Tag: Home Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 10 April 2024.

Assaulting a retail worker to be made a standalone criminal offence.

To the shoplifters and those abusing shopworkers, enough is enough.

Serial or abusive shoplifters will face tougher punishments as the Prime Minister sets out tough new action to crack down on retail crime and protect UK highstreets.

Assaulting a retail worker will be made a standalone criminal offence, sending a clear message that there will be tough consequences for this unacceptable behaviour.

Perpetrators could be sent to prison for up to 6 months, receive an unlimited fine and be banned from going back to the shop where they committed their crimes, with criminal behaviour orders barring them visiting specific premises. Breaching an order is also a criminal offence and carries a 5-year maximum prison sentence. For the most serious cases of assault, such as causing grievous bodily harm with intent, offenders could face a life sentence.

The move to create the new offence follows longstanding campaigning on this issue from Matt Vickers MP, and some of the biggest retailers, calling for more action to better protect their staff.

The government is also stepping up action to clamp down on offenders who repeatedly target the country’s high streets, with serial offenders forced to wear tags to track their movements.

These tags will be a constant and physical reminder to offenders that the Probation Service can find out where they have been and when, and that they risk being sent to prison if they refuse to obey the rules. Under an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, if an offender is found guilty of assaulting staff 3 times, or is sentenced for shoplifting on 3 separate occasions, they should be made to wear a tag as part of any community order.

Ahead of this legislation coming in, the government will partner with a police force to pilot a bespoke package of community sentencing measures which can be used by judges to tackle high levels of shoplifting, sending a clear message that repeat criminality will not be tolerated.

The government is also ramping up the use of facial recognition technology to help catch perpetrators and prevent shoplifting in the first place. Backed by a £55.5 million investment over the next 4 years, the police will be able to further roll this new state of the art technology. This will include £4 million for bespoke mobile units that can be deployed to high streets across the country with live facial recognition used in crowded areas to identify people wanted by the police – including repeat shoplifters.

The mobile units will take live footage of crowds in towns and on high streets, comparing images to specific people wanted by the police or banned from that location. Police in the area will then be alerted so they can track down these offenders.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Since 2010, violent and neighbourhood crime in England and Wales has fallen dramatically, showing our plan to keep our streets safe is working. Yet shoplifting and violence and abuse towards retail workers continues to rise.

I am sending a message to those criminals – whether they are serious organised criminal gangs, repeat offenders or opportunistic thieves – who think they can get away with stealing from these local businesses or abusing shopworkers, enough is enough.

Our local shops are the lifeblood of our communities, and they must be free to trade without the threat of crime or abuse.

The action set out today builds on the successes already through the police’s Retail Crime Action Plan, which was commissioned by the Crime and Policing Minister, Chris Philp last year.

This included a range of measures, such as a police commitment to prioritise urgently attending the scene of shop theft involving violence against a shopworker, where security guards have detained an offender or where attendance is needed to secure evidence, which is showing signs of progress.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

There is quite simply no excuse for threatening behaviour or stealing – which can run other people’s livelihoods into the ground, while being traumatic for workers.

To turn a blind eye to retail crime shakes the foundations of law and order which protect our society and that is unacceptable. We are enhancing our plan and doubling down on the zero-tolerance approach needed to fight back.

The number of offenders being charged for these crimes is increasing and while I want to see more people face consequences for their actions, our plan is designed to help put a stop to these crimes happening in the first place.

The government has driven forward significant efforts to tackle retail crime in the past year, bringing together policing and business to commit to smarter, more joined -up working to reduce criminal behaviour and rebuild public confidence in the police response when it does occur.

Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philp said:

Sadly if you speak to anyone working in retail, they will tell you of the verbal abuse and sometimes violent assaults they’ve been victims of, simply for trying to do their job.

In no other work place would this be accepted. I have been driving forward action to improve the police response to retail crime since I became Policing Minister, because nothing less than a zero-tolerance approach will do.

That’s why today we’re sending a clear message to criminals that enough is enough bringing forward further measures to protect retail workers and crack down on those who continuously disregard the law.

A specialist new police team set up last year is building intelligence on organised retail crime gangs funded through ‘Pegasus’, a first-of-its-kind business and policing partnership backed by 14 of the UK’s biggest retailers, National Business Crime Solutions and the Home Office, launched to radically improve the way retailers are able to share intelligence with police to identify more offenders. The unit forms part of Opal, the national police intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime.

