Latest news with #AsylumandImmigrationBill
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
UK injects 100 million pounds to boost border security
AP Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer The UK on Monday announced that it will invest 100 million pounds as part of its efforts to control soaring illegal migration. The new funding is earmarked for up to 300 extra National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, state-of-the-art detection technology and new equipment targeting criminal networks behind people smuggling, the Home Office said. The NCA's Border Security Command and other law enforcement agencies will benefit from a cash injection to strengthen investigations targeting smuggling kingpins and disrupt their operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond, it funding package will go towards supporting a new pilot of the "one-in, one-out" UK returns agreement, which will see migrants who arrive illegally on small boats returned to will also support the new powers to be introduced when the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill becomes law, criminalising the creation and publication of online material that promotes a breach of immigration law. "This additional funding will strengthen every aspect of our plan, and will turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment," said UK Home Secretary Yvette Labour Party minister accused the previous Conservative Party government of allowing small boat smuggling gangs to embed their criminal trade across the English Channel, putting lives at risk with dangerous migrant crossings."They must not be allowed to get away with this vile crime. That is why this government has developed a serious and comprehensive plan to dismantle their business model, from disrupting their supply chains across the European continent to clamping down on their illegal working operations here in the UK," said new investment package unveiled this week is aimed at enabling more intelligence to be gathered on organised immigration crime gang members and support "upstream capacity building" by intensifying efforts in transit countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia to target organised immigration hi-tech surveillance capabilities and AI-assisted intelligence and data analysis tools as well as the implementation of extended police powers to seize and download digital devices to gather evidence and intelligence, are among the government's priorities. "We currently have 91 investigations ongoing into the most dangerous people smuggling networks impacting the UK, and are working with partners at home and abroad to target, disrupt and dismantle them. This additional funding will help boost our capacity and capability, enabling us to target more offenders," said Rob Jones, NCA Director General. The agency reported that in 2024-25, it achieved 351 NCA-led disruptions of organised immigration crime networks and activity - its highest level on record - and a 40 per cent increase on the previous financial year. Last week, it announced the agency's biggest people-smuggling raid and seizure of boat engines in added investment is expected to build on this to arrest and prosecute major smuggling gang leaders and the seizure of more small boats and investment comes as the latest statistics revealed more than 25,000 migrants made dangerous small boat crossings to enter the UK illegally last month, marking a new record for July. The government also plans a clampdown on student visas to stop migrants using the study route as a way to enter the UK legally and later claim asylum. It will see UK universities face stricter rules around course completion rates to maintain their ability to sponsor visas for foreign students, who typically pay higher fees than domestic students.
News18
7 days ago
- Politics
- News18
UK injects 100 million pounds to boost border security
Agency: PTI London, Aug 4 (PTI) The UK on Monday announced that it will invest 100 million pounds as part of its efforts to control soaring illegal migration. The new funding is earmarked for up to 300 extra National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, state-of-the-art detection technology and new equipment targeting criminal networks behind people smuggling, the Home Office said. The NCA's Border Security Command and other law enforcement agencies will benefit from a cash injection to strengthen investigations targeting smuggling kingpins and disrupt their operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond, it added. The funding package will go towards supporting a new pilot of the 'one-in, one-out" UK returns agreement, which will see migrants who arrive illegally on small boats returned to France. It will also support the new powers to be introduced when the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill becomes law, criminalising the creation and publication of online material that promotes a breach of immigration law. 'This additional funding will strengthen every aspect of our plan, and will turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment," said UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The Labour Party minister accused the previous Conservative Party government of allowing small boat smuggling gangs to embed their criminal trade across the English Channel, putting lives at risk with dangerous migrant crossings. 'They must not be allowed to get away with this vile crime. That is why this government has developed a serious and comprehensive plan to dismantle their business model, from disrupting their supply chains across the European continent to clamping down on their illegal working operations here in the UK," said Cooper. The new investment package unveiled this week is aimed at enabling more intelligence to be gathered on organised immigration crime gang members and support 'upstream capacity building" by intensifying efforts in transit countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia to target organised immigration crime. New hi-tech surveillance capabilities and AI-assisted intelligence and data analysis tools as well as the implementation of extended police powers to seize and download digital devices to gather evidence and intelligence, are among the government's priorities. 