Home Secretary (): Today I can announce that
the first Border Security Commander's Annual Report, for the
period 2025 to 2026, is being laid before Parliament.
In our manifesto, this Government promised to create a new Border
Security Command to tackle the organised criminal gangs behind
illegal channel crossings, with the ability to deliver a response
befitting the scale and urgency of this challenge. As this report
shows, it has had a significant impact since becoming operational
in July 2024. In 2025 alone, we have invested an additional £100
million into the system through the BSC, with a commitment to
invest an additional £280m per year by 2028.
Over the past year, investments across the system have enabled a
substantial uplift for National Crime Agency officers tackling
OIC, as well as building and enhancing operational capabilities.
The NCA has made tackling OIC its main effort and has heavily
pivoted resource and capability to tackle the facilitators and
enablers of people smuggling, leading to a 55% rise in
OIC-related arrests. UK law enforcement has collectively
delivered 46% more disruptions - 29% of those major disruptions
with a long-term impact - 74% more arrests and the seizure of
hundreds of boats and engines. This has been supported by the
passing of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025,
which introduced new counter-terror style powers and new offences
to investigate and deter offending.
The BSAI Act also requires the Border Security Commander to
report on how they have exercised their functions over the
previous financial year and set out their assessment of the
performance of the Border Security System. This report outlines
how the Commander has strengthened, aligned and driven the system
to deliver against clear strategic priorities to counter the
threat we face.
The report also includes an evaluation of the collective
contributions to outcomes and highlights the positive impact of
the Border Security System in tackling illegal migration and
reducing dangerous crossings, including increased investment in
the Border Security Command and across the system, strengthened
cooperation with international and domestic partners, and a
renewed international effort to disrupt organised immigration
crime.
The public rightly expect us to control who and what enter this
country. It is one of the most fundamental duties of the state
and remains a top priority for me and the government I serve in.
This report sets out significant achievements which amount to a
major upscaling of the UK's Border Security System. It has been a
strong start but further work is needed. We know that illegal
migration remains one of the defining issues of our time. The BSC
will be at the forefront of our continued efforts to meet that
challenge.
I thank all partners and agencies, both domestically and
internationally, for their continued efforts to tackle this
threat and protect the United Kingdom.
Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office, and it
will also be published on GOV.UK.
