UK and Italy to launch Mafia-style crackdown in bid to stop small boat crossings

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A new Joint Illicit Finance Taskforce will see UK and Italian police chiefs work together using techniques used to seize dirty money from the Mafia, The Mirror has learned

British and Italian police chiefs will launch a Mafia-style crackdown targeting smuggling gangs, The Mirror can reveal.

A new taskforce made up of crime agencies and Government officials will launch a “follow the money” approach at a crunch meeting in Rome on Tuesday. It will use methods used by Italian police to claw assets away from Mob bosses.

The two nations will share intelligence with each other on dirty cash linked to organised immigration groups. And they will work together to seize the ill-gotten gains of criminal gangs responsible for smuggling people across Europe.

Figures from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Italian police and UK and Italian government officials will meet in Rome to launch the Joint Illicit Finance Taskforce.

This will see UK and Italian law enforcers work together in a bid to take down “highest harm” criminals. Law enforcers will work with other nations in Europe by sharing information that can take down criminal gangs.

Last month Italian PM Giorgia Meloni said she is “in tune on many issues” with Keir Starmer – especially the fight against illegal immigration. The two leaders have pledged to work together to tackle people smuggling.

In September Mr Starmer said at a joint press conference in the Italian capital: “I am pleased that we are deepening our cooperation here… to share intelligence, share tactics, shut down the smuggling routes and smash the gangs.”

Ms Meloni said at the time: “We agree with Prime Minister Starmer that the first thing we need to do is to intensify the fight against human trafficking, do it by uniting our efforts much more.” She added that they need to “follow the money”.

It comes after the Government last week unveiled its Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will allow counter terror-style powers to target smugglers. This will allow phones and laptops to be seized from people who arrive by small boat.

There will also be measures to arrest people smugglers before dangerous journeys take place. The Bill would bring in prison sentences of up to 14 years for those who sell or handle small boat parts.

People found to be collecting information to help smuggling gangs – such as arranging locations, dates and times for journeys – will also face prosecution. And there will be a new offence of aggression or intimidation while at sea.

The Government has pledged to target smuggling gangs behind dangerous Channel crossings. An estimated 78 people, including children, died trying to reach the UK last year.

Representatives from over 40 countries are set to attend a Border Security Summit in London between March 31 and April 1.