Tag: Home Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 July 2025.

Work to restore control of Britain’s borders has seen the first of sweeping reforms to the immigration system introduced by the Home Secretary today.

New rules to be laid in Parliament see skills and salary thresholds rise, overseas recruitment for care workers end, and more than 100 occupations no longer granted access to the immigration system.

These changes, the first to be rolled out from the Immigration White Paper, represent a fundamental shift in the UK’s approach to immigration and restore order to the points-based system, focusing on higher skills, lower numbers and tighter controls. They are an important step in ending the UK’s reliance on overseas, lower skilled recruitment.

The introduction of an interim, time-limited and conditional temporary shortage list will make sure the immigration system works better for the UK, with international recruitment only providing support where occupations are key to the industrial strategy or building crucial infrastructure.

Each sector must have a workforce strategy in place to train UK workers, or it will lose access to the immigration system.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

We are delivering a complete reset of our immigration system to restore proper control and order, after the previous government allowed net migration to quadruple in four years. These new rules mean stronger controls to bring migration down, to restore order to the immigration system and to ensure we focus on investing in skills and training here in the UK.

As part of the Plan for Change, we can build an immigration system that serves the needs of the British economy and people – one that values skills, tackles exploitation, and ensures those who come to the UK make a genuine contribution.

The package of measures includes:

• raising the skills threshold for Skilled Worker visas, removing 111 eligible occupations
• closing the social care worker visa route to overseas recruitment in response to widespread abuse and exploitation
• only allowing time-limited access below degree level through a targeted immigration salary list and temporary shortage list, for critical roles only, with strict requirements for sectors to grow domestic skills
• commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a review of the temporary shortage list including occupations, salaries and benefits

Workers in occupations on the temporary shortage list will no longer be able to bring dependants and will not be permitted salary and visa fee discounts. The occupations included on the List are time-limited until the end of 2026 and will only remain beyond that date if the independent Migration Advisory Committee recommend it.

In the interim, the government will not hesitate to restrict immigration access further, should there be clear signs of abuse and exploitation in sectors. In time, we will also abolish the previous government’s immigration salary list.  Subject to parliamentary approval, the changes will come into effect from 22 July, and transitional arrangements have also today been set out for overseas care workers already in the UK.

Next steps

Further changes to be implemented by the end of this year also include:

• raising the immigration skills charge
• uplifting language requirements across the immigration system
• unveiling a new family policy framework to Parliament

The Immigration White Paper forms part of a broader programme of immigration and border security reforms, with further measures on asylum and border security to be announced later this year.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 July 2025.

Young people across the country are being urged to surrender bladed weapons including ninja swords to help prevent further loss of young lives to knife crime.

With the support of Word 4 Weapons and FazAmnesty, young people will be able to anonymously hand in any weapons to surrender bins or a purpose-built and fully secure van, across London, Greater Manchester and West Midlands – the 3 highest areas for knife crime in England.

Part of the government’s most ambitious surrender scheme yet and Plan for Change, the 37 new amnesty bins and the locations of the mobile surrender van will be strategically placed in these high-risk areas throughout July, in partnership with local councils, to provide young people with an accessible, alternative way to hand in weapons without needing to go to a police station.

Throughout the month the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime and other grassroots organisations will be using their platform as trusted voices in communities to encourage young people to hand in their weapons via these routes, while signposting them to local support services.

From 1 August 2025, deadly ninja swords will be banned in full – illegal to possess in public or private – and so, in addition to the surrender arrangements across the 3 hotspot areas, people will also be able to hand in ninja swords to designated police stations across the country.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

The launch of today’s scheme is a result of months of collaborative working with the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together over the next month and then the years to come as part of our Plan for Change.

I am incredibly grateful to Pooja Kanda, Sandra Campbell and Faron Paul whose work to tackle knife crime is making a real difference to young peoples’ lives.

This scheme is just one part of addressing knife crime. We will not stop listening to those who are directly working with those impacted by this crime.

The scheme has been designed to provide people with a range of ways to hand in weapons outside of police stations. Word 4 Weapons and FazAmnesty, both members of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, have a proven track record in supporting young people to surrender dangerous weapons and directing them towards local support.

