Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with MBR Acres about rehoming beagles who do not meet laboratory requirements.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office engages with licensed establishments, including MBR Acres, through its regulatory activity. The Home Office provides a clear framework to all licensed establishments that supports the rehoming of animals where the statutory safeguards can be met and the welfare of the animals concerned remains the primary consideration.

Decisions on whether an individual animal is suitable for rehoming are made on a case-by-case basis, informed by veterinary advice and the animal’s health, welfare and behavioural needs. Where the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 applies, rehoming must meet the relevant statutory safeguards.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing an offence of harming, threatening or intimidating a person, whether or not in the performance of their duties, in order to punish, deter or retaliate against the exercise of a public function, including where that person is not an emergency worker.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is clear that individuals should be able to carry out public functions without being subjected to violence, threats or intimidation. A range of existing criminal offences may apply to such behaviour, including assault, harassment, stalking and public order offences.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of whether existing enforcement powers are sufficient to deal with individuals who deliberately start wildfires.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Deliberately or recklessly starting a wildfire may be prosecuted as arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Broader prevention of wildfires is a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The investigation of alleged offences is an operational matter for the police; and prosecution decisions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had since 1 January 2025 with ministers and law enforcement agencies in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the Republic of Ireland on tackling organised rural crime.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Rural crime is not currently recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime, so it is not possible to produce a single, centrally verified measure of its scale. Instead, offences affecting rural communities - such as theft, criminal damage and wildlife crime - are recorded within existing national categories. Our focus is therefore on improving understanding and response through better use of existing data, and by strengthening national coordination via the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and specialist units.

To support the policing response, the Home Office is providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit.

These specialist capabilities provide intelligence, analysis, coordination and operational support to forces across the UK, helping to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries. We are committed to improving victims’ experiences by funding vital support services, ensuring access to appropriate assistance, and working with partners across the criminal justice system to deliver the rights set out in the Victims’ Code.

The Government is also committed to working closely with devolved governments, ministers and relevant agencies across the UK. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure the weight of government is put behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

The CESAR security and registration scheme is already in place and is used by the construction and agricultural industry with over 650,000 machines now protected and registered using this scheme. We are also seeking to implement measures under the Equipment Theft Act, which will make it harder to steal All-Terrain Vehicles and GPS units used in an agricultural setting and easier for the police to identify the owners when such items are recovered.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to increase police powers to tackle illegal e-scooter use.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to supporting the police in tackling the illegal and anti-social use of e-scooters. Privately owned e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and are illegal to use on public roads and other public places unless they comply with the relevant legal requirements such as having appropriate insurance, driving licences, number plates, and helmets.

Police already have powers to stop, seize and, where appropriate, dispose of illegally used e-scooters, as well as to enforce offences relating to careless or dangerous use.

The Government has reduced and aligned vehicle disposal timeframes, enabling vehicles to be disposed of after seven days. In the Crime and Policing Act 2026 we strengthened police powers to tackle vehicles used in an anti-social manner, including e-scooters, by removing the requirement to issue a warning before seizure. These measures will enable officers to take swifter action against those using e-scooters illegally and in a way that causes alarm, distress or nuisance to the public.

The Home Office continues to work closely with policing partners and the Department for Transport to support effective enforcement and improve public safety.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on the review of statutory vehicle recovery fees; and what the anticipated timetable is for any decisions arising from that work.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises the vital role vehicle recovery operators play in supporting policing and road safety,

The Government consulted on proposed increases to vehicle disposal fees in May last year. We have considered responses to the proposed changes following the closure of the consultation and are in the process of analysing police data to ensure any revised fee complies with Managing Public Money Guidance. We are prioritising this work and we will engage further with the sector once this process has concluded.

We are aware of industry and policing concerns about the costs of recovery, storage and disposal of electric vehicles. Although consideration of the impacts from electric vehicles were outside of the scope of the previous consultation, we continue to consider next steps for working with police forces and industry to collect evidence on the costs of electric vehicles for potential future consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to withdraw the Home Office leaflet Do not photograph or film people in public, in light of the guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers, Guidance for Photographers, published on 26 August 2010.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no plan to withdraw the document.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department collects data from police forces on vehicle seizures carried out under section 8 of the Crime and Police Act 2026.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Section 8 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which amended section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 came into force on 29 June. The Home Office has not collected vehicle seizure data since the new provisions came into force.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to support police enforcement of illegal e-scooter use.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to supporting the police in tackling the illegal and anti-social use of e-scooters. Privately owned e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and are illegal to use on public roads and other public places unless they comply with the relevant legal requirements such as having appropriate insurance, driving licences, number plates, and helmets.

