New powers allowing authorities to seize mobile phones from illegal migrants without arrest have come into force, as the government steps up efforts to disrupt people-smuggling networks behind small boat crossings to the UK.
The Home Office said the measures will be rolled out from Monday at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent. Officers stationed there will be able to seize mobile phones and extract intelligence from devices using specialist technology on site. Migrants may be required to remove coats during searches, and officers will also be permitted to check mouths for concealed SIM cards.
Ministers argue that the powers will provide vital intelligence on smuggling gangs, including communication networks, payment trails and routes used to organise Channel crossings. The National Crime Agency said the information gathered could significantly speed up investigations and lead to quicker disruption of criminal operations.
Border security minister Alex Norris said the government was acting on its promise to “restore order and control” at the borders. “That means taking on the people-smuggling networks behind this deadly trade,” he said. “These robust new laws give law enforcement stronger tools to intercept, disrupt and dismantle these vile gangs and cut off their supply chains.”
The Refugee Council urged caution, stressing that the powers must be used proportionately. It warned that mobile phones are often a lifeline for vulnerable migrants, enabling them to stay in contact with family members and access support.
Minister for migration and citizenship Mike Tapp said seized phones could be returned, depending on individual circumstances and what was found on the device. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “If people have devices that could hold intelligence, then we are right to seize them. But that doesn’t take away compassion.”
The new law also creates tougher offences targeting smugglers’ logistics. Those who store or supply boat engines for illegal crossings could face up to 14 years in prison, while downloading maps of departure points or researching equipment for dinghies could carry sentences of up to five years.
Martin Hewitt, leading efforts to curb Channel crossings, said more than 4,000 disruptions against smuggling gangs had already taken place, including cash seizures and convictions. He described the new powers as a “key moment” to go further.
In 2025, 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, nearly 5,000 more than the previous year. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticised the measures as inadequate, while Labour rejected calls to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing instead for reform.
Courtesy of the BBC