Faron Paul, Founder of FazAmnesty said:

I’m proud to support the extended surrender scheme and the launch of the mobile amnesty van which gives people a safe and easy way to hand in weapons, knives and other dangerous items. By taking this service directly into communities, I hope we can reach more individuals, encourage positive decisions and help reduce the number of harmful items on our streets.

This initiative is an important step towards preventing violence, building trust and supporting our ongoing efforts to create safer, stronger communities for everyone.

The ninja sword surrender and compensation scheme will also be running in tandem throughout July in police stations across England and Wales. The ban on ninja swords is a result of the tireless campaigning of the Kanda family, who tragically lost their son Ronan in 2022 when he was killed with one of these deadly weapons. The ban on ninja swords is part of Ronan’s Law which was introduced to Parliament this year and includes measures to stop the illegal sale of knives online. Ronan’s Law will be included in the Crime and Policing Bill.

Members of the public wishing to surrender a ninja sword in exchange for compensation should take them to their local police station. Ninja swords can also be surrendered in any available surrender bin however this will not result in any compensation. Full details about how to claim compensation for ninja swords can be found on GOV.UK or via local police.

Pooja Kanda, knife crime campaigner and mother to Ronan said:

It has been 3 years since Ronan’s life was tragically taken as a result of the wounds inflicted by a ninja sword. Since then, we have relentlessly campaigned for ninja swords to be taken off the streets as they have no place in society.

The government has now introduced a much needed ban on ninja swords, and we encourage those in possession to surrender them to make the community a safer place where children can walk home without fear.

CEO of Word 4 Weapons, Sandra Campbell, said:

Word 4 Weapons, in partnership with the Home Office, proudly supports the ninja sword ban and the removal of dangerous weapons and knives from public spaces to help build safe communities for all.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 June 2025.

Gig-goers have been urged to be wary of scams when purchasing last-minute tickets on social media after £1.6 million was lost to ticket fraud in 2024.

On the eve of Glastonbury, British music lovers are being urged to take caution over last-minute tickets for sale on social media, after new figures revealed that the amount lost to ticket fraud more than doubled to £1.6m in 2024.

The government has issued the warning as part of its wider crackdown on scammers and online fraud, designed to ensure money is kept in working people’s pockets, as part of the Plan for Change.

With a host of tours and festivals due to take place this summer, including the Oasis reunion tour kicking off in July, new Action Fraud data released by the Home Office today finds the public lost more than £1.6 million in scams related to concert tickets in 2024 – more than double the figure from the previous year.

Around 3,700 gig ticket fraud reports were made to Action Fraud in 2024, with almost half of them referring to offers made on social media platforms. The government has called on tech companies to go further and faster to protect the public from the fraudulent offers being advertised on their platforms.

The data shows that people in their twenties were most likely to become victims of ticket fraud last year, accounting for 27% of all victims, and the government has urged people to follow the government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign advice to ensure they are protected from scams ahead of a busy summer of gigs and festivals.

With fraud the most commonly experienced crime in the UK, affecting 1 in 15 adults each year, the government is taking further steps to crack down on the scammers behind the surge in fraud over the last decade, including through a new ban on SIM farms, technical devices which facilitate fraud on an industrial scale.

The UK is also driving the response to fraud internationally through the adoption of the first ever UN resolution on fraud and has launched the first ever Insurance Fraud Charter to reduce fraud against the sector and consumers. The government will go further by publishing a new, expanded fraud strategy before the end of the year, which will place raising public awareness and working with tech companies at its heart.

This follows government plans to tackle greedy ticket touts through new measures announced earlier this year which will put a cap on the price of resold tickets for concerts, live sport and other events, to put the power back in the hands of fans.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said:

Fraud is an absolutely shameful crime and today’s data shows that anyone can be a victim.

While millions of Britons are getting ready to attend concerts this summer, the scammers are getting ready to exploit the desperate search for tickets, posting fake messages on social media sites offering to resell tickets they can’t use, or making last-minute offers from fake ticket companies.

