Tag: Home Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 7 July 2026.

College of Policing chief executive has 30 years’ policing experience and led significant reforms in professional standards, leadership and technology.

The Home Secretary has today (7 July 2026) confirmed Sir Andy Marsh QPM as the government’s preferred candidate for the role of HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in England and Wales and Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue in England (HMCI).

Sir Andy Marsh has been Chief Executive of the College of Policing since September 2021.

Sir Andy has over 30 years’ policing experience, having joined Avon and Somerset Police in 1987 and rising to senior leadership roles including Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary and Avon and Somerset Police.

Sir Andy has led significant reform across policing, including improvements in professional standards, leadership development, and the use of technology and evidence-based practice. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2018 and was knighted in 2024 for services to policing.

The recommendation follows a fair and open recruitment process, conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said:

Sir Andy Marsh has extensive experience at the highest levels of policing. He is the right person to take on this vital role as we deliver the most ambitious reforms to policing in two centuries and help shape the future of the fire sector.

I would like to thank Michelle Skeer for her leadership of the Inspectorate since April.

Sir Andy Marsh said:

It is a privilege to be named as preferred candidate at what is a pivotal moment for policing and fire. I’ve spent my career alongside the dedicated officers and staff who work every day to keep the public safe, and I know first-hand the difference the right leadership, standards and support can make. My focus will be on the issues that matter most to our communities, and on making sure the people doing this vital work have everything they need to do it well.

Pre-appointment scrutiny by the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) will follow shortly, which is an important part of the process for some of the most significant public appointments made by ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to verify that the recruitment meets the principles set out in the Governance Code.

If Sir Andy’s appointment is finalised, he will succeed HMCI Michelle Skeer OBE QPM, who has been in post on an interim basis since the departure of HMCI Sir Andy Cooke QPM DL in April 2026.

Following a pre-appointment hearing on 14 July, HASC will publish their recommendations, which the government will consider before deciding whether to finalise the appointment.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 June 2026.

Asylum seekers who can afford to will be required to repay a flat-rate contribution towards the cost of their accommodation and support.

Asylum seekers who are able to pay back the cost of support and accommodation will now be required to, under new laws.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament today, sets out new powers for the Home Office to recover costs from adults who have received asylum support such as subsistence or accommodation, provided they have access to sufficient funds.

The payment will take the form of a flat-rate charge, with eligible adults paying off an amount each month above a set threshold.

There will be various methods for those individuals to pay. The primary mechanism for this is expected to be through direct payments to the Home Office with options also being explored to use the tax and benefits systems. 

Migrants will be required to pay off the full amount before being eligible for settlement. Anyone who leaves the UK will be required to make their payments if they wish to return at a future date.

The Home Secretary will have the power to adjust the charge and the thresholds, ensuring they are both fair to the taxpayer and will not force any migrant into destitution. Under plans, migrants are expected to have to pay a total sum of around £10,000. This figure will be a contribution to the overall cost of their asylum support.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, said:

The cost of asylum accommodation on the British taxpayer is too high.

We have already reduced asylum costs by £1 billion, but it is also right that we ask those who can contribute to do so.

Receiving asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility. Once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so.

Currently, asylum seekers in the UK receive a package of support which has become a financial burden on the taxpayer, with annual costs of £4 billion across accommodation and support last year.

The government has already cut these costs by nearly a billion pounds since taking office and is going further by ending the use of asylum hotels, with 31 closed since April and hundreds of asylum seekers moved into basic accommodation including ex-military sites.

Requiring individuals to pay towards the cost of their support will allow those on a pathway to settlement to make a contribution to UK society and repay some of our generosity. For those without a right to remain it will ensure they take responsibility for the financial impact of their presence in this country.

The Home Office estimates the average cost per person per night of accommodating asylum seekers is £23.25 in dispersal accommodation and £144 in hotels, while subsistence payment range from £9.95 to £49.18 per person per week.

This legislation will now also ensure that recipients of asylum support contribute to their own costs, once they are able to do so.

