Latest news with #BorderSecurityCommand
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Plan to end asylum hotels will fail, watchdog warns
However, Mr Bolt said: 'I think there's a more fundamental issue about accommodation, or at least housing stock, there simply isn't sufficient housing stock to be able to deal with the sorts of numbers in the system. I think it's really, really challenging.' A Downing Street spokesman said he did not agree that there would be a lack of housing stock. 'I don't accept that. As I say, the Government is committed to restoring grip to the asylum system, allowing us to end the use of hotels,' he said. Mr Bolt, who previously served as borders chief between 2015 and 2021, and returned as interim chief inspector in June last year, also told peers he wrote to ministers to say he 'wasn't convinced smashing the gangs was the right way of thinking about things' in tackling Channel crossings. He said: 'It did seem to me the challenge was to change the risk reward ratio for those people involved in organised immigration crime, that's really a difficult thing to achieve, because it's relatively low cost, relatively low risk for the perpetrators and highly profitable. 'I'm not sure I feel very optimistic about the ability to smash the gangs and, in any event, it seems to me with organised crime, the best thing you can do is deflect it to something else you're less concerned about rather than expect to eradicate it.' He added that he believed the establishment of the Border Security Command has brought energy and focus to the issue, and it has been agreed with its chief, Martin Hewitt, for the unit to be inspected later this year. But he also agreed more needed to be done to tackle the issue in the UK and look at what is attracting people to come to the country. Mr Bolt said: 'The availability of illegal working, that I think is one of the issues the Home Office has tried to focus on and tried to close down as best it can and will continue to have to work very hard on that.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spending review 2025: key points at a glance
The chancellor talks up the government's economic record and the decisions made at the budget. She makes the obligatory mention of the Conservatives' '14 years of mismanagement and decline' and the supposed £22bn fiscal hole. 'We are renewing Britain,' she says – while accepting that many Britons 'have yet to feel it'. This spending review will change it, she says. Reeves says the review is 'time for parties opposite to make their choices', adding that the spending and investment she will unveil is only possible because of tax choices in the autumn budget and the revised fiscal rules, which the Conservatives opposed. They must make 'an honest choice' on whether to support the extra money, she says. Reeves says overall departmental spending will rise by 2.3% a year in real terms, contrasting her 'Labour choices' with what she calls the destructive legacy of austerity. That is the overall figure, but some departments will still feel a squeeze, even with what the chancellor says is an extra £190bn in day-to-day spending over the parliament. Related: Rachel Reeves delivers spending review and says use of hotels for asylum seekers to end 'in this parliament'– UK politics live On the first set of specifics, Reeves sets out already-announced details of increased spending on defence and security, making sure to stress the boost to jobs in the sector, particularly in Scotland. Reeves says the new Border Security Command will receive up to £280m more a year by the end of the spending-review period. She also promises that all spending on hotels for asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be heard will stop by the end of this parliament. In more 'news we have largely already been told', Reeves sets out what she says will be £30bn in investment in nuclear power, of which about half will go to the Sizewell C reactor. She also announced new money for small modular nuclear reactors, and for research into nuclear fusion. There is also confirmed funding for a carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire. While this isn't necessarily an announcement, Reeves's long digression into the importance of steel made in the UK can be seen at least partly in the context of Nigel Farage's recent forays into pushing for reindustrialisation. In a mixed bag of announcements, the chancellor says there will be £2bn more for investment in artificial intelligence; an increase in funding for the state-run British Business Bank; and up to £1.2bn a year by the end of the parliament for skills training for young people. Now we get to the bigger news. As saved up for release the day before the spending review, Reeves sets out what she calls the 'biggest cash injection into social and affordable housing in 50 years', saying it is worth £39bn over the next decade. Also partly briefed in advance, Reeves talks about investment in rail, airports and buses, including a boost to Northern Powerhouse Rail and East West Rail, and funding for the Midlands rail hub, as well as a £400m-plus investment in Welsh rail projects (the last not unconnected to next year's Senedd elections). She says she will provide a fourfold increase in local transport grants for areas outside London, and that Transport for London will get a four-year spending deal. Finally, she promises a change to Treasury rules to allow for more spending across the regions. This involves £350m for facilities such as parks, libraries and swimming pools in a series of towns. Reeves lists a few, the bulk of which appear to be represented by Labour MPs. The chancellor says she will increase police spending by 2.3% a year in real terms. This sounds reasonably significant, but police organisations seem likely to insist the increase will not properly help protect services, and it was the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, who had the longest and toughest pre-review fight with the Treasury. Reeves also mentions the previously announced £7bn to finance 14,000 new prison places. Almost skated over in the address, Reeves confirms she will fully honour the Labour manifesto commitment of a £13.2bn fund to fix draughty homes and install heat pumps and solar panels. The chancellor does not mention this as an environmental measure, but as a way to, she says, save people an average of £600 a year in bills. Also already announced, but in the absence of any plan to end the two-child benefit cap it gives Reeves the chance to talk about reducing child poverty. She also announces £370m for schools-based nurseries and £555m to stop children going into care when it can be prevented. Reeves sets out what she says will be £2.3bn a year to fix and maintain existing schools, and £2.4bn on building new schools. The chancellor saves this until last, bringing cheers from Labour MPs by promising a real-terms 3% a year addition to spending on the health services over the parliament, saying this will amount to an extra £29bn in spending overall.
