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 is why this government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.
“Through international intelligence sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in Northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security and Asylum Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders."
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.