Where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police are committed to running this through the Police National Database, as standard, to aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals. This builds on the pledge by police forces across England and Wales that they will follow up on all lines of enquiry, where there is a reasonable chance it could lead them to catching a perpetrator and solving a crime.

All police forces across England and Wales made another significant commitment last year to prioritise police attendance at the scene of a retail crime incident where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, or where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel.

Paul Gerrard, Campaigns and Public Affairs Director of The Co-op Group, said:

The Co-op sees every day the violence and threats our colleagues, like other retail workers, face as they serve the communities they live in.

We have long called for a standalone offence of attacking or abusing a shopworker and so we very much welcome the government’s announcement today.

The Co-op will redouble our work with police forces but these measures will undoubtedly, when implemented, keep our shopworkers safer, protect the shops they work in and help the communities both serve.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

After relentless campaigning for a specific offence for assaulting retail workers, the voices of the 3 million people working in retail are finally being heard.

The impact of retail violence has steadily worsened, with people facing racial abuse, sexual harassment, threatening behaviour, physical assault and threats with weapons, often linked to organised crime. Victims are ordinary hardworking people – teenagers taking on their first job, carers looking for part-time work, parents working around childcare.

This announcement sends a clear message that abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and it is vital the police use this new legislation to step up their response to incidents. Together, we must stamp out this scourge in crime that has been sweeping the nation and ensure retail workers are given the vital protections they deserve.

Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said:

Retail crime is never victimless – it costs retailers over £1 billion every year and can have a huge impact on the shopworkers involved.

We’ve long called for violence towards retail workers to be recognised as a standalone offence so welcome this announcement, which sends a clear message that abuse will never be tolerated. It will help deter acts of aggression, and allow police to drive prosecutions should instances escalate.

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s CEO, said:

There is nothing more important to us than keeping our colleagues and customers safe.

Alongside our own security measures like colleague-worn cameras, in-store detectives and security barriers, today’s announcement is a vital next step in enabling our police forces to clamp down further.

We fully endorse and support this legislative focus and action on driving down retail crime.

Seb James, Managing Director, Boots UK and Ireland, said:

We welcome the measures announced by the government today.

Intimidation and abuse of retail workers is unacceptable, so legislation to strengthen shopworker protection sends a powerful signal and deterrent and we look forward to working with the Home Office, police, and local community partners to put these plans into action.

At Boots, we also continue to invest in our own capability to disrupt and deter criminal activity and protect our team members, including in our CCTV monitoring centre and body-worn video cameras.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 March 2024.

The Home Secretary has secured a new agreement with world leaders to tackle fraud.

All G7 and Five Eyes nations, as well as Singapore and South Korea, have agreed a communiqué which recognises fraud as an organised, transnational threat that has become one of the most prevalent global issues.

The document, released on day 1 of the world’s first Global Fraud Summit, sets out a 4-point framework to combat fraud together.

Under this framework, signatories have pledged to enhance law enforcement cooperation, improve victim support and bolster intelligence sharing.

Nations have also set out a clear requirement for collaboration with the private sector to prevent fraud.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

We’ve been clear that the global community needs to unite to fight fraud head on and this communique is a massive step forward.

The United Kingdom and our friends at this summit possess the finest law enforcement agencies in the world.

We have already reduced fraud by 13% in England and Wales. New action from the international community will help reduce that even further.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Fraud is a cruel crime that wrecks lives around the world.

This communiqué will strengthen and step up international joint working to fight fraud, showing our Fraud Strategy continues to deliver.

The communiqué recognises the impact of fraud is devastating and universal across the world, even if specific crime types may vary in different regions.

It paves the way for closer working practices between international law enforcement agencies.

Intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies will be ramped up, with operational resources also enhanced. This will help ensure a comprehensive threat picture is maintained, and that action is taken against criminals operating across borders.

Nations will also to explore ways to improve the repatriation of fraudulently acquired funds from bank accounts across jurisdictions and recover illicitly gained assets.

The use of all diplomatic levers, including sanctions and visa bans, to disrupt organised crime groups will also be further explored.

Separate to the communiqué, a new operational arrangement between the UK and the US was confirmed by the Home Secretary. That agreement was a new way of working between the NCA, FBI, United States Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations to specifically tackle call centre fraud.

The communiqué also outlines the necessity of preventing fraud.

