The UK’s Border Security Command is set to receive up to £75 million in new funding, paving the way for a major crackdown on immigration crime this autumn. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the cash injection yesterday. The injection will support cutting-edge technology, additional officers, and enhanced covert capabilities to strengthen the UK’s border security.

The significant funding will bolster efforts by the National Crime Agency (NCA), police, and other law enforcement agencies to disrupt people-smuggling operations. These criminal gangs are known for launching dangerous and overcrowded small boats from the French coast, often risking the lives of vulnerable individuals. As fair weather is expected to encourage increased attempts by smugglers, the government is intensifying its response.

The new investment, which reallocates funds from the previous government’s Illegal Migration Act, will equip UK border forces with:

• Covert cameras and advanced monitoring technology, enhancing evidence collection, speeding up investigations, and increasing prosecution success rates.
• A new intelligence unit, designed to improve collaboration across UK police forces and share information with international partners. Additional prosecutors will be recruited by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to fast-track investigations.
• Recruitment of new personnel for the Border Security Command, led by Commander Martin Hewitt, who will oversee cooperation between agencies to dismantle criminal networks.
• Increased efforts to tackle organised crime groups upstream, targeting transit countries to prevent small boat equipment from reaching French shores.

This investment builds on recent achievements, including successful operations coordinated between UK and European law enforcement agencies. Last week, Prime Minister held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, highlighting cooperation to reduce irregular migration through tougher enforcement and international collaboration.

NCA Director General of Operations, Rob Jones, welcomed the funding, noting it would strengthen ongoing efforts. Tackling organised immigration crime remains a top priority for the NCA. We are currently leading around 70 investigations into the highest echelons of criminality, and we are devoting more resources to it than ever before.

The funding also includes a 25% increase in the NCA’s specialist investigators, with an additional 100 personnel dedicated to tackling organised immigration crime. A further 50% increase in British officers stationed at Europol has also been announced, enhancing cooperation with European partners to dismantle smuggling networks.

CPS Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson added: “CPS prosecutors will bring significant expertise to the new unit to help stop human trafficking gangs in their tracks, and pursue any assets gained through criminality.

The new Border Security Command is expected to play a key role in delivering the government’s comprehensive border security overhaul, with Commander Hewitt set to take formal charge in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Dame Angela Eagle attended the Berlin Process Interior Ministers’ meeting in Germany to discuss strengthening border security and tackling organised crime across the Western Balkans region, a key migration route into Europe.

This renewed focus on immigration crime and border security comes as the UK continues to work closely with international partners to address shared challenges and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.