The British government is to host the first international summit in the UK on how to tackle people-smuggling gangs.
Ministers and enforcement staff from 40 countries will meet in London on Monday and Tuesday to discuss international co-operation, supply routes, criminal finances and online adverts for dangerous journeys.
Small boat journeys across the English Channel are part of a wider problem of organised immigration crime driving movements to make profit.
More than 8,000 adverts on social media were taken down last year where smugglers were promoting crossings, before moving to encrypted channels.
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About 600 engines were seized and hundreds of people arrested for facilitating journeys in efforts to crack down on smuggling gangs.
Law enforcement agencies trying to break smugglers’ business models are believed to have forced up the cost for engines and boats to £14,000 (€16,700) from the low thousands in a bid to make it economically unsustainable to carry on.
Criminal finances will be a focus of discussions, which will look at how to follow the money of smugglers globally and to share approaches from different countries.
Hundreds of millions of pounds are believed to be transferred illicitly through the Hawala system, for example, which is a legitimate means of transferring money around the world, but is also used in payments linked to Channel crossings.
Countries including Albania, Vietnam and Iraq – where migrants have travelled from to the UK – will join the talks as well as France, the US and China.
A record number of people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year.
The British government is also expanding right-to-work checks to cover casual, temporary workers in amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
The legislation is continuing through Parliament with plans to introduce new criminal offences and hand counter terror-style powers to police and enforcement agencies to crack down on people-smuggling gangs.
The addition announced on Sunday will widen the right to work scheme for gig economy workers not covered in existing laws.
Liable businesses could be fined up to £60,000, or face closures, director disqualifications and even up to five years in prison if checks are not carried out.
“Turning a blind eye to illegal working plays into the hands of callous people smugglers trying to sell spaces on flimsy, overcrowded boats with the promise of work and a life in the UK,” home secretary Yvette Cooper said.
“These new laws build on significant efforts to stop organised immigration crime and protect the integrity of our borders, including increasing raids and arrests for illegal working and getting returns of people who have no right to be here to their highest rate in half a decade.”
But in advance of the international summit, the Conservatives said Labour’s claims of being tough on immigration were “risible”.
“Crossings are up 31 per cent since the election and 2025 so far has been the worst year ever as a result. Starmer’s claim to ‘smash the gangs’ lies in tatters,” Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said.
“Under new leadership, the Conservatives have set out tough plans to crack down on illegal migration, including plans to deport all foreign criminals and repeal the Human Rights Act for immigration matters.”
