Tag: Home Office

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.

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

Dodgy shops will be forced to close their doors as police work to put criminal bosses behind bars under new legislation to be introduced later this year.  

Police and local authorities will be equipped with stronger powers to close rogue businesses for longer as they pursue prosecutions to put criminal bosses in jail.  

While existing powers allow premises to be closed for up to 6 months, businesses can often reopen before investigations have concluded, allowing criminal activity to resume and creating additional burdens for local authorities, police forces and the courts. 

Under plans, the government will double the maximum duration of closure orders in order to give investigators more time to gather evidence, pursue prosecutions and identify the criminal bosses directing activity from behind the scenes, while also preventing rogue operators from simply reopening and resuming illegal activity. The government will introduce secondary legislation this year. 

The Home Secretary has also instructed officials to urgently review the presence of vape shops, barbers, and car washes on the skilled worker sponsorship list, following concerns about potential misuse of the system. Any businesses seeking to abuse the system will have their licences revoked.

This follows the launch of a new national crackdown on organised crime operating across high streets at barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts, and sweet shops.  

£30 million of new funding will boost police and trading standards’ response to organised crime, with thousands of businesses expected to be raided, hundreds of arrests made and millions in cash seized.  

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:  

High streets across the country have been hijacked by criminal gangs operating in plain sight – running vape stores, dodgy barbers, and nail salons to launder their dirty money. 

I have launched a nationwide crackdown to raid and close thousands of illegal businesses, arrest bosses and seize their dirty cash.  

But I will go further – introducing new laws to close these shops for good and put criminal bosses behind bars.”  

The new measures build on changes made through the Crime and Policing Act, which increased the duration of closure notices from 48 hours to 72 hours, helping councils to gather enough evidence to shut down shops for longer. 

As part of a rapid review into local responders’ powers, the government will explore a new and longer temporary closure power to specifically tackle shops involved in criminality, meaning that local authorities don’t need to rely on evidence of anti-social behaviour alone to shut down these shops.

Criminals operating these businesses often go to significant lengths to conceal their identities and financial activity, making investigations complex and time-consuming as law enforcement agencies follow money trails and build cases against those responsible. 

These measures will give the police and local authorities stronger tools to disrupt organised crime, prevent repeat offending, and protect honest businesses. It will also reduce the burden on the police and the courts by ending the need for repeated applications to extend closures. 

John Herriman, Chief Executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: 

CTSI welcomes the government’s intent to strengthen enforcement powers across England and Wales, particularly regarding closure orders, which is an issue we have been actively campaigning on recently. Closure orders are a key enforcement tool for Trading Standards Officers in tackling ‘dodgy shops’ but our members have made us aware of challenges that limit their current impact.

Strengthening enforcement powers, including extending the duration of closure orders, is an important first step in addressing those issues. Stronger enforcement powers will allow officers more time to investigate criminality, prevent criminals from using a premises to break the law and, crucially, safeguard local communities from the serious risk these groups pose.

CTSI is encouraged by the government’s intent to strengthen enforcement powers, and we look forward to engaging with the consultation process to ensure the powers are as robust as possible to help crack down on criminals and safeguard local communities.

Josh Nicholson, Head of Housing and Communities, Centre for Social Justice, said: 

For too long, organised criminal gangs have hijacked shopfronts on our high streets and got away with it. These gangs sell illegal tobacco, traffic drugs, and facilitate immigration crime from the heart of our communities, undermining the foundations of safe community life. 

Enforcement agencies tell us that they need stronger and faster powers to shut down these criminal shops for good. We welcome the Home Secretary’s commitment to strengthening closure orders which will give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on the organised criminals who operate across Britain’s high streets.

The new measures will be taken forward following a consultation with interested parties, with regulations to extend closure orders expected to be laid by the end of 2026.  

The new High Street Organised Crime Unit will work across government to drive further interventions to strengthen the local and national response to organised crime on the high street. It comes as the NCA estimate at least £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year, with £1 billion laundered through high street businesses like mini-marts, barber shops, vape stores and sweet shops.

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

New powers introduced to crack down on organisations carrying out hostile activity on behalf of foreign states, including proxy groups who do their bidding.

The UK will be better protected from hostile activity by foreign states with new powers to crack down on individuals, organisations and proxy groups acting on their behalf, under landmark new legislation introduced to Parliament today (9 June).

The government is delivering on its promise to fast-track legislation after the recent wave of alarming antisemitic attacks in the UK.

