The government’s new ‘endangering lives at sea’ offence for people smugglers is welcome – but is there no offence of ‘people smuggling’ itself?
If not, why not?
It seems existing crimes will be used against the smugglers, including grievous bodily harm or attempted murder that may result from attempts to covertly transport people into the UK.
According to the government, the new crime will allow border officials to prosecute anyone arriving in the UK on a small and unsafe boat who has been involved in intimidating or coercing other passengers to take part in the journey. How would this be ascertained?
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Another power, to prosecute people who have refused to be rescued outside of British waters, is likely to be easier to use.
It seems the new crime is part of a package which includes powers to seize mobile phones belonging to people who try to get into the UK by crossing the Channel from France in makeshift boats.
And people convicted of acts in preparation of smuggling – like buying boat parts – could be jailed for up to 14 years, as part of efforts to stop gangs at a much earlier stage in their plans.
Some powers planned by the Conservatives are retained, including longer forms of detention for some migrants and restricting when someone who says they have been trafficked into slavery can stay in the UK.
Other planned tools, inspired by successes in counter-terrorism cases, include court orders to ban suspects from travelling or promoting smuggling on social media.
The new laws will be introduced into Parliament this year, according to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Of course, the job of law enforcers would be much easier if the government would only re-open safe routes into the UK for people with a genuine need to seek asylum here. That, it seems, is not forthcoming – although you can be sure Cooper will have had nothing to say about it.
It seems, as far as the lives of refugees are concerned, politics is still getting in the way of justice.
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New ‘endangering lives at sea’ offence is welcome – why not ‘people smuggling’?
The government’s new ‘endangering lives at sea’ offence for people smugglers is welcome – but is there no offence of ‘people smuggling’ itself?
If not, why not?
It seems existing crimes will be used against the smugglers, including grievous bodily harm or attempted murder that may result from attempts to covertly transport people into the UK.
According to the government, the new crime will allow border officials to prosecute anyone arriving in the UK on a small and unsafe boat who has been involved in intimidating or coercing other passengers to take part in the journey. How would this be ascertained?
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Another power, to prosecute people who have refused to be rescued outside of British waters, is likely to be easier to use.
It seems the new crime is part of a package which includes powers to seize mobile phones belonging to people who try to get into the UK by crossing the Channel from France in makeshift boats.
And people convicted of acts in preparation of smuggling – like buying boat parts – could be jailed for up to 14 years, as part of efforts to stop gangs at a much earlier stage in their plans.
Some powers planned by the Conservatives are retained, including longer forms of detention for some migrants and restricting when someone who says they have been trafficked into slavery can stay in the UK.
Other planned tools, inspired by successes in counter-terrorism cases, include court orders to ban suspects from travelling or promoting smuggling on social media.
The new laws will be introduced into Parliament this year, according to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Of course, the job of law enforcers would be much easier if the government would only re-open safe routes into the UK for people with a genuine need to seek asylum here. That, it seems, is not forthcoming – although you can be sure Cooper will have had nothing to say about it.
It seems, as far as the lives of refugees are concerned, politics is still getting in the way of justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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