Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to chair a summit aimed at combating criminal gangs involved in smuggling people across the English Channel using small boats.

This summit is convened in response to a tragic incident where at least 12 individuals, including 10 women and girls, lost their lives in the Channel earlier this week.

Recent cooperation with Bulgarian authorities led to the seizure of over 40 small boats and engines used in smuggling operations.

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Recent incidents have underscored the dangers of Channel crossings, with at least 12 people dying in a recent boat capsizing.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, stressed that successful plans to address Channel crossings must include expanded safe routes and better cooperation with European partners.

Angela Eagle, the Border Security Minister, acknowledged the complexity of tackling cross-border smuggling while emphasizing the government's commitment to addressing the issue.

The recent tragedy on September 3 involved a pregnant woman and six children, marking one of the deadliest Channel crossings in recent years.

Cooper highlighted that the exploitation of vulnerable individuals is a key tactic used by smuggling gangs and reaffirmed the government's commitment to dismantling these criminal networks.

The Home Office stated that the UK intelligence community is deploying covert capabilities to dismantle smuggling gangs at all operational levels.

The government plans to announce the head of a new Border Security Command soon, which is part of efforts to reduce illegal crossings in the Channel.

The summit will take place at the National Crime Agency's headquarters and will include intelligence officers, Border Force staff, and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service.