Overview

• An HMICFRS report reveals that most organised crime groups involved in immigration smuggling are not actively investigated and are classified as low priority by law enforcement.
• Border Force officials lack access to the Police National Database and facial recognition technology, hindering effective screening of migrants arriving on small boats.
• Only one in 15 migrants undergo voluntary interviews, limiting intelligence gathering on smuggling networks.
• The government has launched an Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce, led by Deputy Chief Constable Wendy Gunney, to enhance coordination and prioritize tackling smuggling gangs.
• Over 12,500 migrants have crossed the English Channel in 2025 so far, the highest number recorded at this point in the year since data collection began in 2018.