Tag: Home Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 February 2026.

Border Force and police seizures of ketamine and cannabis at all-time high and Border Force ramps up the return of foreign smugglers.

Seizures of ketamine, cannabis and nitrous oxide are at an all-time high following a record-breaking year of interceptions by Border Force and police. 

Cocaine interceptions by police are also at record levels with 23,706 seizures in the year to March 2025.  

Almost 150 tonnes of illegal drugs – equivalent to two Boeing 737s – with a street value of £2.6 billion was seized by Border Force. This is a 40% increase on the total quantity seized in the previous year and the highest since records began. 

Border Force and police forces intercepted drugs on a record-breaking 269,000 occasions – an increase of 24% on the previous year.  

The seizures come as new data shows the success of an innovative pilot to immediately remove foreign cannabis smugglers from the UK.   

Border Force’s ‘Seize and Return’ policy, introduced last year, allows officers to return cannabis traffickers to their country of origin, often within hours of arriving. 

To date, 165 criminals responsible for smuggling over 4 tonnes of cannabis into UK airports have been returned.  

This has saved British taxpayers an estimated £11.4million – easing pressure on the prison estate, preventing foreign offenders clogging up the courts system and heading off any potential asylum claims. The scheme has now been rolled out across England and Wales. 

Cannabis was present in 93% of all drugs seized by Border Force in the year ending March 2025, with over 62,000 illegal imports intercepted.  

A record 4 million doses of nitrous oxide was seized by Border Force and police, representing a 2,185% increase from last year.  

The same year also saw a surge in criminals attempting to smuggle ketamine into Britain. The total quantity seized by Border Force and police increased by 55% from the previous year to 1.3 tonnes. 

Home Office Minister Mike Tapp said:  

Drug seizures are at a record high under this government – with British law enforcement depriving evil gangs of almost £3billion worth in one year alone. 

Every seizure strikes a blow at the heart of organised crime and stops dangerous drugs from inflicting misery on our communities.  

We will continue to do whatever it takes to secure Britain’s borders against those doing harm to our country.

Border Force Director General Phil Douglas said:  

Our innovative Seize and Return policy is delivering real results – removing smugglers within hours, saving taxpayers millions, and freeing up our officers to pursue the organised crime gangs that cause the most harm. 

Border Force will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of dangerous criminal networks and disruption of drug supply. 

Working in partnership, police forces, Border Force, the National Crime Agency and international partners use intelligence and technology to keep the UK’s borders safe, prevent drug trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.    

Border Force has also intensified efforts to tackle drug smuggling at sea as organised crime groups attempt to use maritime routes and a range of methodologies, including ‘at-sea-drop-offs’ to smuggle drugs into the country.  

In January last year, 1.5 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of just under £60 million was detected on a vessel arriving into Dover from Peru.  

Officers use a range of methods including hi-tech search equipment to detect and stop illegal and restricted goods that criminals attempt to bring into the country.  Border Force also employs specialist officers trained to conduct deep searches of ships and vessels.  

Organised crime gangs are increasingly using expensive equipment to conceal drugs in the hope that law enforcement will be deterred by the potential costs involved with destroying it. In September last year, Border Force outsmarted criminals who hid one tonne of cocaine in two industrial generators valued at £720,000.   

Under the Plan for Change, Border Force will continue to build on last year’s success through ongoing operations targeting drug smuggling networks.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 9 February 2026.

Government expands Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route.

Thousands more Hong Kongers will be able to build new lives in Britain as the government strengthens safe and legal routes to the UK.

Adult children of British National (Overseas) status holders who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China will now be eligible to apply for the route independently of their parents. 

Their partners and children will also be able to move to the UK under the expanded route. It is estimated 26,000 people will arrive in the UK over the next 5 years.

The expansion honours the UK’s historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong and comes amid continuing deterioration of rights and freedoms in the territory. 

