Measures include travel restrictions, phone and social media bans, and harsh violation fines. Experts wonder if they can help lower Channel crossings.
Aimed at cracking down on people smuggling before they are convicted, the UK government is adding strict temporary orders as part of its upcoming border security bill. Aiming to make it more difficult for traffickers to operate, ministers believe these steps will dramatically reduce illegal activity and improve border security.
What will the crackdown on traffic entail?
Small boat crossings across the Channel rose in 2024 by a quarter from the year before. In the last days of December alone, 1,776 people were across the Channel despite significant efforts to confiscate dinghies and apprehend traffickers.
The new temporary rules in England and Wales forbid using laptops or mobile phones, limit access to social media networks, and restrict travel. Offenders may also be limited in their access to money and contacts with other people. Breaking these rules could result in up to five years behind bars. The government’s main objectives are to undercut people smuggling operations and improve border security throughout the United Kingdom.
The Home Secretary said, “Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk”. They cannot be let go of it.
How Will the Interim Orders Be Applied?
The temporary orders add to the current significant crime prevention policies, which usually demand a long and challenging implementation process. The proposed legislation allows law enforcement agencies to apply directly to the High Court for immediate restrictions.
The Home Secretary emphasized the need for rapid enforcement: “We will give law enforcement the stronger powers they need to pursue and stop more of these vile gang networks.”
While the government hopes these measures will hinder traffickers’ activities while investigations and prosecutions are underway, experts question their potential impact. Some argue that border security alone may not be enough to stop the flow of migrants, as people smuggling networks often operate with vast resources and reach.
Will Stricter Enforcement Deter Channel Crossings?
Migration experts have raised concerns about whether stricter enforcement can deter Channel crossings. A leading expert highlighted the decentralized nature of people smuggling operations.
“Increased enforcement activity may well impact people smugglers themselves, bringing more of them to justice,” the expert said. “It is much less clear whether it will impact the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats. The trading is decentralized and profitable. If one smuggler is brought down, new ones may easily move in to fill the space.”
A delegate from a refugee agency voiced similar worries, urging the government to focus on developing safe and legal avenues for migrants.
“Further enforcement action alone, without addressing the reasons why people are willing to put their lives at risk in the first place, is likely to lead to more dangerous journeys and more human tragedies,” the spokesman warned.
What Other Measures Are Part of the Border Security Bill?
The border security bill also includes provisions to empower the newly constituted Border Security Command and tackle smuggling gang ringleaders. The administration acknowledged a coordinated operation that stopped a major Afghan smuggling network responsible for bringing thousands of people into Europe.
The Home Secretary emphasised the government’s moral responsibility to address Channel crossings and committed to focus on clearing the asylum backlog, which has seen roughly 13,500 deportations since July. However, they avoided establishing a target for a sharp crossing drop.
“Stronger international collaboration has already led to important arrests and action against dangerous gangs over the last few months,” the Home Secretary underlined. “Border security is one of the foundations of this government’s plan for change.”
Why Are Safe and Legal Routes Important?
Critics contend that enforcement measures alone will not solve the underlying causes of migration. Emphasising the need for safe and legal paths as a top priority for 2025, advocates cautioned of the human cost of not offering reasonable alternatives to individuals from war-torn nations like Afghanistan and Sudan.
What Political Discussion Around These Policies Is There?
The steps have generated political controversy and criticism. One critic charged the opposition with not supporting harsher penalties for earlier smugglers.
The critic said: “They have a cheek claiming to be tough on people smuggling gangs – they voted against higher sentences for these very same smuggling gangs in the last parliament.”
Government sources cited 88 clear weather days in the second half of 2024 compared to 50 in 2023, linking the rise in crossings to favourable conditions.
Although the government’s latest actions seek to disrupt trafficking networks, migration experts and advocates caution that enforcement must be matched with policies addressing the more general reasons for migration, it is unknown if these temporary rules will cause a notable drop in Channel crossings.
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