Mahmood to host Five Eyes meeting on people smuggling

Mahmood to host Five Eyes meeting on people smuggling

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, is set to host a meeting in London with security allies from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on Monday to discuss strategies for combating people smuggling. This meeting marks Mahmood’s first major engagement in her new role. The discussion comes in light of the recent influx of 1,097 individuals arriving in the UK via small boats on Saturday, which Mahmood deemed as “utterly unacceptable.”

The total number of individuals arriving in the UK by small boats has exceeded 30,000 this year, indicating a 37% increase from the previous year, as reported by the PA news agency. This gathering with members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance follows Mahmood’s recent appointment to the position of Home Secretary following a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Starmer has emphasized the importance of addressing critical issues promptly to meet the expectations of the electorate.

In response to the escalating situation, Defence Secretary John Healey disclosed that the government is exploring the utilization of military facilities to accommodate asylum seekers, aiming to relocate individuals from existing asylum hotels to alternative housing arrangements. Moreover, the officials are considering various options for non-military accommodation. Enver Soloman, the chief executive of Refugee Council, raised concerns about the proposed plan, advocating for expedited and equitable decision-making processes to provide safe housing in communities for refugees to establish themselves.

The upcoming talks in London will see the participation of US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, focusing on addressing not only people smuggling but also combating child sexual abuse online and curbing the circulation of harmful synthetic opioids, as highlighted by Mahmood. The collaborative efforts among these security allies aim to enhance international cooperation in tackling multifaceted security challenges prevalent in contemporary society

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More