LONDON 

The British home secretary on Wednesday set out new measures to strengthen border security, enforce immigration rules, and increase returns.

The measures include the immediate recruitment of up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigation officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target, dismantle and disrupt organized immigration crime networks, the Home Office said in a statement.

Yvette Cooper also announced a "major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity" to make sure that immigration and asylum rules are respected and enforced.

She said the government has new plans for the next six months to achieve "the highest rate of removals" of those with no right to be in the country, including failed asylum seekers, for five years (since 2018).

A new intelligence-driven illegal working program will be rolled out to target, investigate, and take down unscrupulous employers who illegally employ those with no right to work here, added the statement.

The plan also includes a large surge in enforcement and returns flights, increased detention capacity, redeployment of staff to drive this increase in returns, and sanctions to be taken against unscrupulous employers who hire workers illegally.

This comes on top of the 50% uplift in the number of NCA officers stationed in Europol, it added.

"Building on 9 successful returns flights in the last six weeks, including the largest-ever chartered return flight, the government is redeploying personnel and resources to support further activity."

Cooper said they are taking "strong and clear steps" to boost the UK border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced.

She added that "by increasing enforcement capabilities and returns we will establish a system that is better controlled and managed, in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long."

More than 18,300 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats this year, while nearly 30,000 people came to Britain this way last year.