UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to address the escalating border crisis, labeling it a national security threat. This week, he plans to introduce a specialized team dedicated to dismantling people smuggling networks, as confirmed by government sources. Starmer’s initiative will be unveiled in a speech at the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow, focusing on new funding and enhanced powers for anti-smuggling operations.
A significant element of his plan includes the formation of a new organised immigration crime intelligence unit composed of expert investigators tasked with curbing irregular migration. The unit’s creation is part of a broader effort to strengthen the UK’s asylum system and secure its borders.
Additionally, Starmer will discuss the small boats crisis with European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during a summit in Hungary. He emphasizes the need for international cooperation to effectively combat organized immigration crime, which he claims extends beyond any single nation’s borders.
The UK government is also implementing counter-terrorism strategies to combat people smuggling. These measures include the ability to shut down bank accounts, cut off internet access, and seize evidence preemptively. This robust approach aims to dismantle the networks that profit from human trafficking and ensure national security.
Starmer’s proactive stance on illegal migration will also be a topic during his first monthly cabinet meeting focused on the issue, ensuring that the government’s mission to manage and mitigate illegal crossings is progressing.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by recent statistics from the Home Office, reporting that 230 people crossed the English Channel in small boats last Thursday alone, with October’s figures reaching the highest monthly total since the previous year.