Today’s sentencing of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, for 20 years, shows how the Beijing-imposed National Security Law has criminalised dissent, prompting many to leave the territory. The Prime Minister raised Mr Lai’s case directly with President Xi during his visit, opening up discussion of the UK’s most acute concerns directly with the Chinese government, at the highest levels. Now that the sentencing has happened, the government will rapidly engage further on Mr Lai’s case.

In November, the Home Secretary further affirmed her commitment to Hong Kongers by confirming they will retain a 5-year pathway to permanent UK settlement – compared to a new standard baseline of 10 years’ residence for most other migrants.

As part of the most sweeping reforms to the asylum system in a generation, the government has announced plans to create new humanitarian routes for those genuinely fleeing war and persecution. The capped routes will offer safe and legal alternatives to dangerous small boat crossings to people around the world and be established once order has been restored to Britain’s borders.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:  

This country will always honour its historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong.

We are proud to have already provided a safe haven to almost 170,000 Hong Kongers since 2021. In the face of the continued deterioration of rights and freedoms, we are now expanding eligibility so more families can build new lives here.

While we must restore order and control to our borders, the British people will always welcome those in genuine need of sanctuary.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Though Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms continue to erode, this government’s support for its people remains steadfast, and that’s why we are ensuring that young people who missed out on resettlement protection because of their age will now be covered.

Since the BN(O) route was launched, over 230,000 people have been granted a visa and almost 170,000 have moved to the UK.

The route’s expansion closes a gap in eligibility that has led to unfair outcomes within families, with some children able to resettle and others not.

In September, the government extended the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme by another year. The UK has offered a safe place to live for 310,000 Ukrainians and their families while the war with Russia continues.

Since 2021, the UK has also welcomed over 37,000 Afghans and their families, including over 12,000 who supported British troops during operations in the country.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 February 2026.

Illegal migrants and criminals from 3 African countries will be deported following a threat by the Home Secretary to shut down their visas to Britain.

A month after the Home Secretary threatened visa penalties, Namibia and Angola agreed to cooperate on returns. The Home Secretary has now secured cooperation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just weeks after she stripped VIPs and decision makers of preferential visa treatment, as well as revoking fast-track visa processing services for all nationals. 

Within 3 months, cooperation has been secured, and flights are already off the ground, showcasing the effectiveness of threatening visa penalties. These results show successful delivery of reforms set out by the Home Secretary in November, marking a major step forward in restoring order and control to the immigration system.  

While Angola, Namibia and DRC are now cooperating on returns, other countries are still frustrating the returns process and not taking back their nationals who have no right to remain in the UK.

The Home Secretary has been clear that those who refuse to work with the UK on returns cannot expect a normal visa relationship, with further threats expected where countries are not cooperating.  

The new approach follows the Prime Minister urging departments to pull every lever possible to restore order and control to the immigration system, and adopting a more transactional approach with countries depending on their cooperation on returns.

Removals of illegal migrants with no right to be in the UK are at an all-time high, with 58,500 people removed or deported since this government came into power, and now over 3,000 nationals from these 3 countries could be eligible due to the cooperation received.  

The move forms part of sweeping reforms being delivered by the Home Secretary to rip away the incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain and ramp up removals of those with no right to be in the country.  

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP said: 

My message is clear, if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences. 

Illegal migrants and dangerous criminals will now be removed and deported back to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  

I will do what it takes to restore order and control to our borders.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 26 January 2026.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced the largest reforms to policing since the police service was founded two centuries ago.

The  largest reforms to policing since forces were professionalised 2 centuries ago have been announced today (26 January) by the Home Secretary.

A white paper titled ‘From local to national: a new model for policing’, outlines a radical blueprint for reform, so local forces protect their community and national policing protects us all.

Force mergers

The government will launch a review into dramatically reducing the number of police forces in England and Wales.

Consolidating the current model will make the police more cost-efficient, giving the taxpayer more value for money, while also ensuring a less fragmented system that will better serve the public and make them safer.

