Latest news with #BordersBill
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
PSNI to be given powers to seize electronic devices to combat immigration crime
Under the proposed Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently progressing through Parliament authorities will have new tools to combat criminal gangs. Speaking on the legislation, Minister of State at the Home Office, Lord David Hanson, described it as a "turbocharge" to current enforcement capabilities. 'Our Borders Bill will turbocharge efforts to combat irregular migration and organised immigration crime,' he said. 'It will equip law enforcement across the UK with new tools to better identify, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks behind this vile trade.' Among the key measures is the expansion of powers to seize electronic devices such as mobile phones believed to contain intelligence on people-smuggling operations. These powers will be extended to police forces across the UK, including the PSNI, and are inspired by counterterrorism protocols. Lord Hanson highlighted that the enhanced authority will 'provide critical insights into the operations of smuggling gangs'. 'This change will deliver greater intelligence on these people smuggling gangs, enhancing investigations and strengthening the collective response to bring criminals to justice,' he added. The Bill draws directly from counterterrorism strategies, allowing earlier interventions in smuggling networks. It includes provisions to criminalise the supply or possession of materials suspected to be used in illegal crossings, such as parts for small boats, bringing immigration enforcement more in line with anti-terror practices. The proposed powers come in response to a recent report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which welcomed the potential for electronic device seizures to yield valuable information on criminal activity. However, officials have stressed that any device seizure, retention, or data extraction will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and subject to strict oversight and safeguards. The measures are part of the Government's broader 'Plan for Change' strategy, which aims to restore order to the UK's asylum and immigration systems. Law enforcement agencies are said to be working 'round the clock' to dismantle smuggling operations. Last month, a major Home Office operation in Northern Ireland targeting people-smuggling networks led to more than 30 arrests and the seizure of assets worth £160,000. Simultaneously, the newly formed Border Security Command is working to 'deepen international collaboration in the fight against irregular migration'. The Government's efforts have also been underpinned by a substantial financial commitment. On June 11, the Chancellor announced up to £280m per year in funding for the Border Security Command. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is scheduled to enter Committee Stage in the House of Lords next week.
Leader Live
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Public has ‘every right to be angry' about small boats crossings, PM says
The Prime Minister suggested he was 'angry too', after Home Office data showed 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats on Saturday. But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Sir Keir's words as 'rubbish', claiming that even Defence Secretary John Healey had acknowledged ministers had 'lost control' of the borders. Saturday's figures were the first time daily crossings topped a thousand in 2025, and prompted Mr Healey to claim Britain had 'lost control' over the last five years, implicating the former Tory government. Writing on social media site X on Monday, the Prime Minister said: 'You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. 'I'm angry too. 'We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people smuggling gangs at source.' Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has "lost control" of our borders. The facts:– Small boat arrivals up 95% from this point in 2023– Most returns are voluntary– Scrapped the only viable deterrent– Voted against our Deportation Bill that would fix things — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 2, 2025 He claimed hundreds of boats and engines had been 'seized', raids on illegal working were up, and 'almost 30,000 people' had been returned. But Mrs Badenoch hit back, responding: 'Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has 'lost control' of our borders.' Small boat arrivals are 'up 95% from this point in 2023', she said, and claimed ministers had 'scrapped the only viable deterrent': the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan. Sir Keir had earlier insisted the Rwanda plan 'didn't deter anybody', after his decision to scrap it was highlighted while he visited Glasgow for a major defence announcement. He added: 'I'm not up for gimmicks. I'm up for the hard work of working with partners, enhancing the powers that law enforcement have, in my determination to take down the gangs that are running this vile trade.' The Prime Minister also signalled to journalists he had a duty to stop Channel crossings. He said: 'In relation to border security, I want to be really clear: nobody should be making that journey across the Channel and it's our duty to make sure that we ensure that they don't. 'We are working very closely with our counterparts in France and elsewhere to take further action in northern France, and of course, we are giving enhanced powers to our own law enforcement through the Borders Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.' Saturday's crossings brought the provisional annual total so far of migrants who have made the journey to 14,811. This is 42% higher than the same point last year (10,448) and 95% up from the same point in 2023 (7,610), according to PA news agency analysis of the data. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3 2022. On Sunday, Mr Healey said the scenes of migrants being picked up by smugglers 'like a taxi' to be brought to the UK were 'shocking'. Britain has 'lost control of its borders over the last five years', he added. The Defence Secretary said it is a 'really big problem' that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters. French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, and authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. Some 184 people were rescued, the French authorities said. The UK agreed a £480 million deal with France to beef up its efforts to stop migrants in 2023 under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. It was the latest in a series of agreements with France since 2014 aimed at cracking down on crossings. This year is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with the 14,811 total arrivals so far the highest recorded for the first five months of a year. It has also surpassed the highest total recorded for the first six months of the year, which was previously 13,489 on June 30 last year. In 2024, the number of arrivals did not reach more than 14,000 until July 9 (14,058). Sir Keir's Government has pledged to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations to bring down crossings.
