Home Office

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission

​We will put thousands of neighbourhood police and community support officers back into local communities, so that residents have somewhere to turn to when things go wrong.

​We will crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets and in city centres by introducing tougher powers via a Crime and Policing Bill, including a new Respect Order to tackle repeat offending.

There is a statutory regime for dealing with a range of nuisances including noise. Local authority environmental health departments are the main enforcers of the noise nuisance regime. It is for individual local authorities to determine the detailed arrangements of the services they provide taking into account their assessment of local needs and circumstances.

Policing is subject to a highly regulated police complaints and disciplinary system, which includes oversight responsibilities for both local policing bodies and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The Government has committed to strengthening standards on police vetting and misconduct

This year, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) commenced its new police integrity inspection programme for forces within England and Wales. This programme assesses forces’ effectiveness on professional standards, vetting and counter corruption arrangements

The Government also publishes data annually as part its police misconduct statistical series, covering conduct matters, misconduct proceedings and appeals to the Police Appeals Tribunal.

The final Local Government Settlement 2024/25 has determined that overall fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion this year to continue protecting our communities at the highest standard. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have core spending power of £38.5 million with an increase of £2.1 million or 5.9 per cent in cash terms compared to 2023/24.

It is the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority to determine how to allocate that funding based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances. Decisions on future local authority funding will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement.

In the meantime, the Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure fire and rescue services can keep the public safe.

The government will consider police funding, including the allocation of funding to forces, in the round as part of the Spending Review process.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) send their Enhanced checks to a police force if there is a potential match against the names on the application form and local police systems.

DBS commissions 52 independent police disclosure units that are spread geographically across the nation and are operationally independent.

DBS has dedicated Police Performance Managers that assess, monitor and work closely with the police forces to ensure police performance against published DBS Key Performance Indicators remains strong.

The DBS’s target is to issue 80% of Enhanced checks within 14 days. DBS’ performance against this target is published every quarter: DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, the DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) regularly publishes statistics on the overall processing times for each of their services. This includes checks where they are referred to police forces.

The most recent relevant data set was published July 30th is available at: gov.uk - DBS performance.

The Home Office Homicide Index holds information on the age of victims and whether the offence was initially classified as murder or manslaughter. The data are given in the table.

This Government recognises the importance of tackling wildlife crime, which is why, along with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Home Office directly funds the National Wildlife Crime Unit to help tackle these crimes.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) provides intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to the police and other law enforcement agenciesacross the UK to support them in investigating wildlife crime. This includes supporting cases referred by Border Force to the National Crime Agency or to individual forces. The NWCU is also the UK policing focal point for EUROPOL and INTERPOL wildlife crime activity. The NWCU uses this information to produce strategic and tactical assessments of wildlife crime across the UK.

Any non-notifiable wildlife crime reported to police can still be investigated where appropriate, as Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities.

We are committed to commencing Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 as soon as possible. Protecting women’s rights is a priority for this government, and it is vital that anyone exercising their legal right to access abortion services is free from harassment and intimidation.

The financial requirements for the Family Immigration Rules include the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) which is currently set at £29,000 and is intended to maintain the economic wellbeing of the UK whilst respecting family life.

The Home Secretary has announced her intention to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules.

Conducting a review of the financial requirements across the family routes will ensure we have a clear and consistent system. There will be no changes to the current threshold of £29,000, or the ways in which the MIR can be met, until the MAC review is complete.

The Home Office intends to completely eliminate the use of the forced swim test. This will require the validation of suitable appropriate alternatives.

The Home Office intends to completely eliminate the use of the forced swim test. This will require the validation of suitable appropriate alternatives.

The Home Office intends to completely eliminate the use of the forced swim test. This will require the validation of suitable appropriate alternatives.

The Home Office intends to completely eliminate the use of the forced swim test. This will require the validation of suitable appropriate alternatives.

The Home Office reports data on media spending and discloses this together with IT in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.

Refer to page 243 (page 247 on the PDF reader) of the 2023-24 Annual Report and Accounts, through the link below.

Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023 to 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

All Home Office staff, and contracted parties have a duty, under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, to ensure that immigration, asylum, and nationality functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. The HO does not have a statutory responsibility for safeguarding - statutory agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.

