A Home Office spokesperson said:
“We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”
Background:
- The government has recruited Martin Hewitt as Border Security Commander to lead the co-ordinated response to enhance our border protection.
- Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.
- The Border Security Command, backed by £75 million, is a key part of the plan to protect borders, remove those with no legal right to be in the UK, and introduce new counter-terror style powers.
- This government has already demonstrated its commitment to removing individuals who have no right to remain in the United Kingdom.
- Between 5 July and 31 August 2024, there were 1,240 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. This compares with 1,010 over the same period in 2023, an increase of 23%.
- Including voluntary returns, from 5 July to 29 August, there had been a total of 3,600 returns.