Police already have powers to stop, seize and, where appropriate, dispose of illegally used e-scooters, as well as to enforce offences relating to careless or dangerous use.

The Government has reduced and aligned vehicle disposal timeframes, enabling vehicles to be disposed of after seven days. In the Crime and Policing Act 2026 we strengthened police powers to tackle vehicles used in an anti-social manner, including e-scooters, by removing the requirement to issue a warning before seizure. These measures will enable officers to take swifter action against those using e-scooters illegally and in a way that causes alarm, distress or nuisance to the public.

The Home Office continues to work closely with policing partners and the Department for Transport to support effective enforcement and improve public safety.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking with policing partners to help ensure that allegations that a person has falsely claimed to hold power of attorney in order to obtain or exercise control over a vulnerable person's finances are appropriately identified and investigated as potential fraud.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises fraud by abuse of position is a serious and often hidden threat, where someone in a position of trust abuses their position for financial personal gain. Allegations that an individual has falsely claimed to hold, or has abused, a power of attorney in order to obtain or exercise control over a vulnerable person’s finances may constitute fraud and should be reported to Report Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting service.

Report Fraud uses the latest technology to improve the reporting experience for victims, provide case updates and improve the speed and quality of information shared with police to boost the chances of successful prosecutions. Where there is sufficient evidence and a viable lead, reports are referred to the appropriate police force or law enforcement partner to determine whether investigation or other enforcement activity should take place.

Through the Fraud Strategy 2026-2029, the Government is strengthening its response to fraud, including through a dedicated cross sector working group on fraud by abuse of position focused on developing a system-wide response to protect vulnerable and older people who rely on legal protections such as powers of attorney.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has assessed the effectiveness of agricultural machinery identification and marking schemes, including CESAR, in reducing theft and increasing recovery rates; and whether she plans to bring forward proposals to expand participation in such schemes.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Rural crime is not currently recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime, so it is not possible to produce a single, centrally verified measure of its scale. Instead, offences affecting rural communities - such as theft, criminal damage and wildlife crime - are recorded within existing national categories. Our focus is therefore on improving understanding and response through better use of existing data, and by strengthening national coordination via the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and specialist units.

To support the policing response, the Home Office is providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit.

These specialist capabilities provide intelligence, analysis, coordination and operational support to forces across the UK, helping to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries. We are committed to improving victims’ experiences by funding vital support services, ensuring access to appropriate assistance, and working with partners across the criminal justice system to deliver the rights set out in the Victims’ Code.

The Government is also committed to working closely with devolved governments, ministers and relevant agencies across the UK. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure the weight of government is put behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

The CESAR security and registration scheme is already in place and is used by the construction and agricultural industry with over 650,000 machines now protected and registered using this scheme. We are also seeking to implement measures under the Equipment Theft Act, which will make it harder to steal All-Terrain Vehicles and GPS units used in an agricultural setting and easier for the police to identify the owners when such items are recovered.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what central Government funding streams are available in 2026-27 for (a) rural crime prevention, (b) rural crime intelligence activity and (c) support for victims of rural crime; and what criteria are used to assess the effectiveness of that expenditure.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Rural crime is not currently recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime, so it is not possible to produce a single, centrally verified measure of its scale. Instead, offences affecting rural communities - such as theft, criminal damage and wildlife crime - are recorded within existing national categories. Our focus is therefore on improving understanding and response through better use of existing data, and by strengthening national coordination via the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and specialist units.

To support the policing response, the Home Office is providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit.

These specialist capabilities provide intelligence, analysis, coordination and operational support to forces across the UK, helping to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries. We are committed to improving victims’ experiences by funding vital support services, ensuring access to appropriate assistance, and working with partners across the criminal justice system to deliver the rights set out in the Victims’ Code.

