New Act allows raids, phone seizures and tougher offences — but critics say legislation comes amid growing political pressure

THE UK GOVERNMENT has announced sweeping new border security powers aimed at disrupting small-boat crossings and dismantling organised smuggling networks — but the move comes at a time of intense political pressure over illegal migration and a sharp rise in support for Reform UK among voters concerned about immigration policy.

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which received Royal Assent today (Tuesday 2 December), gives Immigration Enforcement, police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) significant new powers including the ability to seize phones long after arrival, raid properties and vehicles, and arrest smugglers earlier in the planning stages of a Channel crossing.

While ministers say the changes represent the “strongest ever” toolkit against smuggling operations, the legislation also arrives against a backdrop of record small-boat arrivals, rising public frustration and a political environment increasingly shaped by migration concerns.

New powers inspired by counter-terror law

The Act includes provisions modelled partly on counter-terror legislation, allowing officers to act at a much earlier stage of investigations — such as when a suspect downloads maps or information on how to launch a small boat.

Other offences include:

• Supplying or handling small-boat components such as engines and pumps (up to 14 years in prison)
• Researching or downloading information related to crossings (up to five years)
• Creating hidden vehicle compartments used for smuggling
• Endangering life during a Channel crossing
• Publishing online adverts promoting smuggling services

Foreign nationals convicted of sexual offences will also be automatically excluded from protections under the Refugee Convention.

Home Secretary: “Restoring order and control”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the new powers would allow officers to “intercept, detain and arrest” smuggling gangs more effectively.

“I will not stop until we’ve restored order and control at the border,” she said.

The NCA, which has around 100 ongoing investigations into organised immigration crime, said the legislation would help disrupt activity “at a much earlier stage”.

Political backdrop: migration now a top-tier issue

While the Government emphasises the enforcement benefits, the timing of the legislation is politically significant.

Opinion polls over the past year show immigration rising to one of the top concerns for voters, with dissatisfaction from both sides — those who believe asylum processes are too slow, and those who want tougher enforcement.

The rise of Reform UK, which has made border control its flagship issue, has also shifted the national debate. In several recent by-elections and national polling snapshots, Reform has polled ahead of or close behind the Conservatives among voters prioritising immigration and small-boat crossings.

This pressure has pushed the Government to be seen delivering concrete action after previous flagship policies — including the Rwanda removal scheme — faced years of legal and operational obstacles.

Political analysts say the Act represents an attempt to show decisive progress at a time when the Government is struggling to rebuild trust on border control.

Enforcement cases rising but crossings remain high

The Government cites recent enforcement data showing:

• Nearly 900 organised immigration crime networks dismantled
• A 33% rise in smugglers’ arrests, convictions and asset seizures
• Almost 4,000 interventions against smuggling activities in the past year

However, small-boat arrivals remain a persistent challenge, with more than 50,000 migrants removed or deported since July 2024, but continued pressure on accommodation, enforcement teams and coastal border operations.

Border Security Command formalised

The Act also gives statutory footing to the UK’s Border Security Command, led by Martin Hewitt CBE QPM, who said the powers would allow officers to “go further and faster” in dismantling the networks.

But he acknowledged the scale of the challenge, saying organised immigration crime “continues to adapt” to enforcement efforts.