Creating a new criminal offence for endangering lives at sea, with potential prison sentences of up to five years, forms part of the government’s latest efforts to combat people smuggling, according to the Home Office.
The legislation also empowers border officials to confiscate migrants’ mobile phones to gather intelligence on the networks facilitating Channel crossings.
Individuals involved in preparatory smuggling activities, such as acquiring boat parts, could face up to 14 years in prison. This move aims to dismantle smuggling operations at an earlier stage.
The bill maintains several measures previously implemented by the Conservative party, such as extended detention periods for some migrants and limitations on asylum claims for those alleging they have been trafficked.
Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, criticized the bill as insufficient, labeling it “minor tinkering” by a “weak government.”
He highlighted the abandonment of a controversial plan to relocate some migrants to Rwanda, which he believed acted as a stronger deterrent.
The proposed legislation would allow for the prosecution of individuals who endanger lives by operating or boarding unsafe vessels, coerce other passengers, or refuse rescue outside British territorial waters.
According to law enforcement, such boat launches from French shores are perilous, with some migrants being coerced by gangs into facilitating the boarding process.
The bill includes new measures intended to enhance the ability of police and other agencies to preemptively tackle smuggling networks before individuals are transported, drawing on legal principles akin to those used in counter-terrorism.
Critics, including asylum and refugee advocates, argue that the government’s emphasis on punitive measures neglects the need for safer, legitimate pathways for refugees.
Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council expressed concern that the new offences might lead to refugees themselves facing prosecution.
Furthermore, the bill seeks to introduce Serious Crime Prevention Orders to impose restrictions on suspected smugglers’ movements and communications while cases are being developed.
This legislative package is designed to provide law enforcement with more proactive tools to disrupt smuggling activities at their inception, echoing strategies employed in counter-terrorism operations for the past two decades.