On arrival in the UK, all asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children, have an interview which includes a series of questions specifically designed to ascertain potential indicators of trafficking. If indicators are noted, a referral is made to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). In the case of children, a safety plan is put in place by social services, whilst adults identified as potential victims of modern slavery are entitled to care with support provided by the Salvation Army.

The Home Office no longer accommodates Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children in hotels as of 31^st January 2024. Local authorities have a statutory duty under S20 of the Children Act 1989 to look after children in need in their area. This includes unaccompanied asylum seeking (UAS) children who either arrive in a local authority area or are transferred there under the mandated National Transfer Scheme (NTS). When a child is being looked after by a local authority, that local authority is under a duty to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare under the Children Act 1989.

The Home Office and its accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where an adult asylum seeker is at risk or vulnerable, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies such as the police, NHS and social services, to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.

The 1982 Act gives local authorities who adopt the legislation the ability to regulate lap dancing clubs as sexual entertainment venues. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (legislation.gov.uk)

This Government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency and will use every tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence.

We will dramatically improve the police and wider criminal justice response, including a relentless pursuit of dangerous perpetrators and sustained support for victims.

We will tackle the root causes of these crimes, including supporting our education system to teach children about respectful and healthy relationships and consent.

During the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers. The total volume will be dictated by ongoing approvals under BRP generating routes through to the end of 2024. This data requires detailed assurance before it can be published externally, but we plan to make it available on gov.uk in due course.

During the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers. The total volume will be dictated by ongoing approvals under BRP generating routes through to the end of 2024. This data requires detailed assurance before it can be published externally, but we plan to make it available on gov.uk in due course.

The Home Office is delivering a substantial communications and engagement campaign to advise customers of the transition to eVisas and the need for BRP holding customers to register for a UKVI account by the end of 2024, if they were not automatically provided with a UKVI account and eVisa when their most recent immigration application was approved.

This includes, but is not limited to, direct messaging to customers via email and text message where contact details are available, information on gov.uk/eVisa, and how-to videos available on YouTube and via gov.uk/eVisa. We have regular engagement with other government departments, immigration representatives, the education sector, employers, landlords, local authorities, foreign embassies, Home Office advisory groups, devolved administrations and migrant support organisations as part of the engagement process.

A 'partner pack’ of readily shareable content, including factsheets and social media content, has been developed and shared with other government departments and third party support networks which they can use to disseminate eVisa information to customers/clients with whom they engage. In April this year we issued a press notice about the transition to eVisa, and delivered detailed media briefings with UK and International media outlets.

For customers granted settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain) prior to the introduction of BRPs, we have recommended through this campaign that they should make a No Time Limit application in order to secure an eVisa. Customers with these older forms of evidence of immigration status, such as ink stamps in passports, will still be able to prove their rights as they do today, using their legacy documents where these are permitted. However, we still encourage those individuals to transition to an eVisa, given the range of benefits it offers to customers and status checkers.

The Home Office is delivering a substantial communications and engagement campaign to advise customers of the transition to eVisas and the need for BRP holding customers to register for a UKVI account by the end of 2024, if they were not automatically provided with a UKVI account and eVisa when their most recent immigration application was approved.

This includes, but is not limited to, direct messaging to customers via email and text message where contact details are available, information on gov.uk/eVisa, and how-to videos available on YouTube and via gov.uk/eVisa. We have regular engagement with other government departments, immigration representatives, the education sector, employers, landlords, local authorities, foreign embassies, Home Office advisory groups, devolved administrations and migrant support organisations as part of the engagement process.

A 'partner pack’ of readily shareable content, including factsheets and social media content, has been developed and shared with other government departments and third party support networks which they can use to disseminate eVisa information to customers/clients with whom they engage. In April this year we issued a press notice about the transition to eVisa, and delivered detailed media briefings with UK and International media outlets.

For customers granted settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain) prior to the introduction of BRPs, we have recommended through this campaign that they should make a No Time Limit application in order to secure an eVisa. Customers with these older forms of evidence of immigration status, such as ink stamps in passports, will still be able to prove their rights as they do today, using their legacy documents where these are permitted. However, we still encourage those individuals to transition to an eVisa, given the range of benefits it offers to customers and status checkers.

