Yvette Cooper dedicates £8 million to crackdown on illegal workers

In a significant step towards tackling the rise of illegal immigration through people smuggling, the United Kingdom has established a joint taskforce with Italy. This announcement was made by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper during her visit to Rome, where she held discussions with Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi. The initiative signifies a collaborative effort to use 'mafia-busting' tactics aimed at dismantling the financial networks of human trafficking organizations operating across the English Channel. The taskforce will bring together experts in financial investigation and law enforcement from both nations, with a specific focus on disrupting the criminal finances that fuel these smuggling operations. The ongoing crisis of irregular migration has seen an alarming increase in the number of individuals attempting to cross the Channel in small boats. According to recent government statistics, over 34,500 people have made such crossings in 2024 alone, which marks a 19% rise from the previous year. Just last Thursday, a record 609 individuals crossed the dangerous waters, indicating the pressing need for effective measures to control this rising trend. Given that nearly 13,500 migrants have been removed from Britain since July, the government is trying to portray its actions as a robust response. The joint taskforce seeks to implement a 'follow the money' strategy, akin to Italy's commensurable efforts against mafia organizations. Senior officials from both the UK and Italian governments, along with representatives from law enforcement agencies, have convened to agree on this approach. They aim to freeze criminal bank accounts associated with smugglers and enhance the prosecution rates of these international networks. This cooperation is expected to come about not only through analytical efforts but via cooperation in enforcement, underlining the seriousness of both nations in addressing this transnational issue. In addition to addressing smuggling operations, Cooper reiterated the significance of curbing illegal work in the UK, describing it as detrimental to law-abiding employers and the economy at large. To support these enforcement capabilities, she has allocated £5 million for body-worn cameras and £3 million for new fingerprint kits. These resources are intended to fortify the operational efficiency of immigration enforcement officers as part of the broader strategy against human trafficking and irregular migration patterns. The new joint taskforce with Italy symbolizes a strengthened alliance aimed at bringing about substantial change in the fight against people smuggling across Europe.