ENDING small-boat crossings once and for all is off the agenda, the crimefighter tackling people traffickers has admitted.
The National Crime Agency’s Rob Jones said the focus instead is on cutting the capacity for migrants created by organised gangs — who had built up networks bringing three or four times as many people as previously.
Asked if it was possible to stop all the boats, Mr Jones said his organisation worked hard to tackle all threats.
He added: “We simply must do something to reduce the capacity that’s been created by organised crime in the English Channel and that is a worthy cause and it’s something that we’re all committed to.”
Director General (Operations) Mr Jones was speaking to the BBC from Bulgaria which he said was at the heart of the organised migrant smuggling networks.
But he said investigators were hampered because it was not illegal to move boats, which had many legitimate uses, across Europe to France.
He said: “The ingredients aren’t illegal to possess. It’s illegal to possess drugs and you can seize them.
“Most of the small boats business model is dual use, lawful items, which it’s not illegal for you to possess and that’s one of the challenges that we’re facing.”
In the last six days a total of 662 people have arrived in the UK in 13 small, flimsy dinghies.
Labour’s Border Security Command, headed by former cop Martin Hewitt, has been set up to stop the gangs making thousands from sending migrants across the Channel.
