Tag: Home Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 December 2023.

Information about claiming compensation if you were a victim of the terrorist attack in Paris France on 2 December 2022.

The terrorist attack in Paris, France on 2 December 2022 has been designated as an act of terrorism by The Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Applications can be made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) under the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme 2012 (VOTCS) by those victims injured, or the families of those killed, in the attack. You can get more information in CICA’s guide to the VOTCS.

You do not need a paid representative, such as a solicitor or claims management company, to apply for compensation.

Free independent advice may be available from Victim Support or other charitable organisations. You can get support as a victim of terrorism on GOV.UK

The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 December 2023.

Government to consult on transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to West Midlands and South Yorkshire Mayors.

Plans to transfer the oversight of the local police force in the West Midlands and South Yorkshire from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Mayor will be consulted on, the Home Office has announced this week.

As part of the plans to give these locally elected Mayors a greater overview of the police, the public can expect greater collaboration across public services, helping to cut crime and keep our communities safe.

This is already the case in London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Last week, the government announced that overall police funding available to forces in England and Wales will increase by up to £922.2 million next year, should PCCs choose to take full advantage of police precept flexibility. This will help to support frontline policing in their area and maintain the officer numbers.

Under the settlement, West Midlands Police would receive up to £789.4m, a 6.8% increase in cash terms compared to last year. South Yorkshire Police would receive up to £355.1m, a 6.1% increase in cash terms compared to last year.

Earlier this year, the government met its commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers, meaning there are now more officers in England and Wales than ever before. West Midlands Police have recruited an additional 1,376 officers through the police uplift programme, whilst South Yorkshire Police have recruited an additional 519 officers.

The consultations on the proposed transfer of Police & Crime Commissioner functions to the West Midlands and South Yorkshire Mayors were launched this week (Wednesday 20 December) and will run for 6 weeks to allow the public to share their views on the proposals.

The government will carefully consider the responses received before deciding whether to introduce legislation to enact the change.

Any changes will be effective following the mayoral elections in May 2024.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 21 December 2023.

Border Force seized almost one million items of counterfeit goods worth nearly £200 million in 2023, with fake electricals targeted in the run-up to Christmas.

An intensive Border Force operation to tackle counterfeit electrical goods in the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas led to more than £170,000 worth of seizures.

Operation Rivean, a concerted Border Force operation targeting electrical counterfeit products, ran for 3 weeks from 20 November 2023 and targeted counterfeit electrical being shipped into the UK as Christmas gifts.

The operation saw Border Force officers seize 250 counterfeit Dyson-branded haircare products, which would have a retail value worth more than £98,000 were they genuine.

Officers also seized 120 GHD-branded counterfeit hair styling tools, valued at £31,980, as well as 640 non-branded hair straighteners that were found to be a safety risk as they did not meet health and safety laws and standards.

Furthermore, 8,880 counterfeit Oral B and Philips Sonicare branded electronic toothbrush heads were also seized, worth over £42,000.

Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery, said:

We are determined to crack down on the illegal trade of counterfeit goods and the criminals that drive it.

Counterfeit goods fund serious crime, endanger customers, harm legitimate businesses and contribute to the loss of tens of thousands of British jobs every year.

Our Border Force officers have been working relentlessly to seize dangerous electrical counterfeit products, and I urge the public to buy genuine products for Christmas this year.

According to the Intellectual Property Office, an estimated 98% of counterfeit electrical goods fail product safety tests, meaning they can damage other possessions, pose a fire safety risk, as well as cause injury to the consumer and their family.

Among the products seized were 250 counterfeit Dyson-branded products, which included fake Supersonic hairdryers, as well as counterfeit copies of the Airwrap multi-styler, a hair styling tool.

Giles Lane, Senior IP Legal Counsel at Dyson, said:

We welcome UK Border Force’s continued efforts to protect consumers and our owners during this busy time of year. Consumers should be alert to the dangers of counterfeit products – particularly in the holiday season, when counterfeiters capitalise on shoppers looking to secure a deal on their gifts.

