Home Office launches ads in Iraq to deter small boat crossings

The UK Home Office is launching an advertising campaign in Iraq aimed at deterring people from crossing the English Channel in small boats. This initiative seeks to combat criminal gangs organizing illegal crossings and to convey the risks involved to potential migrants. The campaign will highlight the dangers and the likelihood of exploitation.

Previously, similar campaigns were launched in Albania and Vietnam in 2023 and 2024 respectively by the former Conservative government. The Home Office hopes to expose the lies and exploitation of criminal gangs through these campaigns, utilizing real-life stories from victims. These campaigns aim to provide a realistic view of the perilous journey.

Home Office data reveals that 592 migrants crossed the English Channel in 11 boats last Sunday, marking the highest daily record for March. Home Office Minister of State, Angela Eagle, stated: "Ruthless criminal gangs are spreading dangerous lies on social media to extort people's money, and we are using real-life stories from victims to expose them." This is part of a broader effort to disrupt these criminal networks.

However, the Refugee Council suggests that those desperately seeking to escape persecution in their home countries are unlikely to be deterred by social media campaigns. One advertisement displays a wrecked rubber dinghy floating in the water, along with a testimonial from a man who says "the boat was too crowded" and that "someone disappeared into the sea." Another advertisement recounts the experience of a woman who says: "I was promised a high-paying job, but in reality, I became a slave." The effectiveness of these campaigns remains to be seen.

So far this year, 2,716 people have made the crossing, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year, but lower than the figures from the year before. In the entirety of 2024, a total of 36,816 people were detected crossing illegally, with over 2,000 originating from Iraq. Border Force Commander Martin Hewitt visited Iraq last week, aiming to strengthen international cooperation to combat criminal gangs organizing illegal crossings. Hewitt stated: "Our international operations are sending a clear message to potential migrants that these criminals cannot be trusted." These advertisements will initially focus on the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq and will be displayed on social media, apps, and news websites.

On another front, the UK Home Office stated that British ministers will sign a joint communiqué with the Vietnamese government, agreeing "to build on our joint work to prevent the exploitation of irregular migration, disrupt the operations of criminal gangs, enhance intelligence sharing, and return those who have no right to be in the UK." Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had stated that "stopping the boats" was one of his main priorities and attempted to implement the Rwanda plan, which aimed to deter illegal crossings by threatening to send arrivals to the African nation. However, the plan was stalled by legal challenges and failed to be implemented before the 2024 general election. The Labour Party immediately abandoned the plan upon taking office and stated that they wish to focus on combating the criminal gangs organizing small boat crossings.