The National Security (State Threats) Bill will give the Home Secretary new counter terrorism-style powers to stand up to foreign state organisations and state-linked groups that threaten the UK’s national security and the safety of our communities.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the new law is expected to come into force as early as next month. The Home Secretary will be able to use these new powers immediately and, if she judges it necessary, will do so without delay.

The powers will stop foreign states carrying out hostile activity in the UK – such as criminal damage against Jewish communities and targeting dissidents on UK soil. It will give the police and intelligence agencies stronger tools and powers to disrupt and deter those who work on their behalf.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The recent wave of antisemitic attacks has shocked the nation and left British Jews feeling unsafe in their own communities. That cannot stand.

Where foreign states are found to be engaging in activity that threatens lives or undermines our democratic institutions, we must ensure that such actions have consequences.

We will not tolerate hostile actors paying petty criminals to do their dirty work.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

Foreign states are becoming ever more aggressive – attacking our communities, our way of life, and our institutions – and hiding their tracks behind proxies. We must adapt to keep pace.

Our world-leading police and intelligence agencies do remarkable work every day to keep this country safe, and they will always have the government’s fullest support. That is why we are equipping them with stronger tools to take down these evolving threats wherever they occur.

These new powers should send a clear message to anyone doing the dirty work of a foreign state – we will come after you and you will face the full force of the law.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

In recent years we have seen an increase in state backed threats on UK streets. Eighteen months ago, I commissioned the Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation to examine the gaps in our national security legislation, and consider what changes we would need to allow counter terrorism-style powers to be used effectively to counter state threats.

As a result of that work, the new law we are introducing today will enable us to take the strong action required against those foreign adversaries seeking to undermine the UK’s security, interests, and values through covert means.

Our duty is to defend ourselves from these threats, protect our national security, and keep the British people safe.

A new criminal offence will apply to anyone who expresses support for a designated organisation – criminalising the glorification of activities which threaten the UK.

It will also be an offence to assist or receive payment from a designated organisation. This will crack down on foreign states hiding their involvement in hostile activity by outsourcing it to proxy groups, such as organised crime groups.

The bill mirrors these offences from the National Security Act 2023, meaning designated groups can be treated in the same way as a ‘foreign intelligence service’ so harmful acts conducted through proxies can be disrupted.

Collectively, these new measures will make it easier to prosecute perpetrators, deter those who might be susceptible to doing the bidding of a hostile state-linked actor, and mean that anyone convicted could face the severe consequence up to 14 years behind bars.

The new powers come in the wake of a concerning rise in state-backed aggression on UK soil with MI5’s state threats investigations increasing by 35% as of last year – with 20 potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots tracked by MI5 last year alone – and diversifying, as we see more threats to life and increased use of proxy groups.

The Home Secretary confirmed the legislation would be fast-tracked after the recent wave of antisemitic attacks. Whilst a number of these have been claimed by a group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin, there are a number of live investigations and criminal proceedings.

The National Security Act 2023 provided the police and intelligence agencies with extensive new tools to detect and disrupt hostile activity, and a record £600 million additional funding is being invested, however the government must keep pace with the growing scale and increasing complexity of the threats the UK faces.

The government has already brought forward some of strongest measures yet to protect the UK’s national security from state threats. The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme increases transparency of covert influence in our democracy and state threat offenders now face longer behind bars under a tougher sentencing regime. We’ve rolled out new training for front line police officers to increase their understanding and ability to respond to state-directed incidents, and a number of convictions in the past year will continue serve as a reminder to anyone considering acting on behalf of a foreign state that there will be severe consequences.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 4 June 2026.

Raised standards for recruiting foreign students come amid continued visa abuse. Student asylum claims already down 30% as government action delivers results.

Universities will be stripped of the right to recruit international students if too many drop out, as the government tightens the screws on visa abuse. 

New sponsorship rules will introduce a sliding scale of penalties for higher education institutions that fail to recruit responsibly. 

It comes after asylum claims from work, study and tourist visas more than tripled under the previous government – reaching 37% of all claims, with foreign students accounting for the largest share.  

Asylum claims by students have since fallen by 30% in the past year alone following tough action taken in partnership with the sector. 

The Home Secretary has also imposed a first-of-its-kind visa brake on study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan following a surge in asylum claims. 

These reforms build on that progress, raising the pass marks of the annual test used to monitor visa sponsors – across all three of its metrics: 

• Visa refusal rate: must remain below 5% (previously 10%) 
• Course enrolment rate: must reach at least 95% (previously 90%) 
• Course completion rate: must reach at least 90% (previously 85%) 

Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said: 

The UK will always welcome genuine international students, and our universities are rightly admired around the world. 

