Tag: Home Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 13 November 2025.

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be abolished, saving the taxpayer at least £100 million and helping to fund frontline officers to cut crime.

Removing PCCs will cut the cost of unnecessary bureaucracy, money that can be better spent on restoring neighbourhood policing. At least £20 million will be reinvested every year as a result of efficiencies in police governance, enough for 320 constables. 

Since 2012, PCCs have been elected to hold forces to account, but turnout at the polls and public knowledge of who their local PCC is has been incredibly low.  

Public understanding of, and engagement with, PCCs remains low despite efforts to raise their profile. Two in five people are unaware PCCs even exist. 

Their roles will be absorbed by regional mayors wherever possible, meaning measures to cut crime will be considered as part of wider public services such as education and healthcare.  

In areas not covered by a mayor, this role will be taken on by elected council leaders. The unique circumstances of devolved local government arrangements in Wales will be taken into consideration. The government will ensure there is continuity of the support services for victims and witnesses that are currently provided by PCCs. 

The transition to the new model will happen at the end of the next electoral cycle in 2028. 

The move comes as part of a major series of reforms to policing to raise national standards within the police, strengthen performance management and end the postcode lottery in crime outcome. The upcoming Police Reform White Paper will set out further powers to improve standards, while restoring local neighbourhood policing.   

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:   

The introduction of police and crime commissioners by the last government was a failed experiment.  

I will introduce new reforms so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils. The savings will fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country, fighting crime and protecting our communities.  

I would like to recognise the efforts of all current and former police and crime commissioners, and thank them. These individuals served their communities and will continue to do so until they have completed their current terms.

Today’s announcement comes ahead of the Autumn Budget, which will focus on cutting NHS waiting lists, cutting the national debt and cutting the cost of living, and driving more productive and efficient use of taxpayers’ money by rooting out waste in public services.  

Other key measures already announced by the government that will be in the white paper include a new National Centre of Policing, which will make the best use of taxpayer money by bringing together crucial support services such as IT and forensics, and a police performance unit to drive up standards. More detail on these, and a raft of other measures, will be announced for its publication.   

This ambitious reform programme will run alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which has seen named and contactable officers for every community, guaranteed police patrols in busy areas at peak times and will put 3,000 neighbourhood officers on our streets by spring next year.  

The press release issued by the Home Office on 4 November 2025.

A new law will restrict protests outside the homes of public office holders, in response to growing harassment and intimidation of those in British politics.

Public officer holders, including MPs, peers and local councillors, will be better protected from harassment and intimidation under a new law to restrict protests outside their homes. 

Under changes set out in the Crime and Policing Bill, the police will be given strengthened powers to stop this form of intimidation and abuse, and help clamp down on toxic behaviour in UK politics. This includes a new criminal offence of protesting outside the home of someone in public office where their intention is to influence them in their role or an aspect of their private life, with perpetrators facing up to 6 months’ imprisonment.

This announcement follows a concerning rise in harassment of those in public office, with the Electoral Commission reporting that over half of the candidates who stood in last year’s general election experienced some form of abuse or intimidation.

A second survey – conducted by the Speaker of the House – found that almost all MPs (96%) had experienced at least one instance of harassment or intimidation which had a corrosive effect on their ability to do their jobs.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: 

The level of abuse faced by those taking part in British politics is truly shocking – it’s a threat to our democracy. People should be able to participate in our politics without fearing for their own or their family’s safety.   

When good people choose not to put themselves forward, communities lose out and the country is poorer for it. 

As Chair of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, I am leading work across government to drive out harassment and intimidation and strengthen our protections. This measure is a serious but necessary and proportionate step. Targeting public office holders at their homes crosses a line – it’s intimidation, not protest, and we’re putting a stop to it.

Will Fletcher, Interim CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation said: 

We welcome measures to improve the safety and security of those in public office. Protesting outside someone’s home clearly poses serious safety concerns and can cause distress for the individual and their family.

