Border security

UK’s priority is to combat people smuggling

With combating organised crime being a priority for the UK, the British mission in the Mediterranean is to go after the criminal gangs responsible for people smuggling there. The British Home Office is handling the migrant crisis, even though two British warships in the Mediterranean, HMS Enterprise and HMS Richmond are operating under MoD authority.

HMS Enterprise is assisted by the motor-launch Spitfire with air support from a Merlin helicopter. HMS Richmond will be deployed initially in international waters for two months and will actively pursue, board and seize vessels off the coast of Libya. Suspected traffickers will be taken to the nearest European port to be prosecuted in that country.

MI6 and the National Crime Agency have agents locally working with Europol to identify the leaders of the trafficking gangs and it is the government's strategy to sever the link between getting on a boat and settlement in Europe.