Global citizens are spending an increasing amount of time online, which has provided fraudsters with an opportunity to target victims through digital platforms. Around 80% of fraud experienced in the UK is estimated to be cyber-enabled.

Nations have therefore made it clear that industry, including social media companies and online messaging platforms, are expected to take further action to prevent fraud. This includes an increased effort to identify and remove fraudulent posts.

The UK has led the way in this approach, with the launch of the Online Fraud Charter in November 2023. The charter sees leading tech companies committing to a series of preventative fraud measures including requiring dating sites to allow their users to opt to interact with verified people only, verifying new advertisers and swifter take down of fraudulent posts.

The summit will continue tomorrow (Tuesday), with a series of working level meetings between government officials, the private sector, law enforcement and civil society organisations.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 March 2024.

Reforms to restrict care workers from bringing family members are now in force, while care providers are required to register if they are sponsoring migrants.

New rules to radically cut net migration and tackle visa abuse are now in force as part of the government’s plan to bring down unsustainable levels of legal migration.

Care workers will now be restricted from bringing dependants, after a disproportionate 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 workers on the route last year.

Care providers in England acting as sponsors for migrants will also be required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the industry regulator for Health and Social Care – in order to crack down on worker exploitation and abuse within the sector.

It forms part of a wider package of measures, which is being implemented as soon as possible, which means a total of 300,000 people who were eligible to come to the UK last year would now not be able to do so.

Home Secretary, James Cleverly MP, said:

Care workers make an incredible contribution to our society, taking care of our loved ones in times of need. But we cannot justify inaction in the face of clear abuse, manipulation of our immigration system and unsustainable migration numbers.

It is neither right nor fair to allow this unacceptable situation to continue. We promised the British people action, and we will not rest until we have delivered on our commitment to bring numbers down substantially.

Our plan is robust but fair – protecting British workers while ensuring the very best international talent can work and study here, to add value to our society and grow the economy.

There is clear evidence that care workers have been offered visas under false pretences, travelling thousands of miles for jobs that simply don’t exist or to be paid far below the minimum wage required for their work, exploiting them while undercutting British workers.

These changes come into force as the government is set to lay rules in Parliament later this week (14 March) to prevent the continued undercutting of British workers, which includes raising the salary threshold that a skilled worker must meet in order to get a visa and removing the 20% ‘going-rate’ discount for migrant workers in shortage occupations.

Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, said:

International care workers make an invaluable contribution caring for our loved ones, but international recruitment and more immigration are not long-term solutions to our social care needs. These rules provide a more ethical and sustainable approach.

We are boosting our homegrown workforce by reforming social care careers. These include the first ever national career path for care workers and a new care qualification.

Our reforms will grow the domestic workforce and build on our success over the last year that saw more people working in social care, fewer vacancies and lower staff turnover.

The Home Secretary will also, today, commission a review of the graduate route for international students to prevent abuse, protect the integrity and quality of UK higher education, and ensure it works in the best interests of the UK.

He will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to ensure that demand for the graduate route, through which a total of 175,872 visas have been granted since it was established, is fit for purpose and focused on attracting the best and brightest to the UK.

This follows concerns raised after analysis by the MAC revealed that the number of international postgraduate students attending institutions with the lowest UCAS entry requirements has increased by over 250% between 2018 and 2022.

This follows reforms to student visas which came into force at the start of January, ending the ability of nearly all postgraduate students to bring dependants to the UK. The government expects to see a drastic fall in student dependant applications this year, with early indications already of this downward trend.

In further changes, the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) will be abolished, to be replaced with a new Immigration Salary List on 4 April. This follows a recommendation from the independent MAC, which has also advised the government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list initially.

The government has been clear that roles should only be included where they are skilled and in shortage, and that no sector should be permanently reliant on immigration. Inclusion on the list must not serve to reduce pay and undermine the recruitment of British workers.

From 4 April, the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 – a 48% increase. This will further drive down numbers, reduce pressure on public services and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers who look to recruit cheap labour from overseas. The government’s robust approach will prioritise the most talented and highly-skilled people from abroad who will add value and contribute significantly to growth of the economy, whilst encouraging employers to invest in training, upskilling, and recruiting domestic workers.

The minimum income requirement for family visas will also rise, starting at £29,000 from 11 April. By early 2025 this will be increased to £38,700, helping to ensure dependants brought to the UK are supported financially.