Belfast Telegraph
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
PSNI to be given powers to seize electronic devices to combat immigration crime
Under the proposed Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently progressing through Parliament authorities will have new tools to combat criminal gangs. Speaking on the legislation, Minister of State at the Home Office, Lord David Hanson, described it as a "turbocharge" to current enforcement capabilities. 'Our Borders Bill will turbocharge efforts to combat irregular migration and organised immigration crime,' he said. 'It will equip law enforcement across the UK with new tools to better identify, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks behind this vile trade.' Among the key measures is the expansion of powers to seize electronic devices such as mobile phones believed to contain intelligence on people-smuggling operations. These powers will be extended to police forces across the UK, including the PSNI, and are inspired by counterterrorism protocols. Lord Hanson highlighted that the enhanced authority will 'provide critical insights into the operations of smuggling gangs'. 'This change will deliver greater intelligence on these people smuggling gangs, enhancing investigations and strengthening the collective response to bring criminals to justice,' he added. The Bill draws directly from counterterrorism strategies, allowing earlier interventions in smuggling networks. It includes provisions to criminalise the supply or possession of materials suspected to be used in illegal crossings, such as parts for small boats, bringing immigration enforcement more in line with anti-terror practices. The proposed powers come in response to a recent report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which welcomed the potential for electronic device seizures to yield valuable information on criminal activity. However, officials have stressed that any device seizure, retention, or data extraction will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and subject to strict oversight and safeguards. The measures are part of the Government's broader 'Plan for Change' strategy, which aims to restore order to the UK's asylum and immigration systems. Law enforcement agencies are said to be working 'round the clock' to dismantle smuggling operations. Last month, a major Home Office operation in Northern Ireland targeting people-smuggling networks led to more than 30 arrests and the seizure of assets worth £160,000. Simultaneously, the newly formed Border Security Command is working to 'deepen international collaboration in the fight against irregular migration'. The Government's efforts have also been underpinned by a substantial financial commitment. On June 11, the Chancellor announced up to £280m per year in funding for the Border Security Command. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is scheduled to enter Committee Stage in the House of Lords next week.
Belfast Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
More than 900 people arrived in small boats on Friday
Data from the Home Office indicated 919 people made the journey in 14 boats on June 13, taking the provisional annual total to 16,183. This is 42% higher than the same point last year and 79% up on the same date in 2023, according to PA news agency analysis. It is not the highest daily number so far this year, which came on May 31, when 1,195 people arrived. People thought to be migrants were pictured being brought into Dover on an RNLI lifeboat on Friday, while others were brought ashore by the Border Force. Rachel Reeves announced earlier this week that the Government will end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of this parliament. Unveiling her spending review on Wednesday, the Chancellor set out how funding will be provided to cut the asylum backlog. She told MPs: 'I can confirm today that led by the work of the Home Secretary, we will be ending the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this parliament. 'Funding that I have provided today, including from the transformation fund, will cut the asylum backlog, hear more appeal cases and return people who have no right to be here, saving the taxpayer £1 billion a year.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. 'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die as long as they pay, and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. 'That is why this Government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage, and why we are investing up to an additional £280 million per year by 2028-29 in the Border Security Command. 'Through international intelligence-sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders.'
North Wales Chronicle
14-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
More than 900 people arrived in small boats on Friday
Data from the Home Office indicated 919 people made the journey in 14 boats on June 13, taking the provisional annual total to 16,183. This is 42% higher than the same point last year and 79% up on the same date in 2023, according to PA news agency analysis. It is not the highest daily number so far this year, which came on May 31, when 1,195 people arrived. People thought to be migrants were pictured being brought into Dover on an RNLI lifeboat on Friday, while others were brought ashore by the Border Force. Rachel Reeves announced earlier this week that the Government will end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of this parliament. Unveiling her spending review on Wednesday, the Chancellor set out how funding will be provided to cut the asylum backlog. She told MPs: 'I can confirm today that led by the work of the Home Secretary, we will be ending the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this parliament. 'Funding that I have provided today, including from the transformation fund, will cut the asylum backlog, hear more appeal cases and return people who have no right to be here, saving the taxpayer £1 billion a year.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. 'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die as long as they pay, and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. 'That is why this Government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage, and why we are investing up to an additional £280 million per year by 2028-29 in the Border Security Command. 'Through international intelligence-sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders.'