Protest and robust debate are important to our democracy, and there are many ways that people can make their voices heard without crossing the line into intimidation at someone’s home. 

Through the Jo Cox Civility Commission, we work with a range of partners to address abuse towards politicians, their staff and families, and promote more respectful politics in order to strengthen our democracy.

Samantha Dixon, Minister for Democracy, said:

Intimidation and abuse of any kind is unacceptable, and I’m determined to protect those in public office so we can encourage more people to get involved in democracy.

Alongside our new stronger sentences for those who intimidate campaigners, we are going further to defend democracy and restore trust in politics.

The new protection is a major step in tackling the unacceptable harassment and intimidation faced by many public office holders and their families, and is an immediate recommendation made by the government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce as part of its wide-ranging review into this issue.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce brings together a wide range of partners including government departments, the police, parliamentary authorities, and the Electoral Commission to look at how harassment and intimidation can be tackled head on.

The government is determined to ensure that no one is deterred from representing their community or country because of fear, and today’s announcement builds on strengthened protections for elected representatives already set out in the Strategy for Modern Elections.

This includes giving the courts greater powers to impose tougher sentences on those who threatened elected officials, and removes the final loophole which requires candidates who are seeking election to publish their home address when they don’t have an office address to use.

Together, these measures will ensure greater privacy and safety for those standing for public office.

These measures follow this year’s local elections in which dedicated police officers were in place in all forces across the country for the first time, offering security briefings to support local election candidates under Operation Ford. These force elected-official advisers (FEOAs) remain in place for locally elected representatives, such as councillors, metropolitan mayors, and police and crime commissioners. Meanwhile, under Operation Bridger, a dedicated police contact continues to be provided to MPs when they are outside of the Parliamentary estate.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 October 2025.

New law now prevents British citizenship being reinstated automatically to people considered a national security risk following a successful initial appeal.

British people are now better protected from terrorists, extremists, and criminals involved in serious organised crime with the passing of a new law which prevents British citizenship being automatically reinstated to such individuals following a successful initial appeal. 

Receiving Royal Assent last night (27 October), the Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Act 2025 will mean British citizenship is not automatically reinstated after a successful appeal until all further appeals are exhausted – ensuring the UK’s national security is not compromised during legal proceedings. 

The new law, passed by Parliament last Tuesday (21 October), closes a gap identified following a Supreme Court judgment in February 2025, where it ruled that people deprived of British citizenship automatically regain that status upon their successful appeal. This would happen even if further appeals opposing that reinstatement are possible. 

With the tightening of this law, the government will not have to release people from immigration detention or allow them back into the UK if they consider that they pose a threat to the country’s security and the public’s safety, whilst further appeals are ongoing. 

It will also prevent a person from renouncing any other nationalities they hold, to render themselves solely British. Doing so would have meant any future decision to remove British citizenship would not have been possible as it would leave them stateless, nor would they be able to be deported or blocked from returning to the UK. 

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: 

The government takes national security extremely seriously, and this new law sends a clear message: we will take no chances when it comes to protecting our country and our people.

We have strengthened our ability to keep the most dangerous people out of Britain – those who threaten our safety, our way of life, and the values we stand for. This law makes us all safer.

The Home Secretary makes deprivation decisions on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds only in the most serious cases, where it is in the public interest to do so because of the individual’s conduct or the threat they pose to the UK. An average of 12 people a year were deprived of British citizenship between 2018 and 2023 for this reason. 

This new law follows a similar approach taken in asylum and human rights appeals cases, where asylum is not granted to a person appealing a rejection until all further appeals, up to the Court of Appeal, have been determined. 

This narrowly focussed new act, which consists of two sections, has made no change to a person’s existing right to appeal and doesn’t widen the reasons for which a person could be deprived of their citizenship.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 21 October 2025.

