At the upcoming Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to classify people smuggling as a national security issue, amid rising numbers of illegal Channel crossings.
Addressing the upcoming Interpol General Assembly, he plans to introduce a specialist investigation unit equipped with counter-terrorism powers aimed at dismantling smuggling networks responsible for the surge in small boat crossings.
This new approach marks a significant shift in government policy as authorities seek to curb the activities of organised crime gangs facilitating illegal immigration into the UK.
In addition to announcing the new Organised Immigration Crime Intelligence Unit, Sir Keir plans a week of diplomatic engagements, including meetings with European leaders at a summit in Hungary. He emphasised the need for international collaboration, stating, “Organised immigration crime does not stop at our borders and cannot be defeated by one country acting in isolation. The UK is rebuilding its alliances across the world to dismantle these gangs that exploit human suffering.”
The new measures will include enhanced powers for investigators, including shutting down bank accounts, severing internet access, and pre-emptively seizing evidence related to people smuggling.
92nd General Assembly
The 92nd session of INTERPOL’s General Assembly, held in Glasgow from 4–7 November 2024, brings together representatives from 195 member countries to discuss and make decisions on critical global policing issues. This annual event is INTERPOL’s highest decision-making body, providing a forum for key decisions on policies, international cooperation initiatives, and resource allocation to combat cross-border crime.
A major focus of this year’s assembly is the election of a new Secretary General, with Brazil’s Valdecy Urquiza nominated to succeed Jürgen Stock, who is completing his decade-long tenure. In addition to the Secretary General appointment, the Assembly will also elect nine members to the Executive Committee, while panels and discussions will cover topics such as biometric advancements, AI’s role in future policing, multilateral security strategies, and law enforcement leadership development.
Security measures for the event include strict drone restrictions over the Scottish Events Campus, where the assembly is being held. These restrictions are intended to ensure the safety and security of the delegates and attendees, with Police Scotland coordinating security efforts in conjunction with other agencies.
UK officials have highlighted the significance of hosting the event in Glasgow. Former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat noted earlier this year, “Global challenges call for global solutions. Hosting the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow underlines the UK’s role as a global leader when it comes to security and policing, and demonstrates our steadfast commitment to tackle global threats such as organised crime, terrorism, and fraud.”
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance, echoed these sentiments, emphasising Glasgow’s reputation for hosting international events. “The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with partners in the UK government, law enforcement, local government and Police Scotland… as we welcome delegates from around the world to Glasgow,” Constance stated.
Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Crime Agency, expressed pride in the UK’s role as the host nation and the National Crime Agency’s involvement. “We are immensely proud to be the host law enforcement agency for the 2024 General Assembly and to lead the UK delegation,” he remarked. “Crime has no borders, so now more than ever before the UK must work with its partners around the world to ensure criminals have no place to hide so we can keep our citizens safe.”
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So the Tories reduce the numbers by over a third to 30,000 last year, Starmer spends £84 million on “prevention”, then says they can all stay and apply for asylum and now it’s a national security issue. Brilliant.🙄
It’s a security issue because we have NO idea at all who these people claiming asylum are! If you dump your documents halfway across the ditch HOW can we entertain asylum claims if they can’t prove where they come from!
forget the African deportation fiasco if the true nationality of them can be confirmed, and the threats they cl
aim are i’d send them back to the country of origin if they made their way before, make them do it again. their problems should not become ours.
if they cannot substantiate their story then no leave to stay should be given to anyone at.all.
We can’t but an idea? Heavily advertise the fact that any illegals from X date (soon) will need to build their own camps ala The Dirty Dozen, be given ID cards which they’ll need for food and payment and be expected to work clearing beaches, derelict sites and waste. I’ll let the little ones off. It’s not there fault.
Consider also that these people are well known to use violence on the French side of the channel with weapons. Not the kind of folk we want on our streets.
👍 Allowing illegals to stay, and apply for asylum means more will come,as there’s no deterrent.
National security issue is just the latest grandstanding as being seen to take action.
I’ll see you in a decades time and we’ll see where we are then.
