Home Office

As is standard when introducing a new offence, the Ministry of Justice will engage with criminal justice agencies, including the police, CPS, and judiciary, before commencement. These bodies will develop guidance and training through their respective organisations, such as the College of Policing and the Judicial College, to ensure officers and practitioners have the necessary powers, knowledge, and skills to detect and prosecute offences under the Bill.

In 2024, there were 2.64 million regulated scientific procedures carried out in Great Britain involving living animals. This is a decrease of 1% on the previous year, and the lowest number since 2001.

The trends in the number of animals and types of procedures carried out each year are influenced by a range of extraneous factors, for example requirements for research and testing which include products being brought to market.

The Home Office is responsible for regulating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with protections afforded to animals used in science and to administrate the licensing framework. Data trends and requirements will be assessed by the authorities whom have particular responsibilities and requirements for the use of animals of science.

The Lethal Dose 50 and Lethal Concentration 50 procedures are subject to strict regulations under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This legal framework requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no alternatives, where the number of animals used is the minimum needed to achieve the scientific benefit, and where the potential harm to animals is limited to that needed to achieve the scientific benefit.

Some authorised medicines in the UK include quality control tests which require the use of animals, conducted to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of specific medicines. These tests account for the LD50 cases still conducted.

The requirement for LD50 and LC50 tests is set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations set by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

This Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy by the end of this year to support the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing.

We have issued a range of materials to support professionals to help them understand Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), spot the signs, and support victims and survivors. This includes making available free e-learning for all frontline staff for example in healthcare, police, Border Force and children’s social care.

From 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024, 121,773 people registered for the free e-learning module on FGM. Of that number, there were 17,999 ‘Not attempted’. As this is a free e-learning module and not mandatory, we do not hold information regarding reasons for not attempting or completing the module.

A new national police operation into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, Operation BEACONPORT, is now underway and being overseen by the NCA in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other policing partners, as recommended in Baroness Casey’s report. This will identify more perpetrators, give victims the justice they deserve, ensure best practice is shared, and equip the system to deal with complex cases more effectively.

This will be done through assistance to live investigations through support and guidance, a review of cases where they were closed with no further action, improving operating models to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as serious and organised crime, and ensuring technology is harnessed to identify vulnerable children and safeguard them. It will also identify the prolific perpetrators carrying out these heinous offences.

Terms of Reference are being discussed and agreed with policing partners with future budgets subject to the department’s allocation process.

The closed case review element will have phases running concurrently. Each phase will build on the last.

A new national police operation into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, Operation BEACONPORT, is now underway and being overseen by the NCA in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other policing partners, as recommended in Baroness Casey’s report. This will identify more perpetrators, give victims the justice they deserve, ensure best practice is shared, and equip the system to deal with complex cases more effectively.

This will be done through assistance to live investigations through support and guidance, a review of cases where they were closed with no further action, improving operating models to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as serious and organised crime, and ensuring technology is harnessed to identify vulnerable children and safeguard them. It will also identify the prolific perpetrators carrying out these heinous offences.

Terms of Reference are being discussed and agreed with policing partners with future budgets subject to the department’s allocation process.

The closed case review element will have phases running concurrently. Each phase will build on the last.

A new national police operation into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, Operation BEACONPORT, is now underway and being overseen by the NCA in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other policing partners, as recommended in Baroness Casey’s report. This will identify more perpetrators, give victims the justice they deserve, ensure best practice is shared, and equip the system to deal with complex cases more effectively.

This will be done through assistance to live investigations through support and guidance, a review of cases where they were closed with no further action, improving operating models to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as serious and organised crime, and ensuring technology is harnessed to identify vulnerable children and safeguard them. It will also identify the prolific perpetrators carrying out these heinous offences.

Terms of Reference are being discussed and agreed with policing partners with future budgets subject to the department’s allocation process.

The closed case review element will have phases running concurrently. Each phase will build on the last.

