The U.K. government has more than doubled the number of crime agency officers deployed to combat human smuggling in the past 18 months as it steps up efforts to stop the gangs behind illegal migration.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on a trip to the port of Dover that he would be ¡°relentless¡± in addressing small-boat crossings and build on work that has seen National Crime Agency officers on the case increased to almost 800 from 376 at the start of 2025.
¡°The public don¡¯t like the idea that the border looks like it¡¯s not controlled,¡± Burnham said. ¡°We need to bring back that control, but also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it. So we¡¯re just going to be relentless.¡±
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