This is a moment to reset policing’s focus and return to its core principles – restoring neighbourhood policing and tackling local crime by delivering a structural overhaul to meet the demands of the modern world. 

National Police Service

A new nationwide police force will be established to fight the most complex and serious crimes.

The new National Police Service will attract world-class talent and use state of the art technology to fight complex and serious crimes, lifting the burden on overstretched local forces and allowing them to focus on catching local criminals.

The service will bring the capabilities of the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, regional organised crime units, police helicopters and national roads policing under a single organisation.

As one force, it will be better equipped to share technology, intelligence and resources to stop the growing threat from crime that has become increasingly complex, digital, online and with no respect for constabulary borders.

A national police commissioner will be appointed to lead the force and will serve as the most senior police officer in the country.

It will enable local officers to spend more time supporting victims of crime and delivering neighbourhood policing, rather than navigating the forensics system.

This will give victims confidence as their case will be supported by world‑class specialist expertise, and the latest technology, no matter where they live.

Part of the new National Police Service’s remit will be to take on responsibility for forensics from the 43 local forces with direction set centrally from the new organisation.

Demand for specialist digital forensics means there are 20,000 devices awaiting analysis at any time. The service will deal with these backlogs and help the police keep up with the ever-increasing pace of change in technology.

Frontline policing will save £350 million by scrapping outdated procurement approaches, which will instead be used to fight crime.

Under the current localised model, each of the 43 forces often procure technology, equipment and clothing themselves, meaning 43 different teams undertaking the same work.

The new National Police Service will end this inefficiency, taking on the responsibility for shared services, equipment and IT.

The National Police Service will buy equipment once on behalf of all, saving money through economies of scale and reinvesting the savings back into frontline policing to go after criminals.

Accountability and standards

Ministers will be handed new powers to intervene directly in failing forces, sending in specialist teams to turn them around so they fight crime more effectively.  

If crime solving rates or police response times are poor, the Home Secretary will be able to send in experts from the best performing forces to improve their performance, so they catch more criminals.  

The Home Secretary will restore the power to sack failing chief constables. New laws will hand ministers statutory powers to force the retirement, resignation or suspension of chief constables if they are poorly performing. 

The forces will also be directly accountable to the public, with new targets on 999 response times, victim satisfaction, public trust and confidence. These results will be published and forces graded so communities can compare. 

To further reinforce accountability, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire & Rescue Services will gain statutory powers to issue directions when forces fail to act on its recommendations. 

Alongside these force-wide measures, the government will also ensure the highest standards from individual officers. To strengthen safeguards and ensure those unfit for policing are kept out of the profession, the government will introduce laws to impose robust, mandatory vetting standards for all police forces, ensuring the public is protected.  

These new standards will enable forces to exclude those with a caution or conviction for violence against women and girls offences from policing.

Stronger requirements on forces to suspend officers who are under investigation for these crimes will also be introduced. 

Police officers will be required to hold and renew a licence throughout their career so they learn new skills as criminal techniques evolve.  

The Licence to Practise will ensure officers are best equipped with problem solving and technological skills they need to catch more criminals. 

Drawn from other professions such as lawyers and doctors, officers will have to demonstrate that they have the skills needed to fight crime. Those who fail to reach the required standard, following opportunities to try again, will be removed from the profession.

Neighbourhood policing

Under new reforms, response officers will be expected to reach the scene of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas, and forces will be expected to answer 999 phone calls within 10 seconds. 

These new targets will ensure that all forces provide the same level of police response to crimes. 

Currently, data on response times is collected differently across forces, and police are not held accountable if targets are not met. Reforming the system will create more transparency and consistency across the country.

Where forces fail to deliver, the Home Secretary will send in experts from the best performing forces to improve their performance, including when unmet response‑time targets are part of broader systemic failing.

To fight everyday crime, the government will ramp up its pledge to restore visible neighbourhood policing and patrols in communities through an extension of its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. 

