Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing ministers of "undermining" the National Crime Agency (NCA) with their "poorly planned" immigration policies.
Speaking in Parliament, Cooper highlighted the government's failure to provide adequate resources to the NCA, which is tasked with combating organised immigration crime. She argued that recent legislation has left the agency "struggling to keep up" with criminal networks exploiting vulnerable migrants.
Government Accused of Contradictory Policies
Cooper pointed to glaring inconsistencies in the government's approach:
- Increased powers for the NCA without corresponding funding
- New immigration laws that complicate prosecution efforts
- Failure to address modern slavery concerns in border policies
The Labour MP warned that these failures are "directly benefiting people smugglers" while putting vulnerable migrants at greater risk.
NCA 'Left Without Proper Tools'
According to Cooper, frontline officers are being "let down by Westminster" as they attempt to tackle increasingly sophisticated criminal operations. She cited examples where:
- Investigations had to be scaled back due to resource constraints
- Key intelligence operations were delayed
- Prosecution rates for people smugglers have dropped
The shadow minister called for urgent reforms to ensure the NCA can properly fulfil its crime-fighting mandate.
