Labour commits £150m to tackle asylum crisis

On Monday the Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an additional £75m to tackle the national security threat of people smuggling gangs and introduce a new team of detectives, bringing the investment in the Border Security Command over the next two years to £150 million. 

Labour launched the Border Security Command enforcement agency this summer. Reporting directly to the Home Secretary, it draws together the work of the National Crime Agency (NCA), intelligence agencies, police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force to better protect British borders and go after the smuggling gangs facilitating small boat crossings.

Led by Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, the Command will be provided with enhanced powers, through a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, to tackle organised immigration crime. 

This latest injection of investment will be used to fund hi-tech surveillance equipment and 100 specialist investigators who will target criminals engaged in people smuggling.

Labour is working hard to take back control of our borders and tackle the illegal gangs who exploit desperate people in search of safety. Since we took office, we have introduced new measures to strengthen border security, enforce immigration rules and increase returns. This latest injection of funding demonstrates how seriously the Prime Minister takes the problem.

It’s also important to highlight our humanitarian obligation to asylum seekers. Small boat crossings are dangerous and exploitative and must be stopped. 

In Blackpool South our priority must be processing the claims of asylum seekers, particularly those housed in the Metropole Hotel - which is completely unacceptable accommodation for vulnerable families. The government’s financial commitment will also support collaboration with local authorities and the third sector to improve accommodation and integration for asylum seekers. 

I have dealt with a number of asylum cases for people living in Blackpool South – following up on applications for people who have been living in limbo for months and years while waiting for decisions from the Home Office on whether they have a right to remain. Efficient processing of asylum claims will allow more foreign nationals to contribute positively to society, just as immigrants have done in Britain and in Blackpool for generations.

The Prime Minister said on Monday that “the world needs to wake up to the severity of this challenge” and that “there's nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men, women and children die in the channel.

“This is a vile trade that must be stamped out – wherever it thrives. So we're taking our approach to counter-terrorism - which we know works, and applying it to the gangs, with our new Border Security Command.  

“We're ending the fragmentation between policing, Border Force and our intelligence agencies.”