This has already placed named, contactable officers in each neighbourhood. Under the extension, every council ward in England and Wales will have its own named, contactable officers, creating more local points of contact and giving officers a deeper understanding of the issues in their area.

Police forces will also recruit the brightest and best from universities in a new recruitment drive to cut crime and catch more criminals.

Modelled on Teach First, the government is investing up to £7 million into the Police Now programme to attract top students from universities into specially trained graduate neighbourhood police officer roles in England and Wales.

Retailers across the country will see a major crackdown on organised crime gangs thanks to £7 million in new government investment aimed at dismantling criminal networks from the ground up.

This funding will supercharge intelligence-led policing to identify offenders, disrupt the tactics used to target shops, and bring more criminals to justice.

Technology

The government is making the largest investment into state-of-the-art police technology in history, with over £140 million to be invested to roll out technologies to catch more criminals and keep our communities safe

The number of live facial recognition vans will increase five-fold, with 50 vans available to every police force in England and Wales to catch violent and sexual offenders.  

The government will also roll out new artificial intelligence (AI) tools which will help forces identify suspects from CCTV, doorbell and mobile phone footage that has been submitted as evidence by the public. 

A new national centre on AI – Police.AI – will be set up to roll out AI to all forces to free officers from paperwork, delivering up to 6 million hours back to the frontline every year – the equivalent of 3,000 police officers. This means more police on the streets fighting crime and catching criminals. 

More tech specialists will work in police forces to outsmart modern criminals and put more fraudsters and organised crime bosses behind bars.   

The move will enable police forces to uncover more vital hidden evidence on phones and laptops to secure more convictions of professional criminals and keep people safer from crimes such as child sexual abuse.   

Public order

A new senior policing role will be introduced to lead the police’s nationwide response to public disorder, and galvanise and co-ordinate responses to major incidents.

The senior national co-ordinator role for public order policing will sit within the new National Police Service. They will not be responsible for local public order responses, which remain within the remit of chief constables, and instead sit at a higher strategic level of oversight, with responsibility for decision-making over the most significant national public disorder, such as the widespread disorder seen in the summer of 2024 and the riots that started in London in 2011. 

While local policing responses will stay the responsibility of chief constables, the new role will provide national oversight and decision-making on mobilisation and resourcing, with enhanced powers to:

• direct resources under mutual aid arrangements and require forces to contribute during major disorder
• ensure mandatory data sharing between forces
• set a national strategy for public order policing
• monitor and implement relevant recommendations from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services

Officer wellbeing

The government will expand the roll out of the dedicated Mental Health Crisis Line so all officers and staff can access mental health support, and have committed to its funding long term.  

Officers and staff in front-facing and high-risk roles will also be offered psychological risk screenings each year so officers suffering can be signposted to the best support when they need it most. 

Trauma tracker software will be made available to every force and ensure senior leaders can identify and support staff at the highest risk and intervene at an earlier stage.  

Mandatory training around resilience and mental health for new recruits and supervisors will be introduced and treated as protected learning time.  

Special constables

Experts in cybersecurity and technology are being encouraged to join the Special Constabulary, as police forces across England and Wales ramp up their efforts to tackle modern crime. 

Since 2012, the number of special constables in England and Wales has fallen year-on-year to just 5,534 as of March 2025. This is down 73% from 20,343 in 2012.  

To reverse this decline, the Home Office will work with policing to streamline the recruitment process for Specials, making it easier for people to volunteer, while maintaining consistent high standards of vetting and training. Steps will also be taken to ensure existing Specials are incentivised to remain in the role, by better integrating them into the wider police force.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 14 January 2026.

The Home Secretary will have the power to sack failing chief constables, under plans announced by Shabana Mahmood today.

The new laws will hand Home Secretaries’ statutory powers to force the retirement, resignation or suspension of chief constables on performance grounds. 

The previous administration removed the power in 2011 through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.  

Currently, it is only police and crime commissioners who hold the power to dismiss a chief constable.  

This comes after His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary found significant failings amongst the leadership of the West Midlands police after they recommended banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match against Aston Villa.  

