Former Border Force Chief Doubts Labour’s Detention Plan Will Curb Small Boat Crossings; Advocates EU Pact

Former Border Force chief doubts Labour's strategy will halt small boat crossings

Tony Smith, the ex-director general of the UK Border Force, has expressed skepticism about Labour's detention strategy, stating it would lead to only "modest removals" and emphasized the necessity of a returns agreement with the EU.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 9:

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The former leader of the UK's Border Force has stated that Labour's proposal to expand detention facilities is not expected to curb the influx of small boat arrivals, emphasizing that the "only real solution" would be an agreement with the EU.

Tony Smith informed Sky News that the recent initiatives announced by the new government, such as the reopening of removal centers and increasing staff at the National Crime Agency (NCA), demonstrate its commitment to enforcing immigration laws, though he acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead.

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The doubt arises as a regional Member of Parliament, representing the district hosting a detention center, has pledged to oppose the proposal. He criticized the location for its troubling past and accused the Labour Party of avoiding oversight.

Mr. Smith stated that the abandoned Rwanda plan was initially aimed at individuals from countries with high numbers of asylum seekers, essentially those eligible for asylum. Now, the emphasis has shifted to a more select group of individuals who do not have the right to stay.

He mentioned that this would probably result in a relatively small rise in removals.

He noted, "The Home Office is currently implementing measures to increase the rate of removals, which are all positive developments."

"It will be challenging to assess the impact this has on the numbers of small boat crossings and irregular migrations in the future."

'Governments have their limits'

The Conservative Party's key policy on Rwanda aimed to relocate individuals who entered the UK via small boats to Kigali, where their asylum applications would be reviewed. Should their claims be approved, they would receive refugee status to remain in the East African country, rather than in the UK.

The contentious proposal never materialized following prolonged legal disputes, and Sir Keir Starmer pronounced it "dead and buried" shortly after assuming his position.

The Labour Party's deportation strategy focuses specifically on individuals residing in the country unlawfully, such as those whose requests for asylum have been denied on the grounds that their country of origin is considered secure.

Mr. Smith noted that deporting unsuccessful asylum applicants can be challenging, and many individuals arriving by small boats are probable candidates for asylum, especially those coming from regions such as Iraq and Syria.

The prime minister emphasized that focusing on dismantling the networks that facilitate human smuggling into the UK is "the right thing to do," he acknowledged, however, that "the government's capabilities are limited."

"This represents global organized crime and demands a collaborative international effort," stated Mr. Smith.

He believes that the "sole effective remedy" involves a tripartite agreement with the EU, which would include the provision to return migrants crossing the Channel back to France.

Although it is feasible under international law, achieving it would be politically challenging because the bloc would likely expect something in exchange.

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The Labour Party, in its platform, promised to eliminate the Rwanda plan, labeling it a costly and ineffective "gimmick" that has expended £700 million without a single person being deported there.

The government pledged to redirect the funds toward establishing a "Border Security Command" aimed at dismantling networks that smuggle migrants across the Channel. Additionally, it plans to address the backlog of asylum cases to reduce expenditures on hotel accommodations and to deport individuals who do not have the legal right to remain in the country.

The Home Office reports that the deportation of unsuccessful asylum applicants has fallen by 40% since 2010, marking the beginning of the Conservatives' 14-year tenure in power, which ended this past July.

This week's announcements revealed that the National Crime Agency (NCA) is set to be reinforced with as many as 100 new specialist intelligence officers. Their primary role will be to dismantle gangs involved in immigration crimes and to focus on companies that hire undocumented workers.

The Labour Party announced plans to expand detention facilities by reopening two Immigration Removal Centres—Campsfield House in Oxfordshire and Haslar in Hampshire—starting with a total of 290 beds.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the strengthened National Crime Agency (NCA) will collaborate with Europol to dismantle "criminal smuggling networks," and that improving the rate of returns will "create a more regulated and orderly system, replacing the prolonged disorder that has plagued the system."

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However, Mr. Cleverly, the shadow home secretary and Ms. Cooper's counterpart, described it as a "pathetic response to a really challenging situation."

Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller expressed that the overhaul of the immigration system should be approached with careful consideration rather than via a press release in the middle of summer, a time when parliamentary oversight is absent. He also voiced his opposition to the proposal of reinstating Campsfield House in his constituency of Bicester and Woodstock.

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The facility was shut down in 2019 following a series of issues such as hunger strikes, instances of self-harm, and suicides

"Mr. Miller expressed concerns about the timing of expanding current systems, especially when there are ongoing inquiries into how they are managed."

"This isn't merely a matter of local interest. It pertains to a broader issue of national policy. I am confident that members from all sides of the House will echo these concerns."

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