London, Sep 16 (PTI) The UK on Monday appointed a new Border Force Commander with “unique expertise” to tackle the growing problem of illegal migrants crossing over to England in unsafe small boats across the English Channel and smashing the smuggling gangs facilitating the dangerous crossings.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Martin Hewitt as the new border chief just before an official visit to Rome for talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni to learn from the country’s successes in the area, including a scheme of sending illegal migrants to Albania while their claims are processed.
It comes a day after eight people died in another mishap when a boat packed with migrants capsized in the Channel while crossing over to England from France.
“No more gimmicks. This government will tackle the smuggling gangs who trade the lives of men, women and children across borders,” said Starmer.
“Martin Hewitt’s unique expertise will lead a new era of international enforcement to dismantle these networks, protect our shores and bring order to the asylum system,” he said.
According to Downing Street, Hewitt has over 30 years of experience tackling serious crime as former Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), having led strategic coordination across all UK police forces and played a critical role in shaping national responses to major security threats, including terrorism, organised crime and illegal migration.
His new role at the Border Security Command comes armed with enhanced powers and will coordinate the work of all our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to lead joint investigations with European counterparts to address organised immigration crime.
“For too long, the criminal gangs who smuggle people through Europe have abused our borders in the name of profit, and they are responsible for the deaths of scores of vulnerable, innocent people. We will dismantle them, bring them to justice and prevent them from using exploitation and deceit to fill their pockets,” said Hewitt.
“Dangerous criminal smuggling gangs have been making millions out of small boat crossings, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk, and getting away with it for far too long. Under this government we have taken early action against the smuggler gangs including increasing British officers stationed at Europol and commencing recruitment of 100 specialist investigators to go after these criminal networks and their supply chains, including seizing boats and engines,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
“With the Border Security Command we can go much further – building new law enforcement partnerships across Europe and getting new powers into place, to go after the gangs, tackle dangerous boat crossings and save lives,” she added.
As part of his Italian visit, Starmer will discuss the European Union member country’s success in tackling irregular migration, which has seen a 60 per cent drop in illegal migration by sea over the past year as a result of tough enforcement and international cooperation.
Downing Street said the UK PM will be joined in Rome by the new Commander and outline the UK’s strategy to work more closely with European partners to pursue, disrupt and arrest those responsible for this “vile trade”.
During their visit this week, the duo will also tour the National Coordination Centre for Migration to see first-hand how Italy responds to irregular migration and discuss future cooperation. PTI AK PY PY PY
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