In the statement, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: 

When a chief constable is responsible for a damaging failure of leadership, the public rightly expect the Home Secretary to act. And I intend to restore their ability to do so.  

This government will soon reintroduce the Home Secretary’s power to dismiss chief constables.

In her statement, Mahmood has pledged to make police leaders accountable to Parliament and the public ahead of sweeping police reforms to be announced later this month.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 13 January 2026.

Illegal working arrests and raids have reached their highest level after relentless activity by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement teams.

• Record number of arrests and raids of illegal workers 
• 1,320 raids in Wales lead to 649 arrests
• Dodgy businesses including car washes, nail bars and barber shops targeted alongside sweeping reforms announced by the Home Secretary to cut illegal migration 

Illegal working arrests and raids have reached the highest level in British history thanks to relentless activity by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement teams. 

Latest figures reveal the number of raids have soared by 77% in the UK since the government came into power, leading to an 83% rise in arrests (July 2024 to end of December 2025). 

Over 17,400 raids were made to dodgy businesses – such as nail bars, car washes, barbers and takeaway shops – targeting those attempting to undercut honest workers and hide in plain sight.  

The major uplift, which led to more than 12,300 arrests, was made possible by a £5m funding boost last year for Immigration Enforcement, to target and pursue illegal working criminality. 

In Wales, 1,320 raids were carried out in 2025, leading to 649 arrests – a 103% and 85% rise respectively compared to 2024.

The crackdown on illegal working builds on this government’s work to restore order to the immigration system and end the lure of illegal working that gangs use to sell spaces on small boats. 

It sits on top of government’s work to remove and deport 50,000 illegal migrants – a 23% increase under this government. 

Today’s figures come after the Home Secretary set out sweeping reforms to the immigration system – making it less attractive for illegal migrants to come to the UK and easier to deport and remove those with no right to be here.   

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:   

There is no place for illegal working in our communities. 

That is why we have surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide. 

I will stop at nothing to restore order and control to our borders. 

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

Illegal working fuels the black economy and hurts law-abiding Welsh businesses.

This government was clear that we will crack down on people and firms who are flouting the rules and we have delivered this with a record year of enforcement activity across Wales.

The new figures come as Immigration Enforcement officers across the UK are now equipped with body worn video technology.

Following the start of the launch in September last year, all teams are now benefitting from this capability which will help bolster arrests and prosecutions further.   

Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Lead for Wales and the West of England, Richard Johnson, said:

Illegal working is against the law and will not be tolerated in our communities.

I’d like to thank my teams for their steadfast efforts to tackle this criminality over the past year and we will continue this momentum throughout 2026 to ensure there is no hiding place from the immigration rules.

During illegal working raids last year, officers visited a range of sectors including restaurants, construction sites and nail bars.

• Three visits to packaging and distribution warehouses in Caldicot on 5 August resulted in eight illegal working arrests of Chinese nationals. Four were detained for their removal from the UK.
• A visit to Star Barbers in Porthmadog on 12 September resulted in three illegal working arrests. Two men, of Turkish nationality, were placed on immigration bail and the other, a Swedish man, agreed to leave the UK voluntarily. 
• On 14 October, a visit to a commercial construction site in Gower, Swansea, led to the arrest of seven Chinese nationals with four detained for removal from the UK. 

And through the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, the government is expanding right to work checks, so they cover the gig, casual, subcontracted and temporary worker economy, ensuring there is no hiding place for illegal workers to flout the rules. 

On top of this, the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce is bringing together law enforcement and government partners, including the National Crime Agency, National Police Chiefs Council, Border Security Command and Immigration Enforcement, to use every available tool to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal smuggling gangs operating in the UK. 

Over the last 12 months, there has been a 33% surge in disruptions related to migrant smuggling – with nearly 4,000 disruptions since July 2024 – and a landmark deal with France means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.  

