Germany to tighten people-smuggling laws in new UK partnership
Germany has committed to tightening its laws to make facilitating people-smuggling to the UK a criminal offence, as part of a new agreement with Britain to curb illegal Channel crossings.
Under current German law, aiding people smuggling to a third country outside the EU—such as the UK post-Brexit—is not explicitly illegal. However, the Joint Action Plan signed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser will change this.
Cooper described the agreement as “ground-breaking,” emphasising its importance in dismantling criminal networks orchestrating dangerous small boat crossings.
The new plan responds to growing concerns about the risks of Channel crossings. This year alone, over 33,000 people have attempted the perilous journey, compared to 29,000 in 2022. Tragically, more than 70 people have died attempting the crossing, with boats now carrying an average of 53 people—up from just 10 in 2019.
The Conservative Party criticised the plan, arguing it “does not go far enough” to deter crossings. The Labour government, which came into power in July, abandoned the previous administration’s policy of deporting migrants to Rwanda. Instead, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has prioritised tackling the criminal gangs behind the crossings.
BBC investigation into people smuggling
This year, a BBC investigation uncovered a significant German connection to the smuggling operations, particularly in the city of Essen. The new UK-German agreement directly addresses these findings, with Germany pledging to classify migrant smuggling to the UK as a clear criminal offence.
As crossings reach unprecedented danger levels, the cooperation between the two countries aims to strengthen legal measures and disrupt trafficking networks operating across Europe.
