UK announces new measures to crack down on migrant crossings from France

NEWS WIRES

21 August 2024 at 6:18 am·1-min read

The UK on Wednesday announced new measures to curb the number of migrants arriving illegally from France via the English Channel. The measures include recruiting specialist officers tasked with dismantling smuggling gangs and sanctioning employers who hire people without a legal right to work. The government aims over the next six months to reach the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers in five years.

The British government on Wednesday announced new measures to crack down on high numbers of asylum seekers arriving illegally on small boats from France.

It said 100 "new specialist intelligence and investigation officers" would be recruited to the National Crime Agency (NCA) to help dismantle smuggling gangs that run the dangerous crossings.

The interior ministry added that the government aims over the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers for five years.

The Labour government, which won an election last month, intends to increase detention capacity at removal centres and sanction employers who hire people with no right to work in the UK, the Home Office said.

"We are taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced," interior minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement.

Starmer has instead pledged to dismantle the people-smuggling gangs who organise the crossings and are paid thousands of euros by each migrant.

(AFP)

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