To further ensure people can only work in the UK if they have permission, the government announced last year it will be introducing digital ID, which will be mandatory to prove someone’s right to work by the end of Parliament.   

This will create a simpler, more consistent way for employers to check someone’s eligibility to work. The move will make it harder for illegal migrants to find work and allow the government to identify rogue business owners who are failing to conduct checks.  

This work combined forms part of the government’s laser focus to secure Britain’s borders and end the false promise of work used to sell spaces on dangerous small boats.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 January 2026.

Record number of arrests and raids of illegal workers across the UK including 187 raids in Northern Ireland leading to 234 arrests.

Illegal working arrests and raids have reached the highest level in UK history thanks to relentless activity by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement teams. 

Latest figures reveal the number of raids have soared by 77% in the UK since the government came into power, leading to an 83% rise in arrests (July 2024 to end of December 2025). 

Over 17,400 raids were made to dodgy businesses – such as nail bars, car washes, barbers and takeaway shops – targeting those attempting to undercut honest workers and hide in plain sight.  

The major uplift, which led to more than 12,300 arrests, was made possible by a £5m funding boost last year for Immigration Enforcement, to target and pursue illegal working criminality. 

In Northern Ireland, 187 raids were carried out in 2025, leading to 234 arrests – a 76% and 169% rise respectively compared to 2024.  

The crackdown on illegal working builds on this government’s work to restore order to the immigration system and end the lure of illegal working that gangs use to sell spaces on small boats. 

The activity sits on top of the government’s wider work to remove and deport 50,000 illegal migrants from the UK  – a 23% increase under this government rise. 

Today’s figures come after the Home Secretary set out sweeping reforms to the immigration system – making it less attractive for illegal migrants to come to the UK and easier to deport and remove those with no right to be here.   

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:   

There is no place for illegal working in our communities. 

That is why we have surged enforcement activity to the highest level in British history so illegal migrants in the black economy have nowhere to hide. 

I will stop at nothing to restore order and control to our borders.

Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, said: 

Illegal working undercuts honest businesses across Northern Ireland and fuels the criminal gangs who profit from human exploitation.

This Government has increased enforcement to record levels, and the message is clear: there is no place for those flouting the law.

The new figures come as Immigration Enforcement officers across the UK are now equipped with body worn video technology.

Following the start of the launch in September last year, all teams are now benefitting from this capability which will help bolster arrests and prosecutions further.   

Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Lead for Northern Ireland, Paul McHarron, said:  

Illegal working is against the law and will not be tolerated. 

My teams will continue working around the clock to ensure those involved face the full force of the law.

During illegal working raids last year, officers visited a range of sectors including restaurants, construction sites and nail bars.  

• An immigration enforcement visit was conducted at VN Nail & Spa Salon in Belfast City Centre on 1 May. Three workers of Vietnamese nationality were arrested for illegal working. As a result, one individual was detained for removal.  
• On 28 June, officers visited Europa Car Wash in Bangor. Four individuals of Romanian, Ethiopian and Jordanian nationality, were arrested for illegal working, with two detained for removal from the UK as a result.  
• On 25 October, officers visited Beijing House in Londonderry. Three illegal workers of Chinese nationality were arrested. A Civil Penalty Referral Notice was served on the business owner.  Further inquiries to establish any liability and the liable employer will now take place. The liable employer could face a substantial fine if it’s found they employed illegal workers and failed to conduct relevant pre-employment checks.

And through the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, the government is expanding right to work checks, so they cover the gig, casual, subcontracted and temporary worker economy, ensuring there is no hiding place for illegal workers to flout the rules. 

On top of this, the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce is bringing together law enforcement and government partners, including the National Crime Agency, National Police Chiefs Council, Border Security Command and Immigration Enforcement, to use every available tool to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal smuggling gangs operating in the UK. 

Over the last 12 months, there has been a 33% surge in disruptions related to migrant smuggling – with nearly 4,000 disruptions since July 2024 – and a landmark deal with France means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.  

