Ireland and UK Hold Joint Training Event to Combat People Smuggling Threat
Gardaí and UK agencies hold joint event addressing threat of mass-fatality incidents involving clandestine migrants in Common Travel Area.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau hosted a Joint Clandestine Critical Incident Framework Event this week to confront the very real and evolving threat of potential mass-fatality incidents involving clandestine migrants in the Common Travel Area.
The event took place at Walter Scott House, Dublin 8, and was officially opened and launched by Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, OSC, Deputy British Ambassador Patrick Reilly from the British Embassy, and Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock from GNIB.
Senior Garda colleagues from a range of bureaus and units at national, regional and divisional level attended the event. The UK was represented by a range of UK immigration enforcement agencies.
An Garda Síochána described Organised Immigration Crime as organised, adaptive and driven by financial reward. People smuggling is a lucrative criminal trade, with OIC groups viewing it as just another revenue stream.
OIC groups are determined to find new ways to exploit any vulnerabilities they can identify and are continuously probing transport networks, freight systems and border arrangements for opportunities to exploit the Common Travel Area. Gardaí stated they remain relentless in their efforts to combat and deter OIC.
The roll out of this Clandestine Critical Incident Framework event served three purposes: to confront a very real and evolving threat of the potential for a mass-fatality event involving clandestine migrants impacting the Common Travel Area, to create a unique opportunity for attendees to discuss, debate and test existing structures, communication channels, legislative, operational and jurisdictional complexities in dealing with a critical clandestine incident, and to provide an opportunity to simulate complexity in a controlled environment, expose gaps, clarify roles, strengthen professional relationships and develop vital contacts.
The hosting of this event is a testament to the level of cooperation between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom to uphold and protect the integrity of the Common Travel Area.
