British Prime Minister addressed an international law-enforcement conference, highlighting the seriousness of people-smuggling gangs sending migrants across the English Channel in small boats. He emphasized the need to treat these gangs as terror networks to combat the threat effectively.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of global awareness regarding the severity of the challenge posed by people-smuggling, likening it to a global security threat akin to terrorism. He outlined plans to adopt a counterterrorism approach, involving enhanced cooperation between law-enforcement agencies, closer coordination with other countries, and granting additional powers to law enforcement.
To bolster efforts, the U.K. government announced a significant increase in the budget for the Border Security Command, allocating funds for high-tech surveillance equipment and specialist investigators.
At the Interpol congress in Glasgow, Scotland, senior officials from 196 member nations discussed the need for stronger international policing cooperation to combat various crimes, including drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, and people-smuggling.
Despite Brexit complicating law-enforcement cooperation by exiting Europol, the U.K. government seeks a new security pact with the EU to restore real-time intelligence sharing.
The ongoing challenge of migrants attempting to reach the U.K. from France via dangerous boat journeys has resulted in numerous fatalities. The government faces criticism for its handling of asylum-seekers, with differing views on proposed solutions such as sending migrants to other countries.
As the Interpol congress continues, a new general secretary is expected to be named, marking a significant change in leadership for the organization.
Interpol, with a century-long history, plays a crucial role in facilitating international police cooperation to combat various crimes, including terrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime, and organized crime.
For more updates on migration issues, follow AP’s coverage at AP Migration Hub.