The Government is also committed to working closely with devolved governments, ministers and relevant agencies across the UK. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure the weight of government is put behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

The CESAR security and registration scheme is already in place and is used by the construction and agricultural industry with over 650,000 machines now protected and registered using this scheme. We are also seeking to implement measures under the Equipment Theft Act, which will make it harder to steal All-Terrain Vehicles and GPS units used in an agricultural setting and easier for the police to identify the owners when such items are recovered.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish annual statistics on rural crime by offence category, including for each police force area the number of offences recorded, charges brought and convictions secured.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Rural crime is not currently recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime, so it is not possible to produce a single, centrally verified measure of its scale. Instead, offences affecting rural communities - such as theft, criminal damage and wildlife crime - are recorded within existing national categories. Our focus is therefore on improving understanding and response through better use of existing data, and by strengthening national coordination via the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and specialist units.

To support the policing response, the Home Office is providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit.

These specialist capabilities provide intelligence, analysis, coordination and operational support to forces across the UK, helping to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries. We are committed to improving victims’ experiences by funding vital support services, ensuring access to appropriate assistance, and working with partners across the criminal justice system to deliver the rights set out in the Victims’ Code.

The Government is also committed to working closely with devolved governments, ministers and relevant agencies across the UK. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure the weight of government is put behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

The CESAR security and registration scheme is already in place and is used by the construction and agricultural industry with over 650,000 machines now protected and registered using this scheme. We are also seeking to implement measures under the Equipment Theft Act, which will make it harder to steal All-Terrain Vehicles and GPS units used in an agricultural setting and easier for the police to identify the owners when such items are recovered.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been a) arrested and b) prosecuted under Operation Shiraz since the operation commenced.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Border Force works with law enforcement partners under Operation Shiraz to identify and disrupt the importation of child-like sexual abuse dolls and related items into the United Kingdom.

Information relating to arrests and prosecutions connected to Operation Shiraz is held for operational and intelligence purposes. The Home Office does not publish official statistics relating to arrests or prosecutions under the operation and does not hold verified data suitable for publication.

Protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation remains a priority for this Government. Border Force plays an important role in preventing prohibited and harmful items from entering the United Kingdom and works closely with domestic and international partners to detect, seize and investigate suspected criminal activity.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is issued to police forces regarding protesters wearing (a) balaclavas, (b) niqabs and (c) burkas.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The College of Policing issues guidance to police forces on the use of a broad range of public order powers. This includes guidance on the use of face coverings at protests.

Police decide when to use their powers, based on their assessment of the operational threats and risks for each situation they encounter.

Guidance is published online here: https://www.college.police.uk/app/public-order-public-safety and National protest operational advice

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she was informed that a US Embassy employee was removed from the UK by US authorities.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office were updated by the Metropolitan Police Service on 25 August about a US investigation that involved an officer from the US Embassy being recalled to the US.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 126358 on Freedom of Expression, whether the independent review into public order and hate crime legislation has reported to her; and when that review will be published.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Lord Macdonald submitted his report to the Home Secretary on Friday 29 May.

The Government is now reviewing the report in detail and will publish the report alongside its formal response shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the a) identification and b) prosecution of individuals responsible for deliberately starting wildfires.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Deliberately or recklessly starting a wildfire may be prosecuted as arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Broader prevention of wildfires is a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The investigation of alleged offences is an operational matter for the police; and prosecution decisions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of deterring the deliberate starting of wildfires.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Deliberately or recklessly starting a wildfire may be prosecuted as arson under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Broader prevention of wildfires is a matter for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The investigation of alleged offences is an operational matter for the police; and prosecution decisions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that police response times in rural areas are not consistently lower than in urban areas.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not currently hold a national dataset of average police response times to incidents in rural areas. However, officials are developing a nationally comparable response-times dataset, working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The Government will set a national target for forces to attend 90 percent of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas. This will establish a clear national expectation for the service the public should receive, wherever they live.