A quarter of 16 to 64-year-olds granted asylum refugees between 2015 and 2023 were in employment within the same calendar year they were granted status, with that number rising to 50% 2 years after refugee status was granted.

Of those who were in employment 8 years after the grant, 37% were in full-time work with median earnings of £23,000, with 40% earning more than minimum wage.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill will bring into force the most significant policy proposals in a generation to create a firm but fair asylum system that works for Britain, restoring order and control to the immigration system and reducing the pull factors driving illegal migration.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 June 2026.

New independent appeals body to speed up removals of foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.

A once-in-a-generation overhaul of asylum and immigration appeals will create a single route and end the merry-go-round of repeated appeals. This will lead to faster, fairer decisions, and speed up the removals of foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.  

The average time taken to clear cases stands at 61 weeks, leaving more than 150,000 immigration and asylum appeals waiting to be heard. 

To tackle this, the government will, through the Immigration and Asylum Bill that was confirmed in the King’s Speech, set up a new independent body, which will establish a new framework for appeals to be heard.

The Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA) will be able to prioritise cases in the public interest more easily, including high-harm foreign offenders and human rights claims that are clearly without merit, leading to faster removals. 

New laws will also ensure that those who are abusing the system to delay or prevent their return are no longer able to do so. Currently, migrants can appeal a rejected claim and then bring further claims about new matters before their removal – a duplication that clogs the system. Requiring all claims to be brought together and creating a single appeal route will allow for faster outcomes.

The new authority is set to start hearing appeals from late 2027, to be phased in stages. It will have the flexibility to dynamically scale up and down the number of adjudicators based on demand within the appeals system. 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:  

Today, our appeals tribunal is overwhelmed. As a result, people are gaming the system, lodging vexatious appeals to frustrate their removal.  

Our new appeals body will ensure claims are heard swiftly and fairly. Those with a legitimate claim will get their hearing. Those who have no right to remain in this country, and are abusing the system, will be swiftly removed.

The IIAA will be staffed by professionally trained and independently appointed adjudicators – much like a magistrate – who will have a broad range of skills and backgrounds, with safeguards to ensure high standards.

Broadening the eligibility criteria for people to apply to become adjudicators will result in a significant increase in capacity within the authority, leading to more decisions being made.

While decisions will be fully independent, the new body will be integrated into the immigration system to ensure cases flow through quickly to removal where appeals are unsuccessful, to scale up removals of those with no right to be here.   

Nearly 70,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been returned or deported since this government came to power.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill will also save taxpayers money by overhauling how asylum claims are processed, with one single decision to be made on asylum and humanitarian protection claims to slash delays.

Significant progress has already been made in tackling the asylum backlog, with the number of people waiting for an initial decision falling by 72% since June 2023.  

In total, 128,000 initial decisions were made in the last year, a 32% increase on the previous year and more than 4 times the annual average in the decade to 2020. 

The government is also increasing capacity in the existing appeals system. This year sitting days are due to increase by 19% in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber compared with 2024/25, so more cases can be heard and decisions made faster.  

But the scale of the current caseload cannot be sustainably managed within the existing system. Despite the dedicated work of the tribunal and the judiciary, fundamental reform is now needed to stop the appeals system becoming a barrier to removal. 

The Immigration and Asylum Bill will bring into force the most significant policy proposals in a generation to create a firm but fair asylum system that works for Britain, restoring order and control to the immigration system and reducing the pull factors driving illegal migration.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 29 June 2026.

More than 45,000 foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed over the coming decade thanks to a significant expansion of detention capacity.

The projects at Haslar and Campsfield Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) will contribute to a 40% increase in the UK’s detention capacity for those with no right to be here.   

These expansions will more than triple the cumulative capacity at these centres from 290 to 1,000 beds, with each additional detention space translating to more offenders and illegal migrants removed from our country. This sends a clear message: if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay. 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:    

Returns and deportations are at their highest level in nearly a decade.  

Nearly 70,000 individuals with no right to be here have been removed from the UK since this government took office.   

