Proposed phone bans for suspected people smugglers branded ‘weak’ by Tories
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Measures aimed at cracking down on organised immigration crime are too “weak”, the Tories have said, as the party branded the Government’s proposed travel bans and social media blackouts as “laughable”. Under new court orders, suspects could be prevented from using a laptop or mobile phone, accessing social media networks, associating with certain people, or accessing their finances.
The proposed legislation comes as figures show the number of migrants arriving in the UK in 2024 by crossing the English Channel in small boats was up by a quarter on the previous year. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told Sky News: “The idea that dangerous people smuggling gangs are going to be deterred by the threat of some sort of mobile phone banning order is pretty laughable, frankly.
“These measures are not going to make a difference.”. Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) can already be sought to curb the movement of people involved in organised immigration crime. But the Government says the measures are not being used to their full effect, and 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 going through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Home Office said. Breaching an interim order could lead to up to five years in prison.
