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By means of Lisa Hollandcorrespondent of the communities

Sir Keir Starmer has staked his personal authority on destroying people smuggling gangs to reduce the number of small boat crossings.

And this week is the government’s “small boats week” – with a double round of appearances and announcements about how he plans to perform.

Starmer is under intense pressure to outline a viable alternative to the now defunct Rwanda plan.

His strategy is based on crushing the gangs through an intelligence-based approach, treating the problem as capturing terrorists.

Big questions about the approach to PM

On Monday, the Prime Minister pledged at an Interpol conference in Glasgow to double funding for his government’s Border Security Command with new tactics including maritime drones and new specialist investigators.

Although there are major questions about whether even remotely enough money has been made available to fund the plan.

Now the Prime Minister in Hungary has signed an agreement with Western Balkan countries to increase intelligence sharing.

But cooperation agreements will have to extend far beyond the Balkans – especially Spain, Italy and Greece – if there is any chance of success.

With more than 31,000 migrants crossing the Channel since January – 17% more than the same period last year – none of this is a silver bullet.

No easy solutions

The Prime Minister goes after the gangs. But there are many gangs from many different countries, and as long as the demand exists, criminals will find a way to meet it.

Previous governments have spent huge sums of money trying to stop people smugglers before migrants reach France’s northern beaches. And it hasn’t worked.

Until proven otherwise, many believe the only way to stop asylum seekers paying smuggling gangs is to use deterrents and make Britain a less attractive place to come to.

Therefore, established problems remain – such as ending hotel accommodation in asylum seekers, stopping people working illegally in black market economies and accelerating deportations. None of this is easy.