Press release

PM announces further funding for the National Crime Agency (NCA) and new migration returns figures

The PM has announced two new elements of this government’s approach to boost border security and restore order to the asylum system.

From:
Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, Home Office and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
Published
4 November 2024

The Prime Minister has announced two new elements of this government’s approach to boost border security and restore order to the asylum system – a £58 million boost for the National Crime Agency (NCA) and new figures showing 9,400 people with no right to be here have been returned since the government took power.

The NCA will receive a £58 million increase in its core budget for the 2025/26 financial year, representing a 9% rise compared to 2024/25. 

 This uplift in funding will:  

  • Deliver specialist operational equipment such as covert audio/video tools and covert tracking capabilities (including in the maritime domain).

  • Increase the amount of leads we generate through analysis of data to stop criminals in their tracks.  

  • Allow us to keep pace with the ever more sophisticated ways online criminals hide their tracks by bringing in threat specific data from international partners, industry and covert sources. 

  • Expand access to datasets and systems to NCA intelligence and investigative teams, borders staff and policing partners to give them direct access to the single intelligence picture. 

  • Increase the skills and tools available to forensic officers.  

  • Increase the technology available to officers to allow them to collaborate and work more productively. 

The PM has also announced new returns figures following an ad-hoc statistical release from the Home Office today. 

  • Since this government took power (up to 28 October), a total of 9,400 returns were recorded (including both enforced and voluntary returns).  

  • There were 2,590 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. This compares with 2,170 enforced returns over the same period in 2023, an increase of 19%.   

  • Of the total returns, 1,520 enforced and voluntary returns were of foreign national offenders (FNOs), this is an increase of 14% compared to 1,330 FNO returns in the same period of 2023.

Updates to this page

Published 4 November 2024