(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)] The government has warned that illegal employers are persuading migrants to come to the UK under false pretences, encouraging them to make dangerous journeys to Britain organised by criminal gangs.
‘Not only does this create a dangerous draw for people to risk their lives by crossing the Channel in a small boat, but it results in the abuse of vulnerable people, the immigration system and our economy.’.
Keir Starmer had previously vowed to treat people smugglers as ‘terrorists’, with up to 14 years of jail time for anyone involved in selling and handling boat parts for people smuggling.
‘For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit illegal migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken,’ she added.
Social media adverts created by the government have been airing in Vietnam and Albania over the New Year, hoping to deter people from travelling to the UK.