That is why our campaign is called Stop! Think Fraud, so no matter how real a deal looks, we all need to take a moment to think: am I being ripped off? So, let’s all stay cautious, stay alert, and stay protected from fraud. Don’t let the scammers ruin your summer.

Tor Garnett, City of London Police Commander for Cyber and Economic Crime, said:

People go to gigs for that ‘once in a lifetime’ experience – especially at sold out concerts and festivals, where the atmosphere is unmatched. But the excitement can vanish in an instant when fans discover their tickets are fake or they’ve been scammed through social media or resale sites. The loss isn’t just financial – it’s deeply emotional, turning anticipation into heartbreak.

Criminals are targeting those looking to snap up last minute or resale tickets for sold out and highly in-demand concerts this year, and Action Fraud reporting data highlights this increasing issue. That’s why we encourage everyone to stay alert and recognise the tactics fraudsters use to commit ticket fraud this summer.

Key signs of ticket fraud include unsolicited messages with ticket offers and deals, or requests for payment via bank transfer. When buying tickets, use a reputable or official ticket-selling site. Always take a moment to double check offers for tickets and pay using a credit card. Follow the advice from Stop! Think Fraud site on how to protect yourself from fraud.

National Coordinator for the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, Mike Andrews, said:

Every summer music fans desperate to see their favourite artists at festivals or stadium tours are left distraught and considerably out of pocket at the turnstiles as they discover the tickets they bought in good faith are in fact part of a fraudulent scam.

Recent National Trading Standards prosecutions have led to serious jail time for ticket touts, which should send a message to all those who choose to engage in fraud that there are severe consequences.

Fans should avoid buying from unofficial ticket sellers, but we know fans desperate for tickets will try to source them via any means possible. For fans who do risk using secondary sites, always use a credit card and never pay by money transfer or buy tickets on social media channels.

Founder of face-value ticket resale platform Twickets, Richard Davies, said:

We’ve seen firsthand how fraudsters attempt to exploit high-demand tours. In recent weeks alone, we’ve had to warn fans about multiple fake Twickets accounts and websites set up to trick Oasis fans into handing over money for non-existent tickets.

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often mimicking trusted resale platforms like ours or creating convincing social media profiles. It’s vital that fans stop and think before making a purchase. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Always check that the platform is an official resale partner, never buy tickets from unofficial sellers on social media or marketplaces and avoid anyone asking for payment via personal bank transfer.

Twickets was created to give fans a safer, fairer way to buy and sell tickets at face value, and we’ve already helped thousands of Oasis fans do just that ahead of the band’s upcoming tour. We’re committed to protecting fans and will continue to work hard to ensure ticketing remains transparent, trustworthy and scam-free.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 18 June 2025.

Home Secretary appoints first Windrush Commissioner to deliver justice for victims, and ensure their voices remain at the heart of reform.

The Home Secretary has appointed senior pastor Reverend Clive Foster MBE as the first Windrush Commissioner – delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to achieve justice for victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal.

The announcement comes ahead of Windrush Day this Sunday (22 June), marking the 77th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to Britain and the community’s extraordinary contribution to this country.

This appointment forms part of the Plan for Change to ensure lessons from past injustices are fully embedded across government policy.

The commissioner, a newly created role on a 3-year term, will provide independent oversight of the government’s work to address the Home Office Windrush scandal and ensure the voices of victims remain at the heart of efforts to deliver justice.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

The story of the Windrush generations is woven into the fabric of our nation and this government is absolutely determined to right the wrongs they suffered at the hands of the Home Office.

This is why I am delighted to welcome Reverend Clive Foster as our new Windrush Commissioner. His deep understanding through his own connections and dedicated community work makes him the perfect champion for those affected by this historic injustice.

I look forward to working closely with Reverend Foster as we continue our vital work to rebuild trust and deliver the justice that the Windrush generations so rightfully deserve.

Reverend Foster is a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham and brings valuable experience in community leadership and social justice work.

With personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated to the UK from Jamaica in 1959, Reverend Foster brings both lived experience and professional expertise to the role. He is the founder of the Nottingham Windrush Support Forum and serves as vice chair of the Windrush National Organisation where he volunteers.

Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster MBE said:

I’m honoured to take on the role of Windrush Commissioner. I’m committed to ensuring justice is delivered for the Windrush generations – people who have given so much to this country and deserve better than the treatment they have received.

The injustices they faced must never be repeated, and that requires more than words; it requires cultural change, accountability, and action. My aim is to deliver change that the Windrush generations can see and feel in their everyday lives, particularly in how the Windrush status and compensation schemes operate.

I will carry out this role independently, without fear or favour, while creating a constructive relationship with government where challenge is welcomed and scrutiny leads to specific, transparent improvements.

Reverend Foster believes the Windrush generations should not be defined by a scandal, but by their extraordinary contribution to the UK and should now be celebrated.

Since coming to power, the government has strengthened support for the Windrush generations through a £1.5 million fund to help affected individuals access compensation and re-establishing the Windrush Unit to drive forward the action needed to prevent a similar scandal from ever happening again.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 4 June 2025.

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry of hundreds of migrants in dawn strikes by Immigration Enforcement across the UK.

A suspected organised crime boss and his associates have been arrested for allegedly facilitating hundreds of Botswana nationals into the UK illegally, as part of a surge in law enforcement activity to take down people-smuggling gangs.

In the early hours of Tuesday 3 June, five men and one woman were arrested in strikes across the country in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford. The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was arrested in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of other migrants from Botswana into the UK.

The suspected criminal gang is believed to have facilitated the entry of more than 200 Botswana nationals into the UK illegally over a two-year period, leading them into a life of fraud and exploitation. Once in the country, it is believed they assisted in submitting false asylum claims using fake documents in order to fraudulently legalise the migrants stay in the country. They are also believed to have assisted the migrants with illegal employment in care homes, working with the most vulnerable without adequate training or medical expertise.

Officers acted on intelligence that suggested the lead people smuggler was exploiting the individuals he lured here under false pretences, forcing them to do unpaid work.

Organised criminal gangs often use cruel tactics to control their beneficiaries, with victims often subject to debt bondage at the hands of the gangs who trap them in unsafe situations in order to fill their pockets.

The arrests come as part of the latest initiative under this government’s Plan for Change to bear down on the criminal gangs profiting at the expense of vulnerable individuals and restore order to the asylum system. Since the election almost 30,000 people with no right to be here have been returned – a 12% increase compared to the same period 12 months ago. Illegal working visits and arrests are also up by more than 40%

This government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will go further than ever before to protect the UK’s borders and strengthen the wider immigration and asylum system, including protecting it against abuse from criminal gangs. New counter terror-style powers will be introduced to smash the smuggling gangs before they have a chance to act.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis said:

I want to commend the dedication and professionalism of our criminal investigators and Immigration Enforcement officers for these significant arrests. Their tireless efforts have disrupted criminal networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining our immigration system.

This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation. Our enforcement teams work day and night to protect our borders and communities from harm, and this successful operation is testament to their commitment.

The government remains resolute in our approach to tackle illegal migration and the criminal enterprises that enable it, and through our Plan for Change will continue to restore order to the asylum system that collapsed in recent years.

Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, Phillip Parr said:

This is one of our highest priority investigations due to the scale of the threat, the number of people believed to be involved, the immense harm these victims are potentially at risk of, and the amount of financial gain the suspects stand to make.

I’m immensely proud of my team’s coordinated and targeted approach in this operation. We’ve not only disrupted this criminal network but also safeguarded potentially hundreds of individuals from further exploitation and harm. This operation demonstrates the power of partnership working in tackling complex organised crime.

There is no place for those who profit from human misery, and we will continue to use all available powers to pursue and prosecute those involved in these despicable crimes.

This government is tightening UK visa controls and building a more sustainable workforce, reducing reliance on overseas workers, as set out in the immigration white paper in May. The strategy contains new financial measures, penalties or sanctions, including for sponsors of migrant workers or students where there is evidence of abuse. New measures already in effect require care providers in England to prioritise recruiting international care workers who are already in the UK and seeking new employment.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 3 June 2025.