Performance against national targets, including incident response targets, will be published through the Police Performance Framework. Together with HMICFRS inspections, this will inform force assessments with the Policing Performance System, enabling the identification of forces requiring improvement. Forces will be offered targeted support and, where necessary, receive intervention to help drive performance improvements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to assess the potential impact of operating costs arising from the review of statutory vehicle recovery fees, including those associated with electric vehicle recovery and storage.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises the vital role vehicle recovery operators play in supporting policing and road safety,

The Government consulted on proposed increases to vehicle disposal fees in May last year. We have considered responses to the proposed changes following the closure of the consultation and are in the process of analysing police data to ensure any revised fee complies with Managing Public Money Guidance. We are prioritising this work and we will engage further with the sector once this process has concluded.

We are aware of industry and policing concerns about the costs of recovery, storage and disposal of electric vehicles. Although consideration of the impacts from electric vehicles were outside of the scope of the previous consultation, we continue to consider next steps for working with police forces and industry to collect evidence on the costs of electric vehicles for potential future consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultations she is undertaking with the vehicle recovery sector to support their long term-resilience and their role in policing and road safety.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises the vital role vehicle recovery operators play in supporting policing and road safety,

The Government consulted on proposed increases to vehicle disposal fees in May last year. We have considered responses to the proposed changes following the closure of the consultation and are in the process of analysing police data to ensure any revised fee complies with Managing Public Money Guidance. We are prioritising this work and we will engage further with the sector once this process has concluded.

We are aware of industry and policing concerns about the costs of recovery, storage and disposal of electric vehicles. Although consideration of the impacts from electric vehicles were outside of the scope of the previous consultation, we continue to consider next steps for working with police forces and industry to collect evidence on the costs of electric vehicles for potential future consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve efficiency in and reduce the time taken for the firearms licencing process following the increase in firearms licencing fees.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The issuing of firearm and shotgun certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces in processing licensing applications, are matters for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners. When increased fees came into effect on 5 February 2025 to provide full-cost recovery for the police, the Home Office wrote to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the additional income must be used to support improvements in police force firearms licensing teams. Fees were subsequently increased by 3% from 4 June 2026, in line with inflation, to help ensure that they continue to reflect the costs to police forces of delivering the firearms licensing function. The expectation that the fees income supports an effective and efficient licensing service remains unchanged.

Alongside the increase in fees, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for firearms licensing now publishes quarterly performance data for firearms licensing in all police forces in England and Wales which includes a new performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months of receipt. We welcome this greater transparency and forces making improvements in performance, subject to ensuring public safety remains the priority and suitability checks are carried out properly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the ability of the Chiltern Consortium to deliver suitable equipment to Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Procurement and commercial decisions are matters for individual police. Chief Constables of those forces are operationally independent and are responsible for determining how best to equip and resource their forces to meet local needs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she can provide an update to the Rural Crime Strategy, including when she expects it to be published, and what performance indicators will be used to assess progress against its objectives.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Rural crime is not currently recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime, so it is not possible to produce a single, centrally verified measure of its scale. Instead, offences affecting rural communities - such as theft, criminal damage and wildlife crime - are recorded within existing national categories. Our focus is therefore on improving understanding and response through better use of existing data, and by strengthening national coordination via the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy and specialist units.

To support the policing response, the Home Office is providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit.

These specialist capabilities provide intelligence, analysis, coordination and operational support to forces across the UK, helping to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries. We are committed to improving victims’ experiences by funding vital support services, ensuring access to appropriate assistance, and working with partners across the criminal justice system to deliver the rights set out in the Victims’ Code.

The Government is also committed to working closely with devolved governments, ministers and relevant agencies across the UK. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure the weight of government is put behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

The CESAR security and registration scheme is already in place and is used by the construction and agricultural industry with over 650,000 machines now protected and registered using this scheme. We are also seeking to implement measures under the Equipment Theft Act, which will make it harder to steal All-Terrain Vehicles and GPS units used in an agricultural setting and easier for the police to identify the owners when such items are recovered.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to Question 27081, whether her Department has considered whether it should set up a national dataset of average police response times to incident in rural areas.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not currently hold a national dataset of average police response times to incidents in rural areas. However, officials are developing a nationally comparable response-times dataset, working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The Government will set a national target for forces to attend 90 percent of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas. This will establish a clear national expectation for the service the public should receive, wherever they live.