Powys County Times
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Public has ‘every right to be angry' about small boats crossings, PM says
The public has 'every right to be angry' about small boats crossing the English Channel, Sir Keir Starmer said after more than a thousand migrants made the journey in a single day for the first time this year. The Prime Minister suggested he was 'angry too', after Home Office data showed 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats on Saturday. But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Sir Keir's words as 'rubbish', claiming that even Defence Secretary John Healey had acknowledged ministers had 'lost control' of the borders. Saturday's figures were the first time daily crossings topped a thousand in 2025, and prompted Mr Healey to claim Britain had 'lost control' over the last five years, implicating the former Tory government. Writing on social media site X on Monday, the Prime Minister said: 'You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. 'I'm angry too. 'We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people smuggling gangs at source.' Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has "lost control" of our borders. The facts:– Small boat arrivals up 95% from this point in 2023– Most returns are voluntary– Scrapped the only viable deterrent– Voted against our Deportation Bill that would fix things — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 2, 2025 He claimed hundreds of boats and engines had been 'seized', raids on illegal working were up, and 'almost 30,000 people' had been returned. But Mrs Badenoch hit back, responding: 'Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has 'lost control' of our borders.' Small boat arrivals are 'up 95% from this point in 2023', she said, and claimed ministers had 'scrapped the only viable deterrent': the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan. Sir Keir had earlier insisted the Rwanda plan 'didn't deter anybody', after his decision to scrap it was highlighted while he visited Glasgow for a major defence announcement. He added: 'I'm not up for gimmicks. I'm up for the hard work of working with partners, enhancing the powers that law enforcement have, in my determination to take down the gangs that are running this vile trade.' The Prime Minister also signalled to journalists he had a duty to stop Channel crossings. He said: 'In relation to border security, I want to be really clear: nobody should be making that journey across the Channel and it's our duty to make sure that we ensure that they don't. 'We are working very closely with our counterparts in France and elsewhere to take further action in northern France, and of course, we are giving enhanced powers to our own law enforcement through the Borders Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.' Saturday's crossings brought the provisional annual total so far of migrants who have made the journey to 14,811. This is 42% higher than the same point last year (10,448) and 95% up from the same point in 2023 (7,610), according to PA news agency analysis of the data. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3 2022. On Sunday, Mr Healey said the scenes of migrants being picked up by smugglers 'like a taxi' to be brought to the UK were 'shocking'. Britain has 'lost control of its borders over the last five years', he added. The Defence Secretary said it is a 'really big problem' that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters. French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, and authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. Some 184 people were rescued, the French authorities said. The UK agreed a £480 million deal with France to beef up its efforts to stop migrants in 2023 under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. It was the latest in a series of agreements with France since 2014 aimed at cracking down on crossings. This year is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with the 14,811 total arrivals so far the highest recorded for the first five months of a year. It has also surpassed the highest total recorded for the first six months of the year, which was previously 13,489 on June 30 last year. In 2024, the number of arrivals did not reach more than 14,000 until July 9 (14,058). Sir Keir's Government has pledged to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations to bring down crossings.