Children and vulnerable people being criminally exploited by gangs will be better protected under new measures, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

A new criminal offence of ‘coerced internal concealment’, to be introduced as an amendment to the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, will crack down on anyone, including gang leaders who force people to hide items inside their bodies to avoid detection.

This practice, also known by the street names ‘plugging’, ‘stuffing’ and ‘banking’, is typically used by organised gangs to transport items like drugs, money and SIM cards from one location to another.

It relies on forcing or deceiving children and vulnerable adults into ingesting or hiding items inside their bodily cavities and is often linked to county lines drug running.

Internal concealment is an extremely dangerous practice. It can be fatal if drug packages break open inside the body and can cause significant physical and psychological harm to those forced to do it.

Where senior gang figures are found to have coerced other individuals to ingest or carry specified items inside their bodies, they will face up to 10 years behind bars.

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

There is something truly evil about the gang leaders who degrade young girls, young boys and vulnerable adults in this way, forcing them to put their lives at risk.

This new offence will go alongside other measures in our landmark Crime and Policing Bill to turn the tables on the gang leaders and hold them to account for exploiting children and vulnerable adults.

As part of our Plan for Change, this government will give police and prosecutors the powers they need to dismantle these drug gangs entirely and secure convictions that reflect the severity of these crimes.

To deliver the government’s mission to halve knife crime in the next decade and deliver safer streets, it is crucial to tackle the drug gangs that run county lines through violence and exploitation.

That is why the government has committed to investing £42 million into the County Lines Programme this year, to break down the organised crime groups behind this trade.

The latest statistics from the programme show that since July 2024, law enforcement activity resulted in over 1,200 line closures and 2,000 arrests – including the arrest and subsequent charging of over 800 violent offenders controlling the lines.

There were also more than 2,100 safeguarding referrals for children and vulnerable people.

The County Lines Programme also provides specialist support for children and young people to escape the drugs trade.

Over 320 children and young people received dedicated specialist support during this period, which can include one-to-one casework for young people and their families to help prevent exploitation or support their safe exit.

The criminalisation of ‘coerced internal concealment’ will ensure that victims are properly recognised and receive the support they need.

It also sends a clear message to offenders that the punishment for this crime will match the impact of the harm they have caused.

The new offence will join a package of other measures in the government’s Crime and Policing Bill designed to protect children and vulnerable adults, including a specific offence of child criminal exploitation aimed at the ringleaders behind county lines operations.

Kate Wareham, Strategic Director of Young People, Families and Communities at Catch22 said:

Catch22 welcomes the introduction of tougher consequences for adults who force children and vulnerable young adults into carrying drugs through invasive methods of bodily concealment.

From our county lines, child exploitation and our Redthread embedded youth work in A&E services across England, we know the devastating, life changing physical and mental impact of this abuse on its young victims.

Robust, specialist exploitation and violence reduction services are essential to ensure child victims are supported to process their trauma and safeguarded from further harm. But we need to prevent exploitation happening in the first place. By targeting the perpetrators, this new offence of coerced internal concealment is a crucial step forward towards that.

Lucy D’Orsi, the Chief Constable of British Transport Police said:

We welcome this new measure which increases the safety of those at risk and supports bringing their abusers to justice.

Safeguarding the vulnerable is a priority for BTP’s County Lines Taskforce. Our bespoke unit, made up of experienced social work professionals, works to pull the exploited from the clutches of organised crime groups by providing them with fast time support and resources from our specialist partners.

We continue to put the exploited and the vulnerable at the forefront of our fight against county lines gangs and take a zero tolerance stance against anyone who profits from the exploitation of children.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 May 2025.

Consultation launched on fast-tracking disposal of vehicles seized for antisocial behaviour.

Communities blighted by off-road biking in public parks and intimidating street racing are set to benefit from new police powers to crack down on antisocial behaviour and deliver safer streets through the Plan for Change.

Perpetrators of antisocial driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the government.

Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.

