The UK and Belgium announced a Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement on 10 September 2026, signed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin. According to the Home Office, the agreement is meant to let police in both countries exchange intelligence autonomously and more quickly, removing judicial approval steps that previously caused delays in some exchanges. The stated aim is to help identify, disrupt and dismantle organised criminal networks, including those involved in migrant smuggling, as well as wider crimes such as drugs and firearms smuggling.

The announcement said joint UK–Belgium enforcement activity had produced more than 50 arrests linked to migrant smuggling and over 40 vehicle seizures this year, with investigations continuing. It also cited the earlier sentencing in Belgium of Adem Savas to 11 years' imprisonment and a €400,000 fine for supplying thousands of boats and engines to smuggling networks, following a joint investigation by the National Crime Agency and Belgian authorities.

Mahmood said the agreement would help police "tighten the net" around gangs behind small boat crossings, adding that crossings were down significantly but more remained to be done. Quintin described close operational police cooperation that had already delivered concrete results. NCA International Director Will Middleton said the agreement would deepen cooperation and improve intelligence sharing. The Home Office also said the number of dedicated NCA officers had risen from 276 at the start of 2025 to almost 800.