Small boat blow as UK tries to get back intelligence access surrendered during Brexit
A desperate bid to get back access to crime and illegal migration databases surrendered during Brexit has been rejected, it is reported.
The Government wants to use the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the EU's fingerprinting system Eurodac again. Officials believe this would be a game-changer in identifying asylum seekers whose claims should be rejected.
It would also give UK police and intelligence services real-time alerts on criminal suspects. But EU negotiators have ruled out giving the UK access, The Times reports. Britain had access to the systems before Brexit, and Mr Starmer says improved intelligence sharing will be crucial in tackling illegal migration.
He has previously complained that Boris Johnson's botched deal affected the UK's ability to lead intelligence operations targeting traffickers. The fingerprint database will tell Home Office decision-makers whether a person has had an asylum application rejected in Europe - making it quicker to remove them.
Mr Starmer will meet fellow leaders from the continent next week at the European Political Community Summit in Albania, where he will make the case for better information sharing. A source told The Times: "This is something that we would see as mutually beneficial but so far there has been no movement. The EU's argument appears to be that it would set a precedent and that third parties can't have access to Schengen databases. But it is frustrating, as it makes co-operation in areas like illegal migration much harder."
The UK is understood to be seeking a "workaround" rather than full access to the SIS system. It had limited access before Brexit as it was not a member of the Schengen zone with free movement between borders.
Last year Mr Starmer complained that the UK's Brexit deal had hampered efforts to tackle people traffickers. He told The Mirror in November: "I do think when it comes to security, we can do better than the deal we've got and that's what we're pursuing. I don't think the deal we got was a particularly good one.
"I don't think we did as well as we should have done when we came to the question of cross border, crime and security, and that's why we want to improve on it."
And he went on: "I'll give you one example - when we were in the EU, we could lead on operations, and at the moment we can't. We're very good in the UK.
"We've got very good intelligence, we've got very good law enforcement. We should actually be really proud of what we're doing in the UK.
"But when UK leads something, in my experience, and I did this for five years, it works well. And I'm very keen to get the UK into a leadership position when it comes to the actual operations, particularly in relation to smuggling and putting people into small boats across the channel."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
US and Russia fire off veiled nuclear threats ahead of Alaska showdown talks between Trump and Putin
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSIA and America swapped veiled nuclear threats yesterday ahead of showdown talks between their two presidents over the war in Ukraine. At a British air base used by US nuclear bombers Vice President JD Vance warned that peace was only possible if the 'bad guys' were afraid of America. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Russia and the US have exchanged veiled nuclear threats, pictured Mr Zelensky is met in Berlin by Germany's Chancellor Merz Credit: AFP 5 The diplomatic war games came as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russia's President Putin in Alaska tomorrow Credit: Getty 5 Mr Trump warned there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire Credit: AP Meanwhile it was announced that joint exercises to be held by Russian and Belarusian troops will include nuclear weapons drills. The diplomatic war games came as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow. Mr Trump yesterday warned there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire. He spoke out after a video call with European leaders including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Europe's political chiefs also vowed to hit tyrant Putin with more sanctions if talks fail. Mr Vance, in Britain on holiday, yesterday addressed US airmen at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. The base is routinely used as a staging post by US nuclear bombers. He said: 'It is impossible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are worried that we have got a hell of a fine air force and a hell of a fine military to back up the peace to begin with. 'You make it possible for us to accomplish the President's goals through negotiation. 'You make it possible for us to go into a room and say, 'yes, we want peace, yes we want to work together, yes we want to bring an end to this terrible conflict but we have also got some great airmen'. Trump & Putin's 1-on-1 meeting is a 'listening exercise', WH says as 'Vlad wants Ukraine to withdraw for ceasefire' 'The fact that people are afraid of you is why we are able to do what we do as an administration.' A British defence source said last night: 'It's the big stick theory. It is deterrence — don't f*** with me because I will f*** you more. 'If we can't get that message over then we fail.' Peace isn't possible unless the bad guys fear you've got hell of a military JD Vance Mr Vance's warnings came as Belarus announced it will hold joint nuclear drills with Russia. Defence minister Viktor Khrenin said its troops would train for the deployment of nuclear weapons. Kremlin said the drills were 'predominantly strategic deterrence' abut added: 'We should be ready for everything.' President Trump has downplayed expectations of a breakthrough, saying his meeting with Putin was to get the lie of the land. He also touted the possibility of a second meeting to include Mr Zelensky, who has been frozen out of the peace talks. 5 Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a video conference Credit: EPA Mr Zelensky, who was in Berlin for the video conference yesterday, warned that Putin was bluffing over peace after Russian military advances in eastern Ukraine. Mr Zelensky insisted America, Ukraine and allies all want 'peace in Ukraine, peace in Europe'. Putin doesn't want peace — he wants to occupy our country Zelensky But he declared: 'Putin is bluffing, he is trying to push forward along the whole front. 'Putin doesn't want peace — he wants to occupy our country.' And he repeated calls for more economic pressure on Moscow, saying: 'In reality, the sanctions are very effective, and they're hurting the Russian military economy.' But Moscow's foreign ministry warned 'any attempts on our property will result in a painful response'. Europe's 'coalition of the willing' has demanded a ceasefire, stronger sanctions and 'robust and credible security guarantees' that Ukraine will not lose any territory. Russia wants a land swap to end the three-year conflict. In a statement PM Sir Keir later insisted the UK's support for Ukraine is 'unwavering'. He has previously vowed to send British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. His spokesman said Europe's leaders thanked President Trump for his 'efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed'. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe and America must 'increase the pressure' on Russia if peace talks fail. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said 'the ball is now in Putin's court'. But Mr Trump's former National Security Advisor John Bolton reckoned inviting Putin to the US was 'a great victory' for the tyrant. He said: 'He's a rogue leader of a pariah state and he's going to be welcomed into the United States.'
