US EditionPowers to seize mobile phones over Channel migrant crossings come into force
New powers allow UK Border officers to seize phones and SIM cards from small boat migrants at Manston to gather intelligence and disrupt smuggling gangs after 41,472 arrivals in 2025.
- Mobile phones and sim cards will be seized from migrants who have arrived in small boats from Monday at Manston processing centre in Kent to gather intelligence.
- New laws introduce criminal offences, with anyone found guilty of storing or supplying boat engines to bring migrants to the UK via the English Channel smuggling route facing up to 14 years in prison.
- The UK's Border Security Commander said more than 4,000 disruptions against smuggling gangs have taken place since his unit was set up to curb Channel crossings.
23 Articles
23 Articles
The Canary
GB NewsUK border officials gain new powers to seize migrants' phones
The Home Office has stated that it will begin to seize migrants’ mobile phones at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent as of Monday 5 January. The announcement follows new powers permitting the seizures even without arresting the owner of the phone coming into force. Alex Norris, minister for border security, stated that: We promised to restore order and control to our borders, which means taking on the people smuggling networks behind …
This measure, which entered into force on Monday, has been taken under new powers to combat networks of smugglers.
UK Seizes Migrants’ Phones to Disrupt Channel Smuggling Networks - Innovation Village | Technology, Product Reviews, Business
The United Kingdom has introduced new enforcement powers allowing border officials to seize mobile phones and SIM cards from migrants who enter the country illegally, as the government intensifies efforts to dismantle people-smuggling networks behind Channel crossings. The new measures, which took effect on Monday at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent, do not require an arrest and represent a significant escalation in the UK’s border …
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