Border Force may be deployed to edges of Europe ‘to crack down on people smugglers’

BORDER Force officers could be sent to the edges of Europe under a new agreement to stem the flow of migrants.

The move came after Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, met with her counterparts from the Calais Group in Brussels yesterday, to discuss strategies to crack down on illegal migration and people trafficking.

The UK will agree a working arrangement with Frontex, Europe’s external border agency, in an effort to support its work to combat illegal migration. It is understood it will initially focus on sharing intelligence and data, but it could be extended to training and allowing officers to work together on the EU borders patrolled by Frontex.

It follows the UK’S £63million Channel deal with France under which British officers are embedded in French control rooms giving them access to operations – at the same time as French officers are being placed in UK centres.

After the meeting with her French, German, Belgian and Dutch counterparts, Mrs Braverman said: “Countries across Europe must work closely together to tackle illegal migration and crack down on the people smugglers before these issues reach our borders.

“The Calais Group have held constructive discussions today on bringing solutions that will benefit all our countries and to ensure the evil criminals who profit in human misery are targeted and brought swiftly to justice. I look forward to our ongoing co-operation.” A government source said: “Working together at Europe’s land and sea borders will enable countries to improve registration of irregular migrants and ensure rapid asylum and returns procedures, so that illegal migration flows are reduced at source.”