An international summit on organized migrant crime was held in London on Monday under the leadership of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. As he hosted an international summit on organized migration crime in London on Monday, Keir Starmer declared that people-smugglers should be treated like terrorists.
When he was director of public prosecutions more than ten years ago, Starmer called on officials from more than 40 nations to work together across national boundaries to stop smugglers, just as they did to stop terrorists.
The summit was the most recent step in the government’s efforts to combat organized crime and reduce irregular migration. More people have crossed the Channel in small boats this year than had done so by this point in the previous three, indicating that the strategy has not yet proven successful.
A variety of new policy initiatives, including £30 million to address international trafficking routes and the illicit money flows that support them, were unveiled by ministers to kick off the summit. The Crown Prosecution Service will receive an additional £3 million to support the expansion of its global operations.
Among the nations represented were the United States, Vietnam, Iraq, and France. Representatives from Meta and TikTok were also present to discuss ways to prevent the online promotion of human smuggling.
Yvette Cooper, the UK Home Secretary, announced on Sunday that the government would also amend employment laws to make it illegal for businesses to hire someone without the required visa, even if they do so as a contractor rather than an employee. This means they are focusing on establishments that frequently employ undocumented workers without verifying their immigration status, including restaurants, takeout, barbershops, and beauty salons.
Soon after taking office last year, Starmer and Cooper abandoned the Rwanda plan of the previous administration in favor of cross-border measures to combat people smugglers.
Citing a string of recent arrests of individuals they characterize as “smuggling kingpins,” officials claim the strategy is effective. For instance, three men who were arrested in the UK were recently found guilty in Belgium of smuggling people.
But the number of small boat crossings keeps increasing. This year, more than 5,000 people have crossed the border, which was accomplished more quickly than in any previous year.
