People smuggling
People smuggling is defined under the UN Protocol as:
"The procurement, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit, of illegal entry of a person into a State Party of which the person is not a national or permanent resident."
Illegal immigrants use two main methods to attempt entry to the UK. First, overt entry where deception is used, often supported by false, forged or counterfeit identity and travel documents. Second, clandestine entry; typically concealed within commercial or private vehicles.
The majority of detections and subsequent serving of illegal entry papers are made at Dover, Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) and the Calais Chamber of Commerce.
Why the UK is a favoured destination
The UK, in common with other western European countries, remains a preferred destination for illegal immigrants. The UK is viewed worldwide as a stable, diverse and tolerant society, which attracts significant numbers of illegal immigrants due to a number of “pull” factors.
These include a perceived strong economy, employment opportunities in the formal and informal economy, and state support (benefits, education, housing, etc). There are also established communities into which both legal and illegal immigrants can be easily absorbed.
Facilitating the passage
Organised criminal facilitators, or fixers, able to arrange transportation, document provision and getting round border controls, operate in source countries, at transit points and in destination countries (including the UK). Some of these fixers will actively recruit customers in source countries.
Would-be illegal immigrants in some countries are able to buy end-to-end facilitation “packages”. These often include documents and/or guaranteed employment after arrival –jobs help to pay off their facilitation fee.
Their passage will be arranged by a local agent/recruiter, usually working on behalf of higher-level people smugglers. Prior to departure they agree the method and payment terms, although both may subsequently have to change.
The journey to the UK
Other illegal immigrants will have to arrange their passage a stage at a time. This may lead to their journey taking months or even years. On reaching a transit country or crossroads they will have to seek out a facilitator willing and able to arrange the next stage. Sometimes they’ll need to find work in order to pay their facilitation costs and consequently fall into debt bondage.
Arrival in the UK may be via any port or across the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Channel ports are used most commonly for clandestine entry. The largest volume of document-supported illegal entry is detected at London airports (mainly Heathrow and Gatwick), particularly from long-haul locations such as China and the Indian sub-continent.
The people smugglers
People smuggling attracts all types and levels of criminals. These include:
- Established crime groups, some with close-knit, cellular and hierarchical structures, as well as global reach.
- Loose criminal networks or associations, including middlemen and fixers who arrange contacts between facilitators and with prospective illegal migrants.
- Criminal groups and individuals not solely concerned with people smuggling.
- Low-level, small-scale criminals.
Some can provide end-to-end facilitation packages, while others may provide individual services at a local level only, such as single-stage facilitation.
The motivation for human smuggling
Most of the criminals known to be involved in this area are motivated by the amount of money they can make. There is limited evidence that some organised crime groups are also motivated by the opportunity to enhance their status in their community by assisting prospective illegal immigrants.
Within source countries, prospective illegal immigrants will usually be recruited by criminals of the same nationality. A shared language and culture makes it easier for recruiters to establish the trust of their customers.
However, most organised criminals will deal with illegal migrants of any nationality or ethnicity if the opportunity arises and they can make a profit. At nexus points illegal immigrants attempting to arrange the next stage of their journey (or acquire the documents to enable this) may approach a number of fixers to compare the nature and cost of the services provided.
Specialists who assist smugglers
Organised crime groups will often employ the services of specialists, such as forgers and money launderers, who in many cases may work for more than one group. Other specialist roles include couriers of false documents, escorts for illegal immigrants, debt collectors, and professionals, such as solicitors, who act as the “gatekeeper” to particular services.
The individuals carrying out these roles may be permanent members of crime groups or associates employed on a casual basis. They will not always be of the same nationality or ethnicity.
Find out more about people smuggling now
For further information on people smuggling, take a look at the organised immigration crime section of the UK Threat Assessment (765.62 kb PDF)
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