A man convicted in France for people smuggling, once described as a "godfather" of migrant camps, is now reportedly living in Manchester and selling used cars, according to a BBC investigation. This individual is believed to still be involved in facilitating illegal border crossings.
Law enforcement officials in Europe have informed the BBC that they are aware of approximately 15 individuals with prior convictions for people smuggling in France, Germany, and Belgium who are now believed to be residing in the UK and seeking asylum under assumed identities. Another man with a French conviction is reportedly living in Blackpool, has claimed asylum using a false name, and boasts on social media about being granted permission to remain in the UK.
Since the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, the absence of a data-sharing agreement with many EU countries has complicated the verification of criminal and immigration records for asylum seekers. Lucy Morton of the Immigration Services Union stated that if databases were shared, even with neighboring countries like Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, it would be possible to identify individuals with convictions for people smuggling.
Asylum seekers arriving in the UK undergo fingerprinting and checks against UK police databases, which do not typically include convictions from other nations. The Home Office asserts that all asylum claimants are subjected to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity for immigration, security, and criminality assessments. In November, Alex Norris, the Minister for Border Security, noted that details of these checks are not publicly disclosed to maintain their integrity. The Home Office also indicated that agreements are in place with several countries for the sharing of criminal record information, and that immigration enforcement actions, including arrests for illegal working, have reached historic highs, increasing by 83%.