Blitz Bureau
The UK will develop a new sanctions regime to cripple people- Xand starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.
As the world’s first standalone sanctions regime dedicated to targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime, it will allow the UK to target individuals and entities enabling dangerous journeys. The announcement forms part of the Government’s bold and credible plan to bring back control of the immigration system, smash the gangs and secure our borders.
As part of the Plan for Change, the Government is committed to reducing small boat crossings and net migration and ending the routine use of asylum hotels, according to official press release. The regime, which is expected to come into force within the year, will target organised immigration networks. Criminal networks are making huge profits exploiting vulnerable people by facilitating irregular migratory movements, including dangerous sea crossings across Europe.
Sanctions experts from across government will work with law enforcement and operational Home Office colleagues to deliver an effective and targeted regime that stems finance flows at their source and deters smugglers from profiting off the trafficking of innocent people, it said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said,“We must dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders. By crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe, we will deliver on our Plan for Change and secure UK borders”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, “It is completely unrealistic to combat irregular migration without a role for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. “It is an issue which ties together the foreign and the domestic most acutely.
“I’m proud to announce that the UK is set to be the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime. This will help to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and the smuggling of migrants into the UK,” he added. People smuggling poses significant challenges to global security. This sanctions development is the latest innovative move by the government to use every tool possible to crack down on vile people smugglers risking people’s lives in the Channel.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, “Since coming into power, we have taken swift and robust action to smash the gangs, working with international partners to track down and disrupt dangerous criminal networks.With these new sanctions, we will target those profiting off putting lives at risk and disrupt the gangs’ finances, making it harder for them to operate”.