Genuine Dyson machines are the product of years of diligent research, development, and engineering. They contain the technology we are known for and are manufactured to our exacting quality, safety, and durability standards. Counterfeiters cut corners and make unsafe goods that put people at risk.

Shoppers looking to purchase the latest Dyson products are advised to buy directly from Dyson – via our website, Dyson Demo stores or trusted retailers.

Operation Rivean forms just part of Border Force’s continued determination to seize counterfeit products all year round. So far this year, there have been over 2,000 separate seizures, with almost one million counterfeit goods removed from the marketplace, which would have had a value of just under £200 million were they legitimate products.

Last week, counterfeit Apple, Samsung and PlayStation products with a retail value of over £500,000 were seized at Felixstowe Port.

Miles Rees, Deputy Directory of IP Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, said:

The sale of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime. It has been estimated to contribute to over 80,000 job losses a year in the UK, diverting funds away from legitimate traders and into the hands of criminals.

We are pleased to support the activity by UK Border Force to help disrupt the supply of such illicit goods and protect the public. As well as being linked to serious and organised criminality on a global scale, the trade in these goods presents real dangers for those using them, as they are not subject to the usual safety checks and very often are made to an extremely poor quality.

We continue to work with our partners to highlight the harms to the public, communities and our economy of buying counterfeits, empowering consumers to make informed choices and sending a clear message to the criminals who trade in such goods that this activity will not be tolerated.

Once items are detained, Border Force’s specialist international trade teams work with the owners of brands to establish whether goods are genuine. If they are fake, the goods are usually destroyed, and the rights holders must decide whether to privately prosecute the importers.

Those involved in the production of counterfeit goods are highly unlikely to follow health and safety laws – both in manufacturing the counterfeit goods, and also for individuals likely to be being exploited during their production.

Criminals stop at nothing to increase their profit margins, often at the expense of consumers, the environment, legitimate businesses and our economy – and even those working for them, who may often be doing so against their will.

Consumers who believe they have purchased counterfeit goods are advised to contact Action Fraud.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report smuggling on GOV.UK.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 18 December 2023.

Language in legislation is set to be updated to reflect the modern day crime.

Spiking will be targeted by police and door staff in a raft of new measures unveiled today (Monday 18 December) by the Home Secretary James Cleverly as the festive party-going season gets into full swing.

The new package will see changes to the legislation, research into self-testing kits, more training for door staff and better education for young people, to raise awareness about the threat. There will also be coordinated police action to crackdown on spiking during key weeks of the year – an approach that has proved successful in tackling other crimes, such as knife crime.

The step up to tackle spiking comes as the government prepares to clarify under the Criminal Justice Bill, that without any doubt, spiking is illegal. It will be backed with separate guidance, set in law, to provide a clear, unequivocal definition of what spiking is. This will give victims renewed confidence to come forward, increase public awareness of the crime and enforce that perpetrators will face up to 10 years behind bars.

Alongside this, the government will set out practical measures aimed at improving understanding of the crime and delivering better support to victims.

This includes:

• training hundreds more door staff to spot potential perpetrators and signs patrons have been victimised
• investing in research into spiking testing kits to help venues and police detect if someone’s drink has been spiked in real-time
• intensive operations run by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) to tackle spiking during key weeks across the 43 police forces in England and Wales
• an online spiking tool to be rolled out to all police forces to make it easier to anonymously report it if people fear they have been a victim of the crime
• updated statutory guidance to include spiking (s182 Licensing Act 2003)
• a spiking guidance/advice toolkit for the public that contains a range of resources and signposting for anyone who is looking for information on spiking, what it is, who is affected, how to report it, how to support victims, and which criminal offences can be used to prosecute it
• supporting the higher education regulator, the Office for Students, as they take action to make sure universities and other higher education institutions to prevent and address sexual misconduct – this will follow its consultation on the issue, expected to report back in early 2024

Home Secretary, James Cleverly said:

Tackling violence against women and girls is a personal priority for me and this government has shown time and again that we will do what is necessary to keep the public safe.

Spiking is a perverse crime which can have a lasting impact on victims. Our comprehensive new measures are designed to help police and staff in bars, restaurants, pubs and other premises to protect victims and bring more offenders to justice.

Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris said:

Spiking is an insidious and predatory act which is already illegal under existing laws.

We are amending legislation to make the offence explicit and capture the modern day nature of the threat.

Taken alongside new measures to improve the way the police respond to incidents, and better equipping venue staff to identify, respond and protect their customers, we are sending a clear message that perpetrators of this crime should expect to be caught and face justice.

ACC Samantha Millar, National Police Chiefs’ Council Strategic Programme Director, Violence Against Women and Girls, said:

Spiking is a complex and challenging offence to investigate. Drugs pass through the system quickly and there is often limited evidence to identify offenders. The primary barriers to prosecution are the lack of an identifiable suspect and the ability to gather timely sufficient evidence to both charge and support a prosecution.

People should be in no doubt that spiking is an abhorrent crime and the new clarity in the legislation should drive that message home.

We still believe that there is underreporting of spiking and so our message remains to encourage victims to report to police. We have developed a new online reporting method so that victims are able to quickly tell us if they think they’ve been spiked, and we are also working up plans for all forces to heavily focus their efforts on spiking as part of their neighbourhood work. We also face challenges in identifying suspects promptly so we welcome focus in this area by partners including those who work in the night-time economy.

Dawn Dines, CEO and Founder of Stand Out Spiking Global, said:

This is a monumental announcement. I have been campaigning on behalf of the victims of Spiking for over 20 years now. I am so relieved that finally some sort of justice will be available to the survivors of this cowardly offence.

Spiking being clearly recognised in law and the language being modernised will give a clear message to the perpetrators that giving someone any drug – including alcohol without that person’s knowledge or consent – can result in a criminal conviction and not be tolerated.

Spiking will finally not be an invisible crime.

Sharon Gaffka, Violence Against Women and Girls Activist and Drink Spiking Campaigner:

As a campaigner for the past few years who has been dedicated to combating spiking, I applaud the government’s comprehensive approach unveiled today.

While urging legislative updates has been my primary request for some time, the introduction and investment in preventive measures like venue staff training and drink testing kits is crucial. This commitment sends a clear message: spiking is an abhorrent crime that will be met with increased scrutiny and consequences.

It’s a positive stride in the safeguarding of our communities during the festive season and beyond. I look forward to what further progress is made in 2024.

Tackling spiking is just one way the government is prioritising protecting women and girls from violence and abuse.

The Chancellor unveiled £12 million of new funding to tackle domestic abuse in the Autumn Statement last month including £2 million of funding for payments directly to victims to help them leave abusive relationships and rebuild their lives.

All police forces across England and Wales are now following a new approach for the investigation of rape, funded by the Home Office, with police referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service for adult rape offences already up more than 200% since 2019. Under the new model, police and prosecutors can access better support and 2,000 police investigators will be specially trained in sexual offences by April 2024.

Earlier this year, the government added violence against women and girls to the Strategic Policing Requirement – meaning it is now categorised as a national threat for forces to respond to, alongside other serious threats like terrorism.

In November 2023, the third phase of the government’s innovative ‘Enough’ communications campaign that looks to change long-term behaviours and attitudes towards violence against women and girls, launched a third phase of activity, which included partnering with over 30 UK universities in a bid to protect women and girls on university campuses.

The Home Office also funds “perpetrator intervention” projects which aim to stop domestic abusers and stalkers from repeatedly targeting victims and terrorising vulnerable people.

The government has also created new offences to criminalise acts such as non-fatal strangulation, stalking, cyberflashing and the sharing of intimate images without consent.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 13 December 2023.

A new strategy has been launched to tackle the domestic and international threat of serious and organised crime.

A new strategy aimed at tackling the growing threat of serious and organised crime has been announced by the Home Secretary as the government steps up action to clamp down on criminal gangs operating in and against the UK.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimate that there are at least 59,000 people in the UK involved in serious and organised crime and that it costs the UK at least £47 billion each year, equating to the cost of building around 450 new hospitals or supplying around 730,000 more affordable homes outside of London.