But our visa system must not be used as a backdoor to asylum and illegal working. 

Student asylum claims are down 30% in the last year. I thank the sector for their co-operation in achieving this, but we must go further. 

Those seeking to game the system should know we are watching – and won’t hesitate to act.

High drop-out rates can indicate students have entered the illegal working economy rather than studied whilst high visa rejection rates or low enrolment figures suggest some institutions have not done enough due diligence on applicants. But from summer 2027, a new traffic light rating system will make clear to regulators, and the public, which institutions are recruiting responsibly.  

Those rated red will face restrictions on the number of students they can recruit and must fund a 12-month action plan to fix failing practices.  

Those that don’t improve face losing international student recruitment rights altogether.

The changes were announced during a visit to Manchester Metropolitan University by Home Office Minister Mike Tapp, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press and Universities UK.  

Professor Malcolm Press CBE DL, President of Universities UK said: 

UK universities are one of our greatest success stories, and we should be proud that people from around the world aspire to study here. We are fully committed to protecting the integrity of the visa system and working in partnership with the Home Office. 

International students bring significant economic and soft power benefits, contributing £37 billion in export earnings. We want the UK to remain open and welcoming, but that depends on responding quickly to any risks of abuse. 

What universities need from government is policy stability, transparent visa decision-making, and real-time data to act on emerging concerns. The sector relies on international student income, and recent sharp declines have led to substantial cost-cutting and job losses. It is essential that we build a fair, stable, and transparent system that works in the national interest.

The Home Office is actively exploring new ways to share data with the education sector, within a robust data protection framework.  

Education institutions also hold valuable data of their own, and the government continues to urge them to work together to share intelligence across the sector and crack down on abuse wherever it occurs.   

Since last summer, the Home Office has contacted 306,000 students whose visas are due to expire – warning that meritless asylum claims will be swiftly refused and those without the right to remain must leave or face removal. 

These measures form part of the government’s broader drive to restore order and control to the immigration system – under which net migration has now fallen by 74%.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 June 2026.

A new Support Hub has launched delivering tailored, trauma-informed care for victims and survivors of terrorism.

Victims and survivors of terrorism will receive around the clock support to help them navigate recovery through a dedicated Support Hub, which opens on 1 June.

The hub will provide specialist, trauma-informed support for anyone affected by a terrorist incident, ensuring victims can access the help they need at any stage of their recovery.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said:

For too long, victims and survivors of terrorism have had to navigate complicated and fragmented support services. I am pleased to say that ends today with the launch of our new Support Hub.

It will offer a simpler, more joined-up approach for those rebuilding their lives after an attack – providing a single point of contact for timely emotional and practical support, dedicated caseworkers and personalised support plans.

Delivered in partnership, Victim Support will work with the Peace Collective and West London NHS Trust to bring together leading expertise into one coordinated service.

Together, they will combine clinical expertise and practical assistance to deliver a coordinated service tailored to the needs of victims and survivors – bringing dedicated caseworkers, personalised support and specialist provision for children and young people together into one place.

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at Victim Support, said:  

The horror of experiencing a terror attack is far-reaching and can have a devastating impact on victims, survivors and their families. The road to recovery can be a long and complicated one. Being able to access the right help at the right time can make a huge difference.    

We are proud to be working in partnership to deliver specialist trauma-informed support services – including immediate emotional reassurance, practical help, specialist psychological support, and longer-term recovery assistance – to anyone who needs it.

Delivering on a government commitment, the new Support Hub will operate 24/7 and will assign each victim and survivor a single point of contact for tailored, trauma-informed support.

Victims and survivors can access the Support Hub via the website or by phone, ensuring support is available quickly and simply when it is needed.

Dedicated caseworkers will coordinate services and build personalised support plans, with specially trained caseworkers involved to work with children and young people.

Where needed, the hub will also provide specialist mental health assessments and psychological support via the National Psychology Service for Victims and Survivors of Terror at West London NHS Trust.

Cheryl Stollery, wife of the late John Stollery – Sousse, Tunisia, said:

Since surviving the Sousse, Tunisia terrorist attack on 26 June 2015, in which my husband John was killed, I have lived with the profound trauma, grief and challenges it brought to my family. Learning to survive such an attack is beyond belief; the aftermath is different for everyone and often too complex to manage alone, especially where incidents occur overseas.

Since 2015, I have campaigned for improved, centralised support and championed the survivor voice. Today, I welcome the new victim and survivors Support Hub, which will provide tailored support, clear guidance and renewed hope for those affected.

