Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has reaffirmed the UK government’s commitment to targeting criminal smuggling gangs responsible for facilitating small boat crossings across the English Channel. Cooper emphasized the importance of working with European law enforcement to stop these activities, saying, “Those gangs should not be able to get away with it,” after meeting with ministers and security agencies.
The meeting followed a recent tragedy in which 12 people, including children and a pregnant woman, lost their lives attempting to cross from France to the UK, marking the deadliest incident in the Channel this year. While Conservative shadow home secretary James Cleverly criticized the government’s approach as inadequate, pointing to the severe consequences, more than 21,000 people have made the crossing this year, slightly up from the previous year but down from 2022 levels.
Cooper acknowledged that fewer crossings occurred in July and August but stressed that the ongoing operations of criminal gangs on the northern French coast continue to endanger lives and undermine border security.
Following the scrapping of the former government’s Rwanda plan, Labour faces pressure to prove its strategy is effective. Labour has pledged to establish a UK Border Security Command to combat illegal crossings, with a commander expected to be appointed soon. Cooper also highlighted progress in deporting failed asylum seekers and clearing the asylum backlog, reducing reliance on expensive hotels.
The government canceled plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scrampton in Lincolnshire, citing local opposition, and Cooper did not specify alternative accommodations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and other senior officials attended the summit. National Crime Agency (NCA) head Graeme Biggar reported on cooperation with Bulgaria, resulting in the seizure of over 40 small boats, potentially preventing 2,400 crossings, with 410 boats seized since last spring. Investigations into criminal smuggling operations continue, including raids in Libya where migrants were detained.
The Home Office promised swift recruitment for a border security command leader to tackle the smuggling gangs, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks. Cooper noted recent successes, but stressed the need for continued efforts to bring criminals to justice, enhance cooperation with international partners, and strengthen the asylum system.
Meanwhile, the NCA highlighted a growing trend of smugglers charging higher fees and risking more lives by packing migrants into unsafe vessels. Refugee advocates, like Care4Calais head Steve Smith, argue that creating legal routes for asylum seekers is the only way to end dangerous crossings. UN migration officials echoed calls for safer migration options and improved international cooperation to curb smuggling operations.
Former UK border force head Tony Smith expressed hope the government would reconsider the Rwanda scheme as a deterrent, warning that migrants need to understand that crossing the Channel does not guarantee they can stay in the UK.