Child criminal exploitation (CCE) is a form of child abuse, and this Government is clear that tackling CCE is a priority and plays a critical role in delivering on our commitment to halve knife crime in a decade.

As committed to in the Government’s manifesto, we are introducing a new offence of criminal exploitation of children in the Crime and Policing Bill to go after the gangs who are luring young people into violence and crime. As part of this legislation, we are also delivering new civil preventative orders to disrupt and prevent child criminal exploitation from occurring or re-occurring. A new criminal offence is necessary to increase convictions against exploiters, deter gangs from enlisting children, and improve identification of victims.

County Lines is the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we are targeting exploitative drug dealing gangs and safeguarding criminally exploited children caught up in this trade. Between July 2024 and June 2025, County Lines Programme partners referred over 3,200 children and vulnerable people to safeguarding services and provided specialist one-to-one support through Catch22’s county lines service to more than 500 children and young people.

Independent evaluation of the County Lines Programme found a causal link to 19% reductions in hospitalisations due to knife stabbings in key exporter force areas – equivalent to 500 fewer knife stabbings per annum or 15% of the national total. The latest Strategic Assessment (for 24/25) by the National County Lines Coordination Centre also found that dedicated policing efforts are impacting the County Lines model and that the number of children reported by police as involved in county lines has fallen by 8% since 23/24.

The Home Office-funded Independent Child Trafficking Guardian (ICTG) service also provides specialist expertise that seeks to ensure potential child victims in the NRM are protected from further harm, prevent possible repeat victimisation or re-trafficking, and promote the child’s recovery. Evaluation of the ICTG service has found it to be highly effective in supporting exploited and trafficked children, particularly in reducing risks of re-trafficking.

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), established in 2019, aims to reduce serious violence among children and young people across the UK. Its mission is to fund evidence-based initiatives, evaluate their effectiveness, and generate knowledge to inform policy and practice in preventing youth violence. With an initial investment of £200 million from the Home Office, the YEF has supported numerous programmes across the UK. The YEF has funded work reaching over 150,000 of our most vulnerable children. Through its long-term funding model, it has been able to do this while conducting more high-quality evaluations of what works to prevent violence than have ever been conducted in the UK.

Between 1^st November 2024 and 12^th December 2024 customers could use the former Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) error form to report issues to UKVI on both their eVisa and their BRPs. A standalone eVisa error correction webform was then rolled out by UK Visas and Immigration on 12^th December 2024.

The Department publishes a range of data on its digital status programme and will be, in due course, publishing management information on the volumes of eVisa error corrections webforms received.

This Government is committed to working with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that the right to protest, including in parades, is balanced with the protecting communities from serious disruption or harm.

Government ministers do not intervene in how the police applies laws relating to protest, which are matters reserved for operational forces.

Chairs of national inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005, are appointed directly by Ministers. Under section 3 of the Act, the Minister who sets up the inquiry has the power to appoint the Chair and any other panel members.

As has long been common practice for inquiries, such appointments constitute direct ministerial appointments and do not follow a standard open public recruitment process which seeks applications.

Chairs of national inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005, are appointed directly by Ministers. Under section 3 of the Act, the Minister who sets up the inquiry has the power to appoint the Chair and any other panel members.

As has long been common practice for inquiries, such appointments constitute direct ministerial appointments and do not follow a standard open public recruitment process which seeks applications.

For the safety and security of those we accommodate and our staff, the Home Office does not comment publicly on sites which may or may not be utilised to accommodate asylum seekers.

This Government recognises that hotels are not a sustainable or cost-effective solution for accommodating asylum seekers and remains committed to ending their use, already reducing the number in operation. We do not provide a running commentary on hotel numbers, our objective is to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, reducing costs to the taxpayer and restoring control to local communities.

We recognise that criminal records can impact an individual’s opportunity to find work and rebuild their lives, and are committed to helping those with convictions to overcome these barriers and reintegrate into society.