Many visa routes, such as those for family and skilled work, are intended to allow a path to settlement in the UK. Other routes, such as those for study and temporary work, are intended for visa holders to be able to come to the UK for a specific, time-bound purpose, and therefore do not count towards the qualifying period for settlement.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions on asylum claims by nationality is published in table Asy_D02 of the 'Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets' and data on asylum-related returns by nationality is published in Ret_04 of the ‘Returns summary tables’.

Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of each workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2024.

Data up to September 2024 will be released on 28 November 2024. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

The Home Office also publishes data on asylum appeals by nationality in tables Asy_D06 and Asy_D07 of the ‘Asylum appeals lodged and determined detailed datasets’. Appeals data for April 2023 onwards is not available due to ongoing work on a new case working system. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration System Statistics release.

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the use of hotels over time. Additionally, the government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and deliver value for money.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Home Office remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of the process to accommodate asylum seekers.

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly including reducing the use of hotels over time. Additionally, the government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and deliver value for money.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Home Office remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of the process to accommodate asylum seekers.

The financial requirements for the Family Immigration Rules include the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) which is currently set at £29,000 and is intended to maintain the economic wellbeing of the UK whilst respecting family life.

The Home Secretary has announced her intention to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules. Conducting a review of the financial requirements across the family routes will ensure we have a clear and consistent system.

There will be no changes to the current threshold of £29,000, or the ways in which the MIR can be met, until the MAC review is complete.

This government understands the devastating impact terrorism has on individuals and their families and is determined to make sure victims and survivors receive the support they deserve

Since October 2020, the government has funded support services to provide practical and emotional support to victims and survivors of attacks. The services include a 24/7 support line, mental health assessments and referrals and access to long-term peer support networks.

The Home Office has reviewed the support provisions and is considering options for future improvements.

Overseas students who successfully complete an eligible course in the UK are entitled to remain on a graduate visa for two years after their studies end, or three for PHDs, to work, live and contribute to society.

The Home Office keeps visa fees under review but has no current plans to reduce fees for overseas graduates. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing are utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system. Taking this approach helps to meet the costs of maintaining an effective Migration and Borders system which benefits everyone.

The Government have also been clear that net migration is too high and must be reduced. Employers are encouraged to look to the domestic labour market to nurture and develop the skills they need where they can.

Overseas students who successfully complete an eligible course in the UK are entitled to remain on a graduate visa for two years after their studies end, or three for PHDs, to work, live and contribute to society.

The Home Office keeps visa fees under review but has no current plans to reduce fees for overseas graduates. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing are utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system. Taking this approach helps to meet the costs of maintaining an effective Migration and Borders system which benefits everyone.

The Government have also been clear that net migration is too high and must be reduced. Employers are encouraged to look to the domestic labour market to nurture and develop the skills they need where they can.

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. Should a decision be made to use a site then the local MP will be notified in writing.

There have been 31 tragedies, since August 2019, where 97 people are confirmed to have died and at least 14 people have been reported as missing at sea, presumed dead, as a result of or linked to attempting these dangerous crossings.

Numbers of fatalities

A total of eight minors are reported to have died in the fatal incidents that have occurred this year. Prior to this, the only known minor fatalities occurred as a result of an incident in October 2020 when an entire family group, including 3 children, died following the capsizing of a migrant vessel.

Almost all fatalities have occurred in French Territorial Waters (TTW). There has been one incident (on 14 December 2022), involving the deaths of 4 people, which undoubtedly took place within UK TTW. However, an earlier tragedy – the loss of 27 people in a single incident in November 2021 – was proven after investigation to have partially occurred within UK TTW. It is subject to an ongoing Art.2 Human Rights Inquiry led by Sir Ross Cranston.

In accordance with the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and subsistence support whilst their application for asylum is being considered.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in different areas is routinely published by the Government in table ASY D_11 here:

Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office does not publish asylum support data disaggregated by method of arrival.

Individuals granted asylum have access to the labour market and to mainstream services that support their integration, including benefits and healthcare. We are working across Government to ensure these services meet the needs of all newly granted refugees.

Migrant Help or their partner organisation support all individuals when they receive a decision on their asylum claim.  This support includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing.

We continue to work with colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand rough sleeping and homelessness pressures within local authorities (LAs). In our continued commitment to supporting LAs and statutory partners in planning for move on, we have shared enhanced data sets (The Place Based Visibility tool - PBVT) which we are continuing to develop further. The PBVT is complimented by the Discontinuation Prediction Tool (DPT) which is shared weekly; this data provides real time view of discontinuation notices likely to be served in the next following 4-6 weeks and the volume of people (including whether it is families, single males or single females) who may seek LA assistance following a positive decision.