'We currently have 91 investigations ongoing into the most dangerous people smuggling networks impacting the UK, and are working with partners at home and abroad to target, disrupt and dismantle them. This additional funding will help boost our capacity and capability, enabling us to target more offenders," said Rob Jones, NCA Director General. The agency reported that in 2024-25, it achieved 351 NCA-led disruptions of organised immigration crime networks and activity – its highest level on record – and a 40 per cent increase on the previous financial year. Last week, it announced the agency's biggest people-smuggling raid and seizure of boat engines in Bulgaria. The added investment is expected to build on this to arrest and prosecute major smuggling gang leaders and the seizure of more small boats and engines. The investment comes as the latest statistics revealed more than 25,000 migrants made dangerous small boat crossings to enter the UK illegally last month, marking a new record for July. The government also plans a clampdown on student visas to stop migrants using the study route as a way to enter the UK legally and later claim asylum. It will see UK universities face stricter rules around course completion rates to maintain their ability to sponsor visas for foreign students, who typically pay higher fees than domestic students. PTI AK RD ZH RD RD RD (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 18:15 IST News agency-feeds UK injects 100 million pounds to boost border security Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
North Wales Chronicle
7 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Hotel protests must not be used to ‘have a pop at the police'
Dame Angela Eagle promised that the Government was 'doing the detailed work' to crack down on small boat crossings, after the Home Office unveiled its plan to pump an extra £100 million into tackling people smuggling. Some of the money will support the 'one in, one out' returns agreement pilot with France, and some will go towards funding extended police powers to seize digital devices. Protesters have gathered outside hotels over recent weeks throughout the country, including in London, Newcastle and Epping in Essex, calling for their closure. Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has warned that 'the public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped', after small boat crossings topped 25,000 for the year so far, a record for this point in the year. Asked on Sky News what her message was to protesters, Dame Angela said: 'Anger doesn't get you anywhere. 'What we have to do is recognise the values we have in this country, the rule of law we have in this country, the work we're doing with the police to protect people. 'We will close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. 'We'll do it faster if we can.' Dame Angela also said: 'We are doing all we can to deal with the challenges that the police are facing on the streets to make sure that women and girls are safe, and in fact, that everybody is safe on our streets.' She had earlier told Times Radio: 'Those who are worried and demonstrating have an absolute right to do that, so long as they do it peacefully. 'People don't have a right to then have a pop at the police, which has been happening in some isolated cases outside hotels.' Referring to plans to let police seize devices from people suspected of facilitating people smuggling, Dame Angela said the Government does not 'want absolutely every phone'. She told Times Radio: 'But we do want the phones of the people that we think are organising and facilitating, and this extra money will enable us to do much quicker analytics of the phones that we seize. 'But of course, we've got to get the Border Security Bill on the statute book to give us those extra powers.' The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill has cleared the Commons but must undergo further scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law. Turning to social media creators who advertise illegal routes into the UK, Dame Angela said: 'We will stop anyone who comes to the UK where we've got evidence, and what happens is that the people smugglers are getting people to say how safe the journeys were and do adverts once they're in the UK. 'We will stop that, and we will also deal with other jurisdictions and ask them to help us deal with this as well, we could certainly do that in the EU with our colleagues in Germany, in France.' Where there is 'evidence that legal routes to visas are being misused', the Government will 'tighten up the rules to stop that abuse happening', the minister added. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously said the money, which will also help pay for surveillance capabilities and data analysis tools, will 'turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment'. She added: 'Alongside our new agreements with France, this will help us drive forward our plan for change commitments to protect the UK's border security and restore order to our immigration system.' The National Crime Agency has 91 ongoing investigations into people smuggling networks affecting the UK, the agency's director general of operations Rob Jones said. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Jenrick said: 'The public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped. 'This is an issue that is beyond party politics. 'It is causing immense harm to communities, and people's lives are being wrecked as a result of it, and we simply have to fix it. 'I respect those people who are peacefully protesting outside hotels this weekend, I understand why they feel so concerned. 'They're seeing their communities damaged, and I'm afraid there is increasing evidence of a serious link between illegal migration, migration generally, and crime, particularly sexual crime, against women and girls.'
