Suspected people smugglers to face travel and phone bans under new laws
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People-smuggling suspects could face travel bans and social media blackouts under new laws aimed at cracking down on organised immigration crime. Court orders to restrict the activity of those under investigation for such crimes will be strengthened as part of draft legislation to be introduced in the coming weeks, the Government said.
Suspects could be banned from using a laptop or mobile phone, accessing social media networks, associating with certain people, or accessing their finances under the measures announced by the Home Office. 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. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. “They cannot be allowed to get away with it.
