Hyndburn's new Labour MP Sarah Smith has welcomed government plans to strengthen border security, enforce immigration rules and increase returns.

On Wednesday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced 100 new specialist intelligence officers and investigators would be brought into the National Crime Agency this year to target criminal smuggling gangs.

She also revealed an intelligence-driven programme to target employers who are profiting from hiring illegal workers.

Mrs Cooper also announced an increase in immigration detention spaces to enable more returns and enforcement of immigration and asylum rules.

Ms Smith said: “On border security and the asylum system, as in every other area of government, the sheer scale of incompetence and the staggering waste of taxpayer’s money under the Conservatives has left the new Home Secretary with a huge mess to clean up.

“We know there are no quick fixes to these complex challenges. But already we are taking the swift and decisive action required to strengthen our border security, crack down on the smuggling gangs, and get our asylum system under control.

"Throughout the general election campaign, I listened to the concerns of residents in Hyndburn and Haslingden about illegal migration. It is with that in mind that I support the Labour government's new measures to tackle this issue".

Mrs Cooper said: “We are taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced.

“Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe.

"They will work with European enforcement agencies to find every route in to smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings which undermine our border security and put lives at risk."