New offence to criminalise online migrant boats ads

Published: 8/2/2025
New offence to criminalise online migrant boats ads
The UK government plans to introduce a new offence to criminalize online ads promoting illegal migrant crossings on small boats, aiming to disrupt criminal gangs facilitating these journeys. The proposed law under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill would target individuals creating online content offering services that breach UK immigration laws, potentially leading to up to five years in prison and hefty fines. This crackdown comes as record numbers of migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats this year, with efforts to tackle social media promotions and disrupt people-smuggling operations gaining focus.