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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2024.

Martin Hewitt CBE QPM has been appointed to lead the UK’s new Border Security Command – marking a significant step forward in the fight against illegal migration and criminal smuggling gangs.

• Martin Hewitt CBE QPM appointed as new Border Security Commander
• Prime Minister announces former NPCC Chair with “unique expertise” ahead of Rome visit
• Commander will lead a new international effort to destroy criminal smuggling gangs

Martin Hewitt CBE QPM has been appointed to lead the UK’s new Border Security Command – marking a significant step forward in the fight against illegal migration and criminal smuggling gangs.

Signalling a new approach to securing our borders, the Border Security Command will be armed with enhanced powers and will coordinate the work of all our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to lead joint investigations with European counterparts to address organised immigration crime.

Martin Hewitt has over 30 years’ experience tackling serious crime and protecting national security. As former Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council he led strategic coordination across all UK police forces and played a critical role in shaping national responses to major security threats, including terrorism, organised crime and illegal migration.

His ability to bring together policing, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and government bodies in response to major security threats was key to his appointment. His leadership was most visibly demonstrated in managing the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinating policing efforts.

The announcement comes as part of the Prime Minister’s visit to Italy, where he is continuing his drive to reset relations with key international partners and deliver tangible results for the British people on migration, trade and security for the UK.

As part of the visit Keir Starmer will discuss with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni her country’s success in tackling irregular migration. Italy has seen a 60 per cent drop in irregular migration by sea over the past year thanks to tough enforcement and international cooperation.

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“No more gimmicks. This government will tackle the smuggling gangs who trade the lives of men, women and children across borders.

“Martin Hewitt’s unique expertise will lead a new era of international enforcement to dismantle these networks, protect our shores and bring order to the asylum system.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“I am delighted to welcome Martin to this role. Following decades working at the top of law enforcement on national security, public safety and serious organised crime he has the experience and track record we need to lead our Border Security Command.

“Dangerous criminal smuggling gangs have been making millions out of small boat crossings, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk, and getting away with it for far too long.

Under this Government we have taken early action against the smuggler gangs including increasing British officers stationed at Europol and commencing recruitment of 100 specialist investigators to go after these criminal networks and their supply chains, including seizing boats and engines.

“With the Border Security Command we can go much further – building new law enforcement partnerships across Europe and getting new powers into place, to go after the gangs, tackle dangerous boat crossings and save lives.”

Newly appointed Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt said:

“I am honoured and excited to lead this new and groundbreaking Command. I am under no illusions of the challenges that lie ahead, but I am determined to face them head-on.

“For too long, the criminal gangs who smuggle people through Europe have abused our borders in the name of profit, and they are responsible for the deaths of scores of vulnerable, innocent people. We will dismantle them, bring them to justice and prevent them from using exploitation and deceit to fill their pockets.

“It is great to see that progress has been made in recent weeks, and we will build on this to forge deeper relationships with all of the organisations within Border Security Command, as well as our friends and partners across the world.”

The Prime Minister will be joined in Rome by the new Commander and will outline the UK’s strategy to work more closely with European partners to pursue, disrupt and arrest those responsible for this vile trade.

During the visit the Prime Minister and Mr Hewitt will tour the National Coordination Centre for Migration to see first-hand how Italy responds to irregular migration and discuss future cooperation.

The Prime Minister is leading a reset in the relationship with Europe, with work to increase security co-operation already leading to a 50 per cent uplift in the number of National Crime Agency officers stationed in Europol, working on organised immigration crime.

This month the National Crime Agency (NCA) hosted a summit of Cabinet ministers and law enforcement partners that discussed plans for further collaboration with European partners.

This renewed cooperation has already led to success, including co-operation with Bulgaria seeing more than 40 small boats and engines being intercepted in recent weeks – enough to have enabled 2,400 people to attempt the deadly crossing. This work is among 70 live operations the NCA is currently running with international partners.

