# UK home secretary to discuss EU law enforcement ties

> Shabana Mahmood meets EU commissioner Magnus Brunner on Monday to explore rejoining European databases the UK lost access to after Brexit.
- Title: UK home secretary to discuss EU law enforcement ties
- Summary: Shabana Mahmood meets EU commissioner Magnus Brunner on Monday to explore rejoining European databases the UK lost access to after Brexit. UK home secretary…
- Keywords: shabana mahmood, magnus brunner, european union, law enforcement cooperation, brexit, uk security, migration, andy burnham, news, world, home, secretary
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/18/shabana-mahmood-talks-eu-law-enforcement-cooperation-magnus-brunner
- Published: 2026-10-18T18:13:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shabana mahmood, magnus brunner, european union, law enforcement cooperation, brexit, uk security, migration, andy burnham, news, world
## Mahmood meets Brunner on Monday
UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood will meet EU home affairs commissioner Magnus Brunner on Monday for talks on law enforcement cooperation and counter-terrorism.
## Meeting follows PM's database push
The meeting comes days after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wanted to rejoin European law enforcement databases from which the UK has been locked out since Brexit.
## Agenda covers migration and security
According to the European Commission, they will discuss migration, border management, law enforcement cooperation and counter-terrorism, with Frontex data showing a 43 percent decline in small boats crossing the Channel.
## Two databases on the table
The UK wants to rejoin Eurodac, which collects fingerprints and facial images of asylum seekers from age six, and the Schengen Information System, which tracks missing persons, stolen goods and fugitives.
## Burnham: data sharing is control
Burnham told MPs that restoring data sharing on immigration was one of the most positive aspects of his meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in New York.

> one of the most positive aspects of my meeting with [the European Commission] president [Ursula] von der Leyen in New York, was her openness to the conversation about restoring data sharing on immigration across the UK, across Europe
## Brunner: UK contribution indispensable
EU commissioner Magnus Brunner said the UK's contribution is indispensable to suppressing irregular migration, noting illegal crossings are down 43 percent and asylum applications at record lows.

> the UK's contribution is indispensable
## Brunner to visit UK security agencies
Brunner will also meet MI5 director general Ken McCallum, visit the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, and meet officials from the UK's child sexual abuse centre to discuss joint crime-fighting efforts.
## Key takeaway

UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood will meet EU home affairs commissioner Magnus Brunner to discuss rejoining European law enforcement databases locked out since Brexit.