The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued an alert to the UK maritime industry, warning that organised crime groups are seeking small boats to smuggle asylum seekers across the English Channel. The NCA expects an increase in such activity over the summer.
UK law enforcement detected more than 8,000 migrant arrivals via the Channel in 2020, over four times the 2019 total, as other routes were disrupted by the pandemic. The NCA said criminal groups target legitimate sellers of vessels and equipment, such as outboard motors and lifejackets, both in person and online, and have also stolen boats and equipment.
The alert lists suspicious activities, including unusual combinations of boats and equipment in one transaction, lack of concern about condition, a desire for quick completion, and buyers avoiding providing a fixed delivery address. Miles Bonfield, NCA head of organised immigration crime operations, urged industry insiders to trust their instincts: 'They know their industry and their customers well.'
The rise in Channel crossings has partly inspired a proposed overhaul of the asylum system, which the British Red Cross called 'inhumane'. Home Secretary Priti Patel's reforms would make migrants arriving by small boats indefinitely liable for removal, even if granted asylum. However, the UK's exit from the EU framework makes such removals uncertain, with several EU states refusing to cooperate.