The new strategy, which builds on the work already underway by government and law enforcement, sets out further action to eradicate complex criminal networks, including through the NCA, which received record investment in 2023/24. It also empowers local forces to tackle these illicit crimes in their communities and sets out work overseas to prevent exploitation, such as modern slavery and human trafficking.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Serious and organised crime threatens our national security and prosperity, degrades society and causes serious harm to individuals and businesses up and down the country.

Through investment in innovative and cutting-edge policing capabilities and tactics, collaboration with international partners, as well as creating new criminal offences, we will disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups and those who enable them.

Through the strategy, the government will strengthen local communities’ resilience to serious and organised crime, ensuring once a gang has been dismantled, the area does not become the target for another group to take its place.

By rolling out the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ policing tactic to every police force in England and Wales by next spring, police and local partners will be empowered to ‘clear’ their communities of these gangs, prevent criminals from exploiting the vacuum created by the initial disruption in the ‘hold’ phase, and tackle the local drivers of crime. This will stop further serious and organised crime becoming re-established in the future,  ‘building’ a safer community for the next generation.

This approach is already in operation in 18 forces across 31 sites to date. In Easington Lane, on the outskirts of Sunderland, there has been a 45% reduction in anti-social behaviour since January 2022 and in Barnet, the Metropolitan Police Service arrested 160 individuals for 272 offences, including murder, aggravated burglary and kidnap, in the first 2 months of the programme.

The government is also bringing in new powers in the Criminal Justice Bill to ensure the police have the tools they need to disrupt serious and organised crime. This includes prohibiting articles used by criminal gangs, such as templates for 3D printed firearm components, pill presses and vehicle concealments, as well as banning electronic devices such as signal jammers used in vehicle theft.

The bill will also strengthen Serious Crime Prevention Orders, making it easier for police and other law enforcement agencies to place restrictions on offenders or suspected offenders and stop them from participating in further crime.

The government will also back UK police with a further £5 million to help them step up their response to organised immigration crime, including work by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit.

Noting the international nature of many criminal networks, the strategy highlights the vital work of the new Joint International Crime Centre. Launched in April 2023, this combines resources in the NCA and NPCC to respond to the growing threat from criminality that crosses international borders and impacts the UK. This involves coordinating and supporting the UK’s international law enforcement response, and hosting the UK’s National Extradition Unit, the UK’s Europol National Unit, and the INTERPOL National Central Bureau.

Today’s strategy also sets out how the government will build on these efforts to tackle exploitation overseas, including modern slavery and human trafficking, with a further £24 million allocated to the Modern Slavery Fund. Since 2016, this has supported thousands of potential victims, as well as protected survivors from further harm.

The funding will support programmes aimed at preventing exploitation, and protecting victims of modern slavery in Albania, Vietnam and Romania. This includes a project in Vietnam that provides training and employment opportunities to individuals in country who have previously been victims of modern slavery in the UK, or those vulnerable to exploitation by people traffickers.

It will also support the Modern Slavery Innovation Fund, which is building the evidence base of what works to reduce vulnerability to exploitation and prevent forced labour in UK supply chains. This funding goes directly to non-governmental organisations in more than 12 countries.

As part of wider efforts to tackle illegal immigration to the UK, which has seen small boat arrivals decrease by more than a third this year, the government has also doubled its funding for Project INVIGOR to £74.1 million for this year and next. This aims to target smugglers’ business model and relentlessly pursue people who facilitate organised immigration crime.

The strategy also sets out the government’s efforts to tackle economic crime. Through the Fraud Strategy, the government is working with industry, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement to crack down on increased prevalence of fraud as organised crime groups exploit new and emerging technologies to target the public. The Home Secretary has also authorised for the Director General of the NCA to be given the power to direct the Serious Fraud Office, in relation to matters of serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption.

The government has made notable progress on the Fraud Strategy commitments to tackle online scams by signing a world-first online fraud charter with 12 of the biggest tech companies to clamp down on online scams and fake advertisements affecting their users. Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google and others committed to bringing in a raft of measures to help protect people from fraudulent and scam content when using their sites.

