Jail for small boat gangs who 'advertise' on social media

Gangs promoting small boat Channel crossings on social media will face up to five years in prison as part of a new crackdown announced by the government.

- MILLIE COOKE

An amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - currently going through parliament - will introduce a new, UK-wide offence to criminalise the creation of material for publication online which promotes or offers services facilitating a breach of UK immigration law.

This could include small boat crossings, the creation of fake travel documents like passports or visas, or explicitly promising illegal working opportunities in the UK.

While facilitating illegal migration is already a crime, the government said the proposed changes would “add another string to law enforcement’s bow, better enabling them to disrupt the gangs while they are publicising people smuggling activities and provide an additional tool when building a case against those peddling this content”.

Approximately 80 per cent of migrants arriving via small boats told officials that they used social media during their illegal journey to the UK, including to locate or communicate with an agent or facilitator associated with an organised crime group, according to Home Office analysis.