The United Kingdom is introducing new laws to dismantle organised immigration crime networks by targeting people smugglers through travel bans, social media blackouts, and phone usage restrictions.
These changes are part of a broader strategy to address serious crime, including smuggling and other forms of organised crimes in the UK.
The new system includes an upgrade to the Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs), which are being expanded to include Interim Orders.
These interim orders will allow immediate action to disrupt suspected people smugglers and other serious criminals.
The orders will also enable law enforcement agencies to impose restrictions on suspects even before a conviction is made to speed up the process and reduce delays.
The Interim Orders will further help prevent individuals under investigation from continuing their illegal activities while investigations and prosecutions take place.
The restrictions can be applied directly to the High Court by law enforcement authorities, without needing a full SCPO. This swift response is intended to address organised crime more efficiently and stop further harm.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised the importance of the new laws in tackling people smuggling, saying, “Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. They cannot be allowed to get away with it.”
Cooper cited the recent success of international cooperation, such as the disruption of a major people-smuggling ring involving Afghan criminals, which saw several arrests.
Cooper also noted that this legislation forms a part of the government’s broader plan for change, which includes improving border security, increasing safety, and ensuring stronger law enforcement to address crime.
The announcement follows the successful disruption of an Afghan people-smuggling ring earlier in the week.
A joint operation between the NCA and Belgian authorities led to the arrest of three individuals who had fled Belgium to avoid prosecution.
The gang was responsible for smuggling thousands of migrants into Europe and the UK, and its members were accused of involvement in serious criminal activities, including sexual offenses against migrant minors.
The UK government’s focus on combating people smuggling is also reflected in the establishment of the Border Security Command, a new initiative that unites key operational leaders to target and disrupt criminal gangs.
With a budget of £150 million, the initiative will work to break the business models of smuggling operations and bring offenders to justice.
The restrictions imposed under these new laws will vary, depending on the case, but they could include travel bans, limits on the use of phones and laptops, and social media access bans.
Suspects may also face restrictions on their associations, including who they can communicate with or have contact with. In addition, financial restrictions may be applied to prevent criminal profits from going untracked.
The government has made it clear that breaching these Interim Orders could result in a prison sentence of up to five years, serving as a deterrent for those engaged in serious organised crime.
In addition to new measures against smuggling, the government has made significant progress in addressing illegal immigration. Since the last election, nearly 13,500 individuals with no legal right to be in the UK have been returned to their home countries.
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