A Home Office spokesperson said:

“Everyone wants to see an end to the dangerous small boat crossings. They are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk.

“We are taking action to smash the people smuggling gangs responsible for this trade, establishing a new Border Security Command to bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas.

“Our staff continue with their dedicated mission to save lives in the Channel whilst working with our French and other international partners to ensure the criminals responsible face the full extent of the law.”

Background:

• We have already entered the recruitment process for a highly skilled Border Security Commander to protect our borders.
• We will recruit hundreds of new officers, investigators and prosecutors to be stationed both in the UK and overseas tackling the irregular migration upstream and across the border security system. This cross-system approach will allow us to maximise our international and intelligence capabilities.
• Britain is a tolerant and compassionate country, and we have a proud tradition of welcoming people fleeing persecution. But the system needs to be controlled and managed and we need strong borders.
• We will seek new security agreements with our European partners to ensure access to real-time intelligence and enable joined up policing investigations.