Performance against national targets, including incident response targets, will be published through the Police Performance Framework. Together with HMICFRS inspections, this will inform force assessments with the Policing Performance System, enabling the identification of forces requiring improvement. Forces will be offered targeted support and, where necessary, receive intervention to help drive performance improvements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many proposed Freedom of Information responses were awaiting clearance from (a) the Communications Directorate and (b) special advisers on 31 August 2026, and how many in each category had been awaiting that clearance for (i) up to 20, (ii) 21 to 40 and (iii) more than 40 working days.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is the largest recipient of Freedom of Information requests across central government and received over 8,700 requests in 2025. The cases shown in the table represent a point-in-time snapshot of requests within the Communications Directorate and Special Adviser review processes and account for a relatively small proportion of the overall volume of FOI requests handled by the Department.

Cases within the Communications Directorate and Special Adviser review processes (information extracted and validated on 28 September 2026)

Note: The Department does not routinely retain historical reports showing the stage reached within the Special Adviser review process at a specific point in time. The figures therefore reflect information extracted and validated on 28 September 2026. Cases awaiting consideration by Special Advisers have been presented separately from cases elsewhere within the wider Special Adviser referral process.

The figures are management information derived from the Home Office's case management system and supplementary information provided by the Special Adviser Private Office. They have not undergone formal quality assurance.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of burglary in Royal Sutton Coldfield over the last five years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government recognises the particularly invasive nature of burglary, and the profound impact this crime can have on individuals and the wider community. Police recorded burglary across England and Wales has reduced 9% in the year to March 2026. There was an 11% fall in burglary offences in Birmingham over the same period.

We are committed to delivering strong neighbourhood policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. Based on their £12,210,903 allocation in 2025/26 from the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, as at 31 March 2026, West Midlands Police have grown by 351 FTE Neighbourhood officers compared to 31 March 2025. Every neighbourhood in England and Wales including in the West Midlands has named contactable officers dedicated to tackling local issues.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of notifiable offences, including burglary offences, recorded by the police in England and Wales, at the Police Force Area level and the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Area level.

This information is published on a quarterly basis, and can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables

The Home Office does not publish information at the Parliamentary Constituency level.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the resources and operational support available to police forces to tackle the dangerous or anti-social use of e-bikes in town centres.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the adequacy of the resources and operational support available to police forces to tackle the dangerous or anti-social use of e-bikes in town centres. The deployment of police resources and operational activity is a matter for Chief Constables, who are best placed to assess local threats and priorities.

Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, the Government strengthened police powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. This amended section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to remove the requirement for police to issue a prior warning before seizing a motor vehicle being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance. These changes came into force on 29 June 2026.

In addition, in July 2026 the Government reduced and aligned vehicle disposal timeframes to seven days. This reduces opportunities for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and continue offending.

These measures support police efforts to tackle dangerous or anti-social use of illegally modified e-bikes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the consistency of crime recording practices between police forces for offences involving (a) livestock, (b) horses, (c) agricultural vehicles and machinery and (d) fly-tipping and rural waste crime.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises that there can be challenges in responding to rural crime and is taking a coordinated, cross-system approach to tackling this issue. The Home Office has worked closely with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Whilst rural crime is not recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime and therefore cannot be assessed separately, relevant offences, including theft, burglary, vehicle crime and certain wildlife offences, are recorded within the police recorded crime framework. The Home Office supports consistent crime recording through the National Crime Recording Standard and the Home Office Counting Rules. Chief Constables are responsible for ensuring offences are recorded in line with these standards, while His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services independently assesses the quality and consistency of crime recording across police forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason Palestine Action is able to recruit supporters, provide operational guidance and use established branding online; and what steps her Department is taking to help prevent those activities.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Palestine Action is a proscribed terrorist organisation. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, it is a criminal offence to invite or recklessly express support for a proscribed organisation. It is also an offence to publish an image of an article, such as a flag or logo, in circumstances which arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of that organisation.

Terrorist groups and their supporters seek to exploit the reach of the internet to disseminate material, promote their activities and attract support. The Government is taking action to tackle this. We work closely with technology companies to support the removal of unlawful terrorist content, including material linked to proscribed organisations. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, technology companies are required to have systems and processes in place to reduce the risk that their services are used for illegal activity and to remove illegal content, including terrorist material.

The Police Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit can also review online content which may breach terrorism legislation and refer such material to platforms for consideration of removal.

