For an effective migration policy, Britain must look far beyond its borders

The headlines have become painfully familiar: overcrowded dinghies in the Channel, people risking everything to reach Britain's shores, and tragic stories of lives lost at sea.

Consecutive governments have wrestled with the same dilemma; how to stop dangerous irregular migration?

It is not an unreasonable question. Leaders have a duty to protect their borders and manage migration fairly, humanely and effectively.

But I believe there is another question we do not ask often enough: how do we create the conditions that ensure people never feel forced to leave their homes in the first place?

I have worked in countries affected by conflict for more than 40 years, first as a British Army commander and more recently as Chief Executive of The HALO Trust, an organisation devoted to clearing landmines and explosive hazards that continue to kill civilians long after wars have ended.

Migration is often discussed as a problem to be managed at our borders. Yet, if we are serious about reducing dangerous journeys, we must also look much further afield to the places where they begin.

The people who seek new lives in Britain and Europe often come from communities where conflict has destroyed livelihoods, where insecurity deters investment, and where families see little prospect of a better future.

Almost 60% of detected irregular arrivals to the UK in the year ending March 2025 were from five countries; Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea and Sudan.

When war ends, the real challenge begins

My experience has taught me that, when war ends, the real challenge begins. The task becomes restoring security, rebuilding economies and creating opportunities that give people confidence to stay in their country.

Without that, displacement continues long after the fighting stops.

Earlier this year, I stood in the ruins of Al Qadam, a district of Damascus, struggling to comprehend the scale of destruction. Entire neighbourhoods had been reduced to rubble. Across Europe, politicians increasingly discuss the conditions under which displaced Syrians might return home.

It is hard to see how.

Cities and farmland remain contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance. Until they’re cleared, people cannot safely return home and schools and businesses can’t open. Communities can’t rebuild vital infrastructure, let alone attract investment.

HALO's work to remove those explosives is not simply a humanitarian endeavour. It is the foundation upon which recovery depends.

The same principle applies in Ukraine.

There, HALO teams clear agricultural land, enabling farmers to plant and harvest, thereby supporting Ukraine’s economic resilience even in the face of ongoing war.

And in Somaliland, mine clearance helps restore access to schools, grazing land and critical water sources, creating the conditions for communities to prosper rather than leave.

But security also depends on preventing the renewal of violence. After wars end, illicit weapons and ammunition circulate, fuelling criminality and heightening the chances of further conflict.

In many parts of the world, including the Western Balkans, HALO works with governments to secure and destroy stockpiles of those weapons, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.

Too often organisations like ours are viewed solely through a humanitarian lens. They certainly protect civilians. But they also serve a strategic purpose.

The UK home secretary has overseen a reduction in the number of people claiming asylum in the UK as well as those living in hotel accommodation. Despite those successes, no government of any political persuasion will address the fundamental causes of migration unless it attends to the upstream pressures that force people to leave their homes.

That is why investment in stability overseas should be viewed as a core component of Britain's security agenda. The most effective migration policy may begin thousands of miles from Britain's coast.

If we want fewer people to risk their lives crossing the Channel, we must look beyond the boats.