UK leader plans quick-justice system to handle Channel crossing organizers
British government prepares £150 million package to speed-up smuggling cases through courts‚ similar to summer riot prosecutions. New border security unit will get counter-terror powers to track and stop illegal crossings
Sir Keir Starmer plans to copy summer riot court tactics for people-smuggling cases: a quick-justice system thats part of a £150 million anti-crossing plan
The UK government wants to speed-up smuggling cases processing - just like they did with the Southport riot cases few months ago (where over 1‚000 people got charged real quick) Its part of a bigger plan that includes hiring 400 new border officers and investigators
Border Security Command will get these cool new powers:
* Counter-terror style search rights
* Bank account monitoring abilities
* Special orders to limit suspects movement
* Phone data access permissions
* Expanded stop-and-search options
Yvette Cooper‚ the Home Secretary works with other ministers like Shabana Mahmood and Richard Hermer to make this happen. Theyʼre setting-up monthly meet-ups to check how things are going
Theres nothing progressive about turning a blind eye as men women and children die in the Channel
The government has to deal with a tricky situation - more people crossed the Channel this year than in 2023 and they still need hotels for migrants (costs about £4.2 mil per day) Even though they dont want to use hotels anymore its kind-of needed right now
New border unit will get 300 staff members‚ and crime agency gets 100 more people. Theyʼll work together with MI5 and other agencies to catch smugglers. The whole thing should start before xmas-2024‚ when they put new laws in place
Sir Keir plans to talk about this with other European leaders at a meet-up in Hungary this week. They want to share more info between countries and do joint operations - especially through Europol
