British police officers are aiding north African countries to crack down on people-smuggling gangs, in an attempt to prevent hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean in small boats this year. 80,000 migrants came to Italy within the first three months of this year via small boats and other irregular means, The Times reports. Officials however anticipate there will be more crossing in the summer, leading them to renewed efforts to target trafficking gangs. They will exchange intelligence with north African police forces and local authorities to shut down immigration crime gangs. The legislation, if passed, would also give the government powers to detain migrants indefinitely as well as deport them to Rwanda.

Source: The Times May 29, 2023 02:43 UTC