The measure to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

Combined, these new powers will help tackle the scourge of vehicle-driven antisocial behaviour by sending a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that swift justice will be delivered and this behaviour not tolerated.

The changes are also expected to have a wider impact on tackling more serious crime with e-scooters and e-bikes often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.

Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:

Antisocial and reckless driving brings misery to communities across the country, from dangerous street racing to off-road bikes tearing through local parks.

By enabling police to seize and dispose of these vehicles within just 48 hours, we’re giving our officers the tools they need to deliver immediate results and providing communities the swift justice they deserve.

As part of our Plan for Change, these new powers send a clear message that antisocial behaviour, whatever form it takes, will not be tolerated in our local communities.

In a public consultation published today, the government is reviewing the statutory fees for removing, storing, and disposing of vehicles in England and Wales. This will help make sure police can afford to keep removing antisocial and illegal off-road bikes and other vehicles from our streets.

The crackdown on antisocial behaviour continues implementation of the government’s Plan for Change and Safer Streets Mission which will see new Respect Orders targeting persistent perpetrators of antisocial behaviour.

In April this year, the Prime Minister set out new measures as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to restore neighbourhood policing to local communities, including every force having a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead to tackle the specific challenges each area faces.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, said:

We welcome the consultation announced by the government. Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution. It can have long-term effects on a neighbourhood, with the criminal damage of roads, other vehicles and surrounding property.

Drivers and riders also risk injuring themselves, other road users, cyclists and pedestrians as they do not have full control of their vehicle and their full attention on their surroundings.

As with all forms of transport, we know they can potentially be exploited for criminal use, antisocial behaviour or cause danger when used inappropriately.

We know that driving or riding in this way can also be used as a form of intimidation, either to other road users or the community. Loud noise from engines or music, and deliberately creating large amounts of exhaust or tyre smoke can also be seen as an aggressive act.

Officers are committed to preventing harm and keeping our communities safe and will continue to take necessary action against those who use transport illegally. Officers having the ability to quickly seize, remove, store and dispose of vehicles used in an antisocial behaviour setting will help keep road users safe and protect our communities.

Policing will take appropriate action against those who commit offences using existing legislation whilst also raising awareness through engagement.

Edmund King, AA president, said:

Illegal car meets and street racing are not just antisocial, but also present road safety problems which have resulted in needless injuries and fatalities.

This is a positive step that should make people think again before joining illegal car cruises.

Sandra Bauer, Neighbourhood Watch Head of Policy, Partnerships and Projects and Deputy Chief Executive said:

We’re so used to seeing powerful vehicles on our roads that it’s easy to forget just how dangerous and noisy they can be, especially when they are being used antisocially.

Our members tell us that the impact on a community or neighbourhood can be huge, creating safety risks, noise disturbance and intimidating people.

This initiative sends a strong message that activities like off-road biking in public parks and street racing are not harmless, but very dangerous and damaging.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 May 2025.

Security Minister signs agreement with Ecuador to affirm international commitment to crackdown on organised criminal gangs.

The UK will be better protected from deadly cocaine as the government strengthens crucial partnerships with Colombia and Ecuador to tackle drug smuggling at source.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis struck a co-operation agreement as part of the first ever visit by a security minister to the 2 countries.

Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer while Ecuador has emerged as a key smuggling route, with organised crime groups targeting UK borders.

As part of efforts to tackle the trade upstream, Home Office International Operations, Border Force officers and UK law enforcement have been stationed in Colombia and Ecuador. Officers have provided training, equipment and support to enhance the capabilities of South American law enforcement – better preventing cocaine from reaching British borders.

This UK law enforcement presence has had a significant impact on cocaine seizures. Of the 64 tonnes seized by the ports and airports division of anti-narcotics police in Colombia, 50.5 tonnes can be attributed to activity supported by Home Office International Operations. In Ecuador, Home Office International supported the seizure of nearly 95 out of the 300 tonnes seized by police last year.

During his visit, Minister Jarvis signed a memorandum of understanding with Ecuador, cementing both countries’ commitment to dismantling and disrupting violent criminal networks, which threaten the safety of communities in Britain and South America alike.

