Home Secretary brings forward new measures to boost Britain’s border security

Cooper has also announced a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity to make sure that immigration and asylum rules are respected and enforced, in parallel stating that the Government has new plans for the next six months to achieve the highest rate of removals of those with no right to be here, including failed asylum seekers, for five years (since 2018).

In addition, a new intelligence-driven illegal working programme will be rolled out to target, investigate and take down unscrupulous employers who illegally employ those with no right to work in the UK.

The new measures are fulfilling on the Government’s commitment to provide long-term security for the nation’s borders. They include the following:

*as stated, up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigations officers deployed to the NCA in order to disrupt and smash criminal smuggling gangs and prevent dangerous boat crossings

*a large surge in enforcement and returns flights, with the aim of putting removals at their highest level since 2018, in turn reversing the “damaging drop” in enforcement over recent years

*increased detention capacity (including 290 added beds at the Campsfield and Haslar Immigration Removal Centres) 

*redeployment of staff to drive this increase in returns 

*sanctions to be taken against unscrupulous employers who hire workers illegally

Officers in Europol

The news comes on top of the 50% uplift in the number of NCA officers stationed in Europol. These officers have been immediately deployed to support European operations and disrupt the activity of criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings.    

The NCA currently has around 70 ongoing investigations on its books targeting the highest harm criminal networks involved in people smuggling and trafficking. The organisation has worked with international partners to support the seizure of around 400 boats and engines intended for use in channel crossings.  

A range of sanctions, including financial penalty notices, business closure orders and potential prosecution will be taken against those employing illegal workers. Those caught working illegally and who are eligible for removal will be detained pending their swift removal.     

Building on nine successful ‘returns’ flights in the last six weeks, including the largest-ever chartered ‘return’ flight, the Government is redeploying personnel and resources to support further activity.

Staff are being redeployed to increase the removal of failed asylum seekers, which had dropped by 40% since 2010. Some 300 caseworkers have already been reassigned to progress thousands of failed asylum and ‘returns’ cases, including enforced and voluntary returns.

Enhanced digital capabilities will be deployed to ensure consistent contact throughout, preventing those with no right to be here from ‘disappearing’ into exploitative illegal working and ensuring they can be returned.

This enforcement surge, overseen by Bas Javid (the Home Office’s director general for immigration enforcement) is part of the Government’s plans to transform the asylum system and secure the UK’s borders. This will ensure that all immigration enforcement processes are implemented firmly, fairly and accurately throughout, while also taking account of the important lessons learned from Windrush.

Strong and clear steps   

“We are taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced,” stated Yvette Cooper. “Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe, working with European enforcement agencies to find every route in towards smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings, which undermine our border security and put lives at risk.”

The Home Secretary added: “By increasing enforcement capabilities and ‘returns’, we will establish a system that’s better controlled and managed in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long.”

Rob Jones, the NCA’s director general of operations, responded: “Tackling organised immigration crime remains a key priority for the NCA. We’re dedicating more effort and resource to this matter than ever before. These extra officers will play a key role in that, with the NCA currently leading around 70 investigations into the highest harm people smuggling and trafficking groups.”

Jones went on to state: “Taking on these dangerous and exploitative gangs requires international co-operation. On that basis, we continue to further enhance our already strong relationship with Europol and other law enforcement partners. We’re determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, whether they’re operating in the UK or overseas.”

The Government’s work builds on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting at the European Political Community last month, where he held discussions with the Migration Working Group alongside representatives from Italy, Albania, Germany, Malta, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia. The European leaders present discussed border security, their joint efforts aimed at tackling people-smuggling and the ambition to work collectively with other countries to deliver solutions.  

Since taking office, the Home Secretary has also held calls with a range of partners in order to discuss increasing co-operation designed to tackle organised immigration crime.