New border security measures announced

The Home Secretary has announced new measures intended to strengthen border security.

The new measures also hope to enforce immigration rules and increase returns.

There are plans to recruit up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigation officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target, dismantle and disrupt organised immigration crime networks.

There is also a planned increase in immigration enforcement and returns activity, to make sure that immigration and asylum rules are respected and enforced. The government aims to achieve the highest rate of removals of those with no right to be here, including failed asylum seekers, for 5 years (since 2018).

Home secretary, Yvette Cooper said: "We are taking strong and clear steps boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced.  

"Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe, working with European enforcement agencies to find every route in to smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings which  undermine our border security and putting lives at risk.  

"And by increasing enforcement capabilities and returns we will establish a system that is better controlled and managed, in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long."

NCA director general of operations Rob Jones said: "Tackling organised immigration crime remains a key priority for the NCA and we are dedicating more effort and resource than ever before. These extra officers will play a key role in that, with the NCA currently leading around 70 investigations into the highest harm people smuggling and trafficking groups.

"Taking on these dangerous and exploitative gangs requires international co-operation and we continue to further enhance our already strong relationship with Europol and other law enforcement partners. We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, whether they are operating in the UK or overseas."