The government has been clear that immigration is not the long-term answer to social care needs and care providers should hire more British workers. The Department for Health and Social Care is leading a programme of work to grow and support the domestic social care workforce. This includes better training, clearer career paths and improved job prospects through a new accredited qualification.

The Department for Work and Pensions is taking decisive action in one of the biggest employment interventions in a generation through its £2.5 billion Back to Work plan, which will help 1.1 million people who are long-term unemployed or long-term sick or disabled break down barriers to work.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 March 2024.

The government has committed to providing UK Muslims with more than £117 million of protective security funding over the next 4 years.

The funding announced today (11 March) will be used to protect mosques, Muslim faith schools and other community centres.

This year the government has made up to £29.4 million available, including an uplift of £4.9 million following the events in Israel on 7 October.

This follows the Prime Minister’s pledge to provide more than £70 million over the next 4 years to the Community Security Trust to protect Jewish community sites, as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant. The funding will increase security at a range of locations across the country, including schools, synagogues and other facilities used by the Jewish community.

Funding was allocated to reflect the number of community sites used by each faith, with British Muslims making up 14 times more of England and Wales’ population than British Jews.

Concerningly, recent events in the Middle East since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict have been used by some as an excuse to stir up indefensible hatred against both faith groups.

Today’s announcement marks a package of longer-term support to provide reassurance that anti-Muslim abuse, threats or harassment or any form of hate crime will not be tolerated.

The funding will provide protective security measures to ensure the UK’s Muslim community can be, and just as importantly, can feel safe. Measures include technology such as CCTV, alarm systems and secure perimeter fencing at mosques, Muslim faith community centres, and Muslim faith schools.

This comes alongside the extension of the deadline for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, and the government continues to invite mosques and Muslim faith community centres to register for protective security measures.

The government will continue to work closely with policing and community partners to ensure the safety and security of Muslims.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Anti-Muslim hatred has absolutely no place in our society. We will not let events in the Middle East be used as an excuse to justify abuse against British Muslims.

The Prime Minister has made clear that we stand with Muslims in the UK. That is exactly why we have committed to this funding, giving reassurance and confidence to UK Muslims at a time when it is crucially needed.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

This funding demonstrates that this government stands firmly against hate crimes, abuse, threats or harassment against British Muslims.

We continue to work closely with policing and community partners to ensure the safety and security of British Muslims.

Some £31 million will also be made available to protect democratic processes and institutions in response to growing extremist threats.

The government condemns the recent rise in reported anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hatred. Ministers have made it clear they expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these appalling offences feel the full force of the law.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 March 2024.

The first Global Fraud Summit, hosted by the Home Secretary, begins in London today. Ministers from the G7, Five Eyes, Singapore and South Korea are attending.

International ministers are set to agree new action to take down fraudsters as the first ever Global Fraud Summit begins today.

Home Secretary James Cleverly will discuss the threats posed by organised crime groups, and how global law enforcement can tackle it, during a series of meetings with senior ministers and representatives from the G7, Five Eyes, Singapore and South Korea, at Lancaster House.

Ministers will explore how closer partnerships with the private sector can be used to counter criminality and reimburse victims of crime.

The need for a bolstered law enforcement response is clear, with a forthcoming Interpol threat assessment expected to show a concerning rise in fraud in all corners of the globe.

Senior leaders from the world’s biggest companies will also be in attendance, to explore further ways of collaboration with the private sector.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

This summit delivers on yet another pledge we made to the British people in our Fraud Strategy and is a clear sign of the UK’s status as a world leader.

Fraudsters have no regard for boundaries, they devastate citizens in all our countries. We will only put a stop to this scourge if we fight it head on together, and that’s precisely what we plan to do.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Fraud ruins lives. Con artists and thieves are a threat to hard-working families across the country.

The action we’ve taken has already reduced fraud by 13% in England and Wales. However, the majority of frauds originate from overseas, and many are linked to international crime groups.

That’s why we’re hosting the first ever global fraud summit. To lead the international response. And to help bring the global community into this global fight.

Fraud is a global problem, with around 70% of all offences in the UK having ties to overseas criminals, with £3 billion lost to overseas accounts last year. Reversing this trend is not possible without a united global community.

Interpol’s latest report shows fraud is often perpetrated by organised criminal groups, including human traffickers, who force people to work in scam centres which target potential victims of fraud across the world.

