Sir Keir Starmer will use Italy’s success in tackling the mafia as a blueprint to overcome the small boat crisis

SIR Keir Starmer will use Italy’s success in tackling the mafia as a blueprint for his approach to people smugglers.

The Prime Minister flies to Rome tomorrow and will hold crucial talks with Italian leader Giorgia Meloni over the small boat crisis.

Keir Starmer will use Italy's success in tackling the mafia as a blueprint to tackle people smugglers — Keir Starmer will use Italy’s success in tackling the mafia as a blueprint to tackle people smugglersCredit: PA

The prime minister will fly to Rome and hold crucial talks on the small boat crisis with Italian leader Giorgia MeloniSource: EPA

He will use the summit to announce that he has appointed a boss to lead his new UK Border Security Command.

He is said to be a former soldier and has been given the unenviable task of tackling the Channel boat problem, a problem that costs the taxpayer billions of pounds a year.

A Labour source said: “Our Border Security Command will tackle illegal financing, dismantle supply chains and go after the criminal bosses who make millions from small boat crossings.

“We know that Italy has had great success in tackling organised crime gangs, including the Mafia, and we want to learn from the work they have done at home and abroad so that we can tackle the terrible criminal smuggling ring that plagues our waters.”

Italy has halved the number of illegal migrants entering the country over the past year.

In addition, thousands of people are sent to reception centres in Albania to have their asylum applications assessed, a process known as offshoring.

Sir Keir is considering copying the model.

Speaking about the summit during his trip to the US, he said: “I have already had a preliminary discussion with Georgia Meloni about how we can work together on irregular migration. She has some strong ideas, of course, and I hope to discuss them with her.

“She and I have already discussed how we can improve joint operations, so that is something we will discuss.”

When asked directly whether he would consider sending migrants to other countries for processing, he said: “I’m curious to see how that works. I think everyone is. It’s very, very early.”

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Sir Keir is under enormous pressure to get the crisis under control after ripping up Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan on his first day in No 10.

Ms Meloni is one of the leading voices calling for a tougher approach by Europe.

Germany is set to introduce stricter border controls this week and is considering stripping most illegal migrants of their benefits.

More than 22,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by small boat this year.