International human rights and modern slavery laws could be set aside under government plans to allow UK to remove illegal migrants faster amid concern the system is being abused to prevent deportation

  • Home Office is considering options over legislation to tackle Channel crossings
  • One option is setting aside human rights and modern slavery law commitments
  • It is argued many migrants abuse modern slavery laws to prevent deportation
  • Ministers also pushing for crackdown on rogue employers hiring illegal workers

Ministers are pondering whether to set aside international human rights and modern slavery laws to allow the UK to remove illegal migrants faster.

The Home Office is currently considering its options over legislation to combat Channel crossings that have seen more than 41,000 arrive on inflatable boats so far this year alone.

One of the options being discussed is setting aside Britain's commitments under the Human Rights Act and modern slavery laws, The Sun reports.

A similar move to bypass international rules over the Northern Ireland protocol bill led to a backlash last year. 

It is argued that many migrants are abusing modern slavery laws to prevent deportation and wrongly claim asylum.

The proposal would allow Home Secretary Suella Braverman to close the loopholes and allow officials to take a tougher stance on migrants. 

Ministers are also said to be pushing for a crackdown on rogue employers hiring illegal workers.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman pictured arrives for her meeting with French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Monday

Home Secretary Suella Braverman pictured arrives for her meeting with French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Monday

A large group of migrants are pictured on an inflatable boat making crossing the Channel last week

A large group of migrants are pictured on an inflatable boat making crossing the Channel last week

The Home Office has played down suggestions of bypassing international laws, with Downing Street saying 'there is no overnight fix' to the issue.

It comes as Ms Braverman has signed a £63million deal with France in the latest attempt to tackle the Channel migrant crisis.

The settlement will see the British taxpayer foot the bill for anti-people trafficking measures on the French coast, including officers from the UK Border Force being deployed alongside gendarmes for the first time as well as in French control centres.

The number of gendarmes on beach patrols will increase by 40 per cent over the next five months and the British cash will pay for more helicopters, drones and CCTV to spot migrants and facilitate interception.

Writing in the Mail, Mrs Braverman yesterday warned that the surge of migrants is putting 'intolerable pressure' on UK accommodation and public services.

The pact was given a cautious welcome by Tory MPs last night, as the Home Secretary described it as a 'big step forward'.

However, Downing Street confirmed the deal does not include any performance targets for the French, such as stopping a higher proportion of migrant boats.

Britain has already paid £175million to France to police the Channel border since 2018, with the latest sum taking it to more than £230million.

Discussions to bypass international laws come as Albanian criminals are said to be committing ‘blatant manipulation’ of the UK’s modern slavery laws, senior officials from ‘Britain’s FBI’ warned yesterday.

Ms Braverman has signed a £63million deal with France in the latest attempt to tackle the Channel migrant crisis

Ms Braverman has signed a £63million deal with France in the latest attempt to tackle the Channel migrant crisis

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Albanian organised crime groups are bringing workers into Britain by small boat to work in the drugs trade, such as cannabis farms known as ‘grows’.

In some cases, Albanians have been ‘coached’ how to exploit modern slavery laws if they are arrested, the agency said.

Police forces have even seen template-style standard letters which make almost identical claims about alleged modern slavery abuse.

The agency’s comments reveal the full scale of exploitation of the government’s ‘National Referral Mechanism’ for modern slavery claims.

Lodging a claim usually means police investigations must be brought to a halt – and sees the claimant treated as a victim rather than a perpetrator.  

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