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<p>The National Crime Agency’s National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised
Crime for 2021 includes a section on organised immigration crime and the use of small
boats. The full assessment may be found here:</p><p>www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/533-national-strategic-assessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2021/file</p><p>The
assessment notes that, ‘The increase in small boats use is almost certainly a result
of COVID-19 travel restrictions affecting freight and air transport, in addition to
enhanced security around the UK-operated border controls at Calais, Coquelles and
Dunkirk’ and ‘It is highly likely OCGs and migrants are attracted to the high success
rate and low cost-high profit nature of small boats compared to HGV facilitation’.</p><p>The
UK’s departure from the EU has not made a material difference to the methods of the
criminal gangs or our joint activity with European partners to stop them. The UK and
France share a history of cooperation on this issue, seen in our commitments under
the Sandhurst Treaty and Small Boats Action Plan and most recently via the action
agreed in the joint statement between the Home Secretary and Minister Darmanin on
20 July. We have an excellent relationship with our French counterparts and are grateful
for their continued commitment.</p><p>Increasing numbers of French law enforcement
officers, supported by UK funding, are patrolling beaches and are preventing more
and more crossing attempts. Nearly 10000 crossing attempts have been prevented so
far this year.</p><p>The Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill will seek to reform
the system, including by deterring illegal entry into the UK, breaking the business
model of criminal facilitation, and saving lives.</p>
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