Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce illegal immigration.

Since entering office, we have already launched the Border Security Command (BSC), led by Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, to strengthen our approach to prevent illegal migration. The Home Secretary recently announced investment of an additional £75 million for the BSC. This brings investment up until the end of the next financial year up to £150 million. This will help to build capability, taking the fight to criminals in Europe and beyond and directly targeting the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings.

The BSC will provide strategic direction across the relevant agencies and partners, drawing together the work across the border security system. It will also work with international partners to disrupt the activity of criminal smuggling gangs and ensure those profiting from people-smuggling are brought to justice.

As set out in the King’s speech, this government will introduce new legislative measures to restore order to our border.

The proposed new legislation will include provisions to give the border security system stronger powers to disrupt, investigate and prosecute facilitators of organised immigration crime.