the British government wants to crack down on smugglers

Suspected migrant smugglers will be subject to travel bans and restrictions on access to social networks, the British government announced on Thursday, which is facing a sharp increase in illegal crossings of the Channel.

In 2024, 36,816 irregular migrants managed to cross the Channel from France, an increase of 25% compared to 2023, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior published on Wednesday.

The fight against smugglers, a promise from Starmer

Since coming to power in July, Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to step up the fight against smuggling “gangs”.

People suspected of being part of these networks will be subject to “travel bans, bans on access to social networks and restrictions on the use of telephones”, according to a government press release.

“By taking action at an early stage, without the need for a conviction, these interim orders will help to combat people smugglers and other forms of serious and organized crime,” the government says.
A bill must be presented in the coming weeks.

Government policy has “made crossings more dangerous”

In a report published Thursday, the NGO Refugee Council also asserts that government policy, “including increased efforts to dismantle smuggling networks, have made crossings of the Channel even more dangerous”.

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“Boats that are increasingly overloaded and in poor condition have increased the risks for those making the journey,” accuses the NGO, which criticizes the government for not taking measures to improve assistance for migrants in difficulty during the crossing.

Refugee Council is calling on the government to publish, “jointly with the French government”, data on migrant deaths in the Channel, specifying age, sex and nationality where known.