But we will not stop there. These expansions will see thousands more foreign criminals and illegal migrants who have no right to be here removed.

Last week a report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) showed the government inherited a migration system with over 412,000 illegal migrants in the UK.

This expansion will further build on the dramatically intensified enforcement action the Home Office has undertaken since the report, with deportations soaring to the highest level in a decade.   

Nearly 70,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been returned, an increase in 41% compared to the previous 21 month period. Of these, 10,000 were foreign national offenders, an increase of 36%.     

That is why the Home Secretary will double the Immigration Enforcement budget by 2028 to 2029 and boost workforce numbers by 60% from 2024 in 2026 to 2027. This will see tens of thousands more raids, arrests, and deportations of illegal migrants.  

As confirmed in the King’s Speech, the government will also bring forward an Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will reform human rights laws such as modern slavery legislation and Article 8 of the ECHR to end abuse by illegal migrants frustrating their removals.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 June 2026.

Domestic abuse specialists will be deployed to 12 new 999 control rooms, under the second phase of ‘Raneem’s Law.’

Domestic abuse specialists to be embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms.

More victims and survivors of domestic abuse will be protected by specialists in 999 control rooms, as the number of forces operating the pioneering ‘Raneem’s Law’ is trebled.

Six months on from the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy – Phase Two of the rollout of ‘Raneem’s Law’ will see domestic abuse specialists embedded in 12 more 999 control rooms across England and Wales. This includes police forces in Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Essex, Merseyside and North Wales – bringing the total number of forces to 17. 
    
The measure was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in August 2018 despite multiple 999 calls to police – who failed to turn up.   

The initiative has already helped to protect victims, with early reports from police forces suggesting that ‘Raneem’s Law’ has led to: 

• increased confidence among call handlers and officers in handling domestic abuse incidents
• earlier identification of high-risk cases
• swifter action taken to deploy safeguarding measures and protect victims

Placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms aims to strengthen the police response to domestic abuse from the first point of contact. The specialists oversee how calls for help are assessed and managed, often providing real-time advice to responding officers and call handlers.   

They also review cases and risk assessments, support staff training and ensure victims are swiftly referred to specialist services where needed.

The news comes as the government marks one year since the launch ‘Raneem’s Law,’ which has so far embedded specialists in West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Humberside and Northumbria. It is part of the government’s unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.   

With an estimated 3.8 million people experiencing domestic abuse last year, the continued expansion of ‘Raneem’s Law’ is a vital step towards ensuring that every victim – no matter where they live – can rely on a system built to protect them.   

As part of its ambitious Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, the government has committed to rolling out ‘Raneem’s Law’ across every police force in England and Wales by 2029.    

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls Natalie Fleet said: 

Last year, one in 8 women experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. No society that tolerates this level of violence can claim to be safe for women. 

That’s why we are rolling out the pioneering ‘Raneem’s Law’ to another 12 police forces in England and Wales, because every victim – no matter where they live – should be able to rely on a system that truly supports them.     

But we will not stop there. We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls.

Nour Norris, lead campaigner, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, said:

When my sister Khaola and my niece Raneem called for help, they should have been heard, understood and protected. Instead, our family lost two beautiful lives in circumstances that should never have happened.

Every step forward for ‘Raneem’s Law’ is deeply emotional for me because it comes from unimaginable pain and loss. Knowing that 12 more police forces will have domestic abuse specialists in their 999 control rooms gives me hope that other families may be spared the heartbreak that ours lives with every day.

Raneem’s Law’ is more than a policy. It is a legacy built on love for my sister and niece and on the determination that their voices, and the voices of all victims of domestic abuse, are never ignored again.

I am incredibly proud to see this expansion and remain committed to ensuring that every victim who reaches out for help is met with understanding, expertise and, most importantly, protection.

This announcement builds on the government’s progress to tackle violence against women and girls including through rolling out the pioneering Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to provide victims with protection for as long as needed.   