To further ensure people can only work in the UK if they have permission, the government announced last year it will be introducing digital ID, which will be mandatory to prove someone’s right to work by the end of Parliament.   

This will create a simpler, more consistent way for employers to check someone’s eligibility to work. The move will make it harder for illegal migrants to find work and allow the government to identify rogue business owners who are failing to conduct checks.  

This work combined forms part of the government’s laser focus to secure the UK’s borders and end the false promise of work used to sell spaces on dangerous small boats.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 January 2026.

Victims to be given more privacy with new rules blocking police from requesting counselling notes during investigations unless in exceptional circumstances.

Victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault will be provided greater privacy and dignity during police investigations under significant changes announced by the Home Office today.

Under the new measures, police and other agencies will only be able to request crime victims’ private counselling notes in special circumstances, in a move designed to improve the experience of victims, encourage more to come forward and eventually result in higher prosecutions.

Historically, police investigating crimes routinely asked for the counselling notes of victims as part of their investigations, leading to many feeling their privacy was being further violated after a traumatic experience and putting many off continuing with their case.

In the worst-case examples, these notes were used to decide on whether to proceed with a prosecution, particularly where victims had disclosed issues with their mental health to therapists.

As a result, victims had often been advised to avoid seeking counselling while police investigations were ongoing, despite many rape cases not reaching trial for 2 years or more, prolonging their suffering.

With a recent case review finding that almost 30% of rape cases included requests for counselling records, this is a significant step to ensure victims receive the privacy they deserve.

The new guidance follows the publication of the violence against women and girls strategy which was published last month. It aims to prevent violence against women and girls before it takes place.

It will also support more victims through a raft of hard-hitting measures, including putting dedicated units in every police force to more effectively tackle rape and sexual assault and provide better care for victims.

Violence against women and girls is a national emergency with 1 in 8 women a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking last year. Two hundred rapes are recorded by the police every day, with many more unreported. 

The changes announced today are expected to improve victim experience by:

• providing greater privacy and dignity – victims’ counselling records will only be requested in rare circumstances, reducing unnecessary intrusion into their personal lives
• faster, more focused investigations – by limiting unnecessary requests, the changes aim to reduce delays and keep investigations on track
• restoring confidence in the justice system – victims can be reassured that their rights and wellbeing are central to the investigative process; the aim is for fewer victims dropping out of the process, eventually increasing prosecutions

Under the new rules, police requests for counselling notes must be necessary, proportionate, and relevant – as set out in a new victim information request code of practice. Requests for counselling information must also be cleared at the chief inspector level – significantly raising the bar for these types of requests.

With around half of rape victims withdrawing support for police investigations last year, it is hoped by improving victims’ experience, this will encourage more to come forward to help bring more vile predators to justice.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said:

Rape and sexual assault devastate victims’ lives, but the sad truth is police investigations often only prolong that trauma.

But by stopping police routinely accessing counselling notes, we hope that more victims will have the confidence to come forward and help us bring more predators to justice.

This is about more than just words. We are deploying the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls.

Siobhan Blake, National Crown Prosecution Service Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said:

No victim of rape should have to suffer further trauma when receiving justice. Alongside policing partners, our prosecutors are determined to make sure each victim experiences a justice process which is supportive, sympathetic, and victim-centred.

Today, we welcome the announcement from the Home Office that a higher threshold for requesting victims’ personal counselling notes will be imposed, protecting victims and encouraging policing and legal professionals to scrutinise a suspect’s actions over everything else.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) said:

We’re delighted that from today, police officers will no longer be able to routinely access rape survivors’ private counselling notes,  following our campaign to keep counselling confidential. Counselling is a space to explore feelings, and access to it is critically important in healing from trauma.

We now need to see strong implementation of the new guidance so that it is followed by police forces across the country, as well as an information campaign to inform survivors and therapists of their new rights.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 January 2026.

Victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal will continue to receive dedicated advocacy support.

£600,000 has been made available under the second year of the 3-year £1.5million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund (WCASF) which launched last April.

