UK Cracks Down on Human Trafficking in Europe

Yvette Cooper

Britain's Commitment to Ending Modern Slavery

“The aim is to reduce the flow of migrants, small boats, engines and other equipment into the EU and ultimately to northern France.”

UK Strengthens Border Security: £75m Funding Boost to Combat Human Trafficking & Organized Crime. Advanced surveillance, data analysis, and international collaboration to disrupt smuggling networks and protect victims.

On Tuesday, September 17, Britain will send National Crime Agency (NCA) officials to Austria to halt the smuggling of migrants into Europe. 

NCA officers are being deployed to Austria and Romania to help dismantle people smuggling schemes. 

These gangs transport people and equipment from Italy, Greece, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe to France's northern coast. These efforts are part of a £75 million funding hike announced on Tuesday, September 17, to create Labour's new Border Security Command (BSC). 

The new command will spearhead a multi-agency effort, overseeing investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA), MI5, Border Force, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to tackle complex crimes. This strategic partnership aims to boost Britain's border security and combat organized crime, including human trafficking and people smuggling.

Key Agencies Involved:

National Crime Agency (NCA): Leading the fight against organized crime, with around 70 investigations targeting high-harm networks.

MI5: Providing intelligence and support to disrupt criminal activities.

Border Force: Securing UK borders and preventing illegal entry.

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS): Prosecuting criminal cases and ensuring justice is served.

This command will strengthen the UK's response to serious and organised crime by uniting resources and expertise, eventually making communities safer.

Yvette Cooper, at the Home Office helm, stated: “home secretary wants to deploy additional officers upstream to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in other countries.

“The aim is to reduce the flow of migrants, small boats, engines and other equipment into the EU and ultimately to northern France.”

The UK's efforts to tackle migrant sea crossings have been highly successful, with a significant reduction of over 60% in crossings from North Africa. This achievement is largely due to the National Crime Agency's (NCA) increased presence and cooperation with international partners.

In Bulgaria, the NCA has set up an operation to intercept smuggling routes, recently seizing 40 small boats and engines at a major transit point with Turkey. This timely intervention has prevented up to 2,400 people from attempting to cross the Channel, which separates Southern England from Northern France.

To further strengthen border security, the UK is increasing the number of NCA officers in Southeast Asia. This strategic move focuses on key countries where people-smuggling gangs are actively promoting Channel crossings. By expanding its presence in the region, the UK aims to disrupt and dismantle these criminal networks.

Key Measures to Boost Border Security:

Increased NCA Presence: More officers stationed in Southeast Asia to target people-smuggling gangs

Enhanced International Cooperation: Collaboration with European enforcement agencies to disrupt smuggling routes

Interception of Smuggling Routes: Recent seizure of 40 small boats and engines in Bulgaria

Reduced Migrant Sea Crossings: Over 60% decrease in crossings from North Africa 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and newly appointed Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt recently traveled to Italy for high-level meetings with government officials and police. The focus of their visit was to observe Italy's successful collaboration with other EU nations and “source” countries in combating organized crime and human trafficking.

As the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has been making strategic moves since taking office on July 5, 2024. This visit to Italy aligns with his commitment to addressing pressing national concerns, such as border security.

Key Objectives of the Visit:

Enhance Collaboration: Foster closer ties with EU nations and “source” countries to combat organized crime and human trafficking.

Share Best Practices: Learn from Italy's successful strategies and implement effective solutions in the UK.

Border Security: Strengthen UK borders and ensure safer streets for citizens.

The UK will leverage Italy's expertise to boost border security and fight human trafficking.

Vietnam currently has the highest number of migrants attempting to cross into the UK in small boats.

The UK Government has allocated additional funds to combat organized immigration crime. This includes:

√ 100 more specialist investigators for the National Crime Agency (NCA), a 25% increase.

This boost in personnel aims to strengthen the NCA's efforts to disrupt and dismantle people-smuggling networks.

Yvette Cooper added, “Criminal gangs are getting away with undermining our border security and putting lives at risk.

“The Border Security Command will deliver a major overhaul and upgrade in law enforcement against smugglers and trafficking gangs to boost our border security.

“State-of-the-art technology and enhanced intelligence capabilities will ensure we are using every tool at our disposal to dismantle this vile trade.”

The UK is ramping up its fight against human trafficking and organized crime with a £75 million investment. This significant funding boost will be used to deploy covert cameras and cutting-edge surveillance and eavesdropping technology, dramatically improving the quality of evidence collected. As a result, investigations will be accelerated, and prosecution success rates will soar.

Rob Jones, Director General of Operations at the National Crime Agency (NCA), emphasizes that these additional funds will revolutionize the agency's technological capabilities, supercharge data analysis, and strengthen capacity-building efforts both domestically and internationally.

This enhanced toolkit will enable the NCA to:

Strengthen Border Security: Improve surveillance and monitoring to prevent human trafficking and organized crime

Enhance Data Analysis: Unlock insights to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks

Boost International Cooperation: Collaborate more effectively with global partners to combat human trafficking

This strategic move is expected to bolster border security, disrupt smuggling networks, and protect victims. By harnessing advanced tools, the UK aims to stay one step ahead of traffickers and criminals, ultimately creating a safer environment for its citizens.

He said, “tackling organised immigration crime remains a top priority for the NCA.

“We are currently leading around 70 investigations into the gangs or individuals involved in the highest echelons of criminality and we are devoting more resources to it than ever before.

“We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, wherever they operate.”