We are also investing over £1 billion over the next 3 years to support victims of violence against women and girls. This includes nearly £500 million for safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims, £550 million for counselling, court guidance and children’s services, and up to £55 million for specialist therapeutic and support.     

This forms part of the government’s ambitious Violence against Women and Girls Strategy which deploys the full power of the state to halve this issue in a decade.    

The full list of ‘Raneem’s Law’ Phase 2 sites:   

• Thames Valley Police      
• West Yorkshire Police      
• Hampshire Constabulary      
• Essex Police      
• Merseyside Police      
• Nottinghamshire Police      
• Derbyshire Constabulary      
• Cambridgeshire Constabulary      
• North Wales Police      
• Gloucestershire Constabulary      
• Cleveland Police    
• Dyfed-Powys Police

The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 June 2026.

Border Force has seized a record-breaking 12 tonnes of cannabis as part of a major international operation.

The staggering haul deprives organised crime of an estimated £139 million in revenue.

The illegal drugs were detected last month at Southampton Port, crammed into two shipping containers from Canada.

Officers found 1,200 boxes of cannabis inside them weighing around 12 tonnes – making it Border Force’s largest ever cannabis seizure.

Working with Canadian partners and UK law enforcement, expert Home Office intelligence analysts identified the two containers on their way to Southampton, priming officers to make the seizure.

The previous largest cannabis seizure that Border Force undertook was just under 8 tonnes (7,955 kilos) in April 2017 at Southampton Port.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp said:

Congratulations to our brilliant Border Force officers for this record-breaking haul.

We will not allow criminal gangs to profit from misery and peddle their vile trade.

More than ever before, we are working with policing and international partners to secure our borders and keep our streets safe.

Border Force Director General, Phil Douglas said:

This biggest cannabis seizure ever shows Border Force’s relentless action to stop drugs reaching UK streets and destroying lives.

My thanks to our officers, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, and the Canada Border Services Agency for their dedication, collaboration, and professionalism.

The interception on 6 May 2026 formed a key part of a wider South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) investigation into criminal gangs peddling drugs.

It follows the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) preventing a shipping container with cannabis destined for the UK leaving Canada in April.

SWROCU Acting Inspector, Stuart Cumine, said:

Operations like this, working with partners on a national and international level, disrupt criminal networks, deprive them of funds, and protect communities across the UK from the harm that drug supply and other organised criminality causes.

Canada Border Services Agency President, Erin O’Gorman said:

These seizures reflect the strength of the combined operational focus and intelligence-sharing efforts between Canadian federal law enforcement and our UK Border Force partners. It is the result of a highly coordinated, intelligence-led approach to disrupting transnational organised crime.

The movement of illegal cannabis fuels organised crime networks, and this seizure underscores our collective commitment to combat these criminal activities and keep our borders strong and secure.

Today (16 June 2026), SWROCU have arrested three people on suspicion of facilitating importations.

May’s huge cannabis seizure builds on a record-breaking year of Border Force action.

According to the latest statistics, almost 150 tonnes of illegal drugs (148 tonnes) were seized by Border Force (year ending March 2025), making it the highest amount since records began.

It also represents a 40% year-on-year rise in the quantity of drugs seized.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 June 2026.

Two new French police units are now on the ground in Northern France, marking a significant step in joint UK-France efforts to stop dangerous illegal crossings.

Illegal migrants and people smugglers looking to land on UK shores will face enhanced enforcement action as 2 new specialist units are now active on the French beaches.  

Announced under the landmark UK-France deal and deployed in time for the summer months, the Compagnie de Marche and a brand-new dedicated riot unit are now operational in Northern France to track down illegal migrants and prevent small boat crossings.    

This enhanced cooperation delivers 125 specialist officers and reservists to disperse migrant groups, pursue criminal smugglers and prevent small boat launches.

Their deployment comes as international partners continue to target organised immigration crimes across Europe. This includes a recent operation in Germany that seized dozens of boats and engines that could have been used to transport more than 2,000 people to the UK illegally.  

