Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer Vows to Crack Down on People Smugglers

A New Approach to Small Boat Migration

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has declared that small boat people smugglers should be treated like terrorists attacking Britain. He promises to take action against the "evil criminal gangs making a mockery of us all" if his party wins power next year.

Setting Up a Cross-Border Police Force

Sir Keir plans to establish a new Cross-Border Police force that can swoop on people smugglers operating in European countries. British authorities would work alongside European crimefighters, such as Europol, to tackle the issue. The leader of the opposition also wants to change the law to allow people smugglers to be detained in a manner similar to terror suspects, with restricted movement.

Collaboration with European Partners

Today, Sir Keir will meet with Europol in the Hague to unveil his plans for the small boat fighting force. He intends to collaborate with European partners to monitor and disrupt the gangs' activities. This approach highlights his belief that combatting people smugglers should be given the same priority as dealing with other national security threats, like terrorism and foreign powers.

Obstacles on the Road to a Solution

However, any agreement Sir Keir proposes would require approval from the European Union, potentially leading to challenging negotiations with Brussels. The Labour leader plans to pitch his ideas to French president Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris next week.

Funding and Experience in Combating Criminal Networks

Labour aims to fund the proposed scheme by reallocating the funds currently designated for the Rwanda deportation plan, which has not yet resulted in the deportation of any migrants to Rwanda. Sir Keir, a former chief prosecutor, believes his experience in apprehending drug dealers and terrorists equips him perfectly for tackling the current boat crisis. His track record of bringing together international agencies to intercept drug networks and combat arms smuggling is seen as evidence of his ability to dismantle criminal enterprises. According to a Labour source, Sir Keir understands the organizational strength, resources, and ruthlessness of these gangs and is committed to breaking them up as Prime Minister, ensuring the security of UK borders.