In January, the UK Government announced plans for sanctions that will target the finances of people smuggling networks as part of efforts to stop people crossing the Channel in small boats.
Among the plans, people selling and handling boat parts suspected of being used in Channel crossings could face up to 14 years in prison, while anyone at sea during the dangerous journeys who endangers another life could face a five-year jail term.
“We must also target the root causes of migration, which is why we are boosting opportunities across eastern Africa – making people less likely to travel to the UK in the first place.”.
David Lammy will urge European countries to develop sanctions against people smuggling gangs as he meets counterparts at the Munich Security Conference this weekend.
It comes as the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill – which contains a raft of new offences designed to crack down on people smugglers – cleared a Commons hurdle earlier this week.
