Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to host a high-level operational summit today at the National Crime Agency (NCA) headquarters in London, aimed at addressing the growing crisis of criminal smuggling gangs exploiting small boat crossings in the English Channel.

The summit comes in response to a surge in illegal crossings and follows a tragic incident earlier this week that resulted in at least 12 deaths, with others reported to be in critical condition. Cooper, in a statement ahead of the summit, emphasized the need for urgent action, stating, “We will not rest until these criminal networks are dismantled and brought to justice.”

Key attendees at the summit include Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Attorney General Lord Hermer, alongside senior representatives from the NCA, Border Force, and Crown Prosecution Service. The UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will also play a pivotal role, utilizing its covert capabilities to support the NCA’s efforts in identifying and dismantling smuggling operations.

NCA Director General Graeme Biggar is expected to highlight recent successes, such as the interception of over 40 small boats and engines in Bulgaria, preventing up to 2,400 potential crossing attempts. The summit will review these progress reports and intensify enforcement strategies aimed at curbing the illicit smuggling networks profiting from dangerous Channel crossings.

The Home Secretary will also announce the deployment of an additional 100 specialist investigators to combat people smuggling globally. This expansion includes bolstering NCA presence at Europol and strengthening international liaison networks in key transit countries.

As part of the UK’s broader strategy, the government is working closely with European partners to combat illegal immigration. Recent initiatives have resulted in a 50% increase in NCA officers stationed in Europe, focusing on dismantling organized immigration crime.

Today’s summit marks a critical step in the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard lives, secure borders, and hold criminal networks accountable for their dangerous exploitation of vulnerable people attempting to cross the Channel.