5 h. ago Yvette Cooper pauses new refugee family reunions in fresh asylum crackdown

Charities warn the changes will ‘push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers in an effort to reunite with loved ones’

Events

6 h. ago Yvette Cooper accused of pushing children towards people smugglers by halting refugee scheme

Home secretary under fire over suspension of family reunion system that she said was at risk of exploitationYvette Cooper has been accused of pushing children “into the arms of people smugglers” after halting a scheme allowing refugees to bring their family to the UK.The home secretary said the refugee family reunion route was at risk of exploitation and she would “temporarily suspend new applications” until tougher rules are introduced next year. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Record disruptions of people smuggling gangs last year including seizures of small boats

After the small boats crisis dominated headlines over the summer, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will take the issue head on as she outlines significant reforms to Britain’s asylum system

Events

5 d. ago ‘I sit alone and talk to myself’: a family ripped apart by Europe’s migration crisis

An Algerian mother blames people smugglers and opportunists for the death of both her daughters. Now she cares for four grandchildren aloneEach morning Zahia leaves the home she shares with her four grandchildren in the Algerian coastal city of Bou Ismaïl and heads to her job cleaning a primary school. For the past year she has lived alone with them, after the death of both her daughters ripped their family apart.Their tragic story started on 5 October 2021, when Zahia’s youngest daughter, Feryal, then 23, decided to leave Algeria with her husband, Aissa, and their son Amjad, aged 2. At the time neither had jobs – although Aissa worked occasionally as a horseback tour guide – but they were both determined to improve their lives. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Albanian gang member 'who smuggled people into Britain' says the Government could stop crossings tomorrow... but claims 'it doesn't want to'

The people smuggler said he thought Labour is not stopping small boats (pictured, file photo) from crossing the Channel because it bolsters the country's workforce.

Politics

1 week ago John Bolton raid shows weaponization of FBI against Patel’s ‘gangsters’ list

Ex-national security adviser and Trump critic is fifth in a list of 60 to have been investigated in the last seven monthsWhen Kash Patel, the FBI director, faced senators during his confirmation hearings on 30 January, he bristled at suggestions that his 2023 book contained an “enemies list”. The appendix to Government Gangsters, which included a list of names for 60 people, was simply documentation of those who had “weaponized” the government, he insisted.Seven months later, that denial appears increasingly hollow. Friday’s FBI search of the former national security adviser John Bolton’s home and office, reportedly to find classified documents, marks the fifth investigation targeting people from Patel’s book. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Woman, 49, is arrested amid probe into the supply of small boats to people smugglers

The arrest of the 29-year-old woman follows a National Crime Agency investigation (NCA) into a network suspected of supplying small boats and maritime equipment from Türkiye.

Events

1 week ago Musician who praised drug lords in 'narco ballads' shot dead as killing spree continues

Ernesto Barajas, the lead singer for the group Enigma Norteno, was gunned down in Mexico - he was infamous for singing 'narco corridos' dedicated to drug gangs including the Sinaloa Cartel

Events

1 week ago South African breeder is accused of $14 million rhino horn smuggling ring

South African prosecutors have accused a well-known rhino breeder of operating a global rhino horn smuggling network alongside five other people

Economics

2 w. ago Special forces commandos could be used to tackle people smugglers bringing migrants to UK

Defence chiefs have ordered special forces to target ruthless people smugglers shipping illegal migrants across the channel

Events

2 w. ago Illegal migrants hiding in lorries could be behind surge in food poisoning outbreaks that has seen up to 3,000 trucks contaminated, claims report

Lorries were the most common route used by people smugglers to hide migrants before tighter security around ports and the Channel Tunnel led to rise in small boat crossings.

Events

2 w. ago Outrage as transport regulator finds illegal migrants hiding in lorries could be behind explosion in food poisoning outbreaks: '3,000 trucks contaminated'

Lorries were the most common route used by people smugglers to hide migrants before tighter security around ports and the Channel Tunnel led to rise in small boat crossings.

Events

2 w. ago Starmer accused of ‘abject failure’ as people smuggling arrests fall under Labour

National Crime Agency arrests for people smuggling went down last year, as the new Labour government promised more resources to target immigration crime.

Events

3 w. ago Wembley Stadium investigates claim people were smuggled into Oasis shows without tickets

Fans have claimed they were able to get in using the same ticket after being told to use a disabled entrance, where they were handed VIP wristbands

Events

4 w. ago Ministers to spend extra £100m on stopping small boat crossings to UK

Home Office’s announcement follows growing number of protests outside asylum seeker hotelsMinisters will spend an extra £100m on measures to deter Channel crossings, including on the planned “one in, one out” returns agreement with France, the Home Office has said.In a third immigration policy pledge within 24 hours, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the money would pay for up to 300 more National Crime Agency officers, as well as new technology and equipment to step up intelligence-gathering on people-smuggling gangs. Continue reading...

Politics