Local prosecutors warn that Germany’s amended legal provision is, so far, largely untested.

Lawyer Bernhard Schmeilzl, who specialises in UK-German law, points out that the legal situation is essentially as it was before Brexit.

However, he believes it will make a difference, even if stretched German law enforcement agencies may be more likely to focus on domestic matters.

“This now enables the German police to go after these people,” he says. “If they are being notified about such suspicious activity, they will have to investigate.”

Enforcement and migrant sources have told the BBC that the gangs are coming under more pressure in Europe, including in Germany.

Channel crossings overall are on course to be lower this year, but illegal entries into Europe have also been falling.

The UK Home Office says its work with countries like Germany “is bearing fruit”.

The UK government reports a drop of roughly 43% in the number of people who have made crossings between 1 January and 8 August this year, compared to the same period last year. It attributes this to efforts in disrupting the supply of boats to the gangs, and getting more law enforcement on French beaches.

But opposition politicians have said the decline is due to adverse conditions in the Channel, including wave height – not the direct result of action taken by the government.