On behalf of the UK, Minister Jarvis donated further equipment to Ecuador’s law enforcement unit to aid their operations to disrupt illegal activity.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

We will not tolerate criminal gangs exploiting international routes and bringing harmful drugs into our communities. That’s why this government is deepening our security partnerships with Colombia and Ecuador to strengthen our frontline fight against organised crime.

Our agreement marks a step forward in our international efforts to prevent drugs reaching the UK. We are making strong progress on this with cocaine seizures by Border Force in England increasing by 75% since last year.

As part of our Safer Streets Mission, we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to prevent cocaine from crossing our border and strengthening our security, a cornerstone of this government’s Plan for Change.

In a speech, Minister Jarvis recognised the sacrifices and bravery of frontline officers in South America to disrupt and dismantle organised crime gangs. Officers are continuing to protect their local communities but also communities across the world as the war on drugs continues. The UK, Colombia and Ecuador all remain resolute in their commitment to tackling illegal drug smuggling.

In Colombia, Border Force officers provided bespoke training to a team who had previously seized only 14kg of cocaine destined for UK ports last year. Following a 2-week training course in March this year, the team have already prevented 1.4 tonnes from reaching the UK.

This international action comes as cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose by 31% between 2022 and 2023. As part of the Plan for Change, the government is committed to making streets safer by driving down drug misuse and harms through prevention and treatment.

UK Border Force are also taking action to prevent cocaine from reaching the UK border and harming communities. In January 2025, Border Force’s National Deep Rummage team seized 1.5 tonnes of cocaine on a ship travelling from Ecuador, with an estimated street value of just under £60 million.

There have also been record seizures of cocaine in recent years, with over 26 tonnes seized by Border Force in England, a 75% increase compared to the year before.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 23 May 2025.

33 illegal entrants and suspected people smugglers arrested as part of Home Office operation tackling abuse of the Common Travel Area.

The operation comes as part of a renewed crackdown on immigration crime as this government restores order to our borders through the Plan for Change.

A Home Office crackdown against people-smuggling gangs and people exploiting the Common Travel Area (CTA) has led to the arrest of 33 people, and the seizure of £17,000 in suspected criminal assets and the detention of a heavy goods vehicle related to an unpaid Clandestine Entrants Civil Penalty worth £144,000. Officers also issued civil penalties to the value of more than £10,000.

As part of the government’s latest initiative to take down the criminal gangs exploiting UK borders, Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams executed a three-day multi-agency operation tackling abuse of the CTA, descending on ports and airports in Northern Ireland, North West England and Wales.

The operation, the sixth of its kind, saw collaborative working between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), An Garda Síochána, the National Crime Agency (NCA), other UK police forces, Border Force and international partners to gather intelligence, trace offenders and take action against UK border breaches.

This operation builds on the success of previous enforcement activity in Northern Ireland by the Criminal and Financial Investigations team, part of Home Office Immigration Enforcement.

Since July 2024 over 60 arrests have been made and over £405,000 of criminal cash seized in the crackdown on abuse of the CTA, protecting migrants at risk of exploitation and disrupting criminality that threatens the public’s safety.

This latest success comes alongside the announcement that nearly 30,000 people with no right to be here have been returned under this government, including a 23% increase in enforced returns and a 14% increase in foreign criminals deported since the election.

It also follows a series of measures introduced by this government to tackle organised immigration crime under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will enable smarter, faster and more effective interventions to protect UK border security; and make it easier to detect, disrupt and deter those seeking to engage in and benefit from organised immigration crime.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said:

This government is using every tool at its disposal to take down the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people in order to make quick cash. We are breaking down the criminal networks at their root with enforcement visits and arrests up by 38%.

The government’s Plan for Change will ensure that criminal networks who abuse our borders face the full force of the law, which is exactly why we have introduced the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill giving law enforcement new counter-terror style powers to smash the people-smuggling gangs.

Alongside robust legislation at the heart of this mission, the Border Security Command is coordinating our efforts to reduce irregular migration by working alongside our international partners to restore order to our borders.

