A Home Office spokesperson said:
“We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
“As we have seen with so many recent devastating tragedies in the Channel, 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.
“We are making progress, bolstering our personnel numbers in the UK and abroad. Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.”
Background
- The government has now recruited Martin Hewitt as Border Security Commander to lead the co-ordinated response to enhance our border protection.
- Securing borders is a core responsibility of the government.
- On Friday 6 September, the Home Secretary held a landmark summit with Cabinet ministers and law enforcement partners to address the “moral imperative” of dismantling smuggling gangs profiting from small boat crossings.
- The summit focused on the progress made in disrupting these operations and increasing cooperation with European agencies such as Europol. More details here: Home Secretary sets out 'moral imperative' to stop smuggling gangs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)