Labour slammed over ‘pathetic’ migration plan that ‘swaps prison for travel bans’ | Politics | News

Ministers have been slammed over a “pathetic” and “derisory” plan to end the Channel migrant crisis.

Under new Home Office plans, smugglers could be banned from travelling and have their bank accounts frozen before they are convicted.

However, the new court orders—which the National Crime Agency will be able to apply for before a suspect is convicted—can only be enforced in England and Wales.

The plans have drawn heavy criticism amid claims they will have little to no impact on the smuggling trade.

Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Labour voted against Conservative laws to prosecute and imprison evil people smugglers.

“Looks like they want to replace prison sentences for mobile phone and travel bans…..Pathetic.”

Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick branded the plans “derisory”.

He added: “This will do nothing to stop the gangs organising the crossings in… France.”

Former Immigration Minister Kevin Foster added: “This is gesture stuff at best. It will not ‘smash the gangs’.

The National Crime Agency will be able to apply for travel restrictions to ban smugglers from using mobile phones or laptops, introduce social media bans, or ban criminals from meeting other members of their gangs.

Home Office sources insist many of the gangs have UK members who help “facilitate crossings” and collect payments for spaces on a dinghy.

The new orders could help the National Crime Agency to “squeeze” the smuggling gangs, insiders believe.

It will also be crucial in hindering gangs whose prosecutors are struggling to gather enough evidence to haul them before judges.

Travel restrictions, in particular, are seen as a significant new weapon to “smash the gangs”.

Some 36,816 people made the journey in 2024, a jump of 25% from the 29,437 who arrived in 2023, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.

The total is down 20% on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.

The last crossings of the year took place on December 29, when 291 people made the journey from France in six boats.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on LBC: “Labour has just put up a big sign on the White Cliffs of Dover saying ‘Britain’s a soft touch, we’re a free-for-all, come on over’.

“Labour has demonstrated abject failure, wholesale weakness and I just have no faith whatsoever that the numbers crossing the Channel will fall any time soon.

“There’s no deterrent. There’s a lot of hot air, there’s a lot of publicity stunts.

“But it is the numbers that count and the numbers are going rapidly in the wrong direction.

“So, for all his talk about smashing the gangs, signing a deal with Iraq – that deal was worth £500,000.

“I couldn’t believe they even had the front to even announce such an agreement, it’s not going to make a difference.

“This is all window dressing.

“This is all smoke and mirrors. The truth is, Labour are failing. This Government is going to let you down.”

Home Office sources insist they are making progress on preventing Channel migrant crossings, pointing to the number of so-called “red days”, when it is particularly calm and easier weather conditions for the smugglers to exploit.

Insiders said there were a record 88 red days in the second half of this year – but there were 10,000 fewer arrivals than over the same period in 2022.

This, they claim, shows they are beginning to disrupt the gangs and their smuggling routes as they were less able to exploit better conditions.