Many victims have reported that revisiting traumatic experiences makes navigating the claim process extremely difficult.

This vital support will continue and follows the success of the fund’s first year.

Advocates understand claimants’ cultural background and will support them to articulate their stories.

They will also help claimants gather supporting evidence, signpost to additional services, and create a trusted environment.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp MP said:

We know too many Windrush victims find navigating the compensation claim process alone complex and traumatic.

That’s why we set up a fund to provide dedicated support so victims can receive the justice they deserve.

After a successful first year, I am delighted to announce we are providing another £600,000 so this support can continue to be delivered by community organisations.

The scandal saw people who had built their lives in Britain wrongly treated as illegal immigrants. Many lost jobs, were denied healthcare, faced deportation threats, and suffered severe financial hardship and deteriorating mental health.

The fund delivers on the government’s manifesto commitment to work more closely with affected communities and forms part of the wider Plan for Change.

Virtual information sessions for organisations interested in applying will be held on 15 and 23 January 2026. Please register via email to WCSAdvocacySupportFund@homeoffice.gov.uk

Applications must be submitted via the Find and Apply Grant portal by 5pm on 6 February 2026.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 January 2026.

Hundreds of endangered species seized in crackdown on international wildlife smuggling.

Live snakes, tarantulas and lovebirds have been found crammed into vehicles at the UK border following a global crackdown on wildlife smuggling gangs.

In just one month, Border Force seized more than 250 endangered species and illegal wildlife products at airports, ports and mail depots across the country.

The seizures this autumn were part of an annual international operation to combat illegal wildlife smuggling – representing a 73% increase from 2023.

They include two rainbow boa constrictors, which officers found hidden under blankets in a car in Dover. The driver had bought them at a German reptile show without a licence.

Border Force also discovered over 100 endangered birds crammed into a car, including scarlet ibis, green-cheeked conures and lovebirds. Some had died and the rest were kept in filthy conditions, risking the spread of disease.  

There has also been a surge in spider trafficking since 2023. In one instance, Border Force intercepted a car transporting over 2,000 live tarantulas from Europe – worth an estimated £70,000. The consignment included more than 300 protected species without the appropriate licences.

Adult tarantulas can sell for between £50 to £500 depending on the species.

Other items prevented from reaching the black market included an elephant hair ring from the United States, king cobra balm from Thailand and a blacktip shark jaw from Australia.

Wildlife crime is worth up to £17 billion a year globally, making it the fourth largest international crime – behind firearms, drugs and human trafficking. 

The intercepted items are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which is currently marking its 50th year.

Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said: 

Wildlife smuggling is serious organised crime. It fuels corruption, drives species to extinction, and undermines our border security.

I congratulate Border Force on this year’s hugely successful operation, which has cut off a major source of funding for dangerous gangs.

But we won’t stop until we’ve broken this business model. Anyone attempting to bring illegal wildlife products into the UK – by air, sea, or post – will be searched and prosecuted.

DEFRA Minister Mary Creagh said:

The illegal wildlife trade is vile and destroys the natural world.

By tackling wildlife crime we’re sending a clear message to the criminal gangs that this government will strain every sinew to bring those involved to justice.

The seizures took place between 13 September and 15 October as part of Operation Thunder – an annual crackdown led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization to dismantle criminal smuggling networks. 

Police supported this year’s operation, carrying out inspections across the country. Where sellers could not provide paperwork, officers seized items including shark and crocodile meat, ivory carvings and a tiger claw bottle.

Border Force’s specialist CITES team at Heathrow is recognised as world leaders in detecting and seizing illegal wildlife products.

More than ever before officers are taking an intelligence-led approach – working with international partners to share expertise and shut the trade down. 

Where possible, seized items will be rehomed or used for research. 

As part of the Plan for Change, the government is determined to strengthen border security and break the business model of organised crime.

Anyone who suspects smuggling and trafficking of any kind can report it online using the report smuggling service.