An order has been laid in Parliament to deproscribe Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), enabling closer engagement with the new Syrian government.

The government’s decision to remove Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the list of proscribed terrorist organisations will mean closer engagement with the new Syrian government and support UK foreign and domestic priorities, from counter-terrorism to migration and chemical weapons destruction.  

Deproscribing HTS is part of the UK’s response to the significant developments in Syria since forces led by President Ahmed Al Sharaa toppled the Assad regime last December. HTS was originally listed as an alias of proscribed organisation Al-Qa’ida in 2017.   

The former Foreign Secretary’s visit to Syria in July renewed the diplomatic relationship between the UK and Syria. The UK will continue to press for genuine progress and hold the Syrian government accountable for its actions in fighting terrorism and restoring stability in Syria and the wider region. We will continue to judge the new Syrian government on their actions not on their words. 

Daesh remains a significant threat in Syria. The deproscription of HTS will support this government’s engagement on the counter-Daesh mission in Syria, in turn reducing the threat to the UK. 

Deproscription will also support closer working with Syria to eliminate the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme. This government welcomes the Syrian President’s commitment to destroy these weapons once and for all.  

This decision aligns with the announcement made by the United States earlier this year to remove HTS from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations.  

This government will always put the safety and security of the British people first, which is why any deproscription decision is not taken lightly. The decision to remove HTS from the proscribed list has been made following detailed consultation with operational partners and other departments, and a robust assessment by the cross-government Proscription Review Group.  

The government reserves the right to reassess proscription decisions in response to any emerging threats and will always take swift and decisive action in the interests of national security. 

The deproscription of HTS will mean that the proscription offences set out in the Terrorism Act 2000, including the offences of membership and inviting support for proscribed organisations, will no longer apply to HTS. On completion of this deproscription, a total of 83 organisations will be proscribed by the UK.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 October 2025.

The number of illegal migrants returned under the UK-France deal has reached 42 after 16 were returned to France in largest group flight yet.

A record number of 16 illegal migrants have been returned to France this week in the largest group flight yet, bringing the total number of returns to 42. 

The Home Secretary has pledged to “scale up removals to France” in a stark warning to those attempting to enter the country illegally.   

The previous government’s Rwanda policy consumed years of effort and hundreds of millions in public funds yet removed only 4 people. Within weeks of our new arrangement with France, the government has successfully removed 42 illegal migrants.  

The UK-France treaty allows the rapid detention and removal of individuals who enter illegally via small boats. 

Further flights to France under this pilot scheme are scheduled to take place over the coming days and weeks, as the government looks to work with the French government to scale up the scheme. 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:  

For many years, illegal migrants entered our country with no consequence. 

This is the largest return flight under our historic deal with the French. And it sends a warning to those considering entering this country illegally: if you come here by small boat, you can be sent back. 

This is just the beginning – I will scale up these removals to France. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our borders.

This comes after the UK government sent border security officers to the Balkans last week to disrupt illegal migration routes and explore new enforcement techniques that could see UK law enforcement and border security operations alongside Frontex in the Western Balkans to track down and arrest people smugglers. 

This follows the UK National Crime Agency leading 350 disruptions of immigration crime networks over the last year – its highest level on record and a 40% increase on the previous 12 months.  

The UK government continues to work with France to operate a tightly controlled legal route for an equal number of eligible individuals to come to the UK, subject to rigorous security checks. This legal pathway reflects the strength of the UK-France relationship.

This pilot scheme will continue to be ramped up, with both countries having committed to continuously improving the process of this innovative approach.  

This continued work as part of the government’s Plan for Change demonstrates the comprehensive approach to securing borders through international co-operation, operational enforcement, and decisive action against criminal networks facilitating illegal migration.  

The press release issued by the Home Office on 14 October 2025.

The number of robberies involving a knife, or the threat of one, continues to fall in England and Wales.

The government has pledged to halve knife crime over the next decade, as part of the Plan for Change. 

