People selling and handling small boat parts suspected of being used in migrant Channel crossings could face up to 14 years in prison under the new UK law which tries to pursue people smugglers and disrupt their ability to carry out small boat crossings.
Border officials will also get powers to seize migrants’ phones in the search for intelligence about who helped them cross the Channel.
The government is also introducing new offences against gangs conspiring to plan crossings, selling or handling small boat parts for use in the Channel, supplying forged ID documents, for migrants attempting to cross illegally.
Under the plans, collecting information for smuggling gangs to use for crossings – such as departure points, dates and times – will also be criminalised.
The new law allows immigration officers and police to seize phones, laptops and other electronic devices at an earlier stage before arrests are made, if they are suspected of containing information about organised immigration crime.
It also allows law enforcement to arrest those involved in facilitating organised immigration crime at a much earlier stage than is currently possible, meaning they can intervene quicker, more effectively and before smuggling takes place.
The new measures, included within the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, were introduced in Parliament on January 30.
The measures will for the first time allow counter-terror style tactics to be used against smuggling gangs through unprecedented tools to stop smugglers before they act.
The robust, workable measures will directly go after organised crime groups who – even in the freezing temperatures in the Channel this month – are continuing to organise dangerous crossings, the UK Home Office says.
The bill will also modernise biometric checks overseas to build a clear picture of individuals coming to the UK and preventing those with a criminal history from entering.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Over the last six years, criminal smuggling gangs have been allowed to take hold all along our borders, making millions out of small boat crossings.
“This bill will equip our law enforcement agencies with the powers they need to stop these vile criminals, disrupting their supply chains and bringing more of those who profit from human misery to justice.
“These new counter terror-style powers, including making it easier to seize mobile phones at the border, along with statutory powers for our new Border Security Command to focus activity across law enforcement agencies and border force will…. turbocharge efforts to smash the gangs.”
