Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce an additional £75 million aimed at combating people-smuggling gangs. This funding will enhance the UK’s new Border Security Command (BSC), bringing its total budget to £150 million. The funds will be allocated toward developing new technology hubs and increasing staff for enforcement, intelligence, and prosecution.
The announcement coincides with the Interpol General Assembly, taking place in the UK for the first time in over 50 years. During this summit, Sir Keir plans to address nearly 200 Interpol member countries, stressing that “the world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge.”
Drawing on his experience as the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir aims to unite various agencies in addressing organized crime, particularly targeting international terrorist and drug-smuggling networks. He will emphasize:
“I was elected to deliver security for the British people, and strong borders are a part of that - but security doesn’t stop at our borders.”
Sir Keir’s strategy includes applying a counter-terrorism approach to border security, aiming to eliminate the “fragmentation” between law enforcement agencies, including Border Force and intelligence units.
The BSC, under the leadership of Martin Hewitt, will gain enhanced powers through a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, designed to simplify efforts in detecting and disrupting organized immigration crime.
In addition to the funding for BSC, Sir Keir will announce an increased support of £6 million for Interpol’s global operations this year, specifically targeting serious organized crime linked to drug trafficking. The Home Office will invest £24 million in the upcoming financial year to combat various forms of organized crime affecting the UK, including drugs, firearms trafficking, fraud, and exploitation.
This additional funding will bolster initiatives by special prosecutors and operational partners in critical regions like the Western Balkans.
In 2023 alone, there were 5,448 deaths attributed to drug poisoning—a staggering 11% increase from the previous year and the highest recorded since 1993. NCA Director General Graeme Biggar noted that there are currently 70 ongoing investigations into related gangs or individuals.
He stated:
“Serious and organised crime causes more harm, to more people, more often than any other national security threat."
Amid these developments, a Conservative Party spokesperson expressed skepticism about Sir Keir’s proposals without a strong deterrent for migrants attempting dangerous crossings.
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