The raids were the result of an international investigation involving the UK’s National Crime Agency, the German Federal Police and led by the French National Police’s people smuggling unit – showing the success of our international cooperation in action. 

It follows the Prime Minister’s work to reset international relations in order to broker deals that benefit working people in the UK, including returns deals with France, Iraq, a new treaty with Germany and tighter law enforcement co-operation across the Western Balkans.   

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:    

Working in lockstep with our closest partners is the only way to make real progress in tackling the shared challenge of illegal migration.   

These elite units are just one element of the landmark deal between our countries that is taking our collaboration to the next level.     

Operations like this meant that almost half of all attempted crossings were halted by the French last month – so we’re boosting them further to continue to drive down crossings. 

Backed by enhanced drone, helicopter, plane and camera surveillance systems, Compagnie de Marche officers will break up launch attempts, seize equipment and disrupt migrants before they reach the water.    

The elite policing unit has public order powers that will directly address violence on French beaches and enable more dynamic patrols across the coastline.     

This unit is made up of 75 officers which will be surged across the summer months when crossings are higher. Backed by intelligence and insight, they will be deployed on specific days and to areas where there are expected to be more crossing attempts.    

The deal builds on action that delivers results, with specialist Compagnie de Marche crack squad linked to 20% of all small boat event preventions in 2025.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:   

We are putting the pressure exactly where it needs to be – on French beaches, targeting the criminal gangs and stopping launches before they can happen.    

The Compagnie de Marche has already played a significant role in preventing illegal crossings. With these officers surged across the summer months, alongside the deployment of a new specialist riot unit, we are going even further to restore order and control at our borders.

This action follows a surge in joint law enforcement operations in May which stopped almost half (40%) of all small boat crossing attempts from Northern France, building on the 44,000 small boat crossing attempts prevented since the election.    

A permanent specialist French riot police unit, the Compagnie républicaine de sécurité (CRS), is preventing crossing attempts.    

Made up of 50 police officers specially trained in the use of riot and crowd control tactics to maintain and restore public order, this team are better equipped to respond to hostile crowds and evolving smuggler tactics and stop illegal migrants in their tracks.     

The deployment of both units forms just one part of the landmark deal signed by the Home Secretary and her French counterpart to tackle the small boat crisis.     

Under the agreement, £500 million will be invested to strengthen enforcement action on beaches in Northern France, with a further £160 million available based on the effectiveness of new tactics to stop illegal migration.  

The new deal will deliver a more than 40% boost to law enforcement officer numbers to crack down on small boat arrivals.    

For the first time ever, the funding will be conditional and adjusted based on results. If the new tactics are not successful, it will stop after one year and be reallocated.   

Just last week, UK investigators secured the first sentences for small boat pilots under the government’s Border Security Act. Mohammad Tajik, an Afghan national, and Alnour Mohamed Ali, a Sudanese national, were sentenced to 2 years and 2 years 3 months respectively at Canterbury Crown Court for endangering others during a sea crossing and entering the UK illegally.    

Since the election, nearly 70,000 illegal migrants have been removed from the UK, and disruption action against people-smuggling gangs has increased by almost 50% in the last year.   

The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 June 2026.

One in 5 young men do not consider controlling someone’s spending as abuse, as the government and banks unite as part of the Enough campaign.

Victims and survivors of economic abuse will benefit from a new partnership to tackle the issue, as new figures from a survey by Ipsos UK published by the Home Office and Surviving Economic Abuse today reveal significant gaps in recognising controlling behaviours as abuse.

According to the figures published today, younger men are 3 times more likely than older men to fail to recognise controlling how someone spends their money as abuse, underscoring the need for urgent action to raise awareness.

To confront this abuse, major UK banks – spanning both high street and digital-only providers, including Monzo, TSB, Metro Bank, Santander, Revolut and HSBC – have joined forces with the government’s Enough campaign to shine a light on economic abuse behaviours that are often dismissed, misunderstood or missed altogether. 

