Figures show alarming ratio
Recent figures have revealed a concerning trend in the number of migrants entering Britain via small boats compared to the small boat pilots caught and jailed. Between the start of 2022 and mid-October, less than 200 people smugglers guiding small boats across the English Channel were apprehended, despite over 104,000 migrants landing on the shores of Dover.
Parliamentary findings
A parliamentary question tabled by Northern Irish Peer Lord Reg Empey shed light on the issue, with Home Office minister Lord Hanson confirming that only 188 individuals were convicted as small boat pilots during this period, and just four individuals were jailed for their involvement in organized crime gangs linked to small boat criminality.
Concerns and calls for action
The alarming statistics have raised concerns among officials and politicians, with calls for immediate action to tackle the issue. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has vowed to dismantle people-smuggling gangs charging hefty fees to asylum seekers for perilous crossings, especially after more than 50 deaths during such trips this year alone.
Response from authorities
Authorities have been urged to take swift and decisive action to address the issue. Former Tory security minister Sir John Hayes emphasized the need for exemplary sentences to deter potential small boat pilots, while PM Sir Keir Starmer praised the recent arrest of a suspected people-smuggling kingpin in Amsterdam.
Government's stance
The government, through a Home Office spokesman, has reiterated its commitment to ending dangerous small boat crossings by targeting criminal smuggling gangs. The newly established Border Security Command is working tirelessly to dismantle these networks and bring those responsible to justice.
