The United Kingdom has begun confiscating mobile phones and SIM cards from migrants arriving illegally, in an effort to dismantle people-smuggling networks operating across the English Channel.
The new powers, effective 5 January 2026 under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, allow officials to seize devices without arresting individuals. Phones are being downloaded and examined at processing centres such as Manston in Kent to gather intelligence on smuggling routes and contacts.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris said the measure is aimed at “restoring order and control to our borders” and targeting criminal gangs before more lives are put at risk. The National Crime Agency will use the data to support investigations and prosecutions.
Officials may check for hidden devices in clothing or elsewhere, and phones may later be returned depending on the circumstances. The policy comes amid rising Channel crossings, with over 41,000 migrants arriving in 2025.
Human rights groups have raised concerns about privacy and the treatment of vulnerable migrants, warning that the measure could treat asylum seekers primarily as security threats rather than people in need of protection. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.