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A recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed significant failures by law enforcement agencies in England and Wales to effectively target criminal smuggling gangs, putting vulnerable migrants at increased risk. The watchdog's findings highlight a concerning gap between the government's stated priority of reducing illegal migration and the reality on the ground, where opportunities to disrupt these dangerous criminal networks are being missed, Daily Dazzling Dawn understand.
The report, commissioned by the Home Secretary in 2024, examined how police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA) are tackling organised immigration crime (OIC). While the number of recorded disruptions related to OIC has increased, inspectors were alarmed to discover that most organised crime groups suspected of involvement in OIC were not under active investigation.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman stated, "We found that the number of disruptions relating to OIC recorded had increased substantially. However, we were surprised and concerned to find that most organised crime groups believed to be involved in OIC weren’t being actively investigated."
The report underscores the perilous circumstances faced by migrants attempting to reach the UK, with small boat crossings across the English Channel described as the "most common and extraordinarily dangerous way" to enter the country. By failing to adequately address the criminal networks facilitating these crossings, law enforcement agencies are inadvertently contributing to the risks faced by migrants.
In response to the report's findings, the government has established a domestic task force to tackle criminal gangs operating within the UK. The government also insists that it has already taken action, including setting up the Border Security Command and increasing the NCA's operations and intelligence gathering with other countries.
An NCA spokesman stated, “In the year since this inspection took place, we have continued to develop and improve our collective response to the threat posed by people smuggling gangs, increasing the number of disruptions against them by more than a third, and we are committed to working with law enforcement and government partners to go further.”
However, the HMICFRS report raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current strategies and the safety of migrants seeking refuge in the UK. By focusing on cracking down on the criminal gangs, law enforcement can help to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and dangerous journeys.
