Yvette Cooper vows to reverse wave of illegal migration in just six months after Rwanda deal axed

The Home Secretary has announced a new package of measures to tackle illegal migration, as part of Labour’s manifesto pledge to ‘destroy the gangs’.

Yvette Cooper and the Prime Minister had already shelved the Conservatives’ plan to deport Rwanda on their first day in office. But with the number of people crossing the Channel this year approaching 20,000, the government is forced to put its cards on the table.

Cooper’s plans include a laundry list of measures aimed at strengthening “immigration law enforcement and returns activities”. She also praised Sir Keir Starmer’s much-vaunted “reset of relations” in Europe, amid a continental effort to strengthen borders and sea links.

The measures include the appointment of 100 specialist intelligence officers and detectives by the National Crime Agency to specifically target smuggling gangs, and an increase in detention capacity at immigration removal centres to increase the number of deportations.

In the UK, special attention is paid to illegal workers, with the UK Home Office specifically mentioning ‘unscrupulous employers’ in a statement.

The statement called attention to what it called a “new intelligence-driven illegal employment program” designed to investigate and punish those who employ illegal migrants.

Cooper said: “We are taking strong and clear action to enhance our border security and ensure the rules are followed and enforced.

“Our new Border Security Command is already well underway with preparations underway, with urgent recruitment of new staff and additional staff already stationed across Europe.

“They will work with European enforcement agencies to find all possible ways to defeat the criminal smuggling gangs who organise dangerous boat crossings, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk.

“And by increasing enforcement capacity and revenues, we create a system that is better monitored and managed, instead of the chaos that has plagued the system for far too long.”

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES ALL DAY LONG