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 is investing in border security, increasing returns to their highest levels for more than half a decade, and imposing a major crackdown on illegal working to end the false promise of jobs used by gangs to sell spaces on boats.
"We have already secured agreement from the French to deploy a new elite unit of officers at the coast, launch a specialist intelligence unit, increase police numbers and introduce new powers for the French authorities to intervene in shallow waters.
"We are introducing tougher enforcement powers with new legislation, and intensifying our collaboration with France and other countries who face the same challenges by exploring fresh and innovative measures to dismantle the business models of the criminal smuggling gangs.”
Background:
• The Home Secretary recently became the first British Home Secretary to visit the French northern coast in 5 years where she agreed new action to tackle smuggling gangs. This includes:
Training additional drone pilots to increase operations and intercept planned boats before they reach the sea.
The French working to change their operational policy so their maritime forces can intervene in shallow waters in the coming weeks.
Funding a new unit of elite officers to increase patrols along the northern coast from May similar to the arrangements put in place during the Paris Olympics which significantly reduced small boat crossings.
Launching a new specialist intelligence unit stationed in Dunkirk to hunt people smugglers and with dual powers to investigate and prosecute criminal gangs, allowing for faster convictions.