Home Secretary Suella Braverman joined police on an immigration raid in Banbury just hours before resigning from Liz Truss's cabinet.

Ms Braverman is said to have informed the Prime Minister in a meeting this afternoon that she intended to step down. In her resignation letter, she accepted she sent an official document from her personal email to a 'trusted parliamentary colleague' in breach of the rules - and expressing concerns about the 'direction of this government'.

The minister joined officers from the National Crime Agency on a dawn raid in Banbury this morning.

A 31-year-old Albanian woman was arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. Police suspect she was responsible for helping transport migrants in boats across the English Channel.

“Today’s operation sends a clear message that we are committed to bringing to justice the criminal gangs behind these deadly journeys across the Channel,” Ms Braverman said in a press release issued on Wednesday lunchtime. 

“The NCA is carrying out vital work with our international partners to tackle people smuggling networks who treat human lives as a commodity.”

She added: “We will use every tool at our disposal to go further and faster in disrupting their business model, deterring illegal migration and saving lives.

“We will leave no stone unturned to find new ways to curb this crisis and ensure those responsible feel the full force of the law.”

NCA regional head of investigations Jacque Beer said: “This is a proactive investigation in response to intelligence that Albanian organised crime groups were acting as brokers, seeking to facilitate the illegal migration of Albanian nationals using established transportation networks.

“People smugglers only care about money, they don’t care about migrants’ safety or security.”

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward