Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged the world to crack down on people-smuggling networks with the same determination used against terrorist groups.
Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London, he called for stronger global cooperation to dismantle these criminal organisations.
The summit brought together officials from over 40 countries, including the US, France, Iraq, and Vietnam, along with tech giants such as Meta and TikTok. Starmer, drawing from his experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that human trafficking is a growing international threat that demands a united response. He pushed for intelligence sharing and resource pooling to combat smugglers at every stage of their operations.
The UK government announced new measures to tackle the crisis, pledging £30 million to disrupt trafficking routes and cut off illegal funding. An extra £3 million will help the Crown Prosecution Service expand its international efforts against organised immigration crime.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also revealed plans to hold businesses accountable for hiring undocumented migrants, even when done through contractors. Industries such as hospitality and beauty will face stricter scrutiny to prevent illegal employment. Additionally, the government is reviewing how migrants use Article 8 of the Human Rights Act to challenge deportation.
Despite these measures, illegal crossings into the UK continue to rise. Over 5,000 people have crossed the Channel this year, surpassing previous figures. While Cooper noted that favorable weather has contributed to the increase, she acknowledged that criminal gangs remain a key driver of the problem. The UK now seeks deeper international cooperation to curb these dangerous migration networks.