British officers included in G7 crackdown of illegal gangs that deploy crime-fighting teams to migrant hotspots

These "source" countries include those where migrants originate from in Africa and south-east Asia, but also "transit" nations, such as Italy, Austria and Albania, through which they travel to reach members of the G7.

The move hopes to tackle the migrant problem before they reach southern Europe or the English Channel, by disrupting the gangs' supply chain for small boats.

As part of this plan, Britain has deployed more Border Force and National Crime Agency officers to Europol, as well as "source" and "transit" countries.

The agreement between the G7 nations that include UK, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Canada and Japan, also included commitments to negotiate more returns agreements so that migrants can be deported once they reach G7 countries.

The agreement also has the aim of getting social media companies to do more to remove adverts by crime gangs promoting their smuggling services.

The partner countries will share intelligence and expertise on the seizure and confiscation of money earned by gangs facilitating the illegal smuggling.

The UK's Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: "Criminal smuggling gangs who organise small boat crossings undermine our border security and put lives at risk.

"Our new government is rapidly accelerating cooperation with other countries to crack down on these dangerous gangs.

“Today’s newly agreed G7 action plan provides an important focus on international law enforcement and reflects our determination to work with global partners on these shared challenges.

“New international joint investigative teams will help coordinate cross-border action and supplement the measures we have already taken to set up the UK Border Security Command and back it with new funding.

“The plan will help to increase both voluntary and enforced returns of migrants to countries of origin.

"It aims to offer migrants more choices and improve the overall management of migration flows.”