M10News – Thursday 3 August 2025
The government has announced a £100m package to tackle criminal gangs involved in people smuggling, amid a record number of small boat crossings so far this year.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says the money will “turbocharge” efforts to dismantle the networks responsible for bringing migrants to the UK illegally, calling the move part of a “serious and comprehensive plan”.
More than 25,000 people have arrived in the UK by small boat in 2025 — the highest figure ever recorded at this stage in the year.
The funding will support the recruitment of up to 300 new National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, as well as new detection technology and surveillance tools. The aim is to strengthen the work of the Border Security Command, which was set up last year to co-ordinate investigations and disrupt gangs both in the UK and abroad.
“These gangs are putting lives at risk every single day,” Ms Cooper said.
“This new funding will strengthen our work to bring them down — using state-of-the-art tech, stronger powers and international co-operation.”
New offence targeting online smugglers
The Home Office has also confirmed that the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will introduce new criminal offences to target those who promote illegal migration online.
It will become a crime to publish or share content that encourages people to break immigration laws — including adverts for small boat crossings on platforms like TikTok, Telegram and WhatsApp.
Research suggests that 8 in 10 migrants who arrive by small boat use the internet to make contact with smugglers or arrange their journeys.
Officials say the new law will help police shut down digital channels used to promote crossings and allow tech companies to remove illegal content more quickly.
Political row erupts
But the announcement has triggered a sharp backlash from the Conservatives, who claim the plan won’t work.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of “tinkering at the edges” and said the government had “no serious strategy” for stopping illegal immigration.
“The British public deserve real action — not empty slogans and desperate grabs for headlines,” he said.
Tory MPs argue the decision to scrap the Rwanda deportation plan earlier this year has made the UK more attractive to people smugglers, and that Labour’s latest move won’t reverse that.
France deal and cross-border work
Part of the new funding will also go towards the UK’s “one in, one out” pilot agreement with France, which is designed to reduce demand for illegal routes by enabling managed returns.
The Border Security Command will work closely with Europol and law enforcement partners across Europe, Africa and the Middle East to identify smuggling “kingpins” and freeze their financial networks.
The NCA, police, and Immigration Enforcement teams will also be given new tools to investigate organised crime and seize assets linked to trafficking rings.
‘Real border security’ or just more headlines?
The Home Office insists the measures will deliver results — pointing to an increase in immigration raids, arrests, and disruption of smuggling activity since the Border Security Command was launched last year.
Ms Cooper defended the government’s approach, saying:
“This is about building real border security — not gimmicks or headlines, but action that gets results.”
Implementation of the new plan begins immediately, with recruitment, tech upgrades, and enforcement coordination already underway.
The Border Security Bill is expected back in Parliament next month.
