UK and Albania step up efforts on people smuggling

Sir Keir Starmer has said that he is "determined that we will retake control of the borders," as he begins a visit to Albania.

In his first official visit to the country, the prime minister is expected to announce further measures to crack down on organised crime and illegal immigration.

The UK is to step up intelligence sharing with Albanian law enforcement and provide funding for forensics, as part of the plans announced.

The number of people crossing the Channel has passed 12,000 since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year.

Speaking in Albania, Sir Keir said: "The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders.

"That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade."

He said greater co-operation with Albania had "driven down those numbers" and that he wanted to "see more of that".

Immigration has been a strong focus of the government this week - on Monday it set out plans to reduce the level of legal migration in a White Paper.

The government said there has been a 95% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals in the last three years, and that the number of Albanians returned has doubled in the past two years.

The prime minister is expected to announce the expansion of the Joint Migration Task Force - which shares intelligence and carries out operations against people smugglers in the Western Balkans - to include North Macedonia.

The enhanced co-operation with Albania set to be announced will include measures to tackle a "revolving door effect", of migrants returning home, evading law enforcement and leaving the country again, the government said.

The plans will also include:

• A new programme to help young Albanians reintegrate into society and find employment
• Funding a new forensic evidence programme to share and track DNA of criminals in Albania to solve crimes in the UK
• A further £1m investment to upgrade Albania's forensics, biometrics and digital capability
• Greater intelligence sharing to allow local law, using UK-funded drones, to "snare gangsters" transporting migrants through the Western Balkans corridor

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described Sir Keir's visit as "pure theatre".

He said: "The returns deal with Albania was decisive action taken by the previous Conservative government."

"So why is Starmer now flying out for a handshake in Tirana to claim credit? If the scheme is already working, what exactly is this trip for?" he added.