The Labour Government has shifted funds from the Rwanda asylum plan to bolster border security and crack down on people smugglers.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a £75 million investment to enhance technology and capabilities at Britain’s Border Security Command.
Cooper stated, “Criminal gangs are undermining our border security and endangering lives. The Border Security Command will upgrade law enforcement to tackle smugglers and trafficking gangs.”
The decision follows the arrival of over 1,000 migrants in the UK over the weekend, with eight men tragically losing their lives while attempting to cross the English Channel.
Funds originally designated for the Rwanda scheme, which was scrapped by the new Labour Government after the election, will now support these initiatives.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the Rwanda plan “dead and buried” shortly after taking office.
The package includes hidden cameras and monitoring technology to expedite investigations and increase prosecution success rates.
The National Crime Agency will receive additional resources, including 100 specialist investigators, to combat organized immigration crime.
NCA Director-General of Operations Rob Jones welcomed the funding, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to disrupting criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson highlighted the expertise that CPS prosecutors will bring to the new unit to combat human trafficking and pursue criminal assets.