The Court of Appeal recently found that Palestine Action displayed the continuing intention to promote the use of violence, regardless of the risk that it would result in serious damage to property or serious violence against members of the public.

This Government will continue to take the strongest possible action to protect national security, while fully respecting lawful freedom of expression and peaceful protest. Proscription does not prevent individuals from supporting the Palestinian cause or protesting lawfully, but support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information relating to identity verification, documentation status and background checks will be provided to local authorities and police prior to residents being placed at rural asylum accommodation sites.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Information is shared with local authorities and policing partners where appropriate and necessary, consistent with the arrangements that apply for any individual taking up residence in the local area and in accordance with relevant legal and data protection requirements.

When an individual claims asylum, the Home Office will conduct mandatory identity, criminality and security checks. Biographic and biometric data are checked against relevant Home Office systems and police criminality databases including domestic and international data.

The safety of local communities is central to our immigration reforms which is why asylum seekers are routinely screened against policing, criminality, and immigration databases before they are permitted to move into sites.

Information relating to an individual's immigration case and personal circumstances is handled in accordance with data protection legislation and established information-sharing protocols. The Home Office works closely with local authorities, police and accommodation providers where safeguarding or public protection considerations require information to be shared.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking with police forces to protect Royal National Lifeboat Institution staff, volunteers and premises from intimidation and harassment.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

It is wholly unacceptable for those who put themselves at risk to protect the public to be subjected to harassment or intimidation. Police have a broad range of powers to tackle unlawful behaviour, including harassment and intimidation, and we expect them to take robust action to address it.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22823 on USA: Armed Forces, if she will publish the letter from the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council to Chief Constables in England and Wales reminding forces of their responsibilities under the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

I will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the lack of published service level standards for the processing of visa and indefinite leave to remain applications on applicants.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Visa processing times are published on the UKVI website at Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK can be found: Visa processing times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK and Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK can be found: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK Indefinite Leave to Remain processing times can be found: Indefinite leave to remain if you’ve been in the UK for 10 years (long residence): Overview - GOV.UK

UKVI are currently processing applications on the overwhelming majority of its visa routes within their published customer service standards.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Border Force processing capacity at regional airports, such as Edinburgh Airport.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Border Force continually reviews its resourcing and operational capacity across all UK ports, including regional airports such as Edinburgh. Resources are deployed according to passenger demand and operational risks and threats, enabling Border Force to maintain border security while facilitating legitimate travel.

Operational performance is monitored closely, allowing resources to be flexibly deployed in response to changing demands and operational requirements. The Home Office does not routinely publish staffing figures for individual ports.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision is made for transport for asylum seekers housed in rural dispersal accommodation where there is limited public transport, including for travel to (a) healthcare appointments, (b) immigration reporting appointments and (c) legal advice and appointments.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not record dispersal accommodation by the rurality of its location. Where transport is needed to meet essential living the default provision is by public transport. The Home Office keeps guidance under review to ensure transport provision is delivered consistently, fairly and in a way that represents value for money for the taxpayer.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of sponsor licence suspensions and revocations on the immigration status and financial security of sponsored workers and their dependants; and whether she plans to put in place safeguards to protect sponsored workers who may be fearful of raising concerns about their workplace conditions because of the potential impact on their visa and immigration status if they lose their employment.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Sponsored workers have the same rights and protections under employment law as resident workers, and it is a requirement for all sponsors to ensure their workers are aware of these rights.

The suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence does not, in itself, affect a worker’s status, and they can continue working as per their visa conditions until their permission expires. This includes during any 60-day period they are notified of following visa cancellation.

The latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules laid on 3 September introduces a provision to protect any Skilled Worker who has been identified by the Home Office Competent Authorities as a victim of modern slavery, allowing them to work for any employer (other than as a professional sportsperson or coach) for the remainder of their permission. This will incentivise victims to come forward early and guard against those who seek to weaponise the sponsorship scheme to exploit vulnerable workers.

As set out in last year’s Immigration White Paper, we are committed to exploring making it easier for sponsored workers to change sponsors, giving them more control over who they work for and reducing the risk of exploitation, and will publish further details in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2026 to Question 28021, for what reason a breakdown of asylum claimants who previously held a study visa by sponsoring institution is not currently published.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future releases.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will integrate the births, deaths and marriages register.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

There are currently no plans to integrate civil registration registers.

