The ongoing arrivals of migrants via small boats pose a significant national security threat, according to a former senior official within the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). Roy McComb, who served as deputy director of the NCA from 2014 to 2019, stated that the predominantly young, military-aged men arriving in these boats could include criminals, foreign agents, or terrorists.
McComb criticized what he described as "very liberal attitudes" that frame small boat migration primarily as a humanitarian issue, arguing this hinders effective government action. He suggested that the current approach allows individuals to claim asylum status, providing them with protection even if they are intercepted.
His remarks come amid reports suggesting that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), recently designated a terrorist organization in the UK, may be using the small boat routes to move covert operatives into the country. Reports indicate that people smugglers claim Tehran facilitates these passages in exchange for future favors upon arrival. An Iranian official was also quoted suggesting that operatives linked to the IRGC's Unit 700, responsible for covert foreign operations, have been stationed in London.
McComb, who previously led organized crime efforts for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, stated that it is logical for Iran to exploit illegal routes for infiltration. He noted that the NCA and security services have previously highlighted a convergence of threats, with organized crime groups transporting individuals from hostile nations.
Last year, three Iranian men were charged with spying for Iran after arriving in the UK illegally. They are accused of targeting journalists working for the London-based broadcaster Iran International. One man faces charges of planning serious violence, while the other two are accused of spying with the intent that others would commit serious violence.
Concerns about Tehran-backed threats in the UK were echoed by George Simm, a former Regimental Sergeant Major of 22 SAS. He believes individuals linked to the IRGC are in the preliminary stages of preparing for potential attacks in the UK, which could pose a "massive threat to life." Simm theorized a scenario involving multiple coordinated attacks across major cities, similar to the 7/7 bombings but with firearms.
An unnamed analyst specializing in Iranian external operations confirmed that intelligence services likely view small boat crossings as a vulnerability. However, the analyst expressed skepticism about the effectiveness and long-term potential of any agents successfully infiltrated, citing the general operational methods of Iranian intelligence.
Official figures indicate a decrease in small boat arrivals this year compared to previous periods. The Prime Minister's office stated that the government's plan is working, citing a significant year-on-year reduction in crossings and an increase in removals of illegal migrants. The Ministry of Defence affirmed that national security is paramount and that stringent security checks are in place for all arrivals, with those identified as threats being detained and removed.
The Home Office reported that removals of small boat migrants are at record levels and asylum claims have decreased. A new deal with France aims to enhance enforcement actions and prosecute people smugglers, building on joint efforts that have reportedly stopped over 46,000 attempted crossings since the election. The department also stated that nearly 70,000 individuals have been removed or deported for being in the UK illegally.