Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the (a) financial arrangements, (b) lease durations and (c) landlord incentives offered by (i) Serco and (ii) other contractors under the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts since 2020; and whether her Department has undertaken any risk assessments of the use of private rented accommodation for asylum seekers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Since 2022, the Home Office has implemented a Full Dispersal model, which aims to distribute asylum accommodation more fairly and equitably across the UK. The Home Office, via our accommodation providers, has worked within the Private Rented Sector for many years to source accommodation that offers better value for money for the taxpayer. Accommodation providers are responsible for sourcing and securing suitable properties, as well as consulting with local authorities on every dispersed bedspace before it is procured to ensure the impacts on local areas are considered. The details of the contracts are commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of police forces in the taking of custody photographs of people charged following voluntary police interviews.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Voluntary interviews are used to question a person who is not under arrest about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence, particularly in cases where the legal threshold for arrest is not met. The decision to voluntarily interview a suspect rests with the police and there are a number of factors which must be considered when making this decision including the needs of the investigation, the necessity to arrest, potential vulnerability of the suspect, and any relevant risk factors. Where the statutory conditions for arrest are met, police should always consider whether voluntary interview or arrest would be the most appropriate approach.
The Home Office is aware of concerns raised about the use of voluntary attendance and the impact of this on the taking and retention of custody photographs and biometrics. Work is underway to ensure voluntary attendance is used appropriately by the police, especially in relation to sexual offences and options are being considered to increase capture of custody images and biometrics in future.
It is important to note that nothing in law or in the relevant statutory codes of practice prevents police from photographing suspects who attend for a voluntary interview, although force may not be used to achieve this while the suspect is not under arrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provides guidance to forces on voluntary interviews which makes clear that it is good practice to photograph suspects attending voluntarily, not least because the photograph may be required for further confirmation of identity if the suspect is subsequently required to return to the police station for biometric samples (fingerprints and DNA), to be recorded after charge or conviction.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on police custody and voluntary interviews as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK However this data set does not include statistics on the number of suspects whose photographs are taken in custody.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) charged and (b) convicted without a custody photograph being taken in each of the last five years.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Voluntary interviews are used to question a person who is not under arrest about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence, particularly in cases where the legal threshold for arrest is not met. The decision to voluntarily interview a suspect rests with the police and there are a number of factors which must be considered when making this decision including the needs of the investigation, the necessity to arrest, potential vulnerability of the suspect, and any relevant risk factors. Where the statutory conditions for arrest are met, police should always consider whether voluntary interview or arrest would be the most appropriate approach.
The Home Office is aware of concerns raised about the use of voluntary attendance and the impact of this on the taking and retention of custody photographs and biometrics. Work is underway to ensure voluntary attendance is used appropriately by the police, especially in relation to sexual offences and options are being considered to increase capture of custody images and biometrics in future.
It is important to note that nothing in law or in the relevant statutory codes of practice prevents police from photographing suspects who attend for a voluntary interview, although force may not be used to achieve this while the suspect is not under arrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provides guidance to forces on voluntary interviews which makes clear that it is good practice to photograph suspects attending voluntarily, not least because the photograph may be required for further confirmation of identity if the suspect is subsequently required to return to the police station for biometric samples (fingerprints and DNA), to be recorded after charge or conviction.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on police custody and voluntary interviews as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK However this data set does not include statistics on the number of suspects whose photographs are taken in custody.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders convicted of sexual offences did not have a custody photograph on police record in each of the last five years.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Voluntary interviews are used to question a person who is not under arrest about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence, particularly in cases where the legal threshold for arrest is not met. The decision to voluntarily interview a suspect rests with the police and there are a number of factors which must be considered when making this decision including the needs of the investigation, the necessity to arrest, potential vulnerability of the suspect, and any relevant risk factors. Where the statutory conditions for arrest are met, police should always consider whether voluntary interview or arrest would be the most appropriate approach.
The Home Office is aware of concerns raised about the use of voluntary attendance and the impact of this on the taking and retention of custody photographs and biometrics. Work is underway to ensure voluntary attendance is used appropriately by the police, especially in relation to sexual offences and options are being considered to increase capture of custody images and biometrics in future.
It is important to note that nothing in law or in the relevant statutory codes of practice prevents police from photographing suspects who attend for a voluntary interview, although force may not be used to achieve this while the suspect is not under arrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provides guidance to forces on voluntary interviews which makes clear that it is good practice to photograph suspects attending voluntarily, not least because the photograph may be required for further confirmation of identity if the suspect is subsequently required to return to the police station for biometric samples (fingerprints and DNA), to be recorded after charge or conviction.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on police custody and voluntary interviews as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK However this data set does not include statistics on the number of suspects whose photographs are taken in custody.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on the practice of taking custody photographs of suspects who attend voluntary police interviews.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Voluntary interviews are used to question a person who is not under arrest about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence, particularly in cases where the legal threshold for arrest is not met. The decision to voluntarily interview a suspect rests with the police and there are a number of factors which must be considered when making this decision including the needs of the investigation, the necessity to arrest, potential vulnerability of the suspect, and any relevant risk factors. Where the statutory conditions for arrest are met, police should always consider whether voluntary interview or arrest would be the most appropriate approach.
