In an effort to reduce the number of unauthorised immigrants entering Europe through Turkey, Britain announced that it had reached an agreement with Ankara. The agreement calls for combined police operations against smuggler networks and the trafficking in boat parts.
The government announced it would establish a new Turkish police facility that would build on existing collaboration over law enforcement because illegal immigration is a major electoral issue in Britain ahead of an anticipated election next year.
According to the new memorandum of agreement, customs data would be transferred more rapidly, the British government said in a statement on Tuesday.
British Interior Minister Suella Braverman said, “Our partnership with Turkey, a close friend and ally, will enable our law enforcement agencies to work together on this international problem and tackle the small boat supply chain.”
For this year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak named reducing the number of illegal immigrants entering the country a top priority in an effort to close the gap with the opposition Labour Party in polls.
As part of preparations to eliminate what the government referred to as the “pull” of hotels for those arriving in small boats, Britain started relocating some migrants this week onto a sizable residential barge off its southern coast.