A key aim of the summit is to increase partnership work between law enforcement agencies, such as the National Crime Agency, the FBI, Interpol, Europol and the Japan National Police Agency. Sharing more intelligence, expertise and resources will help turn the tide against fraudsters.

Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

Changes in technology and the rapid increase in the scale and volume of organized crime has driven the creation of a range of new ways to defraud innocent people, business and even governments. Urgent action is required.

It is important that there are no safe havens for financial fraudsters to operate. We must close existing gaps and ensure information sharing between sectors and across borders is the norm, not the exception. This summit is both timely, and needed.

Attending nations will not be starting from zero.

In 2022, UK law enforcement agencies worked with international partners, including the FBI, and Europol, to take down an online service known as iSpoof. The website was used to make more than 10 million fraudulent phone calls. Its administrator was jailed for more than 13 years.

The UK, United States and Canada also issued a joint sanctions package against human rights abusers who were forcing trafficked people to work at scam farms in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, in December 2023.

Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Crime Agency, said:

Over 70% of fraud has an international element, and it is clear that we need an efficient and effective joint response with partners across the globe.

The Global Fraud Summit is an important step forward, bringing together colleagues from the public and private sectors to tackle this persistent and pervasive threat.

It is a priority for the National Crime Agency to reduce the harm that fraud causes, and it is events like this that will help us make an impact at scale.

Temporary Commissioner Peter O’Doherty, from the City of London Police, said:

Fraud is a global threat, requiring a global response from senior leaders from around the world, including law enforcement agencies and industry partners, working together to effectively tackle the ever-growing threat to all our populations.

As the national lead force for fraud in the UK, we work in partnership with international law enforcement agencies to pursue those who seek to defraud the public.  Fraudsters don’t recognise international boundaries and nor should we. This summit is an important opportunity to further build our overseas partnerships.

Industry collaboration to prevent fraud will also be a key focus, which is why senior figures from the world’s biggest companies will also be in attendance. This provides a unique opportunity for international lawmakers to engage with private sector in one place.

The summit will encourage greater collaboration between government and industry to tackle fraud.

The UK is spearheading collaboration with the private sector, as shown by the world-first Online Fraud Charter, a voluntary agreement the UK agreed with 12 leading tech companies in November 2023. It includes measures to verify sellers on peer-to-peer marketplaces, promptly remove fraudulent advertising and allow people using online dating services to only interact with people who have confirmed their identities.

Partner countries agreeing similar charters will severely hinder fraudsters, who rely upon new technologies to commit fraud.

The UK will also raise the prospect of creating a mechanism to repatriate funds that are lost overseas due to fraud.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK said:

The Global Fraud Summit will provide tech companies with the platform to build upon their existing efforts and enable better and more consistent cooperation between the private sector, government, and law enforcement in the fight against fraud and online scams.

As the nature of online fraud continues to evolve, tech companies remain committed to taking measures against online fraud, adapting their approaches to effectively counter this criminal activity and protect users.

David Postings, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said:

Fraud is a global problem and we know the devastating impact it has on people. The UK and its financial services sector are at the forefront of efforts to tackle this criminal activity.

We’re delighted to be part of the UK government’s international summit and will continue working to stop fraud from happening in the first place.

It is anticipated all attending nations will agree a communique, pledging more combined action to fight fraud.

Day 2 of the summit will consist entirely of working level meetings between the private sector, civil society and senior civil servants from across the world.

Attending overseas ministers are:

• Stephen Jones, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Australia
• Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Canada
• Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, Secretary of State for Citizenship, France
• Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior and Community, Germany
• Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of the Interior, Italy
• Yoshinobu Kusunoki, Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Japan
• Casey Costello, Minister for Customs, Seniors, New Zealand
• Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, Singapore
• Lee Sang-Min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, South Korea
• Arun G. Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, United States
• Kelli Ann Burriesci, Deputy Under Secretary for Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, Department for Homeland Security, United States

The press release issued by the Home Office on 5 March 2024.

The UK and other northern European countries discussed new commitments to disrupt the supply chain of small boats yesterday evening (Monday 4 March).

At a meeting of the Calais Group in Brussels, Home Secretary James Cleverly hosted representatives from France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, in the presence of the European Commission and its agencies. The nations discussed how best to progress joint efforts in tackling the global migration crisis.

