London: British officials claimed to have reached an agreement with Turkiye to conduct joint police operations against smuggler networks and the trade in boat parts in an effort to reduce the number of illegal immigrants passing through the Mediterranean nation on their way to Europe.

The government announced it would support a new Turkish police centre that would build on existing cooperation over law enforcement because illegal immigration is a major political issue in Britain ahead of an anticipated election next year.

According to the new memorandum of understanding, customs data would be exchanged more quickly, the British government said in a statement on Tuesday.

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Our collaboration with Turkiye, a close friend and ally, will allow our law enforcement organisations to collaborate on this global issue and address the small boat supply chain, according to interior minister Suella Braverman.

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For this year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made reducing the number of illegal immigrants entering the country a top priority in an effort to close the gap with the opposition Labour Party in polls.

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As part of plans to eliminate what the government referred to as the "pull" of hotels for people arriving in small boats, Britain started moving some migrants this week onto a sizable residential barge off its southern coast.