David Lammy set to unveil ‘world’s first sanctions regime’ to tackle people smuggling gangs
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Sir Keir Starmer is expected to discuss cooperation on the issue with Emmanuel Macron on Thursday. David Lammy is set to put in place sweeping new sanctions to target the finances of people smuggling networks as part Labour’s efforts to get a grip on the migrant crisis.
![[Sir Keir Starmer said Britain must ‘dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders’]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/08/16/House-of-Commons_250108_PMQs_NP-13_50509.jpg)
The planned measures are intended to disrupt the flow of money and make it harder for ringleaders to profit from the deadly trade. It will be the world’s first standalone sanctions regime dedicated to targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime, the government said.
Labour has put international co-operation at the heart of its plans after scrapping the Tory plan to send asylum seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda, with Sir Keir expected to discuss cooperation on the issue with France’s Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.
As well as the UK’s sanctions regime, the Foreign Office expects to collaborate closely with international allies to combat people smugglers. It comes after the number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats was 25 per cent higher in 2024 than 2023.
Some 36,816 people made the journey in 2024, up from 29,437 the year before. The total is down 20 per cent on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022, however. Sir Keir Starmer said Britain must “dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders”, arguing that “crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe” would help “secure UK borders”.