Furthermore, the government is creating new laws through the Criminal Justice Bill that prohibit the possession and supply of SIM farms with no good reason and provide law enforcement with a new power to suspend domain names and IP addresses used for criminal activity including fraudulent purposes. The government will also be launching an anti-fraud communications campaign in the new year to raise public awareness on how to spot and avoid fraud.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 12 December 2023.

Thousands of products containing endangered plant and animal species have been seized by Border Force as part of an intensive international operation to target the criminal networks behind wildlife crime.

During October – as part of the month long Operation Thunder – Border Force officers made 145 seizures containing thousands of wildlife products which are banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES).

Seizures included clothes and accessories made from snakeskin and turtle shell, ivory products, as well as consumer health products containing cactus and orchid, crocodile blood and caviar.

The team also found 53 live birds across three different seizures. Border Force look to rehome any live animals found where possible.

Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery Tom Pursglove MP said:

The illegal wildlife trade is driven by criminal gangs and threatens species with extinction, fuels corruption, and deprives the world’s poorest communities of sustainable livelihoods.

Border Force plays a leading global role in eradicating this damaging illegal trade and our recent successes under Operation Thunder are proof of this.

Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy for Born Free, said:

Wildlife trafficking is serious, organised, transnational, and increasing. It is also closely tied to other forms of serious crime, such as corruption, fraud and money laundering. All too often, criminal gangs view wildlife trafficking as a low-risk high-return activity.

The work of Border Force in interrupting the trafficking of wildlife products across the UK’s borders is critical to the UK’s efforts to tackle this scourge.

With so much of the world’s wildlife in crisis, it’s vital that our enforcement agencies are properly resourced to enable this essential and highly specialised work to continue.

Wildlife crime is estimated to be worth up to £17 billion globally per year, and is the fourth largest international crime according to Interpol, behind only arms, drugs and human trafficking.

Operation Thunder is a global effort to target the illegal wildlife trade and is co-led by Interpol and the World Customs Organisation. This year saw over 133 countries participating alongside the UK, the highest global participation since the campaign launched in 2017.

Internationally, there were 2,114 seizures and some 500 arrests. Among the seizures were more than 300kg of ivory, thousands of turtle eggs, 30 tonnes of plants, dozens of big cat body parts and rhino horns, as well as primates, birds and marine species.

The UK is a global leader in supporting efforts to halt the decline in nature, protect wildlife and restore the natural world. Government work will help to deliver on the ambitious new global deal for nature agreed at the UN Nature Summit COP15 in December 2023, which will protect 30% of our land and ocean by 2030.

Through the government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, we have committed over £51 million to 157 projects to directly combat the illegal wildlife trade.

Operation Thunder 2023 ran from 2 to 27 October, leading to the seizures in the UK of:

• 53 live CITES listed birds
• 5.5kgs of ivory
• 434 live plants
• over 1,000 health supplements containing illegal plant and animal products
• 1 ceremonial headdress made with big cat fur
• vulture and falcon eggs and a lesser flamingo feather bracelet
• 5 seizures of  controlled wood products
• 26 reptile skin products including crocodile and python

Non-CITES UK seizures included:

• 285kgs of cannabis from Thailand
• 329,000 cigarettes
• 197kgs of tobacco
• 102kgs of prohibited products of animal origin

Border Force is responsible for frontline detection and seizure of items covered by the CITES convention, which tackles the illegal trade in endangered animals and plants. The Heathrow-based Border Force CITES team are specialist officers who are recognised as world leaders in their field.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling and trafficking of any kind can report it online at gov.uk: Report smuggling – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 December 2023.

Public consultation launched on the implementation of Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics.

The government has launched a public consultation on the implementation of Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics.

During passage of the Public Order Act 2023 last year, Parliament voted to introduce legislation to prohibit protests within 150 metres of an abortion clinic or hospital that provides abortion services. We anticipate commencing Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 no later than Spring 2024.

To ensure that Safe Access Zones are implemented effectively, the government has launched a consultation seeking views on the non-statutory guidance, which will be published to ensure that law enforcement agencies have a clear and consistent understanding around enforcement.