Powys County Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Hotel protests must not be used to ‘have a pop at the police'
Protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers must not be used to 'have a pop at the police', the border security minister has warned. Dame Angela Eagle promised that the Government was 'doing the detailed work' to crack down on small boat crossings, after the Home Office unveiled its plan to pump an extra £100 million into tackling people smuggling. Some of the money will support the 'one in, one out' returns agreement pilot with France, and some will go towards funding extended police powers to seize digital devices. Protesters have gathered outside hotels over recent weeks throughout the country, including in London, Newcastle and Epping in Essex, calling for their closure. Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has warned that 'the public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped', after small boat crossings topped 25,000 for the year so far, a record for this point in the year. Asked on Sky News what her message was to protesters, Dame Angela said: 'Anger doesn't get you anywhere. 'What we have to do is recognise the values we have in this country, the rule of law we have in this country, the work we're doing with the police to protect people. 'We will close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. 'We'll do it faster if we can.' Dame Angela also said: 'We are doing all we can to deal with the challenges that the police are facing on the streets to make sure that women and girls are safe, and in fact, that everybody is safe on our streets.' She had earlier told Times Radio: 'Those who are worried and demonstrating have an absolute right to do that, so long as they do it peacefully. 'People don't have a right to then have a pop at the police, which has been happening in some isolated cases outside hotels.' Referring to plans to let police seize devices from people suspected of facilitating people smuggling, Dame Angela said the Government does not 'want absolutely every phone'. She told Times Radio: 'But we do want the phones of the people that we think are organising and facilitating, and this extra money will enable us to do much quicker analytics of the phones that we seize. 'But of course, we've got to get the Border Security Bill on the statute book to give us those extra powers.' The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill has cleared the Commons but must undergo further scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law. Turning to social media creators who advertise illegal routes into the UK, Dame Angela said: 'We will stop anyone who comes to the UK where we've got evidence, and what happens is that the people smugglers are getting people to say how safe the journeys were and do adverts once they're in the UK. 'We will stop that, and we will also deal with other jurisdictions and ask them to help us deal with this as well, we could certainly do that in the EU with our colleagues in Germany, in France.' Where there is 'evidence that legal routes to visas are being misused', the Government will 'tighten up the rules to stop that abuse happening', the minister added. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously said the money, which will also help pay for surveillance capabilities and data analysis tools, will 'turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment'. She added: 'Alongside our new agreements with France, this will help us drive forward our plan for change commitments to protect the UK's border security and restore order to our immigration system.' The National Crime Agency has 91 ongoing investigations into people smuggling networks affecting the UK, the agency's director general of operations Rob Jones said. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Jenrick said: 'The public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped. 'This is an issue that is beyond party politics. 'It is causing immense harm to communities, and people's lives are being wrecked as a result of it, and we simply have to fix it. 'I respect those people who are peacefully protesting outside hotels this weekend, I understand why they feel so concerned. 'They're seeing their communities damaged, and I'm afraid there is increasing evidence of a serious link between illegal migration, migration generally, and crime, particularly sexual crime, against women and girls.'
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Hotel protests must not be used to ‘have a pop at the police'
Dame Angela Eagle promised that the Government was 'doing the detailed work' to crack down on small boat crossings, after the Home Office unveiled its plan to pump an extra £100 million into tackling people smuggling. Some of the money will support the 'one in, one out' returns agreement pilot with France, and some will go towards funding extended police powers to seize digital devices. Protesters have gathered outside hotels over recent weeks throughout the country, including in London, Newcastle and Epping in Essex, calling for their closure. (PA Graphics) Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has warned that 'the public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped', after small boat crossings topped 25,000 for the year so far, a record for this point in the year. Asked on Sky News what her message was to protesters, Dame Angela said: 'Anger doesn't get you anywhere. 'What we have to do is recognise the values we have in this country, the rule of law we have in this country, the work we're doing with the police to protect people. 'We will close asylum hotels by the end of the Parliament. 'We'll do it faster if we can.' Dame Angela also said: 'We are doing all we can to deal with the challenges that the police are facing on the streets to make sure that women and girls are safe, and in fact, that everybody is safe on our streets.' She had earlier told Times Radio: 'Those who are worried and demonstrating have an absolute right to do that, so long as they do it peacefully. 'People don't have a right to then have a pop at the police, which has been happening in some isolated cases outside hotels.' Dame Angela Eagle (Lauren Hurley/PA) Referring to plans to let police seize devices from people suspected of facilitating people smuggling, Dame Angela said the Government does not 'want absolutely every phone'. She told Times Radio: 'But we do want the phones of the people that we think are organising and facilitating, and this extra money will enable us to do much quicker analytics of the phones that we seize. 'But of course, we've got to get the Border Security Bill on the statute book to give us those extra powers.' The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill has cleared the Commons but must undergo further scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law. Turning to social media creators who advertise illegal routes into the UK, Dame Angela said: 'We will stop anyone who comes to the UK where we've got evidence, and what happens is that the people smugglers are getting people to say how safe the journeys were and do adverts once they're in the UK. 'We will stop that, and we will also deal with other jurisdictions and ask them to help us deal with this as well, we could certainly do that in the EU with our colleagues in Germany, in France.' Where there is 'evidence that legal routes to visas are being misused', the Government will 'tighten up the rules to stop that abuse happening', the minister added. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously said the money, which will also help pay for surveillance capabilities and data analysis tools, will 'turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment'. She added: 'Alongside our new agreements with France, this will help us drive forward our plan for change commitments to protect the UK's border security and restore order to our immigration system.' The National Crime Agency has 91 ongoing investigations into people smuggling networks affecting the UK, the agency's director general of operations Rob Jones said. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Jenrick said: 'The public's patience with the asylum hotels and with the whole issue of illegal migration has snapped. 'This is an issue that is beyond party politics. 'It is causing immense harm to communities, and people's lives are being wrecked as a result of it, and we simply have to fix it. 'I respect those people who are peacefully protesting outside hotels this weekend, I understand why they feel so concerned. 'They're seeing their communities damaged, and I'm afraid there is increasing evidence of a serious link between illegal migration, migration generally, and crime, particularly sexual crime, against women and girls.'