Scottish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Illegal immigrant who taunted Brits on TikTok fled Germany for ‘soft touch' Britain after travelling from Afghanistan
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN illegal migrant who taunted Brits on TikTok from his taxpayer-funded hotel room fled Germany for 'soft-touch' Britain. The Sun told yesterday how he racked up a million views by boasting of crossing the Channel by dinghy, saying: 'Tell your friends to come.' Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 The TikTok asylum seeker smirking on dinghy to the UK on Saturday 9 The illegal migrant shared social posts wearing a balaclava 9 He is also seen in photos from his travels to France He posted a step-by-step guide to reaching the UK before hosting a Q&A in the Afghan dialect Pashto. Today we can reveal he swapped stays in Germany and France — two safe countries — to reach 'soft-touch' Britain, one of 434 boat arrivals on Saturday. The man, using the online handle Alexandra420, was moved to a hotel near Heathrow from where he shared eight clips encouraged others to make the journey. It also emerged that months before coming here, he warned Afghan asylum seekers they could be sent home from Germany. READ MORE ON ILLEGAL MIGRANTS STOP THE BOASTS Migrant LIVE STREAMS step by step channel crossing & boasts from hotel Following our investigation, TikTok has taken down his account for promoting people-smuggling. Last night Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: 'This illegal immigrant had multiple opportunities to claim asylum in other European countries before choosing to come here. 'The Home Office and police should be urgently investigating this man for encouraging others to enter the UK illegally and producing a step-by-step guide showing them how to cross. 'Facilitating illegal immigration is a criminal offence. Enough is enough. "Everyone crossing the Channel illegally by small boat must be removed either to their home country or a safe third country. The Labour government need to get a grip of this crisis.' Mr Philp called for the return of the Rwanda deportation scheme, proposed by the Tories under Boris Johnson and dropped by Sir Keir Starmer on Day One of his premiership. Small boat migrants given taxpayer-funded days out including dinghy trips & £1 Prem tickets as farcical perks exposed Since then, 50,716 migrants have entered on a small boat — including 445 on Tuesday. Removals to Afghanistan have been paused since the Taliban seized control in 2021. It meant the TikTok influencer knew when entering the UK that he would likely not be deported. 9 He poses for a picture at Berlin's Altes Museum 9 Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says 'enough is enough' Credit: PA He is believed to have stayed in Germany for a substantial time. But he decided to seek better benefits in Britain after posting about a plan by far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) to deport all illegal migrants. It would have seen the mass return of asylum seekers had the party won February's elections. The current German government is also exploring deporting failed asylum seekers to nations other than their home country. Everyone crossing the Channel illegally by small boat must be removed either to their home country or a safe third country Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp Mocking taxpayers The influencer posted a video of AfD firebrand leader Alice Weidel, in which she claimed: 'The Afghans are a nation that grew up in a war-torn environment. 'We know this fact and we do not deny it. But it does not matter to me where they came from or what conditions they grew up in. 'When they reach Germany, they must respect the laws, customs and culture of this country. young people who appear in German streets in military uniforms…they are clearly from the battlefield, not from the borders of Europe. 'I say this as a warning, not a threat. Learn the civil attitude. Otherwise, perhaps where you came from is more suitable for you.' The asylum seeker wrote of the video: 'Listen to this woman's speech, and indeed, she has spoken what she means. 'This law will be applied to Afghans at the earliest opportunity.' In shared social posts he poses in front of Berlin's Altes Museum, and in a keffiyeh headdress. In another he showed off the city's Alexanderplatz. In a third he sits in front of a bridge in a blue t-shirt, jeans and trainers. He captioned the photo with a location pin emoji, the French flag, and wrote: 'France'. Another photo shows him at an unidentified train station platform wearing a black puffer jacket with cream cargo trousers. We can also reveal he changed his TikTok bio after entering the UK to include a British flag — mocking taxpayers stumping up billions to put up 32,000 people in around 210 migrant hotels. In his 45-minute Q&A session, livestreamed on TikTok on Tuesday, he told his 70,000 followers: 'Finally, I left Germany. Then they moved me into France.' Later, he attempted to make a sarcastic joke by claiming he had not come from Germany — despite admitting it multiple times. A follower asked: 'Brother, have you been to Berlin or not?' The man replied: 'Yes – oh, no, no, I haven't been there, brother. I've never been to Berlin.' He then laughed for several seconds before adding: 'And I've never lived in Germany. Not for one second.' 