JO Platt has welcomed the government's increased pledge to tackle the asylum crisis, small boat crossings, and people smuggling gangs.

In a speech on Monday, November 4, the Prime Minister announced an extra £75m to police the country's borders, which will be used to hire hundreds of new investigators and intelligence officers.

With recent figures showing that 9,400 people who did not have a right to be in the country have been 'returned' since the government took power, this extra cash now takes the total funding for the UK's Broder Security Command up to £150m.

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Jo Platt MP welcomed the newsJo Platt MP welcomed the news (Image: Sam Ryley) Welcoming the news, Jo Platt, Labour MP for Leigh and Atherton said: "I strongly support the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday of a further £75m for the Government’s new Border Security Command to improve our border security and smash the small boat criminal gangs.

"This shows Labour is serious about tackling the illegal immigration crisis and will double the Border security Command’s total funding to £150m.

“The Tories oversaw year on year increases in the number of illegal boat crossings and failed to protect our borders despite promising time and time again to stop the boats.”

With Labour doubling down on its election pledge to tackle illegal boat crossings, the National Crime Agency will now receive a £58 million increase in its core budget for the 2025/26 financial year, representing a 9% rise compared to 2024/25. 

Sir Keir Starmer made the policy announcement during the Interpol General Assembly, at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow on November 4Sir Keir Starmer made the policy announcement during the Interpol General Assembly, at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow on November 4 (Image: Russell Cheyne/PA Wire) Labour says this uplift in funding will help to deliver:

  • Specialist operational equipment such as covert audio/video tools and covert tracking capabilities.
  • An increase in leads generated through analysis of data to stop criminals. 
  • Threat specific data from international partners, industry and covert sources to combat the ever more sophisticated ways online criminals hide their tracks.
  • Expanded access to datasets and systems to NCA intelligence and investigative teams, borders staff and policing partners to give them direct access to the single intelligence picture. 
  • Increased skills and tools available to forensic officers. 
  • Increased technology available to officers to allow them to collaborate and work more productively. 

Jo Platt MP added: "From day one, Labour has made border security one of our top priorities.

"In our first 100 days in office, we have already set up the Border Security Command and appointed former Chair of National Police Chiefs' Council, Martin Hewitt, to lead it. Now we’re ensuring the Border Security Command has the funding and resourcing to effectively grip the crisis.

"Reducing overall immigration to sustainable levels is essential. We are now better equipped to tackle criminals, protect lives, and uphold our commitment to border security in collaboration with our global partners.

"I believe this robust approach will allow us to address these harmful activities, which deeply affect communities around the country."