Saturday, 21 December, 2024
People smuggling should be equated with global terrorism, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserted on Monday, calling for enhanced international cooperation to combat this pressing issue.
The Labour Party leader, who previously served as chief state prosecutor in England and Wales, emphasized his commitment to "smash the gangs" facilitating this illicit trade, particularly in light of the increasing number of undocumented migrants crossing the Channel from France.
According to UK government statistics, nearly 32,000 undocumented migrants have reached British shores this year alone, marking the deadliest year since records began in 2018, with at least 60 fatalities.
Speaking to international police chiefs in Glasgow, Starmer announced that his government plans to double the £75 million ($97 million) currently allocated to combat criminal people smuggling operations. This additional funding will create a new "elite" Border Security Command, integrating law enforcement, immigration officials, and intelligence agencies, with a total budget of £150 million over the next two years.
Starmer described the issue as "a massive driver of global insecurity," insisting that it cannot be resolved by individual nations acting alone. He urged countries to collaborate rather than isolate themselves, stating, "The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge."
"People smuggling should be regarded as a global security threat akin to terrorism," he added. "We must combine resources, share intelligence and tactics, and address the problem upstream. Without a unified effort comparable to our response to terrorism, we will struggle to hold these criminals accountable."
One of Starmer's initial actions as Prime Minister was to abolish the previous Conservative government's controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which he criticized as a "gimmick" that squandered public funds.
In response to Tory claims that Labour is being lenient on immigration, Starmer asserted, "There's nothing progressive about ignoring the deaths of men, women, and children in the Channel."
Instead, the UK is focusing on close collaboration with France to identify and disrupt human trafficking networks, working with Germany on the supply of small boats, and cooperating with Italy on combating illicit financing.
Additionally, London aims to resume real-time intelligence sharing with the European Union, a practice halted after Brexit in 2020.
Starmer pledged that his government would legislate to grant border security forces "enhanced" powers to eradicate the "vile trade" of people smuggling, utilizing proven counter-terrorism strategies.
Later this week, Starmer will participate in a summit of the European Political Community in Hungary, where migration and people smuggling are expected to be key topics of discussion.
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People smuggling should be equated with global terrorism, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer asserted on Monday, calling for enhanced international cooperation to combat this pressing issue.
The Labour Party leader, who previously served as chief state prosecutor in England and Wales, emphasized his commitment to "smash the gangs" facilitating this illicit trade, particularly in light of the increasing number of undocumented migrants crossing the Channel from France.
According to UK government statistics, nearly 32,000 undocumented migrants have reached British shores this year alone, marking the deadliest year since records began in 2018, with at least 60 fatalities.
Speaking to international police chiefs in Glasgow, Starmer announced that his government plans to double the £75 million ($97 million) currently allocated to combat criminal people smuggling operations. This additional funding will create a new "elite" Border Security Command, integrating law enforcement, immigration officials, and intelligence agencies, with a total budget of £150 million over the next two years.
Starmer described the issue as "a massive driver of global insecurity," insisting that it cannot be resolved by individual nations acting alone. He urged countries to collaborate rather than isolate themselves, stating, "The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge."
"People smuggling should be regarded as a global security threat akin to terrorism," he added. "We must combine resources, share intelligence and tactics, and address the problem upstream. Without a unified effort comparable to our response to terrorism, we will struggle to hold these criminals accountable."
One of Starmer's initial actions as Prime Minister was to abolish the previous Conservative government's controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which he criticized as a "gimmick" that squandered public funds.
In response to Tory claims that Labour is being lenient on immigration, Starmer asserted, "There's nothing progressive about ignoring the deaths of men, women, and children in the Channel."
Instead, the UK is focusing on close collaboration with France to identify and disrupt human trafficking networks, working with Germany on the supply of small boats, and cooperating with Italy on combating illicit financing.
Additionally, London aims to resume real-time intelligence sharing with the European Union, a practice halted after Brexit in 2020.
Starmer pledged that his government would legislate to grant border security forces "enhanced" powers to eradicate the "vile trade" of people smuggling, utilizing proven counter-terrorism strategies.
Later this week, Starmer will participate in a summit of the European Political Community in Hungary, where migration and people smuggling are expected to be key topics of discussion.
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