In banking apps and certain physical branches, customers will see campaign adverts highlighting 4 forms of economic abuse: 

• restricting someone’s ability to earn
• running up debts in someone else’s name
• controlling someone’s money
• misusing payment references to harass someone 

They utilise the campaigns designed to prompt recognition and trigger reflection among perpetrators.

Economic abuse, a form of domestic abuse that is a criminal offence under the controlling or coercive behaviour offence, involves domestic abusers controlling a current or ex-partner’s money and economic resources (housing, phone, employment, food or clothes).

Domestic abusers can trap people in dangerous situations by controlling their money, restricting their work, or running up debt in their name. This hidden form of control strips away people’s independence and financial stability and devastates families.

This phase of the campaign aims to increase public recognition of economic abuse while also prompting self-reflection among those carrying out these behaviours, encouraging them to recognise and change harmful actions.

Overall, awareness of economic abuse is high, with over 9 in 10 men (94%) able to identify at least one economically abusive behaviour as abuse. However, fewer people recognise all forms, with just 58% of men and 65% of all UK adults (men and women) able to identify every behaviour.

According to the new data, younger men aged 18–24 are less likely than older men to recognise economically abusive behaviours as abuse. Almost one in 5 18-24 year-old men (19%) say that controlling how someone spends their money is probably not or definitely not abuse, compared to just 6% of 45–54-year-olds, and a further 19% of 18-24 year-old men do not recognise controlling access to a personal bank account as abuse. Younger men are more likely to miss these signs, with 16% of 18–24-year-olds saying taking out credit in someone’s name without consent is not abuse, compared to just 4% of 45–54-year-olds.

To confront other hidden forms of abuse, banks are also rolling out new technology to detect and prevent abusive messages sent through payment references when transferring money online – stopping harm at the point it happens and sending a clear signal that this behaviour will not be tolerated. 

This partnership follows a roundtable on economic abuse hosted by the Treasury alongside the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Natalie Fleet, bringing together government, economic abuse experts and industry to drive meaningful, life-changing action to tackle this pernicious crime.  

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Fleet, said:  

Economic abuse may not always be visible and doesn’t always leave bruises, but its impact can be just as devastating, isolating victims and controlling every aspect of their lives. 

Controlling someone’s money, their work, or their independence is abuse. Plain and simple and it must not be dismissed or normalised.

By working with banks on this important issue we are protecting victims and sending a clear message to perpetrators: this is not acceptable, and we will use the full power of the state to keep women and girls safe.

Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said:

At a time when young women are experiencing the highest rates of economic abuse, it is deeply worrying that some younger men are less likely than any other age group to say these behaviours are abusive. That puts them out of step with the vast majority of young men and the wider public and highlights the urgent need to challenge harmful attitudes.

We need to be absolutely clear: controlling someone’s money and economic resources is abuse. Whether it’s restricting how someone spends their money, forcing them into debt or making it difficult for them to work or study, these are tactics used by abusers to exert power and control. They trap survivors in dangerous situations and make it harder to safely escape and rebuild their lives.

These attitudes matter because they shape what people think is acceptable in relationships. That’s why all of us – the government, businesses, schools and communities – have a role to play in sending a clear message: economic abuse is abuse, and it has no place in our society.

Ruth Dodsworth OBE said: 

In my marriage, money was used as a weapon of absolute control, reducing me to a state of total financial dependence where every penny spent required permission and proof.

My bank card vanished and was never replaced, and I even had to ask for money for my lunch, and only being given the exact amount in cash for a sandwich meal deal. This forced financial control made it impossible to join friends for coffee or social gatherings, forcing me to constantly make up excuses and withdraw in shame.

By controlling my wallet, he systematically dismantled my support system, leaving me entirely isolated and unable to reach out for help.

Gabby, a young survivor of economic abuse, said:

I experienced economic abuse from the age of 17, but at the time I had no idea what it was. I didn’t recognise the warning signs because I had never been taught about economic abuse or how it can affect someone’s life. Looking back, I often wonder whether things could have been different if I had known what to look for.

There needs to be far greater education for young people, particularly young men, about economic abuse and healthy financial boundaries in relationships. Being in a relationship with someone does not mean they are responsible for funding your lifestyle or carrying the financial burden alone.

