SERIOUS CRIME LAWS TO BE OVERHAULED TO COMBAT PEOPLE-SMUGGLING GANGS
The government has announced plans to overhaul serious crime laws to combat people-smuggling gangs.
The move comes as part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration, which has seen a sharp rise in the number of people attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats.
Under the new plans, the maximum sentence for people-smuggling will be increased from 14 years to life imprisonment.
The government will also introduce a new offence of “assisting unlawful immigration”, which will carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
In addition, the government will create a new taskforce to target people-smuggling gangs and will increase funding for the National Crime Agency to support its work in this area.
The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said: “People-smuggling is a vile trade that puts lives at risk and undermines our immigration system.
“These new measures will send a clear message that we will not tolerate this activity and that those who engage in it will face the full force of the law.”
The plans have been welcomed by the UK Border Force, which said they would help to deter people-smuggling gangs and protect the UK’s borders.
However, some campaign groups have expressed concern that the new measures could lead to an increase in the number of people being detained and deported.
Key Points
- The government is planning to overhaul serious crime laws to combat people-smuggling gangs.
- The maximum sentence for people-smuggling will be increased from 14 years to life imprisonment.
- A new offence of “assisting unlawful immigration” will be introduced, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
- The government will create a new taskforce to target people-smuggling gangs and will increase funding for the National Crime Agency.
- The plans have been welcomed by the UK Border Force, but some campaign groups have expressed concern about the potential impact on people seeking asylum.
Additional Information
- People-smuggling is a global problem, with an estimated 2.4 million people being smuggled across borders each year.
- The UK is a major destination for people-smugglers, with an estimated 10,000 people attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats in 2021.
- People-smuggling gangs often charge exorbitant fees for their services, and many of their victims are forced to work in dangerous and exploitative conditions.
- The government’s plans to overhaul serious crime laws are part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration. Other measures include increasing the number of border patrol officers and introducing a new points-based immigration system.
SERIOUS CRIME LAWS TO BE OVERHAULED TO COMBAT PEOPLE-SMUGGLING GANGS
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