Home Office unveils new 'smash the gangs' measures as migrant Channel crossings up 25%
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Suspected people smugglers will face a raft of strict new measures aimed at breaking up the “vile” gangs that traffic migrants across the Channel, the Home Office announced on Thursday. Under new court orders, those who are under suspicion but not yet convicted could be prevented from using a laptop or mobile phone, using social media, associating with certain people, or accessing their bank accounts.
It comes as figures show almost 37,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats in 2024 - up by a quarter on the previous year. This includes the 1,325 migrants who made the journey between Boxing Day and December 29 in 27 vessels, according to Home Office data. The total is down 20 per cent on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022, however.
Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) can already be used to curb the movement of people involved in organised immigration crime. But the Government argues that the measures are not being used to their full effect. It plans to introduce new "interim" SCPOs designed to place "immediate" restrictions on suspects' activity while a full order is considered by the courts.
Police, the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement bodies would be able to apply directly to the High Court for these orders without first seeking permission from the Crown Prosecution Service, the Home Office said. The measures will be included in the Government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is expected to be introduced to Parliament later this month.
