More than 8,000 adverts on social media were taken down last year where smugglers were promoting crossings, before moving to encrypted channels. Some 600 engines were seized and hundreds of people arrested for facilitating journeys in efforts to crack down on smuggling gangs. The legislation is continuing through Parliament with plans to introduce new criminal offences and hand counter terror-style powers to police and enforcement agencies to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. The addition announced on Sunday will widen the right to work scheme for gig economy workers not currently covered in existing laws. Ahead of the international summit, the Conservatives said Labour’s claims of being tough on immigration were “risible”.

Source: The Times March 30, 2025 06:14 UTC