Sir Keir Starmer has stated that 24,000 individuals have been repatriated since the Labour party came into power, as he inaugurated the government’s border security summit.
The prime minister, in his opening address at the summit, remarked that those repatriated «have no legal right to stay here» and highlighted that this marks the «highest repatriation rates in eight years».
Since the Labour government assumed office last July, a total of 29,884 people have been identified crossing the Channel aboard 542 small boats.
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In the period from January 1 to March 30 this year, 6,642 individuals crossed over, reflecting a 43% surge compared to the same period last year when the Conservatives were in power.
The number of crossings exceeded 5,000 on March 21, setting a record compared to the previous seven years since the initial crossings in 2018 and marking a 24% increase from 2024, as well as a 36% increase from 2023.
Representatives from over 40 countries, including the US, Iraq, Vietnam, and France, are attending the summit at Lancaster House in central London.
Additionally, representatives from Meta, X, and TikTok are present to discuss strategies for combating the online promotion of illegal migration.
Sir Keir expressed his «anger» at the extent of illegal immigration globally, labeling it a «significant contributor to global insecurity».
«The reality is, we can only dismantle these criminal organizations once and for all by working collectively,» he asserted.
«This illicit trade thrives on exploiting the gaps between our institutions, creating divisions among nations. It capitalizes on our failure at the political level to unite.»
He advocated for treating people smuggling as a global security threat akin to terrorism.
He added that pooling resources, sharing intelligence, and employing strategic tactics are the primary methods to combat organized immigration crime.
«None of these approaches, as you’re aware, are a panacea. I understand that,» he conveyed to the summit attendees.
«However, each one serves as an additional tool, an arsenal that we are assembling to dismantle these criminal organizations once and for all. We must utilize every available lever.»
UK has been a soft touch on migration
The prime minister criticized the prior Conservative administration for allowing illegal migration to escalate, stating: «The UK has been lenient on migration for too long.»
He highlighted that a lack of coordination between law enforcement and intelligence agencies had created an «open invitation» for human traffickers to transport migrants to the UK.
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Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit.
Pic: PA
Cooper reveals small boats gang tactics
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also addressed the audience, unveiling some of the appalling tactics employed by gangs smuggling individuals into the UK via small boats.
She disclosed that they position women and children in the center of the flimsy rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), and when these boats collapse due to overcrowding, they crumple in and crush them.
«Each of your countries will have unique accounts of how these criminal organizations exploit individuals into sexual exploitation, forced labor, and criminal activities, utilizing advanced technology including phones, social media for coordination, and even drones to identify the locations of border patrols,» she shared with the summit attendees.
«However, it is the responsibility of governments, not criminal organizations, to determine who enters our country.
«These criminal organizations operate and profit across borders. Therefore, we and our law enforcement agencies must collaborate across borders to dismantle them.»
Sir Keir also led a roundtable discussion attended by border security and asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle, Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt, and officials from the Home Office, Border Force, and National Crime Agency.
The PM led a roundtable discussion with UK law enforcement and ministers. Pic: Reuters
Ministers ‘disappointed’ in small boat numbers
Prior to the summit, Dame Angela informed Wilfred Frost on Sky News Breakfast that ministers were «disheartened» by the increasing number of small boat crossings in recent months.
She attributed this rise to the overcrowding of each boat with more individuals. She also mentioned that criminal gangs involved in smuggling have established highly sophisticated global networks over the years.
At the start of the week, Ms Cooper announced that £30 million will be allocated towards supporting «high impact operations» conducted by the Border Security Command (BSC) to address supply chains, illicit financial activities, and trafficking routes across Europe, the Western Balkans, Asia, and Africa.
An additional £3 million will be designated to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to enhance its capacity to prosecute organized international smugglers and aid the BSC in pursuing and apprehending those accountable for people smuggling operations.