It will also provide information to abortion service providers and protesters about what is expected under the new law.

The public consultation will run for 6 weeks at which point the government will consider the responses before publishing the guidance and commencing Safe Access Zones.

Find out more about the consultation.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 December 2023.

Safety of Rwanda Bill to be introduced to Parliament tomorrow, making clear that Rwanda is a safe country where illegal migrants can be lawfully relocated.

A bill to conclusively deem Rwanda a safe country notwithstanding UK and international law and end the merry-go-round of illegal migration delay tactics by migrants, will be introduced to Parliament by Home Secretary, James Cleverly, tomorrow (7 December).

The bill is the toughest immigration legislation ever introduced to Parliament. It includes provisions to disapply relevant sections of the Human Rights Act, unambiguously exclude the courts from challenging the fact that Rwanda is safe, and confirm that ministers alone can decide whether to comply with blocking orders from Strasbourg, like the one that grounded the first Rwanda flight in 2022.

The draft of the new Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill has today been published ahead of introduction. It builds on the treaty signed yesterday by the Home Secretary and Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Vincent Biruta, and makes clear in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers – answering all of the concerns of the Supreme Court.

The legislation and treaty deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority to stop the boats and ensure that people know that if they come to the UK illegally, they will not be able to stay.

Once the bill receives Royal Assent, it will pave the way for the UK to begin next steps in processing people for relocation and starting removal flights to Rwanda. The government intends to fast-track the emergency legislation through the House as soon as possible.

Underpinned by the treaty, the law will prevent UK courts and tribunals from delaying or preventing a person’s removal to Rwanda, on the grounds that they are at risk of being removed to an unsafe country.

The bill will also make clear that the UK Parliament is sovereign, and the validity of any act of Parliament is unaffected by international law. Ministers will retain the decision on whether or not to comply with interim measures from the European Court of Human Rights.

It also makes clear the extremely limited exceptions which individuals could challenge removal to Rwanda, and the exceptions which narrow this to the maximum allowed within the law. This includes preventing UK courts and tribunals from granting interim measures, apart from when a person can produce compelling evidence – as a result of their specific personal circumstances – that would lead to them facing a real, imminent and foreseeable risk of serious and irreversible harm if removed to Rwanda. In addition, it disapplies elements of the Human Rights Act 1998, meaning they cannot be factored into court or tribunal decision making.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

I have been unequivocal that we can no longer tolerate the endless scourge of illegal migration on our country. It is costing us billions of pounds and costing innocent lives, and that is why we are taking action to put a stop to it and make clear once and for all that it is Parliament that should decide who comes to this country, not criminal gangs.

Through this new landmark emergency legislation, we will control our borders, deter people taking perilous journeys across the channel and end the continuous legal challenges filling our courts.

And we will disapply sections of the Human Rights Act from the key parts of the bill, specifically in the case of Rwanda, to ensure our plan cannot be stopped.

We have acted quickly to remedy the issues raised by the Supreme Court, proving that Rwanda is not just a safe country, but a modern, prosperous nation, and today we are ending the tactics used by people to cheat the system and betray the British people.

My message to the vicious people smugglers is clear, there is no point in ruining people’s lives any longer, if an individual comes here illegally, they will be removed.

Home Secretary James Cleverly, said:

We are taking crucial steps forward to respond to the Supreme Court’s findings, which recognised that changes could be delivered to make this landmark partnership work.

Building on our legally binding Treaty, the Safety of Rwanda Bill will make absolutely clear in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country.

This will play a key part in our efforts to stop the boats and save lives – I would urge parliament to ensure the legislation is passed as soon as possible.

Rwanda is a country that cares deeply about supporting refugees. It stands ready to welcome those relocated there.

The bill also further reflects the strength of the Government of Rwanda’s protections and commitments given to people transferred to Rwanda, as committed to in the treaty.

The principle of relocating people to another country to have their asylum claims processed is lawful – the High Court confirmed this, and it was upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, which did not disturb that finding.