Banks have made progress in supporting victim-survivors of economic abuse, but there is still much more they can do. In my case, it took 3 years for my property to be repossessed, despite the bank being aware of the situation from the beginning. That delay had a devastating impact, damaging my credit score for years. Victim-survivors deserve better support, understanding and action.

This builds on wider progress to tackle violence against women and girls, including through the government’s pioneering VAWG Strategy published in December. 

This includes rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) to tackle abuse head on, embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms through ‘Raneem’s Law’ to provide better protection to victims, and through the Enough campaign, which challenges harmful attitudes and behaviours to prevent abuse. 

This all forms part of the government’s unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. 

Further quotes

Kerry Reynolds, Director of Retail and Business Banking, Metro Bank, said: 

We welcome the government’s campaign and its focus on raising awareness of a form of abuse that can often remain hidden. At Metro Bank, we recognise the role we can play in supporting those affected to access specialist support.

Through initiatives such as Hestia’s Safe Spaces offered in our stores, people experiencing domestic abuse have a safe, accessible space where they can take a moment and be heard at a time when they may need it most.

Keely Newman Head of Vulnerable Customers at TSB said: 

Economic abuse can trap people by restricting their financial independence and control.

At TSB, we see first-hand how financial and domestic abuse affects our customers, which is why our Flee Fund provides immediate support to those taking the brave step to leave.

We’re proud to back the Enough campaign, helping people recognise the signs, and provide practical support to regain control and stay safe.

Natalie Beddows, Head of Vulnerability, Access & Inclusion at Monzo, said:

We see first-hand the devastating impact economic abuse can have on our customers, which is why supporting those affected has always been a priority at Monzo. We’ve built tools like Share With Us, hidden Pots and flexible communication preferences to help people reach us safely, alongside specialist teams who support customers when they need it.

We look forward to working with others across the industry to continue raising awareness of economic abuse and the serious harm it causes, and provide much-needed support to victim survivors.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 10 June 2026.

Officers across England and Wales will spend less time behind desks and more time protecting their communities, as the government today launches PoliceAI – a new national centre dedicated to the responsible development, piloting and scaling of artificial intelligence in policing.

The centre, backed by a record £75 million over 3 years, will work across all forces to identify, test and scale AI tools that deliver real results.

Early trials show the scale of what is possible: 800 hours of footage in a kidnapping case reviewed in 3 hours, producing an early guilty plea; and half a million e-books of data translated instantly, leading to the arrest of a serious organised crime gang.

PoliceAI is part of a record £140 million investment in AI technology over 3 years, including funding for 40 more live facial recognition units, tripling current capacity of a technology that is already proving its value in catching wanted rapists, domestic abusers and child sex offenders.

The government is also investing a record £16.5 million to modernise how police and the public interact. This includes AI that transcribes 999 and 101 calls, links crime reports to identify patterns in demand, and triages non-emergency calls to the right responder.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:

AI is already helping police catch dangerous offenders, speed up investigations and keep our communities safe – and we are only just getting started.

PoliceAI will transform how every force in England and Wales works, improving police access to data and intelligence, generating new evidential leads and ultimately freeing up the equivalent of 3,000 extra officers and putting more police back where they belong: in our communities

But we will only realise that potential if we do this responsibly, with public consent at every step. That is exactly what PoliceAI is designed to deliver.

Tackling tool theft and retail crime is a priority. We are investing £1 million to better join up police data with property marking schemes, use AI to identify stolen goods and track resale online, and understand exactly what is being stolen and by whom. Alongside PoliceAI’s work to speed up investigations, this will help return more property to victims and get officers back onto the frontline.

In its first year, PoliceAI will prioritise areas where AI can make the biggest immediate difference.

It will run large-scale pilots in up to 10 forces to help officers triage, disclose and summarise digital evidence – one of the most time-consuming parts of any investigation. These trials will run over 2026-27 before being scaled to all police forces in 2027, freeing up millions of hours per year. It builds on work to help police adopt AI to redact audio-visual files, set to free up 1 million hours per year if all 43 forces use the tech we are rolling out.

