NextFin news, On Monday, September 8, 2025, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood convened a meeting in London with her counterparts from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—comprising the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—to address the growing challenge of people smuggling.
The meeting included US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, and New Zealand Minister Judith Collins. The discussions focused on coordinated measures to combat criminal smuggling gangs responsible for the surge in small-boat crossings into the UK.
Mahmood, who was appointed home secretary last Friday in a major cabinet reshuffle, described the number of people arriving by small boats as "utterly unacceptable." On Saturday, the day after her appointment, 1,097 people arrived in the UK by small boat, one of the highest daily totals on record. This brought the total number of arrivals by small boat to over 30,000 so far this year, a 37% increase compared to last year, according to Home Office statistics and analysis by the PA news agency.
The Five Eyes meeting also covered other security concerns, including online child sexual abuse and the spread of synthetic opioids. Mahmood emphasized the importance of international cooperation, stating, "As the security threats we all face become more complex and span continents, we are stronger and safer together." She expressed hope that the meeting would result in new measures to "protect our borders with our five eyes partners, hitting people smugglers hard."
US Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and played a key role in the Trump administration's deportation efforts, posted on social media about her discussions with the US Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, on border and aviation security and immigration enforcement.
The meeting comes amid ongoing pressure on the UK government to reduce Channel crossings. The UK government is also exploring expanding the use of military sites and other non-military accommodations to house asylum seekers, as confirmed by Defence Secretary John Healey.
Mahmood's first full day in office included a briefing from the head of Scotland Yard on policing operations related to recent protests in London. She highlighted the distinction between supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group during her remarks.
The Five Eyes alliance, established after World War II, is a key intelligence-sharing partnership that facilitates cooperation on security issues among the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
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