The UK and France will lead a new customs partnership, which they have invited other Calais Group members to discuss in detail in April. This is an initiative to work with countries throughout the supply chain of small boat materials, and will build on the effective work already being done to prevent small boat launches from northern France.

Partnership countries and their customs agencies will, through the customs partnership, be able to share information more effectively to disrupt shipments of small boat materials, preventing them from making it to the English Channel.

In addition to the launch of the customs partnership, several other key points were covered by the Calais Group:

• the Home Secretary emphasised the need for strengthened measures, including operational and legislative, to ensure a more effective deterrent against the facilitation of illegal migration across Europe, focusing on the range of destinations and transit routes being used and breadth of criminal activity taking place
• a renewed commitment to step up work with social media companies to tackle online activity by people smuggling networks
• the Home Secretary also discussed the operationalisation of the new deal the UK has signed with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, to exchange information and intelligence and take on the people smuggling gangs together

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Working closely with our European neighbours is fundamental to solving the illegal migration crisis. Global problems require global solutions, and the UK is leading the conversation around the changes needed to crack down on people smugglers and break their supply chains.

The Calais Group is central to our mission, and we have already made significant progress by reducing small boat crossings by 36%. Our new customs partnership demonstrates our enduring commitment to smashing the business model of criminal gangs and stopping the boats.

Ministers welcomed the joint progress achieved since the last meeting of the Calais Group in December 2022. The number of small boats crossing the English Channel is down by 46% on last year and the number of illegal migrants arriving in the UK has fallen by 36%.

The UK also returned more than 25,000 people without the right to be here last year.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 March 2024.

Efforts to disrupt money mule activity and support exploited victims will be strengthened through a new action plan.

Efforts to disrupt money mule activity and support exploited victims will be strengthened through a 22 point action plan announced by the Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, today (1 March 2024). The plan will include a newly funded post at The Children’s Society to raise awareness of child financial exploitation and will also step-up joint working to identify complicit mules through the sharing of intelligence.

A money mule is someone who moves and hides illegally gained money on behalf of heinous criminals, including drug dealers, human traffickers and fraudsters.

Cifas estimates that there were 37,000 bank accounts which demonstrated behaviour associated with muling in 2023. Approximately £10 billion of illegal money is laundered each year in the UK, according to estimates from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Around 23% of money mules are under 21, and 65% are under 30. They are often groomed by criminal gangs, who offer them the prospect of making easy money. Once they are in the system, the gangs will then coerce them into committing further offending, including through blackmail, debt bondage and sextortion.

That is why the government is funding a new Financial Exploitation Lead at The Children’s Society who will spearhead a growing movement to educate those on the front-line, including bank employees, teachers and the police. Its work will ensure thousands of children who are at risk of being exploited by criminal gangs get the support they need.

The government is publishing new frontline guidance that will enable practitioners to recognise and respond to financial exploitation linked to money laundering so that victims, and potential victims, can get the protection and support they need.

The Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, said:

I am determined to prevent heinous criminals who exploit our children and profit from it, and it is paramount we stop this vicious cycle.

The Children’s Society’s invaluable work will protect victims who are being exploited while our wider action plan will ensure these evil criminals face the full force of the law.

Financial exploitation is a form of abuse which can have a detrimental, long-term impact. In some cases, for example, vulnerable people have had difficulty opening bank accounts and received criminal charges.

The government recognises these children as victims and, through the work of The Children’s Society, is raising awareness to help safeguard vulnerable people and ensure victims are able to rebuild their lives.

The NCA is further educating young people, parents and education professionals, which will help to raise awareness of money muling and the strategies used by criminals to recruit potential money mules. This builds on our work with the Association for Citizenship Teaching to create a comprehensive set of interactive lessons designed for secondary school pupils. Themes covered include money muling as well as phishing and social media scams.

Katie Darlington, Financial Exploitation Lead at The Childrens Society, said:

We’re working to better identify and tackle child financial exploitation, a growing harm that’s part of wider work on tackling child abuse. Such exploitation can inflict real trauma on children caught up in it and they need our help, not blame.

With expertise of frontline professionals such as teachers, youth workers and police officers alongside the knowledge of the bank sector, and most importantly by listening to children and young people themselves, our approach will make sure this work is driven by the insights and experiences of the young people most affected.

