A new law introduced by Labour aims to tackle the growing small boats crisis in the English Channel.
The legislation will criminalize migrants who try to prevent rescues or jump onto overcrowded dinghies before they are safely rescued by French coastguards.
Those found guilty could face up to five years in prison.
The new offence, labelled as “endangering lives at sea,” will target asylum seekers attempting to disrupt life-saving operations.
Tougher Measures for Migrants Arriving in the UK
The law also brings stricter measures for those arriving in the UK by small boats.
Migrants who make it to English ports will have their mobile phones seized as part of efforts to gather intelligence on the organized crime gangs behind these illegal crossings.
It will also become a criminal act to gather information about illegal crossings, such as researching routes or vessels used by the gangs, and handling equipment like boat engines used for smuggling.
Counter-Terrorism Style Powers for Smuggling Investigations
Under the new law, suspected people-smugglers will be subjected to counter-terrorism-style powers, including the ability to restrict their access to phones and laptops.
This aims to allow police to intervene earlier in investigations, disrupting smuggling networks before they can carry out their illegal activities.
Reversal of Previous Conservative Policies and Ongoing Measures
The Home Office’s new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, unveiled yesterday, will reverse many of the policies put forward by the Conservative government, including the controversial Rwanda deportation plan.
However, some measures from the previous government, like the ability to detain children and the ban on migrants claiming modern slavery protections, will remain in place, despite Labour’s opposition to these policies before they took power.
The Scale of the Small Boats Crisis and Record Deaths in 2024
The new law comes in the wake of an unprecedented number of illegal Channel crossings.
In 2024, nearly 37,000 people made the dangerous journey, making it the deadliest year on record with at least 78 deaths.
Smuggling gangs have been using increasingly flimsy boats to transport migrants, putting many at grave risk.
Home Secretary’s Statement on the New Law
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that criminal smuggling gangs had been allowed to thrive along the UK’s borders, profiting from human misery.
The new legislation, she said, would give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to disrupt these criminal networks, seize assets, and bring more criminals to justice.
Cooper highlighted the importance of new counter-terror-style powers, which will make it easier to seize mobile phones at the border, and the creation of a Border Security Command to coordinate efforts across agencies.
Criticism from the Opposition
Despite the bold claims from the government, the bill has faced criticism from the opposition.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labeled the bill as weak and ineffective, claiming it merely rehashes steps that the previous government had already implemented.
He argued that Labour’s proposed measures, such as seizing mobile phones, would not solve the issue of small boat crossings.
According to Philp, the real solution lies in implementing a strong deterrent for removals, which he claimed is missing from the Labour proposal.
A Global Approach to Tackling Human Smuggling
In addition to the new domestic measures, Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt pointed out that strengthening international cooperation will be key to tackling smuggling gangs.
He emphasized that these new measures, combined with better collaboration with international partners, would finally bring an end to the criminal networks fueling the small boat crisis.
In conclusion, while the new law is a step forward in addressing the crisis, it faces both praise and criticism, with many questioning its potential impact on solving the root causes of illegal crossings.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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