This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/21/corrupt-foreign-border-officials-face-being-banned-from-the-uk
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Corrupt officials and people assisting small boat gangs to face sanctions and UK ban | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Government steps up crackdown on anyone involved in assisting illegal migration to UK | |
| Corrupt foreign officials, including police officers who profit from people smuggling, face being banned from the UK and having their assets frozen. | Corrupt foreign officials, including police officers who profit from people smuggling, face being banned from the UK and having their assets frozen. |
| David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has announced a sanctions regime that from Wednesday will target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration. | David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has announced a sanctions regime that from Wednesday will target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration. |
| It is understood this will include foreign officials such as border guards and police officers who have taken bribes from those involved in supplying and financing small boats. | It is understood this will include foreign officials such as border guards and police officers who have taken bribes from those involved in supplying and financing small boats. |
| Producers of fake passports and “middlemen” who transfer cash through the hawala legal money transfer system will also be targeted. | Producers of fake passports and “middlemen” who transfer cash through the hawala legal money transfer system will also be targeted. |
| The move is part of a series of measures intended to disrupt the activities of people smugglers after a pledge from Keir Starmer, the prime minister, to “smash the gangs”. | The move is part of a series of measures intended to disrupt the activities of people smugglers after a pledge from Keir Starmer, the prime minister, to “smash the gangs”. |
| Lammy said: “Those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK.” | Lammy said: “Those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK.” |
| Legislation is being introduced under the border security, asylum and immigration bill to increase enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers. | Legislation is being introduced under the border security, asylum and immigration bill to increase enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers. |
| The government is under growing pressure over irregular migration. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, claimed on Monday that women and girls were facing a “public safety crisis” as a result of crimes committed by “illegal immigrants”. | The government is under growing pressure over irregular migration. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, claimed on Monday that women and girls were facing a “public safety crisis” as a result of crimes committed by “illegal immigrants”. |
| Philp’s comments were delivered in the Commons after six people were arrested after a protest outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. | Philp’s comments were delivered in the Commons after six people were arrested after a protest outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. |
| A series of demonstrations has taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old asylum seeker, was charged with sexual assault over allegedly trying to kiss a girl of 14. | A series of demonstrations has taken place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping since Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old asylum seeker, was charged with sexual assault over allegedly trying to kiss a girl of 14. |
| He denied the charge at Chelmsford magistrates court last Thursday. | He denied the charge at Chelmsford magistrates court last Thursday. |
| Philp told MPs: “Numbers in asylum hotels are now higher than at the time of the election. This is a border security crisis, but it is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls.” | Philp told MPs: “Numbers in asylum hotels are now higher than at the time of the election. This is a border security crisis, but it is also a public safety crisis, especially for women and girls.” |
| He urged the government to “record and publish the immigration status of all offenders” and to close the hotel in Epping. | He urged the government to “record and publish the immigration status of all offenders” and to close the hotel in Epping. |
| Diana Johnson, the crime and policing minister, said it was “vital that the criminal justice procedures are able to run their course”. | Diana Johnson, the crime and policing minister, said it was “vital that the criminal justice procedures are able to run their course”. |
| She added that the government took any allegation of sexual assault “incredibly seriously” and was changing the law to ensure those convicted of sexual offences were not granted asylum. | She added that the government took any allegation of sexual assault “incredibly seriously” and was changing the law to ensure those convicted of sexual offences were not granted asylum. |