Suspected people smugglers will face stricter controls, including travel bans, phone restrictions, and social media blackouts, under new laws proposed by the United Kingdom (UK) government, reports BBC.
The measures include "interim" Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) to impose immediate restrictions on suspects before full court orders are issued. These changes come as over 7,000 more migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats last year compared to 2023, according to government data.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the powers target "vile gang networks" exploiting migrants. Critics, including shadow home secretary Chris Philp, dismissed the measures as ineffective, calling instead for the reinstatement of the scrapped Rwanda asylum plan.
Under the proposals, suspects could be barred from accessing phones, social media, finances, or associating with specific individuals. Breaching an order could result in up to five years in prison.
The interim orders, applicable without Crown Prosecution Service approval, will be part of the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill.
While Cooper emphasized the importance of dismantling criminal networks, former Conservative minister Sir David Davis raised concerns about civil liberties, labeling the measures "unnecessarily draconian."
The plans come after a record 78 migrant deaths in the English Channel last year, highlighting the urgent need for stronger border measures.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