Regarding victims of child sexual exploitation, the Ministry of Justice is working with the Criminal Cases Review Commission to ensure it is properly resourced to review the applications of victims of Child Sexual Exploitation who believe they were unjustly convicted when their position as a victim was not properly understood.   We are also legislating in the Crime and Policing Bill to disregard cautions and convictions issued to individuals under the age of 18 for the on-street prostitution offence.

We also know that children can be exploited into criminal activity and we are introducing a new offence of criminal exploitation of children in the Crime and Policing Bill to go after the gangs who are luring young people into violence and crime. As part of this legislation, we are also delivering new civil preventative orders to disrupt and prevent child criminal exploitation from occurring or re-occurring. Where a victim of CCE also meets the definition of a victim of modern slavery, they may have access to the statutory defence against prosecution contained in section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The requirements for regulatory testing are set by regulators such as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK.

The use of non-human primates continues to represent a very small proportion of the total number of procedures carried out in Great Britain, accounting for approximately 0.1% of all experimental procedures in 2024. The total number of procedures using non-human primates, and the total number of non-human primates used decreased in 2024 compared to 2023. Non-human primates are required by regulatory authorities for use in their assessments of whether potential medicines and other therapeutics are to be considered safe for human use. Non-human primates are also used for the safety assessment of novel pharmaceuticals in cases where they are the most appropriate and scientifically justified species.

Non-human primates are classed as specially protected species, and their use is permitted only under exceptional circumstances.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 ensures that all use of non-human primates in the UK is strictly regulated and licences that authorise testing on non-human primates are only granted where there is robust scientific justification and no viable alternative. Each project licence application is subject to a rigorous harm-benefit analysis, and the welfare of the animals is a primary consideration at every stage.

This Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy by the end of this year to support the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing.

The Home Office does not collect information on romance fraud. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which sits within City of London Police, collects data on Dating Scam Fraud. This is collected from the reports made to Action Fraud that amounted to a crime under the Home Office crime recording rules.

The table below summarises the number of dating scams recorded by NFIB on 1D dating fraud offences.

The Home Office does not collect information on romance fraud. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which sits within City of London Police, collects data on Dating Scam Fraud. This is collected from the reports made to Action Fraud that amounted to a crime under the Home Office crime recording rules.

The table below summarises the number of dating scams recorded by NFIB on 1D dating fraud offences.

We will not provide a running commentary on discussions between the Home Office and HMT on in-year funding for removal schemes. The costs associated with voluntary and enforced removals (including foreign national offenders) are varied. The total amount spent on returning people in the 2025/26 financial year will be published in the Home Office annual report and accounts in Summer 2026.

The Home Office (specifically Immigration Enforcement), is currently expanding detention capacity through an active programme that will deliver an additional 1,000 beds over the coming years at Campsfield (Oxfordshire) and Haslar (Hampshire). This expansion will significantly increase the number of enforced returns once operational.

Decisions on the required estate size will be based on several factors, including:

• The number of individuals eligible for removal;
• Opportunities to increase throughput within the current system through casework transformation;
• The need to deliver additional capacity in the most cost-effective way.

Excess profits of £45.9m have been returned to the Department in relation to the contract’s profit share provisions.

The Home Office is supported by a Commercial Department within which is a dedicated Asylum Support Commercial Contract Management Team. This team prioritise and work on all aspects of commercial contract management, including recouping profits share amounts owed to the Home Office. On financial matters, this team work with other Home Office specialists.

Excess profits of £45.9m have been returned to the Department in relation to the contract’s profit share provisions.

The Home Office is supported by a Commercial Department within which is a dedicated Asylum Support Commercial Contract Management Team. This team prioritise and work on all aspects of commercial contract management, including recouping profits share amounts owed to the Home Office. On financial matters, this team work with other Home Office specialists.

Home Office made grant payments to the Refugee Council totalling £ 3.2m for the purpose of Children’s Advisory Projects to support Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) through the asylum process., with a further £ 215,244 for Asylum Seeker Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant to provide assistance to vulnerable adult asylum seekers.

The figures represent budgeted values which may not have been spent in full.

