relocate only four individuals to Rwanda. Starmer dismissed suggestions that Germany might adopt a similar policy, asserting that the approach has been discredited and is not viable.

Addressing the question of safe routes for asylum seekers, Starmer rejected the idea, focusing instead on dismantling the criminal gangs that exploit vulnerable individuals. He stressed that the priority is to halt these operations and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The government’s new strategy, informed by past experiences with crisis management, aims to deliver swift and effective action against people-smuggling networks. The success of this approach will be closely monitored, with the hope that it will bring about significant improvements in border control and address the humanitarian crisis at hand.

BBC

The English Channel migrant crisis remains a pressing issue, marked by a recent tragedy where at least 12 people, including children and a pregnant woman, drowned when their overcrowded inflatable boat capsized. This incident underscores the dangers of increased crossings in poor-quality vessels and highlights the complex, multi-faceted nature of the crisis.

The UK government’s strategy to address this involves “upstream solutions” aimed at disrupting the smuggling networks’ operations, particularly targeting the supply of boats and engines. Despite these efforts, the increasing number of migrants and the dire conditions they face have led to more tragic incidents.

The relationship between the UK and France is also crucial. The UK government has criticized the French administration’s effectiveness, while France blames Brexit for exacerbating the crisis. A proposed migration treaty between the UK and the EU appears unlikely, adding to the diplomatic challenge.

The new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has vowed to tackle the problem by dismantling smuggling gangs, a position echoed by her predecessor, James Cleverly. However, the Conservatives’ previous plan to send migrants to Rwanda has been scrapped by Labour, leaving unresolved the broader strategy for managing and preventing these dangerous crossings.

As the UK prepares to appoint a Border Security Commander to address this ongoing issue, the effectiveness of future policies will significantly impact how the government is judged in the coming years. The crisis, involving thousands of migrants attempting perilous crossings, poses a continuous challenge and risk of further tragedies in the English Channel.

SKY NEWS

Migrants in the UK have expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of the government’s pledge to “smash the gangs” responsible for facilitating illegal Channel crossings. Despite recent commitments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and discussions among cabinet ministers and law enforcement, migrants on the ground doubt that these measures will significantly impact the smuggling networks.

Hassan, a 26-year-old asylum seeker from Kurdistan now living in Manchester, shared his experience of paying around 2,000 euros to a smuggling gang to reach the UK. He described the smuggling operations in his home country as well-organized, operating openly with strong word-of-mouth referrals. According to Hassan, there are numerous gangs, all interconnected, who are well-established and easily accessible to those seeking illegal passage.

Mohammed, another Kurdistan native who arrived in the UK by boat last year, echoed these sentiments. He bypassed paying smugglers directly by finding contacts in Calais. Mohammed believes that even if some gangs are dismantled, others will quickly emerge to fill the void. He acknowledges that a crackdown might slightly reduce crossings but asserts that the underlying issue will persist.

Both Hassan and Mohammed highlight the perception that life in the UK is significantly better compared to their home countries, making the journey worth the risk for many. They suggest that even robust enforcement efforts may not be enough to curb illegal migration as long as the underlying demand for smuggling services remains high and new operators continually emerge.