In a bid to tackle people-smuggling and illegal migration, the United Kingdom and Turkey have agreed to a new deal.

According to a report from BBC News, a “centre of excellence” will be established in Turkey to strengthen collaboration and increase intelligence-sharing.

The centre would be created by the Turkish National Police to help the countries’ enforcement agencies act more quickly on information.

More UK officers would also be deployed to Turkey to enable collaboration between National Crime Agency and Home Office staff based in the country and their Turkish counterparts.

BBC News says, “In the first seven months of this year 1,486 Turkish nationals crossed the Channel to the UK by small boat, becoming the second most common nationality to do so behind Afghans, according to Home Office figures.”