Since 2020 the Home Office has provided contract and other funding payments to the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants totalling £47,015.

Further, the Home Office provided contract and other funding to the Refugee Council totalling £8,026,673 for the same time period.

Information on purpose has been withheld and related contracts as it would only be available at disproportionate cost.

Outside of Home Office funding, for the period FY 21/22 to FY 24/25 inclusive Home Office facilitated £5.37m of EU financed AMIF Integration Funding to the Refugee Council.

The Home Office has not issued guidance to police forces on the use of live facial recognition (LFR) but the government is responsible for the legal framework. The legal framework governing police use of facial recognition requires compliance with data protection, equalities, and human rights laws, national guidance, the Code of Practice for surveillance cameras, and is supplemented by specific policies published by individual forces.

The College of Policing has produced national guidance, in the form of an Authorised Professional Practice (APP); this includes when the police can use LFR, the categories of people they can look for and how the data is processed.

Although there is a legal framework in place, this is complicated, inflexible and difficult for the public and police to understand. That is why we will shortly be launching a consultation to support the development of a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)

The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

The number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UK

Individuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)

The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

The number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UK

Individuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)

The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

The number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UK

Individuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)

The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

The number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UK

Individuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

Lessons have been learned from inherited acquisitions of large sites under the previous government, which we are implementing to inform our future accommodation procurement. We are confident that the level of due diligence carried out on sites has improved, and that value for money assessments take place at the appropriate stage. We are working closely with key stakeholders including local health partners to minimise the impact on the local community. Costs will be included in the Departments Annual Report and Accounts in the normal way.

We do not comment on legal matters, however all sites progressed for asylum accommodation will comply with safety, security, health and wellbeing standards. This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities across the country.

Mr Kebatu was issued a £500 discretionary payment to avoid the potential disruption of this return. Cancelling the return at the last stage would have triggered substantial costs. If the operation had been halted before departure, the minimum unavoidable escort and ticketing costs would have exceeded several thousands of pounds.

The Home Office applies small discretionary payments, where appropriate, to prevent the failure of returns. These payments facilitate returns by making them quicker and cheaper, helping to avoid delays and additional costs. Decisions on their use are operational in nature.

The Home Office continues to engage regularly with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners, including via Multi Agency Forums pre-delivery and post-Go Live of the proposed site to address the concerns of those most impacted and to identify ways to keep them informed. We will ensure that any development is safe, appropriate and compliant with planning regulations.

Following a review, this Government announced the discontinuation of plans to use former RAF Scampton as asylum accommodation, in September 2024.

The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment not to use former RAF Scampton for asylum accommodation on 25 September 2025.

The Government is now going through the process of disposing of the site on the open market.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is responsible for the development and implementation of the Designated Reporting Body (DRB), which will receive reports of CSEA from in-scope user-to-user service providers. The NCA has confirmed that the DRB has been delayed due to technical issues. Until the DRB is ready to receive reports, the CSEA reporting provisions in the OSA cannot come into force.

By revoking the original SIs, the Government is granting the NCA time to resolve technical issues with the reporting portal and allow for the reporting portal to be thoroughly tested ahead of the portal becoming fully operational. This will significantly increase the prospect of an efficient, fully accessible and robust reporting mechanism when legislation comes into force.

The NCA expects the DRB to go live in Spring 2026. The OSA’s provisions to report CSEA content to the NCA, including the Reporting Regulations, will be laid and will come into force in parallel with the operationalisation of the DRB in Spring 2026.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is responsible for the development andimplementation of the Designated Reporting Body (DRB), which will receivereports of CSEA from in-scope user-to-user service providers.

The NCA hasconfirmed that the DRB has been delayed due to technical issues.

Until theDRB is ready to receive reports, the CSEA reporting provisions in the OSAcannot come into force.By revoking the original SIs, the Government is granting the NCA time toresolve technical issues with the reporting portal and allow for the reportingportal to be thoroughly tested ahead of the portal becoming fully operational.

