Prime Minister announces £75 million to tackle people smuggling

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will announce an extra £75 million to tackle people smuggling gangs.

Interpol’s General Assembly is being held in the UK for the first time in more than 50 years as Sir Keir seeks to reset the country’s approach to border security.

The cash boost will boost funding for the new UK Border Security Command (BSC) to £150 million for new technology centers and expanded law enforcement, intelligence and prosecution staff.

Sir Keir is expected to warn at the Glasgow summit, which brings together senior police officers and ministers from Interpol’s nearly 200 member countries, that “the world must wake up to the seriousness of this problem”.

Sir Keir will discuss how he plans to use his experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, bringing together agencies to fight international terrorist groups and drug smuggling gangs.

He will say: “I was elected to keep the British people safe and strong borders are part of that, but safety doesn’t stop at our borders.

“There is nothing progressive about turning a blind eye to the deaths of men, women and children in the English Channel.

“This is a vile trade that must be eradicated – wherever it thrives.”

The Prime Minister wants to take a counter-terrorism approach to border security and end “fragmentation” between police, border forces and intelligence agencies.

The BSC, led by Martin Hewitt, will have enhanced powers under the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to make it easier to identify, disrupt and deter those involved in organized immigration crime.

BSC will also coordinate the work of intelligence services and law enforcement agencies with European colleagues and will receive additional funds for:

• Additional 300 BSC staff to strengthen global partnerships and develop new legislation.
• An additional 100 specialist investigators and intelligence officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target people smuggling criminals.
• New NCA technology based on enhanced use of data to enhance cooperation with European partners investigating human trafficking networks.
• Creation of a new specialized intelligence unit studying information from key police forces.
• Improving the Crown Prosecution Service’s ability to resolve charges more quickly in cases involving international organized crime.

Sir Keir will also announce that the UK Government has increased its support for Interpol’s global operations, committing an additional £6 million this year to combat serious organized crime affecting the UK through drug offences.

The Home Office is also investing £24 million in the new financial year to tackle international organized crime affecting the UK, including drugs and firearms, fraud, human trafficking and exploitation.

The funds will be used in part to support the work of special prosecutors and operational partners in the Western Balkans.

There were 5,448 drug-related deaths reported in 2023, an 11% increase from the year before and the highest level since records began in 1993.

NCA chief executive Graham Biggar said there were currently 70 investigations into gangs or individuals.

“Serious and organized crime harms more people, more often, than any other national security threat,” he said.

“Distance, borders and languages ​​do not matter to criminals. This is why cooperation with Interpol has never been more important than it is today.”

Conservatives have been approached for comment.