The new figures show a 10% reduction in offences under this government across the 7 police forces most impacted by knife crime, with areas like West Midlands seeing a 30% drop, following targeted policing efforts.  

Interventions include the use of hotspot policing, acting on better intelligence on offenders, increased patrols using knife arches, drones and plain clothes officers. 

A dedicated taskforce was set up in October 2024 for an initial 6 months to turbocharge this work after seeing a stark rise in incidents between July 2023 and June 2024, bringing together the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset, and British Transport Police.  

With efforts continuing throughout the past year, all 7 police force areas are now seeing a reduction in robberies involving a knife since June 2024, collectively turning a 14% year-on-year increase in knife-enabled robbery into a 10% year-on-year reduction. 

Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said: 

Those who have been robbed at knifepoint know how terrifying and traumatic that experience can be, and this government took immediate action through the Plan for Change to reverse this troubling trend.  

Through relentless focus, targeted policing and strong partnerships, we are turning this worrying rise into a sustained fall, and we have also started to see a reduction in overall knife crime for the first time in 4 years. 

But there is so much more to do, which is why we are bringing in the toughest measures yet to crack down on the online sale of weapons and invest in the futures of our young people to set them on a better path.

As the latest figures show, between the year ending June 2024 and the year ending August 2025: 

• West Midlands Police saw a 30% reduction, the largest percentage fall, with 771 fewer robberies
• the British Transport Police also reported a notable fall of 107 offences, down 26% 
• Avon and Somerset recorded a 14% drop, or 82 fewer offences 
• South Yorkshire saw a reduction of 8%, or 49 offences
• West Yorkshire saw a 7% decrease with 66 fewer cases
• the Metropolitan Police recorded a 5% drop in knife-related robberies, or a decrease of 484 offences 
• Greater Manchester Police reported a decline of 3%, or 35 offences

The fall in these types of robberies comes alongside a series of major interventions by the Home Office and police forces to tackle knife crime more broadly.  

In August it became illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or import ninja swords. This measure, introduced under Ronan’s Law, followed years of campaigning by the family of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was murdered with a ninja sword in 2022.  

Pooja Kanda, knife crime campaigner and mother to Ronan Kanda, said: 

The statistics show that the government has taken a proactive approach to reducing knife-enabled robberies.  

The significant drop we are seeing is a positive sign and a step closer to the government’s mission of halving knife crime within a decade – something I’m confident we will achieve with the continued support and hard work of campaigners and the government alike.

This coincided with a nationwide weapons surrender scheme that saw thousands of deadly weapons handed in by members of the public. 

The scheme included 37 new surrender bins and a mobile surrender van operated by FazAmnesty, and reached high-risk areas like London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.  

Beyond the ban, Ronan’s Law is introducing age verification for online knife sales, fines for tech executives who fail to remove illegal knife content, and new offences for possession with violent intent. 

The government is also piloting new multi-agency Prevention Partnership Panels to proactively identify and refer vulnerable teenagers – who may currently be falling through the net – to a range of different support services much earlier, including Young Futures Hubs. 

Backed by a £2 million cash injection, 8 of these hubs will launch this year in areas with high levels of knife crime and antisocial behaviour, offering a lifeline to vulnerable young people. It is expected that 50 Young Future Hubs will be launched over the next 4 years. 

Patrick Green, CEO for the Ben Kinsella Trust, said: 

Reducing knife crime is about more than just bringing down crime statistics; it’s about making a profound investment in public safety and the future of our young people. When we successfully drive down knife-enabled robbery, we actively remove the fear that can often make people feel unsafe. Critically, this also helps dismantle the dangerous misconception that leads some young people to believe they must carry a weapon for ‘protection’.

The government’s targeted strategy to reduce knife-enabled robberies is crucial, because it also addresses the clear and harmful connection between robbery and the fear it can instil in young people.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 13 October 2025.

