World leaders gathered in London this week for a landmark summit aimed at tackling the global threat of organised immigration crime (OIC).
Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed representatives from key nations including France, Iraq, Vietnam and the USA, as well as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and major social media companies.
The Organised Immigration Crime Summit marks a major step forward in the UK’s Plan for Change, setting out a united international front to disrupt criminal networks, boost border security, and protect vulnerable people from exploitation.
Day one discussions focused on the financial and digital enablers of OIC, including the role of social media and the supply chains behind illegal migration. Crucially, this summit widened its scope beyond Europe to include source and transit countries, bringing a more holistic approach to the issue.
Concrete action was agreed to boost intelligence sharing, strengthen border systems, and improve document fraud detection, particularly in Iraq. Over £30 million in new funding was also announced for security initiatives across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Western Balkans.
joint UK-France community work
Joint UK–France work will now extend to grassroots community outreach in high-risk areas, aiming to educate people about the risks of irregular migration. This will include engagement with teachers, religious leaders and families, alongside ongoing digital deterrence campaigns.
Cooper said: “The UK has led the way in securing international commitments to tackle this vile trade in people. Organised immigration crime undermines our security and puts lives at risk.”
With more than 24,000 returns of individuals with no right to remain since the last election, the government says this summit demonstrates its commitment to restoring order to the immigration system and protecting UK communities.
