UK and Italy get tough on the ‘migrant mafia’: London and Rome sign deal to crack down on small boat people smugglers as harshly as The Mob

UK and Italy get tough on the ‘migrant mafia’: London and Rome sign deal to crack down on small boat people smugglers as harshly as The Mob

Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have agreed a deal to allow police forces from both countries to launch a ‘mafia-style crackdown’ on migrant boats.

A taskforce of government officials will use methods which the Italian Police use to take down mob bosses, The Mirror reported. 

The UK and Italy will share intelligence on money linked to criminal gangs involved in people smuggling.

Both countries will also work together to seize money and assets from the gangs.

Last month Giorgia Meloni said she is ‘in tune’ with the British PM on many issues, particularly tackling illegal immigration.

Starmer met Meloni back in September to discuss the issue, Downing Street said the PM wanted to learn from Italy, which has cut the numbers arriving across the Mediterranean from 118,000 to 44,500 in the last year – a fall of 62 per cent.

Ms Meloni previously proposed either a wholesale reorganisation of Europol or for the organisation to be given a special mission to combat people smugglers.

The Italian premier previously had a close working relationship with ex-PM Rishi Sunak on efforts to crack down on illegal migration.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands at a press conference in September

Leoni and Starmer are working together to launch a 'mafia-style crackdown' on migrant boats

Leoni and Starmer are working together to launch a ‘mafia-style crackdown’ on migrant boats

Ms Meloni has now enlisted the support of Sir Keir since he replaced his Tory predecessor in Downing Street last year.

The Telegraph said Sir Keir gave his backing to Ms Meloni’s plan for an overhaul of Europol when they met at the European Political Community summit. 

The PM then also floated the idea of UK police officers and their Europol counterparts conducting joint operations.

Prior to winning power, Sir Keir and Yvette Cooper, now Home Secretary, visited Europol headquarters in The Hague for talks.

The Labour pair used the visit in September last year to outline their plans for closer co-operation with the EU in tackling Britain’s small boats crisis.

Sir Keir has focused his efforts on combating illegal migration on anti-terrorism style tactics to ‘smash the gangs’ bringing people across the Channel.

He also wants to deepen intelligence ties with Brussels as part of a proposed new post-Brexit security pact.

Last month, the Government published their Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is said to be teaming up Sir Keir Starmer on tackling illegal immigration

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is said to be teaming up Sir Keir Starmer on tackling illegal immigration

It was accused by critics of making Britain ‘the soft touch of Europe’ after rolling back border laws designed to make it near impossible for illegal migrants to become UK citizens.

Under the proposed law, migrants who prevent rescues in the Channel taking place until they reach UK waters face up to five years in jail.

And those selling and handling boat parts suspected of being used in migrant crossings face up to 14 years in prison under the legislation.

However the power to detain children and the ban on migrants claiming modern slavery protections will remain in place despite Labour opposing them before they won the election.

The Bill will largely overturn the Conservative’s Illegal Migration Act, which only passed through Parliament in 2023.

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