Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce an additional £75 million in funding to combat people-smuggling gangs, bringing the budget for the UK’s new Border Security Command (BSC) to £150 million. This increased funding will support advanced tech hubs, extra enforcement measures, and additional intelligence and prosecution staff.
Sir Keir’s strategy aims to apply counter-terrorism tactics to border security, enhancing coordination between policing, Border Force, and intelligence agencies. The BSC, led by Martin Hewitt, will gain new powers through the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, aimed at strengthening efforts to detect, disrupt, and deter organised immigration crime. This move includes the addition of 300 personnel to develop global partnerships, 100 specialist investigators, and advanced data exploitation technology to aid collaboration with European agencies tackling trafficking networks.
Despite this initiative, former immigration officer Kevin Saunders expressed doubts, arguing the measures may not deter illegal crossings, as many smugglers operate outside UK jurisdiction in regions like the Middle East and Turkey. He also highlighted challenges in deporting failed asylum seekers without documentation, as some nations refuse to take back citizens without verified identity.
Additionally, Sir Keir will announce a £6 million boost for Interpol’s global operations to combat organised crime impacting the UK, including drug trafficking, and the Home Office will allocate £24 million in the upcoming financial year to address international crime. This investment will support efforts in the Western Balkans and strengthen partnerships in tackling organised crime involving drugs, firearms, fraud, and exploitation.