North Wales Chronicle
02-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Public has ‘every right to be angry' about small boats crossings, PM says
The Prime Minister suggested he was 'angry too', after Home Office data showed 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats on Saturday. But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Sir Keir's words as 'rubbish', claiming that even Defence Secretary John Healey had acknowledged ministers had 'lost control' of the borders. Saturday's figures were the first time daily crossings topped a thousand in 2025, and prompted Mr Healey to claim Britain had 'lost control' over the last five years, implicating the former Tory government. Writing on social media site X on Monday, the Prime Minister said: 'You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. 'I'm angry too. 'We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people smuggling gangs at source.' Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has "lost control" of our borders. The facts:– Small boat arrivals up 95% from this point in 2023– Most returns are voluntary– Scrapped the only viable deterrent– Voted against our Deportation Bill that would fix things — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 2, 2025 He claimed hundreds of boats and engines had been 'seized', raids on illegal working were up, and 'almost 30,000 people' had been returned. But Mrs Badenoch hit back, responding: 'Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has 'lost control' of our borders.' Small boat arrivals are 'up 95% from this point in 2023', she said, and claimed ministers had 'scrapped the only viable deterrent': the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan. Sir Keir had earlier insisted the Rwanda plan 'didn't deter anybody', after his decision to scrap it was highlighted while he visited Glasgow for a major defence announcement. He added: 'I'm not up for gimmicks. I'm up for the hard work of working with partners, enhancing the powers that law enforcement have, in my determination to take down the gangs that are running this vile trade.' The Prime Minister also signalled to journalists he had a duty to stop Channel crossings. He said: 'In relation to border security, I want to be really clear: nobody should be making that journey across the Channel and it's our duty to make sure that we ensure that they don't. 'We are working very closely with our counterparts in France and elsewhere to take further action in northern France, and of course, we are giving enhanced powers to our own law enforcement through the Borders Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.' Saturday's crossings brought the provisional annual total so far of migrants who have made the journey to 14,811. This is 42% higher than the same point last year (10,448) and 95% up from the same point in 2023 (7,610), according to PA news agency analysis of the data. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3 2022. On Sunday, Mr Healey said the scenes of migrants being picked up by smugglers 'like a taxi' to be brought to the UK were 'shocking'. Britain has 'lost control of its borders over the last five years', he added. The Defence Secretary said it is a 'really big problem' that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters. French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, and authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. Some 184 people were rescued, the French authorities said. The UK agreed a £480 million deal with France to beef up its efforts to stop migrants in 2023 under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. It was the latest in a series of agreements with France since 2014 aimed at cracking down on crossings. This year is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with the 14,811 total arrivals so far the highest recorded for the first five months of a year. It has also surpassed the highest total recorded for the first six months of the year, which was previously 13,489 on June 30 last year. In 2024, the number of arrivals did not reach more than 14,000 until July 9 (14,058). Sir Keir's Government has pledged to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations to bring down crossings.
Glasgow Times
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Public has ‘every right to be angry' about small boats crossings, PM says
The Prime Minister suggested he was 'angry too', after Home Office data showed 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats on Saturday. But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Sir Keir's words as 'rubbish', claiming that even Defence Secretary John Healey had acknowledged ministers had 'lost control' of the borders. Saturday's figures were the first time daily crossings topped a thousand in 2025, and prompted Mr Healey to claim Britain had 'lost control' over the last five years, implicating the former Tory government. Writing on social media site X on Monday, the Prime Minister said: 'You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. 'I'm angry too. 'We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people smuggling gangs at source.' Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has "lost control" of our borders. The facts:– Small boat arrivals up 95% from this point in 2023– Most returns are voluntary– Scrapped the only viable deterrent– Voted against our Deportation Bill that would fix things — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 2, 2025 He claimed hundreds of boats and engines had been 'seized', raids on illegal working were up, and 'almost 30,000 people' had been returned. But Mrs Badenoch hit back, responding: 'Rubbish! Even the Defence Secretary admits the govt has 'lost control' of our borders.' Small boat arrivals are 'up 95% from this point in 2023', she said, and claimed ministers had 'scrapped the only viable deterrent': the previous Conservative government's Rwanda plan. Sir Keir had earlier insisted the Rwanda plan 'didn't deter anybody', after his decision to scrap it was highlighted while he visited Glasgow for a major defence announcement. He added: 'I'm not up for gimmicks. I'm up for the hard work of working with partners, enhancing the powers that law enforcement have, in my determination to take down the gangs that are running this vile trade.' The Prime Minister also signalled to journalists he had a duty to stop Channel crossings. (PA Graphics) He said: 'In relation to border security, I want to be really clear: nobody should be making that journey across the Channel and it's our duty to make sure that we ensure that they don't. 'We are working very closely with our counterparts in France and elsewhere to take further action in northern France, and of course, we are giving enhanced powers to our own law enforcement through the Borders Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.' Saturday's crossings brought the provisional annual total so far of migrants who have made the journey to 14,811. This is 42% higher than the same point last year (10,448) and 95% up from the same point in 2023 (7,610), according to PA news agency analysis of the data. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3 2022. On Sunday, Mr Healey said the scenes of migrants being picked up by smugglers 'like a taxi' to be brought to the UK were 'shocking'. Britain has 'lost control of its borders over the last five years', he added. The Defence Secretary said it is a 'really big problem' that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters. A group of people thought to be migrants onboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France, attempting to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA) French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, and authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. Some 184 people were rescued, the French authorities said. The UK agreed a £480 million deal with France to beef up its efforts to stop migrants in 2023 under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. It was the latest in a series of agreements with France since 2014 aimed at cracking down on crossings. This year is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with the 14,811 total arrivals so far the highest recorded for the first five months of a year. It has also surpassed the highest total recorded for the first six months of the year, which was previously 13,489 on June 30 last year. In 2024, the number of arrivals did not reach more than 14,000 until July 9 (14,058). Sir Keir's Government has pledged to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations to bring down crossings.