The planned Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will bring forward intrusive state powers mirroring Counter Terror legislation, to allow law enforcement partners to disrupt, investigate and prosecute those facilitating organised immigration crime.

The Prime Minister is visiting Italy to forge stronger ties with one of the UK’s key European partners following productive trips to Berlin, Paris and Dublin.

Italy is a pivotal NATO, G7 and EU player and the UK’s 9th largest trading partner with bilateral trade flows worth over £50 billion.

While in Rome the Prime Minister will focus on building an ambitious partnership with Italy that will deliver for the British and Italian people. He will meet with business leaders to explore ways to unlock further trade potential between the two countries and discuss closer co-operation with Prime Minister Meloni on defence and security.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2024.

The UK government has announced £1 million of humanitarian assistance to Vietnam to support the initial phase of the response to the impact of Typhoon Yagi.

• the UK government is providing £1 million of humanitarian assistance in response to the devastating impact of Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam. It will provide emergency supplies, cash assistance and critical services, such as health, water and sanitation to those affected
• Typhoon Yagi is the most powerful storm to hit the South China Sea in 30 years and has caused widespread damage and loss of life in multiple provinces
• this vital humanitarian assistance will support the initial phase of the response, including life-saving interventions and early recovery via humanitarian partners

The UK government has today announced £1 million of humanitarian assistance to Vietnam to support the initial phase of the response to the impact of Typhoon Yagi. The vital assistance will be allocated to humanitarian partners and will reach individuals directly through providing emergency supplies, cash assistance and critical services, such as health, water and sanitation.

Typhoon Yagi hit Vietnam with sustained winds of 142 mph and heavy rainfall. [As of 14 September] 351 people are reported to be dead or missing, and over 800 people have reported injuries following landslides, falling trees, and widespread flooding. Furthermore, over 188,000 houses are damaged, destroyed or flooded and there has been significant damage to power infrastructure, bridges, and educational facilities.

Vietnam is one of the world’s most climate vulnerable states. The UK is at the forefront of climate cooperation with Vietnam as co-leaders of the Just Energy Transition Partnership. In addition to supporting the initial phase of the typhoon response, this funding will help to boost Vietnam’s ongoing resilience to climate change.

Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

The UK government stands beside the people affected by the devastating impact of Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam.

We have coordinated closely with the Vietnamese government and humanitarian partners to identify where our support can have greatest impact.

The funding announced today will reach those most in need, providing emergency supplies, cash assistance and critical services, such as health, water and sanitation to those in the worst affected areas.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2024.

Statement by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the EU.

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the EU, condemn in the strongest possible terms Iran’s export and Russia’s procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles.

Evidence that Iran has continued to transfer weaponry to Russia despite repeated international calls to stop represents a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has used Iranian weaponry such as UAVs to kill Ukrainian civilians and strike their critical infrastructure. Russia’s aggression constitutes a flagrant violation of international law including the UN Charter.

Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to hold Iran to account for its unacceptable support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine that further undermines global security. In line with our previous statements on the matter, we are already responding with new and significant measures.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 September 2024.

Joint statement by the governments of the United Kingdom and United States on the occasion of the UK-US Strategic Dialogue in London.

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in London to open the UK-US Strategic Dialogue.

The Strategic Dialogue – led by the Secretaries of State of the United Kingdom and United States – celebrates and deepens the long-standing and special relationship between the United Kingdom and United States.

The dialogue, held 10 to 11 September 2024, covered the key elements of the UK-US partnership, including unwavering support for Ukraine, the promotion of peace and security in the Middle East including through a ceasefire in Gaza, cooperation towards a free and open Indo-Pacific, and alignment on secure, resilient and sustainable growth.

At the dialogue, the United Kingdom and United States emphasised the interconnectedness of the security and economies of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific.

