International Summit on Organized Migration Crime Begins in London
Keir Starmer calls for global cooperation to combat people smuggling, likening it to terrorism in terms of urgency.
Keir Starmer will host an international summit on organized migration crime in London, where he will advocate for treating people-smugglers as terrorists.
Representing over 40 countries, attendees are expected to discuss collaborative efforts to combat organized crime associated with irregular migration.
Starmer, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions, emphasizes the need for the same level of cross-border cooperation to address immigration crime that was applied to counter-terrorism efforts over a decade ago.
Starmer's remarks come as the UK government intensifies its strategy to mitigate irregular migration, an initiative that has seen a significant rise in Channel crossings this year, surpassing the numbers recorded in the previous three years by this point.
He stated, "I believe we should treat organized immigration crime in the same way," and called for resource sharing and intelligence collaboration to tackle the problem at all stages of smuggling routes.
On the summit's opening day, the government is set to announce new policy measures, including an allocation of £30 million aimed at disrupting global trafficking networks and addressing the financial flows that support them.
Additionally, £3 million will be redirected to the Crown Prosecution Service to enhance its international efforts against organized migration crime.
Officials from various nations, including the United States, Vietnam, Iraq, and France, are scheduled to attend.
Tech giants Meta and TikTok will also participate, discussing strategies to curb the online promotion of people smuggling activities.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has indicated plans to amend employment laws to hold businesses accountable for hiring individuals without proper visas, even if they are contracted.
Targeted sectors include restaurants, takeaways, barbershops, and beauty salons, where irregular workers may be employed without adequate checks on their immigration status.
Cooper mentioned that the government is reviewing the application of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which safeguards the right to a family life and is frequently employed by migrants in legal arguments for staying in the UK. She stated, "We are reviewing this area to make sure that the immigration and asylum system works effectively in the way that parliament intended it to and make sure that there is a proper sense of control in the system."
The current administration has moved away from the previous government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and is concentrating on international cooperation to dismantle smuggling networks.
Recent officials' reports claim this approach is yielding results, citing multiple arrests of key figures in the smuggling operations.
Just recently, three individuals in Belgium were convicted for their roles in a smuggling scheme following arrests made in the UK.
Despite these efforts, the number of small boat crossings remains concerning, as over 5,000 individuals have crossed the Channel in 2023, marking a record pace for this time of year.
Cooper attributed part of the surge to favorable weather conditions, stating, "We cannot carry on with border security being so dependent on the number of calm days that happen in the Channel.
But the reason that is happening is because the criminal gangs still have a deep hold."
Representing over 40 countries, attendees are expected to discuss collaborative efforts to combat organized crime associated with irregular migration.
Starmer, who served as Director of Public Prosecutions, emphasizes the need for the same level of cross-border cooperation to address immigration crime that was applied to counter-terrorism efforts over a decade ago.
Starmer's remarks come as the UK government intensifies its strategy to mitigate irregular migration, an initiative that has seen a significant rise in Channel crossings this year, surpassing the numbers recorded in the previous three years by this point.
He stated, "I believe we should treat organized immigration crime in the same way," and called for resource sharing and intelligence collaboration to tackle the problem at all stages of smuggling routes.
On the summit's opening day, the government is set to announce new policy measures, including an allocation of £30 million aimed at disrupting global trafficking networks and addressing the financial flows that support them.
Additionally, £3 million will be redirected to the Crown Prosecution Service to enhance its international efforts against organized migration crime.
Officials from various nations, including the United States, Vietnam, Iraq, and France, are scheduled to attend.
Tech giants Meta and TikTok will also participate, discussing strategies to curb the online promotion of people smuggling activities.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has indicated plans to amend employment laws to hold businesses accountable for hiring individuals without proper visas, even if they are contracted.
Targeted sectors include restaurants, takeaways, barbershops, and beauty salons, where irregular workers may be employed without adequate checks on their immigration status.
Cooper mentioned that the government is reviewing the application of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which safeguards the right to a family life and is frequently employed by migrants in legal arguments for staying in the UK. She stated, "We are reviewing this area to make sure that the immigration and asylum system works effectively in the way that parliament intended it to and make sure that there is a proper sense of control in the system."
The current administration has moved away from the previous government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and is concentrating on international cooperation to dismantle smuggling networks.
Recent officials' reports claim this approach is yielding results, citing multiple arrests of key figures in the smuggling operations.
Just recently, three individuals in Belgium were convicted for their roles in a smuggling scheme following arrests made in the UK.
Despite these efforts, the number of small boat crossings remains concerning, as over 5,000 individuals have crossed the Channel in 2023, marking a record pace for this time of year.
Cooper attributed part of the surge to favorable weather conditions, stating, "We cannot carry on with border security being so dependent on the number of calm days that happen in the Channel.
But the reason that is happening is because the criminal gangs still have a deep hold."
