New Home Secretary Hosts International Talks as Small-Boat Migrant Crossings Surge

Published: 08 September ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk

The United Kingdom’s new home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has held her first major engagement in office, convening the Five Eyes security alliance to discuss strategies to combat people smuggling. The meeting included counterparts from the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as Britain grapples with record numbers of small-boat migrant crossings.

Recent figures indicate that over 1,000 people arrived on British shores via small boats in a single day, pushing the annual total past 30,000. French authorities reported rescuing 24 individuals attempting to cross the English Channel. Mahmood described the situation as “utterly unacceptable” and indicated that returns under the recently agreed deal with France were expected to begin “imminently.”

The Five Eyes talks focused on border security, as well as the broader challenges of tackling child sexual abuse online and the spread of lethal synthetic opioids. Mahmood emphasised the importance of international cooperation, stating, “Rebuilding our reputation on the world stage is how we tackle serious organised crime and secure our borders. The Five Eyes might be drawn from different corners of the globe, but we are united by our alliance. As the security threats we all face become more complex and span continents, we are stronger and safer together.”

Joining Mahmood were 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.

On her first full day in office, Mahmood also received a briefing from the head of Scotland Yard on the policing operation responding to recent protests in London. Almost 900 people were arrested during demonstrations against the banning of Palestine Action. Mahmood clarified the distinction between supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group, highlighting the importance of law enforcement in maintaining public order.

With pressure mounting over Labour’s handling of immigration and border security, the Prime Minister has instructed his new ministers to “go up a gear” in delivering the party’s agenda, signalling a tougher stance on migration policy as the government faces growing scrutiny in the polls.