The Home Office is aware of concerns raised about the use of voluntary attendance and the impact of this on the taking and retention of custody photographs and biometrics. Work is underway to ensure voluntary attendance is used appropriately by the police, especially in relation to sexual offences and options are being considered to increase capture of custody images and biometrics in future.
It is important to note that nothing in law or in the relevant statutory codes of practice prevents police from photographing suspects who attend for a voluntary interview, although force may not be used to achieve this while the suspect is not under arrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provides guidance to forces on voluntary interviews which makes clear that it is good practice to photograph suspects attending voluntarily, not least because the photograph may be required for further confirmation of identity if the suspect is subsequently required to return to the police station for biometric samples (fingerprints and DNA), to be recorded after charge or conviction.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on police custody and voluntary interviews as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK However this data set does not include statistics on the number of suspects whose photographs are taken in custody.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department provides to police forces on the taking of custody photographs of suspects who attend voluntary interviews.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Voluntary interviews are used to question a person who is not under arrest about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence, particularly in cases where the legal threshold for arrest is not met. The decision to voluntarily interview a suspect rests with the police and there are a number of factors which must be considered when making this decision including the needs of the investigation, the necessity to arrest, potential vulnerability of the suspect, and any relevant risk factors. Where the statutory conditions for arrest are met, police should always consider whether voluntary interview or arrest would be the most appropriate approach.
The Home Office is aware of concerns raised about the use of voluntary attendance and the impact of this on the taking and retention of custody photographs and biometrics. Work is underway to ensure voluntary attendance is used appropriately by the police, especially in relation to sexual offences and options are being considered to increase capture of custody images and biometrics in future.
It is important to note that nothing in law or in the relevant statutory codes of practice prevents police from photographing suspects who attend for a voluntary interview, although force may not be used to achieve this while the suspect is not under arrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provides guidance to forces on voluntary interviews which makes clear that it is good practice to photograph suspects attending voluntarily, not least because the photograph may be required for further confirmation of identity if the suspect is subsequently required to return to the police station for biometric samples (fingerprints and DNA), to be recorded after charge or conviction.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on police custody and voluntary interviews as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK However this data set does not include statistics on the number of suspects whose photographs are taken in custody.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that immigration (a) caseworkers and (b) interpreters meet English language standards.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office recruit using standard Civil Service recruitment processes and all our immigration caseworkers must meet minimum Civil Service recruitment standards. The appropriate level of English is assured through the comprehensive recruitment and onboarding process.
Interpreters are not Home Office employees and undertake freelance work commissioned by the Home Office through contracts for services.
Standards required to apply for an interpreter role are set out in our published ‘Guidance for UKVI freelance interpreters’. This includes a list of accredited qualifications.
Quality is maintained through our comprehensive review strategy. Interviewing officers are issued with Interpreter Management Team monitoring forms, which they are asked to complete if they have any comments on the interpreter used in an assignment (because the interpreter performed particularly well or badly, for example). Interviews may also be monitored for training and security purposes.
Applications for immigration caseworker roles and interpreter roles include a written application and, if appropriate, an interview. The written application and interview are conducted and assessed in English.
Asked by: Jessica Toale (Labour - Bournemouth West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with victims’ groups on the potential impact of convicted offenders remaining unidentified in the public domain due to the absence of custody photographs.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Voluntary interviews are used to question a person who is not under arrest about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence, particularly in cases where the legal threshold for arrest is not met. The decision to voluntarily interview a suspect rests with the police and there are a number of factors which must be considered when making this decision including the needs of the investigation, the necessity to arrest, potential vulnerability of the suspect, and any relevant risk factors. Where the statutory conditions for arrest are met, police should always consider whether voluntary interview or arrest would be the most appropriate approach.
The Home Office is aware of concerns raised about the use of voluntary attendance and the impact of this on the taking and retention of custody photographs and biometrics. Work is underway to ensure voluntary attendance is used appropriately by the police, especially in relation to sexual offences and options are being considered to increase capture of custody images and biometrics in future.
It is important to note that nothing in law or in the relevant statutory codes of practice prevents police from photographing suspects who attend for a voluntary interview, although force may not be used to achieve this while the suspect is not under arrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provides guidance to forces on voluntary interviews which makes clear that it is good practice to photograph suspects attending voluntarily, not least because the photograph may be required for further confirmation of identity if the suspect is subsequently required to return to the police station for biometric samples (fingerprints and DNA), to be recorded after charge or conviction.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on police custody and voluntary interviews as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK However this data set does not include statistics on the number of suspects whose photographs are taken in custody.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend eligibility for the National and International Capital City Grant to more cities.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The National and International Capital City (NICC) grant is paid to the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police to reflect the unique demands of policing in London, a major international capital city.
Decisions on the allocation of NICC funding are taken at the time of the Police Settlement. The NICC is partially funded from a reallocation of the core funding for all police forces and as such, decisions on the level of the funding must consider its impact on wider policing.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which cities are receiving funding through the National and International Capital City Grant.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The National and International Capital City (NICC) grant is paid to the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police to reflect the unique demands of policing in London, a major international capital city.
Decisions on the allocation of NICC funding are taken at the time of the Police Settlement. The NICC is partially funded from a reallocation of the core funding for all police forces and as such, decisions on the level of the funding must consider its impact on wider policing.