The Prime Minister and Home Secretary gathered leaders from
across the world in London today as the UK convenes a major
landmark summit to agree new action to tackle organised
immigration crime and boost border security.
Discussions at Day 1 of the summit included tackling the supply
chains and enablers of OIC; the role of criminal finances in
facilitating OIC; the UK's systems-based approach to Border
Security; as well as how countries can tackle OCGs' operations
online in relation to the advertising, promoting and facilitating
of illegal immigration services.
The UK and allies including France, Iraq, Vietnam and US and
partners including the NCA and representatives from social media
organisations, met to agree actions to secure our collective
borders, protect vulnerable people from exploitation, and tackle
the global threat of organised immigration crime.
Unlike previous summits, this event engaged both European nations
and key source and transit countries, as well as those that are
integral to the supply of equipment, including small boats and
engines, ensuring a broader, more comprehensive approach to
tackling OIC.
Concrete outcomes have been agreed across Europe, Asia, Middle
East, Africa, and North America to strengthen international
partnerships to disrupt OIC networks. This also includes
new joint work with France to tackle irregular migration in
source and transit countries, through community outreach and
bolstering false document detection capabilities to Iraqi
officials.
The agreement represents a key step forward in the government's
Plan for Change to deliver on working people's priorities to
restore order to the immigration system and comes after the
publication of new figures showing more than 24,000 people with
no right to be here have been returned since the election – the
highest rate of returns in eight years.
A communique was issued that sets out how we will deepen our
collaboration internationally to tackle this vile crime.
Home Secretary said:
“Organised immigration crime undermines our security and puts
lives at risk. The criminal networks have spread across the globe
and no single country can tackle this problem alone.
“Today, at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, the UK has led
the way forward by securing international commitments to disrupt
and pursue this vile criminal trade in people - part of our Plan
for Change to strengthen our borders and keep communities safe."
Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt said:
“I have said since I came into my post as Border Security
Commander that organised immigration crime requires a coordinated
international response to effectively dismantle criminal
networks.
“In my role I have seen first-hand how the cruelty and greed of
criminal gangs puts the lives of the most vulnerable at risk in
dangerous small boat crossings all for financial gain.
“This Summit marks a step change in the international community's
approach to tackling the problem, presenting a critical
opportunity to strengthen global cooperation, disrupt criminal
networks, and prevent further loss of life.”
Director General of the National Crime Agency (NCA)
Graeme Biggar said:
“Criminal gangs are using sophisticated online tactics, the abuse
of legitimate goods and services, and illicit financial networks
to facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys which put thousands
of lives at risk each year and undermine border security.
“Today's Summit sets out international agreements to tackle an
international problem.
“International intelligence sharing and cooperation is absolutely
crucial to track criminal activity across borders allowing us to
put a stop to these dangerous criminals.”
In addition, today the Home Secretary confirmed over £30 million
in funding within the Border Security Command to tackle Organised
Immigration Criminal Networks. This significant funding package
will be spent on key security projects across Europe, the Western
Balkans, Asia and Africa, designed to strengthen border security
and combat international criminal smuggling gangs.
The Home Secretary also announced joint work with France to fund
an additional grassroots engagement programme to educate local
communities on the dangers of irregular migration and people
smuggling gangs, raising awareness of the realities and
difficulties with travelling to Northern France to cross the
Channel to the UK. This will target both potential irregular
migrants and, for the first time, teachers, religious leaders,
and family members within vulnerable communities, and builds on
the Home Office digital deterrence comms campaign that is already
running in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The UK will also collaborate with France to deliver critical
training to Iraqi officials and commercial transport staff,
helping them detect fraudulent documents and passports used to
facilitate irregular migration and OIC activities.