It will lead the national policing response to AI-enabled crime, including deepfake intimate images, through a new Policing AI Threat Hub. Police AI will get high quality deepfake detection tools and training into the hands of police forces so they can tackle new AI-enabled crimes.

It will also help the police tackle the scourge of retail crime and tool theft by helping police establish who recovered tools belong to so they can be returned to victims quickly.

PoliceAI interim director Alex Murray OBE said:

Crime and technology are evolving rapidly. Policing must keep pace by adopting AI responsibly to catch criminals and keep people safe.

We have created a national AI centre to help policing work smarter – our job is to get responsible AI into the hands of officers and staff so that they can spend less time on bureaucracy and more time fighting crime and helping the victims, witnesses and communities they work so hard to protect.

Ian Murray, Minister for Digital Government and Data said:

People should see the benefits of technology in the services they rely on every day – that means quicker results, better tools, and a system that works more effectively from start to finish.

PoliceAI is about putting that into practice – using cutting-edge AI to help forces process evidence faster, reduce paperwork and focus their time where it matters most.

By testing what works and scaling it across the country, we’re making sure these improvements are felt in every community – while building trust in how this technology is used.

PoliceAI is set to become part of the planned National Policing Service and will publish a public registry of AI tools in use across policing, developed in partnership with CENTRIC at Sheffield Hallam University. A first version will be available by the autumn.

AI models will be independently tested for accuracy and bias, building on the government-funded rigorous approach already established for live facial recognition algorithms. This is vital in areas like evidence translation where documents must be translated accurately to stand up in court.

Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing said:

The College of Policing is proud to host PoliceAI, an emerging technology that we are committed to explaining clearly, how it works, how it is evaluated, and the safeguards in place to build public confidence in its use.

While history shows that some of the greatest advances in policing have come through technology, from body worn video to modern forensics, technology alone is never enough; it must be guided by strong leadership and grounded in our Code of Ethics.

By combining these innovations with the College’s commitment to high standards, evidence-based practice and continuous improvement, we are facing an historic shift for British policing that will help keep the public safe and strengthen trust in the service.

The launch forms a central part of the Police Reform White Paper, published in January 2026, which set out the most ambitious redesign of policing in nearly 200 years. It directly supports the government’s Plan for Change and its Safer Streets mission – putting more visible, effective policing at the heart of every community. We have already put 3,000 more neighbourhood officers on our street, where the public rightly expect them to be – out in local areas, fighting local crime. 13,000 new neighbourhood officers will be in place by the end of this Parliament.

Blair Gibbs, Director of the Police Foundation said:

PoliceAI has the potential to transform policing.  By harnessing these innovative technologies and designing how to deploy them responsibly, the UK will be leading the world in how to leverage Artificial Intelligence within a democratic policing model. 

Extra investment is welcome, and the key to making an impact will be to bring in outside experts and make fast decisions, so PoliceAI can support local forces to scale their use of AI quickly and transparently.

The Tony Blair Institute’s Senior Director of Policy & Politics, Ryan Wain, said:

This is a welcome step to help police make better use of technology in the fight against crime. For too long, some of the loudest voices have focused on the risks of innovation without giving equal attention to the opportunities it offers to protect the public.

No one joins the force to fill out forms or spend hours reviewing evidence; they join to stop criminals. AI can help get officers out from behind their desks and back on the beat. At the same time, criminals are exploiting AI to target victims and destroy lives. With fraud now the single most common crime people experience police need access to cutting-edge tools if they’re to stay one step ahead and protect the public.

Neil Basu QPM, former head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said:

There is a lot of concern about AI but the truth is it is here, and it’s here to stay. AI can, if used correctly, be a force for good that will help policing become not just more efficient but far more effective. That means greater safety and security for us all. The creation of PoliceAI, backed by this government, as a single accountable body for the service is exactly the way to do this responsibly.