Foreign Secretary Lammy and Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the enduring support of the United Kingdom and United States for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

They discussed next steps to mobilise military and financial resources for Ukraine, restrict Russian revenues, put pressure on the Kremlin’s war machine, and restore Ukraine’s energy networks. They condemned strongly Russia’s recent air strikes that devastated Ukrainian civilians.

They decided to work together to support the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, highlighting Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO membership. The dialogue expressed particular concern about China’s support to Russia’s defence industrial base.

Both leaders noted the importance of addressing security and stability in Europe; addressing threats from foreign disinformation, malicious cyber actors, and organised crime; and encouraging stable, inclusive, and prosperous societies.

Secretary Blinken confirmed intelligence findings that Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran. Both Foreign Secretary Lammy and Secretary Blinken recognised the significance of this escalation and the concerning trend of Iran’s ever closer military support to Russia.

They condemned the transfer and made clear that, alongside international partners, they would take coordinated action to respond with new and significant measures for Iran and Russia.

The United Kingdom and United States also noted that Iran continued to bring instability to the region through its proliferation of advanced weaponry, alongside providing financial and political support to its partners, including Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other groups in Iraq and Syria.

Both agreed that Iran’s nuclear programme had never been more advanced and posed a clear threat to regional and global peace and security.

Foreign Secretary Lammy expressed the United Kingdom’s clear support for the ongoing mediation efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to conclude the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

Both the United Kingdom and United States underlined their support for Israel’s security and the importance of avoiding any escalatory action in the region which would undermine the prospect for peace and progress towards a two-state solution.

In that regard, they affirmed their shared commitment to securing a political agreement for a lasting security solution along the Blue Line that will allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians on both sides to return to their homes with safety and security.

They discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterated calls for all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and for Israel to facilitate the flow of aid, including ensuring the UN and humanitarian partners can deliver their operations safely.

They welcomed the ongoing polio vaccination campaign and underlined the importance of cooperation from all parties with the WHO and health agencies to ensure that all children who need to be are vaccinated.

The United Kingdom and United States reaffirmed their commitment to continue their Indo-Pacific Dialogue and pledged to explore new opportunities to coordinate approaches, work with others to support a free and open region, and oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

Both nations recognised that their partnership with Australia, through AUKUS, is a demonstration of that continued collective commitment to the region. They welcomed last month’s publication of the United Kingdom’s AUKUS Nations Open General Licence, alongside an International Traffic in Arms Regulations exemption granted by the United States and looked forward to implementation.

These changes will enable enhanced collaboration and the rapid development of some of the most advanced capabilities in the world – revolutionising AUKUS partners’ defence trade sectors and unlocking growth and export opportunities for all of our industries.

The United Kingdom and United States affirmed the importance of close coordination to advance shared objectives and common values and interests with respect to the Indo-Pacific.

On China, the two sides confirmed our shared commitment to upholding international law and the rules based international system and noted with concern dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea by Chinese vessels towards Philippines vessels.

The United Kingdom and United States emphasised the need to respect the law of the sea as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They restated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to the security and prosperity of the international community and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

The dialogue discussed the United Kingdom and United States’ shared priorities in Africa.  This includes efforts to end the conflict and promote expanded humanitarian access in Sudan and supporting Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and long-term stability, including through the transition to a new African Union led security mission.

In the dialogue, the United Kingdom and United States reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening the resilience of democracies around the world.  Both noted longstanding US-UK collaboration on anti-corruption issues, and the United States welcomed increased UK focus on countering corruption – specifically kleptocracy – including by addressing illicit finance, beneficial ownership transparency, and enablers of corruption.

The United States and United Kingdom look forward to building on our cooperation in these areas, including through measures such as sanctions, multilateral and bilateral diplomacy, law enforcement, and foreign assistance.

Recognising the threat foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) poses to democracies, the United Kingdom and United States decided to increase the pace and scale of our joint efforts to disrupt Kremlin and other state-sponsored FIMI and to advance joint capabilities among our closest partners.