9 The illegal migrant posted a step-by-step guide to crossing the Channel on a small boat Credit: Tiktok 9 He showed TikTok fans his view from the window of his asylum hotel Credit: Tiktok 9 He also took part in a live Q&A with his followers Appearing to admit he had been rejected for asylum in mainland Europe, he went on: 'What should I do in a country that rejects me? 'I didn't get acceptance, I got nothing. I'm crazy to live there?' Referring to Britain's generous perks, he said: 'There's nothing there. Only here.' Later, in the livestream, he admitted: 'Everything in the story is about acceptance. 'There is no need for my attention there (in Germany) anymore. 'I came from a faraway place, aboard a ship.' Finally, I left Germany. Then they moved me into France After arriving in Dover, he was taken to the processing centre at Manston, Kent, and given standard-issue clothes, some of which he appears to wear in the video. He was then transferred to the Crowne Plaza near Heathrow. The hotel is a stopover for many asylum seekers before switch to more permanent accomodation. Yesterday more migrants came and went from the hotel, which is contracted by the Home Office after previosuly operating as a four-star stopover for holidaymakers and businesspeople. A TikTok spokeswoman said yesterday: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to content promoting human smuggling, this account has been banned and we remove the vast majority of content before it is even reported. 'Through industry-leading search interventions and close collaboration with the UK National Crime Agency, we work to identify and disrupt organised immigration crime online, adapting our efforts to meet evolving threats.' A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'It is our longstanding policy not to comment on operational matters or individual cases.' 9 The man, using the online handle Alexandra420, was moved to the Crowne Plaza hotel near Heathrow Credit: Dan Charity BBC edit for 'xenophobia' THE BBC was yesterday forced to apologise after a Radio 4 programme branded fears about illegal migrants as 'xenophobic'. A guest singled out Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick for saying he did not want his children 'sharing a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally.' On Thought for the Day, Dr Krish Kandiah said: 'These words echo a fear — fear of the stranger. The technical name is xenophobia.' Jenrick slammed the comments and the BBC edited the show. It said: 'While its reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective is broadly in line with expectations of the programme, some of the language it used went beyond that and we apologise.'
Telegraph
2 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour's inheritance tax must be scrapped
How have we managed to create a world where a dwindling band of taxpayers is funding a growing number of able-bodied people to live relatively comfortably on benefits without even being required to look for work? As the welfare bill balloons, the Government has to find more money because its own MPs will not let it cut payments or tighten the rules. Since the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised not to increase borrowing or add to the taxes of so-called 'working people' she is forced to look elsewhere, notably at pensions and savings. Now she is targeting inheritance tax (IHT) to plug holes in the finances ahead of an autumn Budget. Treasury officials have been told to examine greater restrictions on gifting money and assets. The tax burden is at its highest for nearly 80 years. Taxpayers who are by no means rich are dragged into paying higher rates by the pernicious freezing of allowances. The minority of earners who contribute the most in taxes have gone along with this in the expectation of being able to help their children with any accumulated wealth left to them by a rapacious state. If the morality of this tax is questionable, tougher rules are not even politically advantageous. Polling shows it is probably the most unpopular tax of all, even among people who are unlikely to have to pay it. It would be a desperate act to tighten the rules further, but Ms Reeves is cornered. IHT is a tax on the prudent and family-minded. It involves being taxed when you die on wealth that was taxed while being accumulated in life, and therefore discourages wealth creation and retention. In drawing up their new policies, the Tories should commit to its abolition.
