SIR KEIR Starmer will declare the border crisis a “national security” threat as he creates a new crack team of investigators to tackle people smugglers.
The PM is launching a week-long diplomatic blitz as he puts fixing Britain’s broken borders at the heart of his mission in government.
GettySir Keir Starmer will launch a stop the boats blitz as he holds talks with European leaders and announces new legal crackdowns[/caption]
ReutersItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at talks in Rome[/caption]
He will use a speech at the Interpol General Assembly this week to announce new cash and powers for officers to launch anti smuggling operations.
And a new Organised Immigration Crime Intelligence Unit of specialist investigators is being created to tackle the crisis.
Later in the week, he will hold talks with European leaders including Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on the boats crisis at a summit in Hungary.
Sir Keir told The Sun on Sunday: “Organised immigration crime does not stop at our borders and cannot be defeated by one country acting in isolation.
“The UK is rebuilding its alliances across the world so we can take down these gangs that trade in human misery and the hope they find in their victims.
“No more gimmicks or wasted money – these gangs must be stopped, our asylum system brought under control and our borders secured.”
Sir Keir will tell Interpol that he will use counter terror tactics to crack down on people smugglers.
These could include the ability to shut down bank accounts, cut off internet access and seize evidence before offences take place.
A No10 source said: “The vile people smuggling gangs must be stopped. Illegal boat crossings risk our nation’s security.
“We are banging heads together at home, and equipping enforcement organisations with the tools they need to take down the gangs.
“And we’re not just ramping up funding to tackle this problem at source, we’re stamping it onto the agenda in conversations with European leaders.
“Keir’s smashed criminal gangs before, he’s doing the same with people smuggling ones.”
The PM wants to use the full force of the law on people smugglers – like he did with rioters this summer.
He will chair his first monthly meeting of key Cabinet ministers on illegal migration on Tuesday to make sure progress is made on the government mission.
A staggering 30,000 small boat migrants have arrived in Britain so far this year.
Sir Keir made tackling the small boats crisis a key election pledge.
But he sparked a massive backlash for scrapping the Rwanda deportation scheme without having another deterrent.
The PM thinks his experience as Britain’s former Director of Public Prosecutions will help him lead the charge on arresting and prosecuting people smugglers.