The Secretary of State for the Home Department
():...I would like to pay tribute
once again to the outstanding professionalism shown by all our
emergency services—in particular, the swift and professional
response from the East of England ambulance service, Essex County
Fire and Rescue Service and Essex police, who are leading the
ongoing criminal investigation—and our operational partners who are
working round the clock to assist the investigation, including the
National Crime Agency...
...Following the devastating discovery of the lorry at
Tilbury, the Home Office has set up a dedicated team to co-ordinate
an immediate response and a long-term response to this tragedy. I
can confirm that Border Force is increasing its presence in
Purfleet. It is working alongside Essex police to gather further
information regarding this incident. The Home Office will now
accelerate our joint intelligence-led operation between the police,
the National Crime Agency and immigration
enforcement, which aims to disrupt and deter organised crime gangs
using refrigerated and hard-sided lorries to smuggle clandestine
migrants...
Ms (Hackney North and Stoke
Newington) (Lab):...I also want to ask the Home Secretary
about the current co-operation with the European police, security
and justice agencies in investigating this case. Specifically, how
closely are our agencies, police forces and National Crime Agency working with
Europol in this investigation? Will she also indicate the level of
co-operation with the European Migrant Smuggling Centre, which is
an agency of Europol? How are our agents benefiting from
co-operation with what is the most sophisticated agency of its kind
in the world?
:...The right
hon. Lady asked about security and the drivers in terms of working
in co-operation and in partnership with other agencies. Of course,
that is exactly what we are doing right now. The National Crime
Agency is, rightly, taking the lead on this investigation. As I
said in my statement, it is a complicated investigation, and we are
working with a number of agencies across the European Union, and
with others, because of the routes that have been taken. I have no
doubt that, over time, we will hear much more, and a lot more
information will come out in due course...
(Gedling) (Lab): Our outrage
continues. The latest statistics from the National Crime Agency
show that the top nationalities for potential victims of
trafficking to the UK were Albanian, Vietnamese and Chinese. Given
what we may or may not know, what discussions has the Home
Secretary had, particularly with Albania, China and Vietnam, about
what is going on and what more can be done to stop it?
: The hon. Gentleman is
absolutely right. He will know, through his work on the all-party
group on human trafficking and modern slavery, that there are
specific source countries—he named some of them—where we see far
too much trafficking and criminality. There are discussions
taking place—I will not reel them all off, but I have been
involved in some—and many more will follow. I emphasise, however,
that, outside the Home Office, much more can be done across other
Departments, and I will pursue that this week. We have seen
various streams of activity by other Departments, but we need to
join that up to ensure that we speak with one voice to these
countries and that we ourselves have a much more coherent
approach.
(Dover)
(Ind): I thank my right hon.
Friend for her powerful statement and the seriousness with which
she has taken this very serious matter. She will be aware that
small ports and airfields have long been known to be a problem and
security weakness; indeed, the former Prime Minister proposed a
volunteer force to patrol them. May I urge her not to have a Dad’s
Army set up like that but instead to have more investment in our
Border Force, the National Crime Agency and in working
internationally with our partners to combat this appalling and evil
trade?
: My hon. Friend is absolutely
right, and we are speaking here about international organised
criminality through various gangs, routes and countries where
this facilitation is taking place. It is right that we invest,
and we are investing in the NCA and through our partners, such as
our Border Force, and through police and through all aspects of
our homeland security, and we will continue to do that.
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