Germany has said it will strengthen its law to make it easier to prosecute those who help smuggle migrants into the UK, as part of a new deal agreed between the two countries.
Currently facilitating people smuggling is technically illegal in Germany if it is a third country outside the EU – post-Brexit, including the UK.
Under the new deal, the Home Office says Germany has committed to making the operation an open criminal offence.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the “significant” new agreement would help tackle criminals who plan to cross the small boats across the channel.
Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has criticized the UK government’s approach, labeling their plans to reduce small boat crossings “weak and unmanned”.
The deal between the UK and Germany comes as the Home Office’s own Border Security Command warns that channel crossings are “the most dangerous they’ve ever been.”
Charlie Eastaugh, director of international operations at the command, told the BBC: “We’ve seen the use of inner tubes in tires instead of life jackets, it’s very dangerous, it’s a death trap.
“There are fewer boats and engines available, we have seized more than 450 boats and engines across Europe – and organized crime groups are putting themselves at great risk.
“We are seeing an increase in numbers on these boats because of the disruptive work we have done with our law enforcement partners in Europe”.
More than 33,000 have crossed the English Channel by small boat this year, up from 29,000 last year, but below record numbers in 2022.
More than 70 people have died trying to cross this year this year, and the average number of people per boat has increased to 53 compared to 10 back in 2019.
After coming to power in July, the Labor government scrapped the previous Conservative government’s plan to prevent crossings by deporting those making the journey to Rwanda.
Instead, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his government would focus on fighting gangs planning to cross over.
As part of that approach, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signed an agreement with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, pledging cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
Under the Joint Action Plan, Germany has confirmed its intention to clarify that German activities facilitating the smuggling of migrants into the UK will be treated as criminal offences.
The joint action plan also commits the two countries to “exchange expertise with a special focus on removing trafficked content from social media”.
The UK government said: “Once enacted, this proposed change to the law is expected to significantly increase the number of prosecutions made in relation to migrant smuggling.”
Earlier this year the BBC investigated Germany’s links to small boat crossings in the Channel and people smugglers operating in the western German city of Essen.
Meanwhile, a UK Home Office source told the BBC there was “frustration” with Germany’s legal framework, which did not legally treat people-smuggling outside the EU as illegal.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signs new deal with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser [BBC]
Cooper said the partnership would help the UK go after gangs that have been “on the run for a long time”.
Faeser said “it will help us to put an end to the brutal actions of criminal organizations that smuggle people”.
“Many criminals are organized in Germany. Together, we are now fighting this dishonest business with great determination.”
The plan was signed ahead of the Calais Group meeting in London, held on Tuesday by the UK and Germany and attended by ministers and police from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Sir Keir said he wanted to reduce regular and irregular migration but avoided setting a target to cut numbers, arguing that an “illogical” cap would not work.
On the sidelines, Labor ministers have admitted that tackling immigration unfairly will be key to how they are judged by voters.
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