UK Government’s planned sanctions against people smugglers – symbolic or effective?

The UK Government has announced plans to introduce the world’s first global sanctions regime targeting individuals and networks involved in people smuggling. The proposed measures would include asset freezes and travel bans aimed at disrupting the supply chains behind illegal Channel crossings.

The plan has been widely covered in the media, with This is Money and the Daily Mail highlighting the scale of the challenge and questioning the likely effectiveness of the proposed sanctions, particularly given the cash-based and decentralised nature of smuggling operations.

In response to the newly announced plans, Roger Gherson, Managing Partner at Gherson Solicitors, commented:

“Proposals to use these on people smugglers is nothing more than bluster and an obvious PR exercise for the Government to be seen to be dealing with the problem”, he told MailOnline.
“Most of these smugglers will no doubt operate outside of [the] normal banking system in any case, and most probably in cash. To divert limited police and National Crime Agency (NCA) resources to this will only stretch our much-needed resources further”.

Media coverage:

Daily Mail Online – Why government plans to crackdown on people smugglers with sanctions could have little impact on stopping small boat crossings | Daily Mail Online

This is Money – Why government plans to crackdown on people smugglers with sanctions could have little impact on stopping small boat crossings | This is Money