Across the world, migration is increasing as individuals seek to escape war, poverty, or natural disasters. Whilst illegal migration is a truly global issue, a significant number of migrants are using dangerous routes to illegally access mainland Europe, a growing number of whom are then continuing to the United Kingdom.
	The government is determined to tackle this issue and secure the UK border by restoring order, control, fairness and public confidence in the system. We will build a modern, effective and properly functioning immigration and asylum system which will protect those fleeing from danger whilst promptly processing and returning those with no right to remain. The Government believes that a step change in the scale of the response to these cross-system threats is needed urgently: the response needs to get ahead of the evolving, inter-connected threats faced.
	In the United Kingdom, there have been an increased numbers of individuals presenting at or seeking to cross the border illegally through a variety of different routes.
	There are a range of methods that individuals use to enter and/ or remain in the United Kingdom without the correct permission, including crossing the English Channel or overstaying visas.
	Criminal gangs are exploiting the significant demand for their services for profit, smuggling people and goods across the UK border. With their criminal networks spanning multiple countries and regions, many OCGs base their operations in mainland Europe rather than the UK to avoid detection by UK authorities.
	Whilst small boats crossing the English Channel are currently the most prevalent method for entering the UK illegally, other methods include clandestine entry, inadequately documented air arrivals and abuse of legal routes. Whilst migrants can become irregular once in the UK e.g. if they overstay their visa. there have been several cases of individuals using other routes which are equally as dangerous as small boats, including the tragedy at Purfleet which resulted in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a refrigerated trailer.
Policy background