Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has pledged an additional £75 million to enhance the capabilities of the Border Security Command (BSC), established earlier in 2024 to tackle the growing national security threat posed by people-smuggling gangs.
This funding will be used to acquire state-of-the-art surveillance technology and improve the coordination between agencies involved in border security, such as Border Force, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and intelligence agencies. The government is shifting to a counter-terrorism approach to border security, aiming to end the fragmentation between policing and intelligence agencies.
In his speech at the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow on November 4, 2024, Starmer stressed the severity of the challenge posed by people smuggling, especially in relation to dangerous Channel crossings. He framed the issue as a national security threat that requires a unified response, claiming that strong borders are necessary for the safety of the British people.
He also condemned the people-smuggling trade, urging action against the criminal networks responsible for it. The government’s approach applies counter-terrorism tactics, which have been successful in other areas of national security, to fight these smuggling gangs.
This latest £75 million investment builds on an earlier commitment from September 2024, increasing the total investment in the BSC to £150 million over the next two years. This funding will enhance the NCA’s technological and intelligence-gathering capabilities, such as advanced data exploitation, to bolster cooperation with European partners.
Keir Starmer Pledges £75 Million to Strengthen UK Border Security Amid Growing Threat of People Smuggling
A new specialist intelligence unit will also be created to improve the sharing of information between UK police forces and other international law enforcement bodies. The BSC will also see the addition of 300 new staff members, including investigators and intelligence officers.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that the increased funding and international cooperation would lead to a significant step forward in targeting criminal gangs.
These gangs operate across national borders, and the UK government is prioritizing collaboration with international partners, including Europol, the G7, and European countries, to disrupt their operations. Cooper also pointed out the urgency of curbing the illegal crossings in the Channel, which she described as a threat to the UK’s border security and human lives.
However, the UK government’s focus on enforcement measures has drawn criticism from refugee and migrant rights organizations. Charities argue that merely strengthening border security and surveillance technologies will not address the root causes of irregular migration.
Instead, they suggest that the government should create more safe and legal routes for refugees, as the current pathways are limited. The Refugee Council, in particular, warned that without addressing the lack of safe options for migration, more desperate people would resort to using smugglers, thus exacerbating the problem.
Some critics also contend that the government’s approach fails to meet international protection obligations for refugees. Amnesty International pointed out that the current system offers few safe and legal entry routes for asylum seekers, leaving many vulnerable individuals with no choice but to make perilous journeys.
A recent Parliamentary research briefing emphasized that only a few nationalities have access to safe routes, and even then, not all qualify for full refugee status. Asylum seekers from most countries are not provided with legal routes to enter the UK, putting them at greater risk.
The government’s ongoing investment in surveillance technology also continues to be a point of contention. The UK’s surveillance efforts in the Channel already include unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, and radar systems. This technological approach is being expanded through a collaboration with the EU border agency Frontex, which allows for better intelligence sharing and surveillance of migration patterns across Europe.
However, some human rights groups argue that the focus on technology and enforcement may not be the most effective way to protect migrants or address the systemic issues causing irregular migration, and may instead violate privacy rights. Similar enforcement-driven policies are being pursued by other European countries, creating a broader regional trend toward harsher migration control measures.
