Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to double funding for the UK’s border security agency to combat human smuggling gangs and reduce the number of migrants crossing the English Channel. Speaking at an Interpol meeting on Monday, Starmer highlighted the importance of addressing the threat posed by these gangs, which he described as a significant global security issue. He said, “The world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge” and plans to apply counterterrorism tactics to disrupt these criminal networks.
The proposed budget for the UK Border Security Command will increase from £75 million ($97 million) to £150 million ($194 million) over the next two years. This funding will support advanced surveillance technology and 100 specialist investigators focused on dismantling smuggling operations. The plan also includes greater cooperation among international law enforcement and new, enhanced powers for officers, although specific details were not disclosed.
Starmer’s Labour government, like previous Conservative administrations, is facing the challenge of stopping thousands of migrants trying to reach the UK from France. More than 31,000 migrants have already attempted the journey this year, surpassing 2023 figures, but not reaching 2022’s numbers. French authorities have reported that at least 56 people have died during crossings this year, making 2024 the deadliest year since the surge in attempts began in 2018.
In September, Starmer met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and praised Italy’s efforts to cut migrant arrivals by boat. He stated, “There’s nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women, and children die in the Channel.”
Critics from the Conservative Party have accused Starmer of undermining deterrence measures by canceling a policy that would have sent some asylum seekers arriving by boat to Rwanda. Although supporters of the plan believed it would deter crossings, human rights organizations condemned it as unethical. Starmer described the initiative as a “gimmick” and dropped it after his election in July, despite payments already made to Rwanda under the 2022 agreement.