Home Secretary has today set out the first
steps to establishing a new UK Border Security Command (BSC).
This will strengthen Britain's border security and smash the
criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat
crossings.
Rapid recruitment for an exceptional leader used to working in
complex and challenging environments, for example, at senior
levels of policing, intelligence or the military, will kick off
tomorrow (Monday 8 July), with the new recruit expected to take
up their post in the coming weeks.
Reporting directly to the Home Secretary, the Border Security
Commander will provide strategic direction to work across
agencies, drawing together the work of the National Crime Agency
(NCA), intelligence agencies, police, Immigration Enforcement and
Border Force, to better protect our borders and go after the
smuggling gangs facilitating small boat crossings.
Following the Home Secretary's instruction, a core team in the
Home Office is establishing the remit, governance and strategic
direction of the new command. Early legislation is being prepared
to introduce new counter terror style powers and stronger
measures to tackle organised immigration crime.
She has also commissioned a bespoke investigation from the
department and the NCA into the latest routes, methods and
tactics used by people smuggling gangs across Europe to inform a
major law enforcement drive over the coming months.
The BSC will draw on substantial additional resources, with work
to bring in more investigators, experts and analysts to tackle
organised immigration crime starting on Monday. A significant
number of these will be based across Europe, working with Europol
and European police forces to disrupt the activity of the
criminal smuggling gangs and ensure those profiting from people
smuggling are brought to justice.
In a call to the Director General of the NCA, Graeme Biggar, the
Home Secretary stressed the need to break the business model of
the criminal smuggling gangs, going after their ability to
communicate, move people across Europe and their profit.
The Home Secretary will have further calls this week with
European interior ministers and with the Director General of
Europol to discuss strengthening security cooperation.
Home Secretary, , said:
Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions out of small boat
crossings, undermining our border security and putting lives at
risk. We can't carry on like this. We need to tackle the root of
the problem, going after these dangerous criminals and bringing
them to justice.
The Border Security Command will be a major step change in UK
enforcement efforts to tackle organised immigration crime,
drawing on substantial resource to work across Europe and beyond
to disrupt trafficking networks and to coordinate with
prosecutors in Europe to deliver justice.
Work is underway to bring in a Border Security Commander to lead
this work – and we will begin recruitment on additional capacity
in the National Crime Agency immediately.
