Speaking after the news of the arrest of the Turkish alleged people-smuggler, Sir Keir said it was a “very important step” but added: “I am not pretending it’s the silver bullet. There are other steps that are going to be necessary.
“It is good news that today a man suspected of being a significant supplier of small boat equipment has been arrested. Criminal gangs have been getting away with this for far too long.
“I want to thank the UK NCA, along with their Dutch and Belgian counterparts, for all their hard work and their crucial role in this investigation. It’s exactly what we want to see, and it shows that our approach of working with international partners to smash the people-smuggling gangs is bearing fruit.”
However, Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary and a former immigration minister, tweeted over a video of Sir Keir: “One arrest isn’t going to stop the boats. Stop trying to con the public your ‘plan’ is working. Small boats arrivals are already up on your watch.”