Yvette Cooper is set to lead a critical summit focused on dismantling criminal gangs responsible for smuggling across the Channel in small boats. The Home Office revealed that MI5 officers migrants have been assigned a significant role in these operations.
The summit, taking place at the National Crime Agency’s headquarters, will gather intelligence officers, Border Force personnel, and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Cooper, serving as Home Secretary, will be joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Attorney General Richard Hermer.
The meeting follows a tragic incident earlier this week, in which 12 people lost their lives while attempting the dangerous crossing. Another 257 people crossed the Channel on Wednesday.
Cooper highlighted the deadly nature of the crossings, saying, “Women and children were crammed into an unsafe boat that collapsed in the water this week, resulting in the tragic loss of 12 lives due to this evil trade.”
A Home Office statement emphasized that the UK intelligence community (UKIC) is deploying covert capabilities to help the NCA take down smuggling operations from facilitators to financiers.
Ministers and law enforcement agencies will review findings from an analysis of the smuggling gangs’ operational capacities during the summit. Recent collaborations with Bulgarian authorities have resulted in the seizure of over 40 boats and engines used for illegal crossings.
As part of broader efforts to address irregular migration, Downing Street announced that a new Border Security Command chief would be named soon. The recruitment process is underway, and an update is expected in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, charities are urging the government to create safe routes for asylum seekers, arguing that enforcement alone is not enough. Some have criticized the UK’s spending on bolstering the French coastline’s security, claiming it forces migrants to take even greater risks.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, stressed that any successful plan must go beyond enforcement, calling for expanded safe routes and better cooperation with European partners.
Among the victims of Tuesday’s tragedy were a pregnant woman and six children. Their boat sank off the northern French coast, making it one of the deadliest Channel crossings in recent years. The total number of small boat arrivals in 2024 has now reached approximately 21,977.