MI5’s National Protective Security Authority issues new security guidance to protect democratic institutions from espionage and foreign interference.

MI5’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) has today published new guidance to help protect the UK’s democratic institutions from foreign interference and espionage threats.

The guidance outlines how state backed actors and their proxies attempt to manipulate, discredit or secretly gather information on political figures at all levels. This is done often through subtle and deceptive means that blur the line between legitimate engagement and malign activity. 

The guidance is designed to help MPs, peers, councillors, Parliamentary staff and candidates understand the threat and take simple, effective steps to protect themselves, their teams, and the integrity of the UK’s democracy.

While the guidance highlights that the UK is a target of strategic foreign interference and espionage from elements of the Russian, Chinese and Iranian states, it takes an actor-agnostic approach, focusing on the behaviours, methods and warning signs that should raise red flags, regardless of where the threat originates from.

Minister for Cabinet Office and Home Office, Dan Jarvis, said: 

I urge anyone working in government, public service or politics to be alert and trust their instincts if something does not feel right, and follow NPSA’s guidance. Foreign intelligence officers frequently operate covertly and exploit professional networking sites and personal vulnerabilities to build influence.

This new guidance builds on the work we are already doing to tackle these issues. Those engaging in political influence on behalf of foreign powers must register under the Foreign Influence Registration scheme, as Parliament and the public have a right to know who is seeking to influence political outcomes, and in whose interests.

Elected representatives and those who work with them may be targeted for their access to information, their ability to shape policy or public opinion, or their relationships with others of interest. This includes not only classified material but also privileged or insider knowledge that foreign intelligence services find valuable. This could be through attempts to exploit overseas travel, online activity, and financial donations as routes to access and influence.

MI5 Director General, Sir Ken McCallum, said: 

When foreign states steal vital UK information or manipulate our democratic processes they don’t just damage our security in the short-term, they erode the foundations of our sovereignty and ability to protect our citizens’ interests.

Everyone reading this guidance cares deeply about the role they play in UK democracy. Take action today to protect it – and yourself.

We have seen previous cases of political interference, including most recently the case of the former Member of the European Parliament, Nathan Gill, and previously Christine Lee, a lawyer who was working in coordination with an arm of the Chinese Communist Party.

The guidance details key threat behaviours, including cultivation through long-term relationship building, blackmail, phishing attacks and disinformation activity.

We encourage individuals to trust their instincts, remain alert to subtle changes in behaviour or intent, and report any suspicious interactions – however apparently minor – to their security teams.

Engagement will now take place across Parliament, devolved administrations and local government.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 October 2025.

New British passports featuring His Majesty’s Coat of Arms to launch in December.

The first British passports bearing His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms will be issued from December as part of a revamped design.

The 4 nations of the UK will be represented through images of 4 UNESCO-protected natural landscapes – Ben Nevis, the Lake District, Three Cliffs Bay, and the Giant’s Causeway.

Incorporating the latest anti-forgery technology, it is also the most secure British passport ever produced.

This includes cutting-edge holographic and translucent features, making passports easier to verify and even harder to forge or tamper with. 

This helps prevent illegal entry by people with no right to be in the UK, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change to secure Britain’s borders.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp said: 

The introduction of His Majesty’s Arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport.

It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.

The updated passport is the first wholly new design since 2020. It comes as His Majesty’s Passport Office continues to deliver exceptional service to British citizens. In the first 6 months of 2025 over 3.8 million passports were issued, with 99.7% of applications where no further information was required being processed within 3 weeks, above the target of 98.5%.

People should check their passport’s validity and apply in good time ahead of any planned travel. Passports issued with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II remain valid until the expiry date.

The first modern-style British passport was introduced in 1915, with the first security feature, a watermark, added in 1972. Since then, HM Passport Office has added dozens of further security measures to ensure British passports stay ahead of criminals, including complex patterns that are hard to replicate and features only visible under UV light.