Increase in staffing in National Crime Agency

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced 100 new specialist intelligence officer and investigators into the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target criminal smuggling gangs.

While welcoming this decision, PCS has highlighted the difficulty the NCA has previously had in recruiting to these specialist roles due to underfunding and erosion of pay and progression, with no above inflation rise since 2010.

 The NCA has been exploring how to undertake a pay reform review, and PCS is hopeful that the new government will make money available to pay a decent wage to these staff, who will be fulfilling the government’s commitment to provide long-term security to our borders.

PCS also welcomes the increased focus on tackling people traffickers and criminal immigration gangs, but is keen to ensure that these new roles are not concentrated on detrimental measures against the victims of the criminals.

 Alongside Care4Calais, PCS has set out an alternative safe passage visa scheme, to allow refugees to enter the UK safely and begin their asylum claim in our Safe Passage Now: The way to stop the boats and save lives. Safe Passage Visas would reduce the risk to life, break the people smugglers’ business model and treat human beings with the dignity and respect they deserve.

 PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “While we welcome any new jobs, we hope the government backs up these appointments with new money to ensure they - and existing staff - are paid a fair wage.

“And while we similarly welcome an increased focus on tackling people traffickers, we are clear that our members should be deployed against the criminals and not their victims.”