Britain said on Thursday it had signed a security pact with Iraq to target people smuggling gangs and strengthen border co-operation, the latest in its efforts to crack down on illegal migration.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper flew to Baghdad to agree a deal on border security and tackling criminal gangs with the Iraqi government and the regional Kurdistan government in Erbil

She met ministers from the federal government in Baghdad and regional leaders in Kurdistan in the north where many smuggling gangs are based. The agreement will involve greater intelligence sharing and more joint law enforcement operations,

A deal to tackle gangs based in Kurdistan region who operate people smuggling operations across Europe, resulting in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, has been agreed between the UK and Iraq.