Afghan war general given new role tackling surge in Albanian migrants crossing the Channel

One of Britain’s top generals, who fought in the Afghan war, has been appointed to tackle the surge in Albanian migrants crossing the Channel.

Lt General Stuart Skeates, who also served in the Gulf war and Bosnian war, has become the Prime Minister’s and Home Secretary’s special coordinator on illegal Albanian migration.

He is expected to work with the Albanian government to help tackle the trafficking gangs behind the surge of up to 10,000 Albanians who have crossed the Channel this year in small boats.

Britain has signed a deal with Albania to fast-track deportations of foreign criminals to the Balkan state and agreed under then home secretary Priti Patel for Albanian police officers to be stationed in Dover to help carry out ID and criminal checks on Channel migrants.

His appointment coincides with the first fast-track deportation of Albanian small boat migrants who were removed from Britain within days of arriving across the Channel. 

The 12 Albanians were sent home on a charter plane after refusing to claim asylum in a move that the Home Office hopes will act as a deterrent to their countrymen seeking to come to the UK illegally.

Lt General Skeates has been advising Cabinet Office ministers since January on tackling human trafficking and protecting UK borders after Steve Barclay was asked by Boris Johnson to head a cross-government review of the Channel migrant crisis.

He was previously deputy commander of Nato’s allied joint force command in Holland, and before that, was joint force commander at the UK’s strategic command in Northwood in northwest London.

His military career also includes the command of the 19th light brigade, head of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and acting as deputy commander of the UK taskforce that supported the Afghan forces in Helmand.

He is the second person with a military background to take a senior role in tackling the Channel migrants. Dan O’Mahoney, a former Royal Marine who then joined the National Crime Agency and Border Force, was appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander in 2020.

Home Office officials say Albanians now account for between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of arrivals. More than 37,000 migrants have reached the UK this year across the Dover straits, compared with 28,400 for the whole of last year.

A Government spokesman said: “The government stands united in its efforts in preventing dangerous Channel crossings, stopping exploitative criminal gangs and protecting those in genuine need. The Home Office and Ministry of Defence have a strong track record of working closely together to tackle this issue.”

They confirmed Lt Gen Skeates was seconded to the Home Office on 12 October 2022.