The work of The Children’s Society is one part of the 22 point money mules action plan, which will protect the public, further our understanding of the threat posed by money mules, safeguard victims, pursue criminal gangs and disrupt the flow of money.

The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), in the NCA, is already working closely with policing and the private sector, as well as those based across the continent, to crack down on money muling. In the money mules action plan, the NCA has committed to delivering a public awareness campaign on money muling, as well as to continue working with the Home Office, private sector and third sector partners on a money mules online hub, which will contain guidance, advice and support on the topic.

Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), said:

Money muling is used by organised criminals to conceal the profits of some of the most serious crimes in the UK.

At the NECC, we work tirelessly with our colleagues in policing and in the private sector, both in the UK and across Europe, to stem the flow of illicit funds.

We know that a substantial proportion of money mules are under the age of 30, and many are groomed or coerced into providing the service while at sixth form, college or university. Those involved put themselves and those around them at risk by communicating with dangerous criminals, and by becoming complicit in serious and organised crime.

We are proud to be working with the government to prevent more young people being exploited, and raise awareness of what is a significant threat to the public.

To further enhance co-operation between operational partners in this space, the City of London Police will establish a new intelligence unit to improve the police response to money mules and laundering money gained through fraud. This new unit will target money mule herders specifically, and feed intelligence into the regional organised crime unit (ROCU).

The press release issued by the Home Office on 29 February 2024.

Jewish communities will receive dedicated security and protection thanks to the biggest financial commitment ever made by the government to tackle antisemitism.

At the Community Security Trust’s (CST) annual dinner last night (Wednesday 28th February), Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to give the organisation, which was established to protect Jewish community sites, more than £70 million over the next 4 years, as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant. The funding will increase security at a range of Jewish buildings across the country, including schools, synagogues and other facilities used by the Jewish community.

The £54 million of new funding announced today is the biggest single financial commitment any government has made to protect Jewish communities. It comes on top of the £18 million already given to CST for 2024 to 2025 and will mean the organisation’s crucial work is funded until 2028. The funding will provide protective security measures such as security guards, CCTV and alarm systems at Jewish educational sites and other Jewish community centres, as well as a number of synagogues. By guaranteeing this level of funding for the next 4 years, the government is providing Jewish communities with reassurance and certainty in the face of increased antisemitic incidents.

A recent report from CST showed the organisation recorded 4,103 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023, the highest total ever reported to CST in a single calendar year and an increase of 147% compared to 2022. The figures spiked after the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict – 1,330 of these abhorrent incidents were reported to CST in October 2023, more than the 3 previous highest monthly totals combined.

Speaking at the dinner, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

It is shocking, and wrong, the prejudice, the racism we have seen in recent months.

It is hatred, pure and simple. An assault on the Jewish people. We will fight this antisemitism with everything we’ve got.

As Prime Minister I will lead this government in a long-term effort to strengthen your security, defend our liberal democratic values and change our culture so we tackle the root causes of this hatred.

We know CST is going to be needed for many years to come. So tonight, I am changing the way CST is funded to help you plan for the long-term… with the biggest financial commitment that any government has ever made.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

The rise in antisemitic hatred and abuse we have seen in the UK in recent months is absolutely sickening.

It is crucial that Jewish adults and children are free to go about their daily lives without fear of intimidation, abuse or harm – and importantly, feel safe to do so.

Committing this largest ever funding for security to protect Jewish communities will give people the certainty and confidence they will be kept safer for the foreseeable future. We are also working with the police to ensure that hate crime and expressions of support for the terrorist organisation Hamas are met with the full force of the law.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Since the October 7 attacks, we’ve seen a shameful rise in antisemitism across the world, including in the UK.

We won’t hesitate to take action to keep British Jews safe. That’s why today’s package of support is the largest ever made by the government to tackle antisemitism, and to ensure their protection and safety.

The government remains committed to ensuring abhorrent hate offences are stamped out – which is why we have a robust legislative framework to tackle hate crime wherever it is found.

The government provided an additional £3 million for the Community Security Trust to provide additional security in October 2023, raising the funding to £18 million a year.

The additional £3 million has been used to offer additional support to more than 480 existing or new Jewish community locations, including schools and synagogues.

Nearly 200 schools and more than 250 synagogues have been able to hire more security guards, or increase the number of guarding hours from existing security guards.

This announcement follows today’s confirmation that £31 million will be made available to protect democratic processes and institutions in response to growing threats.

