New Delhi: New laws will allow the government to impose travel bans and social media blackouts on suspected people smugglers, the Home Office has announced.
According to a press released by the government, new measures are designed to dismantle organised immigration crime networks and will be included in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. This new approach will give the government new powers to tackle serious crime, including organised immigration crime, similar to those used to stop knife crime, slavery, and trafficking.
Suspected criminals will also face restrictions on phone usage under the plans.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “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.
“Stronger international collaboration has already led to important arrests and action against dangerous gangs over the last few months. We will give law enforcement stronger powers they need to pursue and stop more of these vile gang networks.”
The government said the current process for securing a Serious Crime Prevention Order on suspects can be “complex and lengthy”.
Interim Orders will speed up the process for placing restrictions on people under investigation while a full order is considered. The orders will allow the National Crime Agency (NCA), police and other law enforcement agencies to apply directly to the High Court to impose immediate restrictions.
Restrictions will vary by case, potentially including bans on laptops or phones, social media, and finances, and breaching an Interim Order can result in up to five years in prison, it added.