Police chief responsible for Covid lockdown enforcement during the pandemic is appointed head of new Border Force unit to crack down on people smuggling gangs
The police chief who was responsible for enforcing Covid lockdown laws during the pandemic has been appointed the head of a new Border Force unit.
The police chief who was responsible for enforcing Covid lockdown laws during the pandemic has been appointed the head of a new Border Force unit.
Martin Hewitt, the former chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), previously coordinated the police forces on issues including terrorism.
He will be in charge of coordinating Labours plans to curb small boat crossings in the Channel and crack down on people-smuggling gangs.
The appointment comes after eight migrants died in the early hours of Sunday morning while trying to cross the English Channel.
Mr Hewitt is set to join the PM for his visit to Rome to meet his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Rome today.
Martin Hewitt (pictured), the former chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), will be in charge of coordinating Labours plans to curb small boat crossings in the Channel and crack down on people-smuggling gangs
Migrants attempting to cross the Channel earlier this month (file image). Mr Hewitts appointment comes after eight migrants died in the early hours of Sunday morning while trying to cross the English Channel
Illegal migration is expecting to be at the top of the agenda after Italy saw a dramatic drop in its number of asylum seekers.
The PM is keen to learn how her government has managed to cut the number of migrants arriving in dinghies across the Mediterranean by almost two-thirds in the past year, from 118,000 to 44,500.
So far the right wing Italian leader has focused on financial deals with North African countries such as Tunisia and Libya to improve their border security so they can stop boats setting off across the sea.
But this autumn Ms Meloni will go further by opening a holding centre in Albania, where migrants picked up at sea by Italian rescue ships will be taken while their asylum applications are processed.
Sir Keir, who announced he was axing the previous Tory administrations Rwanda deportation policy as one of his first moves in office, declared there would be no more gimmicks to curb migration ahead of the visit.
This Government will tackle the smuggling gangs who trade the lives of men, women and children across borders, he said.
Martin Hewitts unique expertise will lead a new era of international enforcement to dismantle these networks, protect our shores and bring order to the asylum system.
Mr Hewitt previously coordinated all of Britains police forces as they enforced controversial new rules governing lockdowns introduced by then-prime minister Boris Johnsons administration.
Sir Keir meeting with Mr Hewitt. The PM said: Martin Hewitts unique expertise will lead a new era of international enforcement to dismantle these networks, protect our shores and bring order to the asylum system
Sir Keir with Giorgia Meloni in July. Mr Hewitt is set to join the PM for his visit to Rome to meet his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Rome today
The emergency legislation was criticised by some as rushed and inconsistently applied while the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed some people had been wrongfully charged under the laws.
Mr Hewitt will now be in charge of joining up law enforcement and intelligence agencies to lead joint investigations with European counterparts to address organised immigration crime, No 10 said.
The former officer, who also helped shape national responses to major security threats including terrorism in his role as NPCC chairman, said he was under no illusions of the challenges that lie ahead and determined to face them head-on.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the new border unit would allow the Government to go much further in taking action against people-smuggling gangs.
With the Border Security Command we can go much further - building new law enforcement partnerships across Europe and getting new powers into place, to go after the gangs, tackle dangerous boat crossings and save lives, she said.
It comes after eight migrants died while trying to cross the Channel overnight as some 801 migrants made the journey on Saturday - the second highest daily total so far this year, according to provisional Home Office figures.
Sir Keir is keen to learn how Ms Melonis government has managed to cut the number of migrants arriving in dinghies across the Mediterranean by almost two-thirds in the past year, from 118,000 to 44,500
Giorgia Meloni and Albanias Prime Minister Edi Rama. Sir Keir has signalled he is open to pursuing an arrangement similar to Italys migration deal with Albania, whereby asylum seekers will be held in the Balkan state while their claims are processed
Both Sir Keir and Mr Hewitt are expected to visit Italys National Coordination Centre during his trip, where they will be briefed on their response to irregular migration.
The Prime Minister is also set to sign a joint communique outlining further cooperation with Rome on migration, growth and defence.
Sir Keir has signalled he is open to pursuing an arrangement similar to Italys migration deal with Albania, whereby asylum seekers will be held in the Balkan state while their claims are processed.
The scheme has been criticised by human rights campaigners as unworkable but the Italian government argues it is necessary to reduce migrant arrivals by sea.
Unlike the Rwanda policy, asylum seekers whose applications are successful would be able to enter Italy under the plans.