This effort was bolstered by a commitment from the United Kingdom and United States to take joint action to expose and disrupt covert foreign information operations around the world, which seek to spread lies and discord to undermine free and open societies.

The United Kingdom and United States affirm our ambition to deliver through the G7 Collective Response Framework in 2025. These efforts will include as special focus joint assistance to Ukraine to counter Kremlin disinformation and propaganda seeking to justify an unjustifiable invasion.

This work will build on and support both the United Kingdom and United States’ intention to continue bilateral cooperation on the five key action areas in the US Department of State’s Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation.

Drawing on Prime Minister Starmer and President Biden’s recent commitment to aligned ambitions for greater economic growth, Foreign Secretary Lammy and Secretary Blinken noted how the UK-US security partnership underpinned the prosperity that allows both economies to grow, while working on a suite of tools to protect our critical technologies at the same time.

They highlighted the centrality of the clean energy transition to economic security and growth and the criticality of strong climate leadership, as well as key domestic policies, such as the UK Clean Energy Superpower Mission and the US Inflation Reduction Act, and noted the considerable existing bilateral energy co-operation, including through the United Kingdom-United States Energy Dialogue.

The United Kingdom and United States committed to work together ahead of COP29 in Azerbaijan, including on global climate finance goals and driving progress on the effort to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. They also committed to continue working through the G7 and other multilateral fora to enhance economic security and resilience.

Foreign Secretary Lammy and Secretary Blinken expressed their enthusiasm for continuing to build on the steadfast relationship between the United Kingdom and United States. They affirmed the importance of Prime Minister Starmer’s September 13 meeting with President Biden in Washington DC and decided to continue discussions across the full range of foreign and security policy priorities.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 September 2024.

A FCDO spokesperson said:

The UK supports the US in their assessment that RT is not only a state-funded propaganda house, but deliberately working to undermine our collective security on behalf of the Kremlin.

Already a mouthpiece for Russian disinformation, RT has mutated into an altogether more harmful organisation.

US information shows that RT is engaged in information operations and covert influence across the world. These activities strike at the democratic foundations of other countries, using intelligence operations and shadowy networks to incite political violence, and spread dissent across the world. Working in direct cooperation with the Kremlin, RT has sought to influence democratic processes in Moldova and to spread damaging lies designed to inflame tensions.

As part of this cooperation the Russian Government had embedded an entity with cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian intelligence within RT with the full knowledge of RTs senior leadership.

Alongside its public lies and disinformation RT has also used proxy outlets under the guise of independent media to disseminate false pro-Kremlin narratives.

Together with our international partners we have already taken strong measures to prevent RT from achieving its pernicious objectives, sanctioning its parent company TV Novosti and working to restrict its influence. We will continue to bear down on those who would threaten our collective security and democratic values.

In its control of RT, we see the extent of the Russian state’s duplicity: weaponising the media in order to spread lies, threaten global security and further its illegal invasion of Ukraine. We have seen these shoddy attempts to obscure the truth and they have failed.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 September 2024.

The eighth UK-Japan Cyber Dialogue took place on 12 to 13 September 2024 in London.

The meeting was co-chaired by Will Middleton, Cyber Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Naoki Kumagai, Ambassador in charge of Cyber Policy and Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Policy Bureau at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Representatives attended from the UK’s FCDO, Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Department for Science, Information and Technology (DSIT), Home Office (HO) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and from Japan’s MOFA, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Ministry of Defense (MOD), National center of Incident readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC), National Police Agency (NPA), and Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC).

At this dialogue, the 2 sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, such as on each country’s cybersecurity strategy and policy, cooperation in the international fora including the UN, and cybersecurity capacity building.

Both chairs agreed to strengthen cooperation under the May 2023 UK-Japan Cyber Partnership as a linchpin of the wider global strategic partnership. Both sides affirmed that the 2 countries will continue to meet under the Cyber Dialogue.