The possibilities for investigating organized immigration break are lost | HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)

The police authority has warned of missed opportunities to examine organized immigration breakage, although the secret services are neither effective nor robust enough.

Get the report: Improvement of the reaction to organized immigration crime

In a new report, the inspection for Konstabular and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) examined his majesty how effectively the British law enforcement authorities in Great Britain are tackling in England and Wales.

Hmicfrs found that since 2021 the number of activities by the British law enforcement agencies had increased significantly in order to disrupt organized crime groups. However, the inspection found that the agencies that are involved in combating organized immigration break cannot always share with each other as effectively as necessary. And there were very few examples of forces or regional units for organized crime that proactively aimed at these criminals.

The inspection also found:

• Most organized crime groups involved in immigration crimes are rated as a low priority by law enforcement authorities.
• Cases in which the staff on frontline had no direct access to the national database of the police or to automated facial recognition technology; And
• A lack of clarity among the British law enforcement agencies on roles and responsibilities in combating organized immigration crime.

HMICFRS has made ten recommendations to Chef Constables, the National Crime Agency and other recommendations. This includes clarifying roles and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies, improving the processes for the identification of migrants and the collection of secret services as well as the insurance of the law enforcement authorities to use all opportunities to investigate and disrupt the identified identified groups for organized crime.

The inspector of his Majesty of Constabulary Lee Freeman said:

“Despite the efforts to prioritize and tackle immigration crime, this remains a serious and persistent problem for Great Britain.

“People try to enter in Great Britain in different ways. The most common and extraordinarily dangerous path is in a small boat that exceeds the English Channel. Many use the services of criminals that specialize in organized immigration breakage. The consequences of these intersections can drown increasingly serious migrants – including children.

“Organized immigration broke puts the police and other British law enforcement authorities on unique challenges. As we found that the reaction had improved in recent years, much more has to be done.

“For example, they were not always clear in relation to roles and responsibilities when it came to fighting organized immigration crime. During our inspection, we found cases in which the personnel at the forefront had no access to the national database of the police or facial recognition technology. Many ways to tackle these crimes.

“We have made ten recommendations to improve how organized crime groups are identified and addressed. Their implementation should strengthen the reaction to organized immigration crime and ultimately lead to less life.”

Since the inspection field work was completed, the government created the border security command, which is intended to improve the coordination and leadership in combating organized immigration crime.

Get the report: Improvement of the reaction to organized immigration crime

Notes

• For more information, please contact the HMICFRS Press Office at 0300 071 6781 or hmicpressoffice@hmicfrs.gov.uk.
• In January 2024, the then interior minister commissioned us to check how effectively the police and the national crime authority organized in England and Wales. The Interior Minister also asked us to assess how the entire system deals with these crimes.