Countries across Europe are following the United Kingdom’s lead in exploring third country models for illegal immigration – including Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Italy in their deal with Albania.

Rwanda currently hosts more than 135,000 people seeking safety and protection and has a track record of providing that protection and supporting people in thriving in their country. The UN Refugee Agency has its own scheme for refugees in Rwanda, which is not delivered through a legally binding treaty.

On Tuesday the Home Secretary was in Rwanda to sign the treaty with his counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vincent Biruta.

The document is binding in international law and is currently going through the Parliamentary ratification process.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 5 December 2023.

New internationally recognised treaty addresses Supreme Court findings on the safety of the Rwandan partnership.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has signed a joint treaty with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Dr Vincent Biruta, strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court.

The agreement is part of the government’s plan to ensure that illegal migrants can be lawfully relocated to Rwanda under the government’s ambition to stop the boats – ensuring that people know that if they come to the UK illegally, they cannot stay here.

Following further positive discussions between the 2 countries after the Supreme Court judgment, and building on months of work between the 2 countries, the treaty responds directly to the conclusions of the Supreme Court and presents a new long-term solution.

The landmark treaty is binding in international law and ensures that people relocated to Rwanda under the partnership are not at risk of being returned to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened – an act known as refoulement.

It also enhances the functions of the independent monitoring committee to ensure compliance with the obligations in the treaty, such as reception conditions, processing of asylum claims, and treatment and support for individuals including up to 5 years after they have received final determination of their status. The committee is made up of 8 independent members.

The monitoring committee will also develop a system which will enable relocated individuals and legal representatives to lodge confidential complaints directly to them. It will have the power to set its own priority areas for monitoring, and have unfettered access for the purposes of completing assessments and reports. It may publish reports as it sees fit on its findings.

To further bolster assurances that relocated individuals will not be returned, under the treaty, Rwanda’s asylum system will be strengthened through a new appeal body. The appeal body will consist of a Rwandan and other Commonwealth national co-president, and be composed of judges from a mixture of nationalities with asylum and humanitarian protection expertise (appointed by the co-presidents) to hear individual appeals.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

This is a crucial step forward in our commitment to stopping the boats and saving lives.

Rwanda is a safe country that cares deeply about supporting refugees. It has a strong history of providing protection to those that need it, hosting over 135,000 asylum seekers who have found sanctuary there. I am grateful to our Rwandan partners for their willingness, dedication and commitment to strengthening this partnership further.

The Supreme Court recognised that changes may be delivered which would address their conclusions – this treaty responds directly to that.

We remain steadfast in doing everything we can to stop to illegal migration, and our wider, ongoing work operationally and internationally has led to crossings coming down by a third compared to last year.

Foreign Minister Dr Vincent Biruta:

This partnership with the UK reflects Rwanda’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people, and builds on our track record of welcoming and hosting refugees and migrants from around the world.

Rwanda and the UK both understand that there’s a critical need to find innovative solutions to address the suffering of migrants making dangerous, desperate journeys, under the exploitation of criminal human smugglers.

The people relocated to Rwanda will be welcomed, and they will be provided with both the safety and support they need to build new lives.

Today’s treaty signing, negotiated by the new Home Secretary, sits alongside work with the Rwandans to strengthen their asylum processes.

Since taking up his new role, the Home Secretary has been focussed on ensuring that flights leave for Rwanda as soon as possible.

The treaty also charts a rights-based path for similar collaboration with and between other countries. Countries across Europe are now also exploring third country models for illegal immigration – including Austria, Germany, Denmark and Italy in their deal with Albania, a new and innovative model for processing asylum claims.

The agreement goes hand-in-hand with wider action to stop the boats, including under the Illegal Migration Act – the most robust our country has ever seen – and our agreements with countries including France, Albania, Turkey and Italy.

It also comes ahead of new legislation announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which will enable Parliament to confirm that, with our new treaty, Rwanda is safe.

As part of the Home Secretary’s first official visit to Rwanda, he also attended the Kigali Genocide Memorial with Minister Biruta to pay his respects and met with President Kagame and Minister Biruta to further discuss joint working.