Manston processing centre Photo Louis McLaren

Law enforcement officers will begin taking electronic devices from people at Manston processing centre from today (January 5) under Labour’s new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act which became law in December.

The aim of seizing the devices is to download data to help officers gather intelligence on people smugglers in a bid to tackle Channel crossings.

Border security minister Alex Norris said: ” “We promised to restore order and control to our borders which means taking on the people smuggling networks behind this deadly trade.

“That is exactly why we are implementing robust new laws with powerful offences to intercept, disrupt and dismantle these vile gangs faster than ever before and cut off their supply chains.

“These operational measures sit alongside sweeping reforms to the system, to make it less attractive for migrants to come here illegally and remove and deport people faster.”

Some 41,472 people seeking asylum arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel last year.

The government’s new law also introduces criminal offences, with anyone found guilty of storing or supplying boat engines to bring people to the UK via the English Channel smuggling route facing up to 14 years in prison.

Smugglers downloading maps on where to depart on small boats or researching the best places to buy equipment for dinghies, could be jailed for up to five years.

Sarah Dineley from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Organised immigration crime causes untold misery and is a serious risk to life for those desperate enough to make these crossings.

“Thanks to these new offences we now have at our disposal, we can work with our law enforcement colleagues to bring offenders to justice.

“Prosecutions disrupt the running of these criminal business models and sends out a clear message to those involved that they risk imprisonment.

“Once our prosecutors have sufficient evidence from law enforcement agencies and it’s in the public interest we won’t hesitate to charge suspects and take them to court.”

A new offence of advertising illegal small boat crossings online will come into force in the next few months and carries up to five years in prison.