UK and Iraq strike deal to clamp down on people smuggling gangs

Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing on Thursday, Sir Keir described the agreement with Iraq as “a world-first that will help us smash the people smuggling gangs and secure our borders”.

He said the funding for Iraqi law enforcement would “tackle the problem upstream, way before it reaches our shores”.

Diplomats accept there are many questions about this policy.

There is a risk that smuggling networks are replaced the moment some ringleaders are arrested.

There may be difficulties getting different parts of Iraq’s law enforcement agencies to cooperate with one another.

Communications campaigns to deter migration often struggle to counter the reports of friends and family in the UK.

We spoke to one people smuggler in Erbil who wished to remain anonymous. He told us the new agreement might make him more cautious for a while but it would not stop him doing business.

The man – who was 36-years-old and from northern Iraq – said he had helped more than 5,000 people leave Kurdistan. He said he was responsible for organising the whole journey to the UK. But he refused to take responsibility for migrants dying in the Channel, blaming local smugglers for overloading boats and migrants themselves for taking the risk.

“We often pay for the boat that carries small numbers, because we bear responsibility for it. The parents are also informed that the road is illegal,” he said.

“In the event of deaths or harm, we do not bear responsibility. The majority of these incidents occur because Pakistani and Afghan smugglers load large numbers onto boats.

“The majority of drowning accidents are for those who pay less amount of money. A boat that carries a few people has a higher price than a boat that carries a large number of people. For example, for a boat that is heavily loaded, we pay 1,200 euros but for a boat that carries a smaller number, we pay 2,500 euros.”

Iraq’s interior minister, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, insisted the new agreement would help tackle this. “The cooperation will involve comprehensive training, exchange of expertise and intelligence coordination in tracking wanted individuals,” he told the BBC.

“The United Kingdom is a significant country for Iraq and a key partner. We hope this cooperation will serve as a starting point for broader collaboration across all ministries.”