LONDON – Britain announced the establishment of a new Border Security Command on Sunday, aimed at strengthening its border defenses and dismantling criminal smuggling operations profiting from small boat crossings.
This initiative, a key promise of the Labour Party during its recent election campaign, comes shortly after their electoral victory and the appointment of Yvette Cooper as the new Home Secretary.
“Tomorrow (Monday) marks the beginning of a rapid recruitment process for an exceptional leader experienced in complex and challenging environments, such as senior policing, intelligence, or military roles,” the Home Office stated. “The appointed commander will assume their position in the coming weeks.”
The newly appointed border security commander, selected by Cooper, will provide strategic oversight across various agencies. This will involve coordination among the National Crime Agency (NCA), intelligence services, police, Immigration Enforcement, and the Border Force to enhance border protection and target smuggling gangs facilitating illegal crossings.
The Home Office also indicated that early legislation is being prepared to introduce counter-terrorism-style powers and stronger measures against organized immigration crime.
Cooper has commissioned a specialized investigation by the department and the NCA into the latest routes, methods, and tactics used by smuggling gangs across Europe. This information will support a major law enforcement drive in the upcoming months.
Additionally, the Home Secretary plans further discussions this week with European interior ministers and the director general of Europol to bolster security cooperation.
“Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions from small boat crossings, compromising our border security and endangering lives,” Cooper stated. “This situation cannot continue. We must address the root of the problem by targeting these dangerous criminals and bringing them to justice.”
“The Border Security Command represents a significant shift in the UK’s enforcement efforts to combat organized immigration crime. It will utilize extensive resources to operate across Europe and beyond, disrupt trafficking networks, and collaborate with European prosecutors to deliver justice.”
Efforts are already underway to appoint a border security commander to lead this initiative, with immediate recruitment planned for additional capacity within the National Crime Agency.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also declared that his government will not permit any flights to Rwanda to transport asylum seekers from the UK. The controversial Rwanda Plan, legalized by the previous Conservative government, faced opposition from various parties and human rights organizations. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had pledged to start these flights during the summer if re-elected.
Home Office data reveals that approximately 40,000 individuals entered the UK illegally in 2023. Between April 15, 2023, and April 14, 2024, nearly 130,000 asylum applications were received, with 56,834 individuals granted asylum, reflecting a grant rate of 61%—the highest annual number of substantive asylum decisions in over two decades. During the same period, 36,597 applications were rejected.
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