Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce an additional £75 million aimed at combating people-smuggling gangs. This announcement coincides with the Interpol General Assembly, which is being hosted in the UK for the first time in over 50 years. Sir Keir’s initiative seeks to reassess the country’s approach to border security.
This financial boost brings the total funding for the UK’s new Border Security Command (BSC) to £150 million. The funds will be allocated towards developing new technology hubs and expanding staffing for enforcement, intelligence, and prosecution.
During the Glasgow summit, which gathers senior police officials and ministers from nearly 200 Interpol member countries, Sir Keir will emphasize that “the world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge.” Drawing from his experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, he plans to unite various agencies to combat both international terrorism and drug-smuggling operations.
He stated:
“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. There’s nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women, and children die in the Channel.”
The Prime Minister aims to apply a counter-terrorism approach to border security in order to eliminate fragmentation among policing, Border Force, and intelligence agencies. The BSC, led by Martin Hewitt, will be empowered by a new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, facilitating better detection and disruption of organized immigration crime.
In addition to the £75 million boost, Sir Keir will announce an increase in UK government support for Interpol’s global operations with an extra £6 million this year targeting serious organized crime linked to drug trafficking. Moreover, the Home Office plans to invest £24 million in tackling international organized crime threats affecting the UK, including drug and firearm trafficking.
In 2023 alone, there were 5,448 deaths related to drug poisoning—an alarming increase of 11% from the previous year. According to NCA Director General Graeme Biggar, there are currently 70 investigations focused on gangs or individuals involved in these crimes. He remarked:
“Serious and organized crime causes more harm, to more people, more often than any other national security threat.”
The need for collaboration with Interpol is more crucial than ever as criminals continue to operate across borders without regard for distance or language barriers.
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