A £15 million deal with Telespazio will help the Home Office track illegal migrant boats crossing the Channel using advanced satellite surveillance.
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| The UK Home Office invests £15 million in spy satellites to monitor migrant Channel crossings and enhance maritime security. Image Courtesy: Daily Mail |
London, UK — December 30, 2024:
The UK Home Office has entered into a £15 million contract with Telespazio, a global space company with a UK base in Luton, to enhance surveillance of migrant crossings in the Channel. The deal aims to deploy spy satellites to support the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC), which is responsible for addressing threats to UK security, law, and the marine environment. This contract marks a significant investment in technology to improve the Home Office's ability to track illegal activities, particularly migrant boats crossing the Channel.
Telespazio will provide advanced satellite surveillance systems that will help detect "dark targets" — vessels that do not emit tracking data, such as boats used by criminals for smuggling or those carrying migrants attempting the perilous journey to the UK. In addition to the satellites, the Home Office has already deployed radar, hi-tech cameras, and sensors for 24/7 surveillance of the Channel, allowing for real-time monitoring of small boats making the crossing.
The use of satellites is part of a broader strategy to improve maritime security. While satellite surveillance offers long-range coverage, it lacks the persistence of terrestrial sensors such as radar, which operate over shorter distances but provide continuous monitoring. This combination of satellite and radar technology is intended to create a multi-layered surveillance approach, improving the detection and interception of illicit vessels.
The contract, which began in November and will run until next September, reflects the government's response to the growing number of migrant crossings in the Channel. This year alone, 36,204 migrants have made the dangerous journey, the highest number recorded. Since 2018, more than 150,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, many of them at significant risk. Tragically, at least three migrants died in a crossing incident just recently, underscoring the life-threatening nature of these crossings.
In response to this crisis, the Home Office is strengthening its border security efforts, including recruiting more investigative officers and enhancing collaboration with European authorities to combat people-smuggling operations. A Home Office spokesperson emphasized the role of satellites in detecting illegal activities at sea, including people smuggling, illegal fishing, and drug trafficking, to ensure safer UK waters and borders.