This will significantly increase the prospect of an efficient, fully accessible androbust reporting mechanism when legislation comes into force.The NCA expects the DRB to go live in Spring 2026. The OSA’s provisions toreport CSEA content to the NCA, including the Reporting Regulations, will belaid and will come into force in parallel with the operationalisation of the DRBin Spring 2026.

Bilingual birth and death certificates are already available where the event hasbeen registered bilingually in Wales.

The terrorist threat we see today is more diverse and complex than before. The UK National Threat Level remains at SUBSTANTIAL, meaning an attack is likely. The UK National Threat Level is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre which continually monitors the threat to the UK from all forms of terrorism.

This Government is firmly committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to ensuring the safety of our streets and communities. We recognise that recent incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of Jewish communities and places of worship, as well as those of other faiths. We take these concerns seriously and continue to work with closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.

To support Jewish communities in the UK, the Community Security Trust (CST) has been allocated £28 million in 2025/26 through the Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant. This includes an additional £10 million in emergency funding announced by the Prime Minister on 16 October following the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. This funding enables the deployment of enhanced security staff and equipment, such as CCTV, alarms and floodlights, at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments, and other community sites.

We continue to engage with CST and other partners to ensure that the level of security provision remains proportionate to the assessed threat and is responsive to the needs of Jewish communities.

In 2024, there were 2.64 million regulated scientific procedures carried out in Great Britain involving living animals. This is a decrease of 1% on the previous year, and the lowest number since 2001.

The trends in the number of animals and types of procedures carried out each year are influenced by a range of extraneous factors, for example requirements for research and testing which include products being brought to market.

The Home Office is responsible for regulating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with protections afforded to animals used in science and to administrate the licensing framework. Data trends and requirements will be assessed by the authorities whom have particular responsibilities and requirements for the use of animals of science.

In 2024, there were 2.64 million regulated scientific procedures carried out in Great Britain involving living animals. This is a decrease of 1% on the previous year, and the lowest number since 2001.

The trends in the number of animals and types of procedures carried out each year are influenced by a range of extraneous factors, for example requirements for research and testing which include products being brought to market.

The Home Office is responsible for regulating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with protections afforded to animals used in science and to administrate the licensing framework. Data trends and requirements will be assessed by the authorities whom have particular responsibilities and requirements for the use of animals of science.

Although it is Government policy to neither confirm nor deny whether an individual has been subject to investigation by the Security Service, an exception to this policy allows the Security Service to release files to The National Archives that are at least 50 years old, if to do so would not damage national security. The Security Service holds no file for Gen. J.F.C. Fuller that falls within this category.

HTS was proscribed as an alias of Al Qa’ida in 2017. The Government no longer assesses HTS to be an alias of AQ.

The decision to remove HTS as an alias of Al Qa’ida was based on assessments and relevant information available at the time. Every proscription decision is made after careful consideration by the Home Secretary and follows advice from the expert cross-government Proscription Review Group.

We want to step up our engagement and support to give this transition the best chance of success. Deproscription will enhance our ability to do this. A stable Syria is in the UK's interests, reducing the risk of irregular migration and the threats to our national security.

Upholding national security and keeping the public safe is the first duty of Government.

This Government has been clear that we are extremely disappointed in the decision by the CPS not to proceed with prosecution of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry. Given the concerns raised by Honourable Members about the safety and security of the House, we have sought to be as transparent as possible by publishing the witness statements relating to the case.

The references to ‘backchannel’ discussions that are alleged to have taken place occurred under the previous Government.

Upholding national security and keeping the public safe is the first duty of Government.

This Government has been clear that we are extremely disappointed in the decision by the CPS not to proceed with prosecution of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry. Given the concerns raised by Honourable Members about the safety and security of the House, we have sought to be as transparent as possible by publishing the witness statements relating to the case.

The references to ‘backchannel’ discussions that are alleged to have taken place occurred under the previous Government.

In accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, I am unable to comment on the immigration status of individuals.