UK’s Burnham pledges ‘relentless’ focus on illegal migration

The UK government has more than doubled the number of crime agency officers deployed to combat human smuggling in the past 18 months as it steps up efforts to stop the gangs behind illegal migration.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on a trip to the port of Dover that he would be “relentless” in addressing small-boat crossings and build on work that has seen National Crime Agency officers on the case increased to almost 800 from 376 at the start of 2025.

“The public don’t like the idea that the border looks like it’s not controlled,” Burnham said. “We need to bring back that control, but also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it. So we’re just going to be relentless.”

Illegal migration has been a political flashpoint in the UK and has boosted support for Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform UK party. His uncompromising stance, declaring small boats an “invasion” and promising to detain and deport arrivals, has helped take the party to the top of opinion polls.

“People want to see this issue addressed. I heard that on the doorsteps in Makerfield,” Burnham said. “But we also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs.”  

While small-boat migrant numbers this year are s...