Home Office Immigration Enforcement Deputy Director Ben Thomas said:

Our team alongside law enforcement agencies are dedicated to breaking down the business model of criminal gangs who put lives at risk every day, the strength of our partnership and success of this operation serves as evidence.

Criminal networks seek to bypass robust border checks through fraudulent means and trap vulnerable people into further illegal activities.

The success of this operation marks a significant step up in enforcement activity leading to the arrest of 33 criminals who attempted to abuse the Common Travel Area and undermine the UK’s border security.

I would like to thank my team and partners across the country for their around the clock dedication to root out the criminal gangs and bring them to justice, protecting those they exploit and the citizens of the UK.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 21 May 2025.

More dangerous weapons will be removed from our streets through a new government surrender scheme in partnership with the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime.

Throughout July, knife crime activist and member of the government’s coalition, Faron Paul, will drive across London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester in a purpose-built and fully secure van, encouraging young people to hand over dangerous and illegal weapons safely.

This is the government’s most ambitious weapons surrender scheme to date and will also see a major expansion of anonymous surrender bins in partnership with knife crime charity Words4Weapons.  The Home Office is funding 37 new surrender bins across London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester – the three highest areas of knife crime in England and Wales.

Part of the government’s Plan for Change, these initiatives will give young people more options where they can securely hand over weapons, without needing to go to a police station, helping to keep our streets safer and take more weapons out of communities.

Young people will also be encouraged to hand in all types of weapons, including Ninja swords – which will be banned in full from 1 August.

Policing and Crime Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

This government is taking a different approach to tackling knife crime — one rooted in partnership with those who have first-hand experience of this devastating crime.

We are committed to halving knife crime within a decade as part of our Plan for Change — and that demands bold, radical action.

That is why we formed the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, not as a talking shop, but as a genuine, working partnership and these new initiatives are a direct result of that collaboration. I’m deeply grateful to Faron Paul and Sandra Campbell for their leadership in driving them forward.

We know that young people involved in crime can have complex pasts and often deep-rooted mistrust in authority, and I truly believe it’s this kind of collaboration that will save young lives.

Faron Paul is an anti-knife crime campaigner and CEO of Faz Amnesty, who survived two life-threatening knife attacks and now does vital work in helping young people hand in knives. He also acts as a mentor to young people caught in the vicious cycle of carrying knives. Faron uses social media to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying knives.  The surrender van being driven across the country will be fully purpose-built to ensure it is safe and secure and police officers will be on hand for additional support and security.

Faron Paul, CEO of Faz Amnesty said:

The launch of the UK’s first-ever amnesty van is a historic moment — not just for FazAmnesty, but for communities across the country. In partnership with the Home Office, this van allows us to take our mission directly to the people, giving them a safe, secure, and discreet way to hand in offensive weapons. For years, we’ve worked tirelessly to remove knives and other weapons from our streets, and this van is a major step forward in that mission. It’s more than just a vehicle — it’s a symbol of hope, change, and second chances. This is about saving lives, protecting our communities, and breaking the cycle of violence. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come — and this is only the beginning.

The Home Office has partnered with surrender charity, Words4Weapons, to manufacture these bins. Words4Weapons already have several weapons bins placed across London, Hertfordshire and Sheffield, and help to connect young people with local services to access the best possible help.

The scheme will also include a limited compensation offering for Ninja swords handed in ahead of the ban on 1 August. Any members of the public wishing to surrender a Ninja sword in exchange for compensation will need to safely take the weapon to one of the designated police stations.

Any member of the public found with one of these weapons following 1 August will be breaking the law and could face time in prison.

Sandra Campbell, CEO of Words4 Weapons said:

We are proud to partner with the Home Office on what is the most ambitious weapons surrender initiative to date. These bespoke Word 4 Weapons bins will provide communities with safe and anonymous disposal options. Each bin represents a proactive step towards saving lives and helping to restore neighbourhood trust. By making weapon disposals more accessible, we are not just removing dangerous items from the streets but supporting individuals to make alternative choices. We are grateful for the government’s support and pleased to contribute to this vital national initiative.