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 and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
“That’s why this government has put forward a serious, credible plan to finally restore order to our asylum system, including tougher enforcement powers, ramping up returns to their highest levels for more than half a decade and a major crackdown on illegal working to end the false promise of jobs used by gangs to sell spaces on boats.”
Background:
- On 6 March Martin Hewitt met with his French counterpart Patrick Stefanini where they deepened small boats cooperation.
- On 27 February the Home Secretary met with her French counterpart Bruno Retailleau to agree robust new measures to tackle people-smuggling gangs.
- On Thursday 30 January the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced to Parliament. This landmark legislation features new counter terror-style powers to identify, disrupt and smash people smuggling gangs.
- Our new Border Security Command, led by Martin Hewitt, will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.
- Since the election:
o We’ve removed 24,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals to countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America – the highest levels for half a decade.
o enforced returns up 21%.
o illegal working arrests and visits increased by 38%.
o The four biggest returns charter flights in the UK’s history have taken place, with a total of more than 850 people on board.