Found: This was largely due to a lack of clarity around the full process prior to the Home Office, as our sponsoring

Found: Home Office research findings, report 227. Home Office.

Found: Home Office research findings, report 227. Home Office.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is provided to police and victim support services on supporting victims of rural crime in cases where no suspect is charged.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to ensuring all victims, including victims of rural crime, have access to the information and support they need to navigate the criminal justice system. Under the Victims’ Code, all victims are entitled to information about and referral to victim support services, regardless of whether a suspect has been identified or charged.

While there is no specific national guidance for victims of rural crime, Chief Constables are operationally independent and are best placed to tailor local policing responses to the needs of their communities. The Ministry of Justice funds Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to commission local victim support services, based on their assessment of local need, including those affected by rural crime.

The Government also recognises the wider challenges of responding to rural crime and therefore collaborated with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Home Office on the 2025-28 Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, published in November 2025. This joined-up approach supports efforts to tackle rural crime. Rural communities will also benefit from the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, helping to address crimes such as anti-social behaviour and county lines activity.

In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit and are continuing this funding of over £800,000 throughout 2026/27 to help specialist policing units tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2026 to Question 26159 on Speed Limits: Cameras, how many speed cameras on (a) motorways and (b) A-roads remain affected by the technical anomaly; and what proportion of affected cameras have had the Home Office-approved solution implemented.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The anomaly impacts 154 cameras on 10% (440 miles) of the Strategic Road Network (4500 miles), which accounts for ~0.2% of the whole road network in England. A solution to the technical anomaly has been developed and is undergoing thorough testing. The police continue to enforce speed offences on the network via a range of tactics.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to verify the continuous UK residence requirements for late EU Settlement Scheme applicants before student finance eligibility is granted.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Student Finance England (SFE) is responsible for assessing personal and course eligibility for higher education student support. To be eligible for student finance an applicant must satisfy the criteria within the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 (as amended).

Where a late applicant to the EU Settlement Scheme is required to demonstrate that they meet the relevant residence requirements for student support, SFE considers information provided by the applicant about their residence history and may request supporting evidence, such as employment records, tenancy agreements, utility bills or other documentation where necessary to establish eligibility. The Home Office remains responsible for determining an individual's immigration status.

A Certificate of Application does not, by itself, confer entitlement to student support.

In assessing eligibility, SFE may require applicants to provide information and evidence relating to their residence history to determine whether they satisfy the relevant residence requirements set out in the student support regulations.

Additionally, SLC rely on accurate information provided by the Home Office regarding an applicant’s immigration status as the Home Office is the competent authority on such matters.

The Home Office is proposing to house single asylum seekers in HMO properties in Llandudno. We are calling on the UK Government to rule out this proposal entirely.

Found: We object to the Home Office proposal for the following reasons: (1) The backgrounds of the individuals

Found: Home office contracts for visa applications

Found: 20 July 2026) Major The Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MBE MP Minister of State for Security (paid by the Home Office

Found: DNSA and a representative from either the Home Office or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development

Found: DNSA and a representative from either the Home Office or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Found: DNSA and a representative from either the Home Office or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Found: "govuk-table__cell">WATER AND CBRN EMERGENCIES

Found: & Sport Department for Digital Culture Media & Sport 2026-07-29 Security: CTC+other clearances Home Office

Found: Media & Sport Department for Digital Culture Media & Sport 2026-08-25 Other Ceremonial Event Costs Home Office

Found: In addition, the Home Office is currently undertaking research to explore the extent to which forces

Found: Departure from institution - Hospital (general) Required to leave accommodation provided by Home Office

Found: institution UK Departure from institution Not known Required to leave accommodation provided by Home Office

Found: Cover Number of households required to leave accommodation provided by the home office as asylum support

Found: The Home Office and ONS have agreed that while the CoLP is fully transitioning to using this new system

Found: whistleblowing framework and is leading this consultation, working with the Serious Fraud Office and the Home Office

Found: administering justice in England and Wales, and consists of various institutions such as the police, Home Office

Found: Criminal Justice System No [email protected] 5/3/2026 Foreign nationals in prison, Home Office

