HOME OFFICE News
Release (106/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 18 June 2007
The Government
today vowed to use its international relations to strengthen the
UK's border controls, crack down on migration abuse and
tackle trafficking.
The pledge was reinforced by Home Secretary John Reid speaking
today from Washington in the US, where he announced that the two
countries should routinely share information about travellers of
interest, people using false documents and other immigration offenders.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne and Lord Triesman, the Prime
Minister's Special Envoy for Returns, also met with their new
French counterpart today to begin discussions on new measures to
strengthen both countries' borders. The ministers signed a
treaty which will pave the way for successful juxtaposed controls
to continue when Eurostar relocates its London operations to St
Pancras and Ebbsfleet.
The agreements mark today's launch of the Borders and
Immigration Agency (BIA) international strategy: Managing Global
Migration, which sets out the UK's global plans in the fight
to halt illegal immigration.
At the forefront of the strategy is work with other governments
to prevent illegal migration and speed-up the return of those with
no right to be in the UK.
Through working with countries which act as 'transit'
points on illegal immigration routes, the UK intends to put
migration at the top of the international agenda.
Home Secretary John Reid said:
"Every issue we face, whether it involves immigration,
identity or counter-terrorism, has international relationships at
its very core. That is why today's international strategy is
crucial to our future.
"We cannot protect Britain's borders by operating in a
bubble. The only way to tackle these 21st Century issues is
through countries working together. Today we are undertaking to
improve that co-operation through better exchange of immigration
data and working together to tackle the reasons for migration."
Law enforcement liaison officers will be deployed to countries on
key routes to the UK, developing joint investigations to target traffickers.
A rapid response team will be established in the UK before the
end of 2007, with specialists ready to be sent abroad to offer
advice, support and training.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:
"Britain is now laying the foundation stone for offshore
borders all over the world.
"But we cannot act in isolation. It is crucial we build on
our international alliances to close down routes to those
attempting to abuse the system, while enabling legitimate
travellers to pass freely.
"We have already seen success in tightening border controls.
By exporting our border abroad through juxtaposed controls in
France we have slashed illegal entrants detected in Kent by 88 per
cent since 2002.
"Now we want to develop this further by sharing data where
appropriate, offering our expertise abroad, and putting migration
at the heart of our foreign policies."
The strategy has been developed jointly by the Home Office and
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, following close consultation
with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Serious
Organised Crime Agency.
Lord Triesman, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for
Returns, said of the strategy today:
"Migration is a cross-government priority. We welcome those
who come to the UK legally and make a valuable contribution to our
economy and society.
"But tackling illegal migration effectively is key to
maintaining public confidence. This means ensuring that we can
return those who have no right to be in the UK.
"In my role as the PM's Special Envoy for Returns, I
have been giving a new focus to this work by exploring the
scientific and technical options to remove the barriers to
removal. With others, we are looking at the scientific and
technical identification of nationality. This will be an important
tool in a series of measures to improve the redocumentation and
return of immigration offenders."
Notes to Editors
1. 'Managing Global Migration' can be found on the Home
Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
2. The strategy describes how the Government will:
* put migration at the heart of many of our bilateral and
multilateral relationships;
* make greater use of biometric data and share data legally with
our international partners;
* intensify our efforts to work with our partners to tackle human
smuggling and trafficking;
* continue to offer protection to genuine refugees but work with
EU partners to reduce 'asylum shopping' across Europe
and increase our efforts to deter and return those who have no
legitimate claim; and
* promote legal migration to the UK to boost the economy and
provide the skills we need.
3. The strategy builds on the publication of the Borders and Visa
strategy, which can be found at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/aboutus/Securing_the_UK_Border_final.pdf
4. Last year Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) staff prevented
17,000 people crossing the channel illegally. At juxtaposed
controls in France and Belgium the BIA caught 3,900 people trying
to enter Britain through clandestine means.