Travis Frain OBE, survivor of the Westminster Bridge attack, said:

Following a terrorist attack, one of the hardest challenges for many victims is navigating how to access support. From medical care to compensation and the legal system, there is no clear structure and victims are passed from pillar to post whilst their condition worsens, and society moves on.

Terrorism seeks to shatter our confidence in the government’s ability to keep us safe, and if we don’t properly support those affected, we risk doing the terrorists’ job for them. The Support Hub is an important step forward, and we stand ready to support, and – where required – scrutinise its work.

William Roberts – Victims and Survivors Service Manager, Peace Collective, said:

We are very proud to be part of this new partnership with Victim Support and West London NHS Trust. We know that people will need different kinds of support at different points in their lives, and often many years after their experience. The Support Hub is an important step in making support more coordinated, accessible and responsive to those changing needs over time.

West London NHS Trust Chief Executive, Maria O’Brien, said: 

It’s vital that victims and survivors of terrorist attacks get the support they need and the launch of this pioneering Support Hub makes that a reality.  

West London NHS Trust has a strong track record of providing specialist mental health support to those managing the long-term impact of a terrorist attack and other major incidents in London, and we’re proud to bring this expertise nationally so that more people get the help they deserve.

Tom Clementi, Pool Re CEO, said:

We know only too well that terrorism has devastating consequences, affecting not only the victims but also disrupting and undermining confidence within the wider community and across the UK.

As a country we must be prepared should there be an incident, and that means being primed to support those impacted in its aftermath. Pool Re is proud to be part of this launch, which will provide the crucial care to those who need it most.

The launch of the Support Hub comes just over 2 months out from the nation coming together on 21 August to mark the UK’s very first national day for victims and survivors of terrorism.

The day will honour those whose lives have been tragically cut short as a result of terrorism and recognise those whose lives have been forever changed. It will provide an opportunity for remembrance, reflection and a moment of solidarity across the country.

Victims, survivors and all members of the public are encouraged to observe the national day in a way which is meaningful to them. This may be in their homes, with loved ones, or together in their local communities.

The Home Office will host a hybrid inaugural event to mark the first national day.

The event will be an intimate commemoration, bringing together a small cross‑section of the victim and survivor community, alongside government representatives.

Invitations are being issued for the event in central London, with a livestream of the commemoration available to anyone wishing to participate. Further details will be shared in due course.

The delivery of the new Support Hub and national day for victims and survivors of terrorism follows campaigning from victims and survivors for better recognition and the government’s commitment to improve support available to them – ensuring their voices are heard and that they receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 May 2026.

Knife robberies have fallen by 21% as government action takes effect.

Knife robberies have fallen sharply in major cities thanks to joint government and police action to tackle one of the most harmful forms of violence and make communities safe.

New Home Office data shows that robberies involving a knife in the 7 highest volume areas are now more than a fifth lower (21%) than they were in June 2024. Offences fell from 15,918 in summer 2024 to 12,633 by March 2026, meaning thousands fewer people experiencing the fear and financial impact of this violent crime.

The continuing fall follows a period when knife robberies were rising. Since 2024, the new focused national leadership and close partnership with policing have turned the tide. The results, published at the start of Knife Crime Awareness Week, demonstrate the impact of innovation, collaboration and focusing on proven-to work tactics, that has come out of the Home Office‑led Knife‑Enabled Robbery Group.

The group, set up in October 2024, brings together the Metropolitan, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset and British Transport police forces to work together on tackling the issue. It has helped forces make better use of intelligence and analysis to spot crime patterns early, strengthen investigations by improving how technology such as CCTV is used to identify suspects and build stronger cases. It has also tightened offender management by targeting repeat and high‑harm offenders in hotspot areas and keeping closer grip on performance and outcomes.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:

These results show what can be achieved when we bring a clear focus and relentless grip to tackling knife crime, working hand in hand with the police and our frontline and grassroots partners.

I know knife robbery has a devastating impact on victims and communities, so sustained reductions like this matter because they mean fewer people at risk of harm. 

I am determined to build on this progress as part of this government’s mission to halve knife crime, combining tough enforcement with early intervention and prevention to protect young people and keep communities safe.

Every police force involved has recorded sustained reductions. The largest percentage falls were seen in West Midlands Police and British Transport Police, both down by 39%, alongside a 17% reduction in the Metropolitan Police. Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset and South Yorkshire have also seen decreases, ranging from 10% to 21%.

