The current weak capacity of the British state, and assertions around 'stretched resources' are a product of decade of political commitment to austerity, and the hegemony of the neoliberal economic orthodoxy. There is a large body of research attesting to the fact that this has transferred money into the private sector, delivering private profit, but not always to public benefit. As analysts of this phenomenon, we recognise that it is in the financial interests of companies to see this as a positive move. It is also beneficial for them to see the use of private actors in the delivery of government policy as 'common sense'. By arguing that it is 'unrealistic' that the public sector provide these services this obscures several important points. First, that private companies are invested in maintaining the political illusion that the state must be small. Second, that profit making companies should thus be entrusted with public money as they are more 'efficient'. Third, it obscures the fact that the need for the services that private contractors provide is produced by political decisions, and that other choices are available.

We would like to note that the MCA misuse the language of 'trafficking', suggesting that people claiming asylum are 'trafficked' across land and sea borders. This is a significant factual error, demonstrating a lack of understanding of this issue. Trafficking is coercive form of forced movement associated with forced labour. The vast majority of people who cross the UK maritime border to claim asylum are doing so by employing the services of smugglers. This is because there are no other routes available. Paying a smuggler is not the same as being trafficked against your will. The incorrect conflation of these terms -trafficking and smuggling- is common in the media and political discourse. It is a significant issue in understanding and responding to both the small boat Channel crossings phenomenon, and the phenomenon of human trafficking.

This is a research project and we are keen for our data to be as accurate as possible. If companies would like to contact us to clarify or amend any of the figures included in the database (with appropriate evidence) we would very much welcome this.