Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce an additional £75 million to strengthen the UK’s fight against people-smuggling gangs, aligning with the opening of the Interpol General Assembly in the UK for the first time in over 50 years. This funding boost will increase support for the UK’s new Border Security Command (BSC), bringing total investment to £150 million for enhanced technology, additional enforcement staff, and improved intelligence capabilities.
Addressing the summit in Glasgow, attended by police and ministers from nearly 200 Interpol member nations, Sir Keir will emphasize the urgent need to address organized crime and bolster border security. Drawing on his experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, he aims to create a united approach against terrorism, drug trafficking, and human smuggling networks.
In his speech, Sir Keir will assert, “I was elected to deliver security for the British people, and strong borders are part of that commitment. But security doesn’t end at our borders. There’s nothing progressive about ignoring the deadly toll in the Channel—this vile trade must be stopped wherever it operates.”
Sir Keir’s approach includes a counter-terrorism framework for border security, aiming to end fragmentation among the police, Border Force, and intelligence agencies. Under the new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, the BSC—led by Martin Hewitt—will receive expanded powers to detect, disrupt, and deter organized immigration crime, coordinating closely with European partners.
Key BSC initiatives include:
– An additional 300 staff for global partnerships and enforcement
– 100 specialist investigators and intelligence officers in the National Crime Agency (NCA) to tackle people-smuggling rings
– Advanced technology for data analysis to strengthen collaborations with European partners
– A new intelligence unit to process insights from key police forces
– Increased resources for the Crown Prosecution Service to expedite charging in international crime cases
The UK will also contribute an additional £6 million to Interpol’s global operations against serious crime impacting the UK, particularly drug trafficking. Furthermore, the Home Office plans to allocate £24 million next year to combat international crime, including drugs, firearms, fraud, and exploitation, with some funds supporting initiatives in the Western Balkans.
NCA Director General Graeme Biggar highlighted the need for global cooperation, as “serious and organized crime affects more people and causes more harm than any other security threat.” With 70 current investigations into organized crime networks, Biggar noted that distance, borders, and language pose no barriers for criminals, making international partnerships with Interpol more crucial than ever.
A spokesperson from the Conservative Party, however, questioned the effectiveness of Sir Keir’s measures without a clear deterrent against Channel crossings, noting that Starmer previously opposed legislation aimed at curbing people-smuggling networks.
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