As part of their ongoing efforts, Greater Manchester Police this month launched its new City of Manchester robbery team with dedicated officers targeting knife robberies and offenders in the heart of the city. Part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, officers will provide a visible deterrent, proactively targeting offenders and offences when they occur.

Force lead for robbery at Greater Manchester Police, Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley said:

Knife-enabled robbery is a crime that causes untold and lasting harm to its victims. In addition to the impact on the victims themselves these offences often happen in open and public spaces, and so affect feelings of safety in the local community.

Within GMP, we are committed to the role of effective neighbourhood policing in providing public reassurance, preventing these offences and responding efficiently when they do.

As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee the force has invested in the creation of a new City of Manchester robbery team who will be tackling all aspects of robbery, including knife-enabled robbery. These frontline officers will provide a visible deterrent, proactively target offenders and when offences do occur, they will provide a best standard of initial investigation to maximise opportunities to bring offenders to justice.

We are proud to support the government’s ambition to reduce knife-enabled robbery and to be part to the Home Office taskforce set up to achieve this goal. Through the taskforce we are able to increase knowledge, share best practice and test new ideas to keep our communities safe.

The reductions are part of a wider and sustained downward trend in knife crime. Recent figures show a 27% fall in knife‑related homicides, alongside an overall reduction in knife crime in England and Wales. 63,611 knives have also been removed from the streets through police seizures, surrender schemes and border interventions. Together, these indicators show real progress in reducing the most serious harm and keeping communities safer.

This targeted action is one example of the government’s broader response to knife crime. The latest results and the week of intensified police activity follow the publication of ‘protecting lives, building hope: a plan to halve knife crime’, which brings together action across government, policing and local partners to drive progress and end the cycle of knife crime. The plan sets out a long‑term approach combining tough enforcement with prevention, early intervention and community‑led solutions, as part of the government’s mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.

Knife Crime Awareness Week is a national week of action and engagement led by organisations including the Ben Kinsella Trust. The week shines a spotlight on the devastating impact of knife crime, while highlighting the action being taken across government, policing and communities to prevent violence, protect young people and save lives.

Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said:

These figures show that coordinated national leadership from the government, and targeted policing, are making a tangible difference, with thousands fewer knife robberies than just 2 years ago. It’s important to recognise that behind every reduction is a life spared the fear, harm or long-lasting impact of violence.

However, Knife Crime Awareness Week highlights that real, lasting change depends on all of us. We cannot rely on enforcement alone; we must continue to prioritise prevention, work closely with young people, and ensure they feel supported, informed and empowered to make safe decisions long before they ever feel pressure to carry a knife.

The week also sees a wave of activity across England and Wales for Operation Sceptre, with intensified action from forces up and down the country to tackle knife crime by taking dangerous weapons off the streets and preventing violence before it happens. Led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the week will see forces carry out targeted enforcement alongside community engagement, including weapons sweeps, test-purchase operations to stop illegal knife sales, knife surrender activity and work in schools and neighbourhoods.

Commander Stephen Clayman, NPCC lead for knife crime and Head of the National Knife Crime Centre, said:

The impact of knife crime on individuals, families and communities is truly devastating and long lasting.

While the causes and drivers of knife crime are complex, early intervention and putting in place measures to tackle the root causes are essential and this is a key focus of our work in the newly launched National Knife Crime Centre.

Reducing knife crime remains a priority and policing plays a pivotal role in enforcement activity, but we can’t do it alone. By working together with our partners and supporting communities we know that we can be more effective, responsive and take steps to prevent young people carrying knives.

Officers and staff work tirelessly every day to tackle knife crime and this week, Sceptre highlights the many activities policing undertakes to keep our communities safe.

Delivering on its plan, and building on these results, the Home Office will continue to work closely with policing partners to build on this progress, expand what works and keep the pressure on knife crime – driving down violence now, while building a safer future for the next generation.

Pooja Kanda, founder of Justice for Ronan Kanda, and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said:

It is encouraging to see knife-enabled robberies down by 21% across key hotspot areas, and over 63,000 knives removed from our streets since July 2024. We must remember that behind every statistic is a real child, a real family and a community affected by violence. These reductions show that working in partnership together, targeted policing and stronger prevention measures can make a real difference when action is sustained and coordinated.

Knife Crime Awareness Week is not only about recognising progress, but about maintaining momentum. Through stronger laws such as Ronan’s Law, better education, earlier intervention and continued accountability around how weapons are sold, we can help protect future generations. The recent reduction in knife-related homicides is positive, but one young life lost is still one too many, and we must continue working together to build safer communities and lasting change.