Where a decision is made on an individual's asylum claim, the Asylum Accommodation Support Contract (AASC) provider notifies the relevant local authority within 2 days of notification by the Home Office.

The level of risk for LGBT+ individuals within immigration detention is subject to ongoing monitoring. As set out in Detention Services Order 02/2016 ‘Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Detainees in the Detention Estate’, Immigration Removal Centre suppliers undertake regular equality monitoring and trend analysis for residents with protected characteristics.

The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly, and is reviewing the current arrangements for accommodation to ensure efficiency and value for money, including reducing the use of hotels.

The Government’s first duty is to protect our national security and keep our country safe. We keep potential threats to the UK under constant review and, where necessary, we use all the tools at our disposal to mitigate these threats including at the border and those seeking to enter the UK through irregular means.

As a matter of long-standing policy, we do not comment on the detail of security and intelligence issues.

The DBS measures its progress using a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets agreed by its Board. The KPIs are grouped into four themes: quality, timeliness, value for money, and people. There is a strong focus on the quality and timeliness of its products and services as these are the issues that customers tell DBS are important to them and it is these that ensure the DBS supports the safeguarding of vulnerable groups including children, as effectively as possible. The 2024/25 DBS Business Plan can be viewed at: DBS business plan: 2024-25 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The most recent quarterly datasets showing statistics against internal performance standards can be viewed at: DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, the DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The data applies to DBS checks, the Update Service, and disputes.

British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders may apply for a BN(O) visa which entitles them and their dependent family members to reside in the UK. After completing 5 years’ qualifying residence in the UK, and being free from immigration time restrictions for a further year, BN(O) visa holders and their dependent family members may apply for British citizenship.

The findings of the independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford exposed shocking cases of the most vulnerable in our society being abused and let down by adults who were supposed to protect them. The Government recognises the important role local inquiries like this, and others in Rotherham, Oldham and elsewhere, play in improving our response to child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The report of the independent inquiry in Telford did not make any direct recommendations for national government. However, we review the findings of all local inquiries, and other reports such as the Final Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and HMICFRS’ inspection of policing’s response to group-based child sexual exploitation, to ensure we are constantly reviewing and updating national policies.

At a national level, the Government continues to drive national action to better safeguard children, provide support and care to victims and survivors, and ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law. This includes funding the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce, which is giving practical, expert, on the ground support for local forces investigating child sexual abuse, with a focus on complex and organised child sexual exploitation; and the Tackling Organised Exploitation programme, which is helping forces to uncover more of this offending.

As you know, I have had contact with Telford survivors and will ensure that their voices are part of any future progress.

His Majesty’s Passport Office must satisfactorily complete its checks upon an applicant’s nationality, identity, and eligibility before a passport can be issued, and will request additional evidence as necessary to support the completion of these checks.

The evidence required will change depending upon individual circumstances, and whether it is an application for a first passport or a renewal. Further information about the information needed when applying for a first passport can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/what-documents-you-need-to-apply

The Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) target is to issue 85% of Basic checks within 2 days, 85% of Standard checks within 3 days, and 80% of Enhanced checks within 14 days.

DBS publishes its performance data every quarter. The most recent data for April to June 2024 records the following performance for all applications processed within England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man:

Basic check target attained with an average of 88.1%. The 85% target was met on day 2 and the average turnaround time was 0.7 days.

Standard check target attained with an average of 88.2%. The 85% target was met on day 3 and the average turnaround time was 1.4 days.

Enhanced check target not attained with an average of 75.1%. The 80% target was met on day 21 and the average turnaround time was 12.4 days.

The government is considering a range of appointments following the election. When there are appointments to announce, this will be done in the usual way.

The Government has committed to restoring confidence in policing, so it is vital that we rebuild the connection between the police and the communities they serve.

Research shows there is strong evidence that community engagement is important for building trust in the police and that higher visibility of local police increases public confidence, see for example the Home Office Public perceptions of policing: A review of research and literature.

That is why the Government has committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission. We will be working with policing to introduce a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, restoring patrols to town centres, recruiting thousands of extra police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables, and providing every community with a named local officer to turn to.