Britain plans new crackdown on migrants entering Europe via Africa: National Crime Agency will work with Tunisia and Algeria to break up people-smuggling gangs
- Robert Jenrick will offer the UK’s assistance with tackling smuggling gangs
- The UK’s National Crime Agency will share intelligence with Tunisia and Algeria
British police will help African countries break up people-smuggling gangs in a bid to stop migrants coming to Europe, it was reported last night.
Officers from the National Crime Agency will work with Tunisia and Algeria to prevent an expected surge of hundreds of thousands of migrants leaving North Africa this summer.
The Italian government estimates that 400,000 migrants will seek to enter Italy this year, quadruple the number from last year.
The Home Office fears this will lead to more migrants travelling to the UK in small boats, so it is ramping up efforts to tackle the people-smuggling gangs that organise crossings.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick starts a five-day tour of Africa and Europe today including visits to Tunisia and Algeria, where he will offer ‘all the assets’ of the UK state to help ‘disrupt, degrade and deny gangs at source’.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick starts a five-day tour of Africa and Europe today including visits to Tunisia and Algeria, where he will offer ‘all the assets’ of the UK state to help ‘disrupt, degrade and deny gangs at source’
Officers from the National Crime Agency will work with Tunisia and Algeria to prevent an expected surge of hundreds of thousands of migrants leaving North Africa this summer
Mr Jenrick told The Times: ‘We’re taking the fight to the people-smuggling gangs upstream to help prevent dangerous and unnecessary journeys long before migrants are within reach of the UK.’
Under a new agreement, National Crime Agency officers will share intelligence and expertise with their counterparts in northern Africa to tackle gangs.
It comes as it was reported last night that up to 12,800 Albanians who entered the UK illegally have broken their bail conditions.
The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information laws and reported by The Daily Telegraph, show 12,842 Albanians who had been allowed out of detention on immigration bail pending their deportation failed to report to officials at their designated time in breach of their conditions.
Under a new agreement, National Crime Agency officers will share intelligence and expertise with their counterparts in northern Africa to tackle gangs
