A HOME Office minister has conceded that some people may think that the Government has been slow to increase fines for people using illegal migrants as slave labour.
Sarah Dines told GB News: “I’m very pleased that the Home Secretary is announcing today that we’re upping penalties up to £60,000 pounds.
“Some might say ‘it’s about time too’. We need to stop this criminal activity, it is international organised crime, let’s not forget. It’s not just one or two people that fancy coming to the UK.
“This is organised crime and it has to stop. It is cross-nation and it mustn’t stop in the UK.”
As about illegal migrants being exploited as slave labour, during a discussion with Martin Daubney and Ellie Costello, she continued: “Well, that’s quite shocking. Of course we need to stamp out this practice.
“This is as a result of the huge influx of people that we’ve had, illegal migrants across the channel. And you will get people that will try and work the system, which is why we have to enforce larger penalties just to stop this sort of thing.”
On housing migrants on barges, she said: “We need to send a message across the world that coming to the United Kingdom illegally doesn’t mean you’re going to get into a very comfortable hotel.
“The Bibby Stockholm is just one of a wide range of measures that we’re bringing in to move people out of hotels. We’re spending over £6 million pounds a night, it’s just not acceptable.”
Asked about plans to house migrants on Ascension Island, she added: “Well, as I understand it, it’s not an announcement. It’s just speculation.
“What I can say is that we are thoroughly committed to the Rwanda scheme. We’re waiting for the Supreme Court to give its judgement.
“I’m pleased that the High Court or the Lord Chief Justice found that offshoring and considering these applications was perfectly lawful and we are confident that we will succeed, so it’s not right to speculate about other countries as a proper government.
“We are of course looking at additional wraparound resources, but we are thoroughly committed to the Rwandan agreement.”