The government also condemns the recent rise in reported anti-Muslim hatred. We expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these appalling offences feel the full force of the law.

An additional £4.9 million was also made available in October for protective security at mosques and Muslim faith schools. This brought total funding for 2023 to 2024 to £29.4 million, which the government confirmed will also be maintained in 2024 to 2025.

The new Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides physical security measures, such as CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing, to mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. Protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 February 2024.

£31 million of new funding to protect democratic processes and enhance security measures for elected representatives.

The investment will be used to enhance police capabilities, increase private sector security provisions for those facing a higher risk, and expand cyber security advice to locally elected representatives.

It will also ensure all elected representatives and candidates have a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters, significantly expanding the support provided under current policing arrangements.

Home Secretary James Cleverly will hold a roundtable with police chiefs today (Wednesday 28 February) to discuss what more can be done to better ensure the safety and security of elected representatives and protect democratic processes from intimidation, disruption or subversion.

The government recognises the importance of upholding the UK’s democratic processes following the impact of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and in advance of a general election.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

The government will take every possible step to safeguard the people, processes and institutions upon which our democracy relies.

I take the safety and security of all members of the House with the utmost seriousness. None of us should have to accept that enduring hate crimes, harassment, or threats is part of the job.

I will continue to work closely with my police counterparts to provide elected representatives with the support they need.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen disgraceful attempts to intimidate MPs and undermine our democratic processes.

That behaviour is a threat to our democracy, and toxic for our society.

We will do whatever is necessary to protect those who’ve been elected to represent their local communities, and to defend our democratic freedoms.

As part of the additional funding announced today, a new communities fund will be established to support the deployment of additional police patrols each week in England and Wales, in response to increased community tensions.

Local police forces will be able to draw upon the fund to surge policing presence in local areas in response to specific events. This will increase support available to vulnerable communities, bolstering police visibility, and increasing public confidence.

The UK’s protective security system has undergone significant reform in recent years, most notably following the murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, with the latter resulting in the MP security review.

Improvements made under the review include the delivery of enhanced security advice and training, substantive improvements to existing security measures at members’ homes and offices, and the delivery of new security measures including the deployment of additional private sector delivered protective security.

Parliament, police, and the Home Office will continue to improve, adapt, and deliver security and risk reduction measures, as MPs and elected representatives’ requirements develop.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 February 2024.

Several members of a suspected people smuggling ring have been arrested in a series of raids after allegedly attempting to traffic migrants through UK airports.

Two suspects, both Albanian nationals, were arrested yesterday morning (27 February) as Immigration Enforcement teams carried out a series of raids in Finsbury Park, London.

They are believed to be part of a network using fake travel documents and airline tickets to book 27 Albanian migrants onto UK-bound flights, instructing them to claim asylum using their passports on arrival. The arrests led to the discovery of Class A drugs, and one of the men was later arrested on suspicion of drugs supply.

Seven suspected members of the same criminal network were arrested last month after warrants were executed at 3 addresses in Finsbury Park.

It follows a complex, rapid investigation carried out by the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations team with support from Border Force and local police forces.

Officers found evidence of fake UK biometric residence permit documents and airline tickets issued by the suspects to migrants attempting to reach the UK illegally.

The group are believed to have booked migrants onto 11 flights arriving into UK airports.

The men arrested yesterday morning were identified after investigating officers connected their booking details with migrants arriving on flights illegally between July 2022 and January 2023.

Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson, said:

People smuggling networks will stop at nothing in their efforts to abuse our borders and our laws. They are putting lives at risk.

It is vital we stay ahead of the criminal gangs behind these crimes, and I thank our officers whose hard work led to the success of this operation.

Criminal and Financial Investigator at the Home Office, Richard Darwesh, said:

Today’s arrests are an important step towards bringing down this people smuggling network and ensuring its members are detained, brought to justice and swiftly removed from the UK.

Our message is clear – if you put lives at risk, we will ensure you face the full weight of the law.

All of the arrested suspects have been bailed pending further investigation.

The activity comes as the UK steps up cooperation with Albania to speed up the removal of those with no right to be here.

A new joint taskforce has been established to strengthen cooperation, including exchanges of law enforcement personnel between the UK and Albania.

Since 1 July 2021, more than 8,000 Albanian nationals who have committed criminal and immigration offences have been returned, and small boat arrivals from Albania were down 90% in 2023.