I predict UK population 2 million more.
stuff then all on remote Scottish island. or if able send them to their true country of origin.
machine guns,and barbed wire in all the nations shoreline we ARE BEING INVADED. I believe it is now a military issue stop the boat in the channel shoot the driver and tow them at to Africa. sorry, I’m having 5 bad day today but this is what breeds racism. and is a feeding ground to the far right elements
Sorry Andy, but we are not Russia, nor the SS….
Read up on the Seapeople and the near total collapse of civilization in the eastern Medertarian during the bronze age. Then read up on the fall of the Roman empire and about the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Huns.
This is a modern day recreation of those events. Unless we do what Andy suggest, Europe us included, are going to be swamped by a billion plus people and it will cause the collapse of our civilization and usher in a new dark age.
deport every single on e of them to their country of origin. let them take their problems with them and not make their problems ours!
When all said and done there is nothing wrong with immigration. It stared with the Celts 2500 years ago! Likewise the “illegals” are just a spit in the ocean at 30,000 in 2023. The problem is the floodgate that Tony Blair opened with 4,500,000 between 1997 and 2010 which was then nigh on matched by the Tories. How did these politicians get it into their heads that we can cope with a twenty per cent increase in population in twenty five years.? Absolutely bonkers.
well said Geoff . I blame the Romans and the Normans however. Seriously though, one would have thought the prior Tory mob would have applied the brake on this ages ago- defies logic.
I know. I’m sure there used to be a politician with a brain. Can’t remember now !!
starmer and his government are out of their depth. writing cheques they cannot cash.
Starmer, Rayner , Reeves and Lammy to name but a few.. What a shower.
Ummm…er…gentlemen, the vast majority of citizens of the US would gladly exchange our illegal immigrant issue for yours. Ten plus MILLION illegals have arrived during the tenure of the current Democratic administration. Don’t agree w/ the Donald on many issues, but concur that if there is no enforceable border, eventually there is no country. America has a history of welcoming immigrants (more or less), but the right of acceptance should be accorded solely to the US government. There is literally no method for determining which illegals have sinister intentions (terrorists, spies, etc.), and which are political or economic refugees. Believe all you should be grateful for the width of the English Channel, as opposed to that of the Rio Grande. 🤔😳😱☹️
You’re right of course. I’ve enyoyed Duke in both films, depending on which part of the river we’re talking about. More seriously I know from both fact and fiction how difficult it must be. Compared to the Channel the river is just an oversized stream in places…just walk or swim across I guess. Good luck with it my friend. We’ll have to wait and see what happens here.
Huh, my response disappeared, must be under review. 🤔😳🙄
Read you soon ?
hey Mate, I’ve been following this issue in the media. It appears the volume of illegal migrants snowballed under the Biden administration’ s watch. It’s astounding how the majority appear to be African (not Latino American). Equally astounding how Kamila Harris was in charge of border “security” and now will somehow magically put a stop to it if she become president- incredible!
I’d imagine if one held a referendum in the Southern border states, the majority of citizens would favour Mr Trumps wall !
Not only the Southern border states, illegals have dispersed across CONUS. The economy and the southern border are the two issues which have allowed the Donald to remain competitive.
cheers Sir- good luck with the big election day!
about time we have technically been under invasion for years and the robust and if necessary physical resistance has not been put in place if the owners of these boats are known, and they are, then organised sabotage of their boats should be persuaded with vigour
get a global arrest warrant for the scum behind it all strip of their criminal assets and give them 20 y in a British prison ears although from we have seen from this labour shamble they’d release them early
These people have gone through multiple safe countries to get here. This shows that they are economic migrants and not refugees. Therefore every last man, woman and child has to be deported.
O/T a bit ( big boats :-)) but there are credible press reports that by the end the week there will be an announcement that Navantia are taking over H & W and that HMG are providing jobs guarantees linked to orders.
As the EU seems to let these people cross their borders ( and tbh hence I suspect Brexit). UK would be better pulling out of UN Refugee Convention ( which it is legally entitled to do) and becoming a ‘transit only country’ and then ‘ assist’ said people to the Irish border….Ireland wanted an open border after all…..thereby placing them back in the EU ( and squaring the circle) 😁.
Keir seems to think being PM gives him a platform for pursuing his old role as Director of Public Prosecutions. Get on with your new job Kier, it is far more important and while you are at it try getting some lessons on talking with authority otherwise the UK will never be taken seriously whilst you are in the role.
Oh what ever 🙄