New data shows worst ever prosecution rate for people smugglers under Keir Starmer, say Conservatives
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Less than 1% of small boat arrivals charged for immigration
offences in Labour's 1st year Of those charged, just 153 were for
smuggling offences, meaning smugglers are less likely than ever to
be prosecuted Sentences for smugglers set to be reduced under new
Sentencing Council draft guidelines PEOPLE SMUGGLERS are less
likely than ever to be prosecuted, new data reveals.
Prosecutions of small boat facilitators have fallen by more than 60
per cent in...Request free trial
PEOPLE SMUGGLERS are less likely than ever to be prosecuted, new data reveals. Prosecutions of small boat facilitators have fallen by more than 60 per cent in Labour's first year of office, despite Starmer's headline pledge to ‘smash the gangs' and his repeated boasts of being a former chief prosecutor. As Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick oversaw a record number of convictions for those assisting unlawful immigration. But under Keir Starmer the figure has fallen to a record low for a non-Covid year. During the period in which a record number of illegal immigrants entered on small boats (43,309 between July 2024 and June 2025), a record low number of prosecutions (outside of a Covid year) were sought for assisting illegal entry (just 153), meaning smugglers are less likely than ever to be prosecuted. Just 446 individuals were charged with an immigration offence between July 2024 and June 2025 - just 1 per cent of those crossing on small boats. It comes as new Sentencing Council guidelines are set to come into force which will water down sentences for immigration offences to below the 12-month threshold for automatic deportation. Analysis by the Conservatives shows that this will mean hundreds of immigration offenders a year would avoid prison - under Labour's new presumption against short sentences – and avoid deportation. The new data emerges as illegal migration into the UK has risen by 50 per cent under Labour. That's despite the fact that illegal immigration into the EU has fallen 20 per cent in 2025 according to Frontex figures. This is why the Conservatives have set out tough new plans to end the small boats scourge, including our Deportation Bill – which would end the legal loopholes, disapply the Human Rights Act from all immigration matters, and mandate the deportation of all foreign criminals from our country. Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “Keir Starmer boasted he would smash the gangs, but the gangs are laughing at him. They've never had it easier and crossings are up 50 per cent as a result. We're now heading towards being the illegal immigration capital of Europe. “It's clear Starmer is incapable of stopping the boats and his backbenchers don't want him to. The country cannot go on like this - the situation in the Channel is a national security emergency. Those that arrive illegally from the safety of France must be swiftly deported so the message is clear: if you break into Britain, you will not get a life here.” ENDS Notes to Editors
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