The UK and Turkey have made a new deal to disrupt people-smuggling gangs that organise small boat journeys, in order to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the UK.
The deal was announced just days after the first migrants boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset, despite a backlash from human rights campaigners.
A number of migrants did not board the barge after their transfers were cancelled by lawyers.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk likened the UK’s asylum system to a leaky bucket.
“The reality is, if you’ve got a hole in the bucket and if you keep filling it, you’re always going to have a problem,” he said.
What is the new people smuggling deal?
The UK has made a deal with Turkey to disrupt people smuggling by interrupting the supply chain of small boats.
A “centre of excellence” will be established in Turkey by the country’s national police to help both countries share intelligence.
Furthermore, UK officers will be sent to Turkey to help strengthen the collaboration between the two countries.
Mr Jenrick has not revealed how much the UK has spent on funding the project, telling GB News, “we are giving some funding”, but that, “it is not primarily about money”.
He explained: “This is mainly about the sharing of intelligence and information between our world-leading police and security services, and their law-enforcement authorities, so that, if we find out something important, that can be acted upon quickly and vice versa.”
How many people migrate from Turkey to the UK each year?
So far this year, nearly 1,500 Turkish migrants have come to the UK on small boats, according to the BBC.
The BBC also reports that nearly 200 Turkish migrants were returned to Turkey from the UK in 2022.
How many people migrate to the UK in small boats?
According to Government data, around 45,000 people came to the UK on small boats in 2022.
Most boats arrive between August and October, and the boats carry an average of 41 people.
The total in the year ending March 2023 was 42 per cent higher than in the year ending March 2022.
As of July 9, nearly 13,000 people had crossed the channel in small boats since the beginning of the year.
What has the Government said about the Turkey deal?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in a statement: “Our partnership with Turkey, a close friend and ally, will enable our law enforcement agencies to work together on this international problem and tackle the small boat supply chain.”
Meanwhile, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: “Having met our partners in Europe, North Africa, and indeed Türkiye recently, I’ve seen first-hand the benefits our increased co-operation has on stopping the boats.
“I am determined that the UK is a leading force in tackling illegal migration and a partner to all those allies who share our determination to defeat it.”