Found: revised to provide clarity and up to date OM Guidance and new information provided to NOMS by the Home Office

Found: telephones 121 - 244 12/02/2001 - Rev. ed. 29/07/2005 Cancels: Home Office

Found: Intranet. 37/2004 Drug testing condition and ACR additional non- standard licence conditions 6000 Home Office

Found: Further guidance for senior managers on the conduct of DARDR is available on the Home Office DARDR website

Found: Immunodeficiency Virus HM Her Majesty HMF Her Majesty's Forces HMRC Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs HO Home Office

Found: Immunodeficiency Virus HM Her Majesty HMF Her Majesty's Forces HMRC Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs HO Home Office

Found: 20 Cranbourn Street LONDON United Kingdom WC2H 7AA Central Government 10037024 Forensic Archive Home Office

Found: 20 Cranbourn Street LONDON United Kingdom WC2H 7AA Central Government 10037024 Forensic Archive Home Office

Found: date of your application The list of approved English language tests has been assessed as meeting Home Office

Found: date of your application The list of approved English language tests has been assessed as meeting Home Office

Found:

Found:

Found:

Found: ........................................................................... 71 Feedback to the Home Office

Found: ........................................................................... 56 Feedback to the Home Office

Found: Page 1 of 34 Published for Home Office staff on 12 October 2026 EU Settlement

Found: Page 1 of 52 Published for Home Office staff on 30 July 2026

Found: been removed as it is restricted for internal Home Office use.

Found: Concessionary policies Policies that the Home Office has developed in immigration and asylum cases that

Found: are not law, but which the Home Office should follow.

Found: Concessionary policies Policies that the Home Office has developed in immigration and asylum cases

Found: Concessionary policies Policies that the Home Office has developed in immigration and asylum cases

Found: Page 1 of 28 Published for Home Office staff on 12 October 2026

Found: Page 1 of 33 Published for Home Office staff on 11 May 2026 Gratis passport applications : how to apply

Found: Page 1 of 34 Published for Home Office staff on 30 September 2026 Identity

Found: Page 1 of 18 Published for Home Office staff on 7 October 2026 Sanctions

Found: Duties 2.3 A sponsor has a duty to: • act honestly in all its dealings with the Home Office.

Found: maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance of students, and supplies these to the Home Office

Found: This instruction applies to all Home Office staff, healthcare teams and CSPs operating in IRCs and RSTHFs

Found: UK - England, N1 9JY Costco Wholesale UK Ltd Costco Wholesale UK Ltd B2C 213 Hartspring Lane, UK Home Office

Found: • Child exploitation disruption toolkit Home Office • Child knife possession offences - GOV.UK Home

Found: Information manager 4 Yes ST0763 Artificial intelligence (AI) data specialist 7 Yes ST0764 Non Home office

Found: The role of the Independent Examiner of Complaints (IEC) The IEC is not a civil servant or Home Office

Found: together with any accompanying documents to: Office for the Independent Examiner of Complaints Home Office

Found: experience delivering over 50 evaluations for UK Government and international clients, including FCDO, Home Office

Found: Criminal Justice System No [email protected] 5/3/2026 Foreign nationals in prison, Home Office

Found: revised to provide clarity and up to date OM Guidance and new information provided to NOMS by the Home Office

Found: telephones 121 - 244 12/02/2001 - Rev. ed. 29/07/2005 Cancels: Home Office

Found: Intranet. 37/2004 Drug testing condition and ACR additional non- standard licence conditions 6000 Home Office

Found: My career has spanned retail, local government, the Home Office, financial services, the private sector

Found: Page 1 of 32 Published for Home Office staff on 30 September 2026 Nationality: disputed, unknown and

Found: ........................................................................... 67 Feedback to the Home Office

Found: ........................................................................... 17 Feedback to the Home Office

Found: Guidance Notes for submitting Funding Submission Sheet claims to the Home Office - Columns Heading Guide

Found: Guidance Notes for submitting Funding Submission Sheet claims to the Home Office - Columns Heading Guide

Found: Further guidance for senior managers on the conduct of DARDR is available on the Home Office DARDR website

Found: log into SMS, change your password, manage SMS users and view important messages posted by the Home Office

Found: the first time, change your password, manage SMS users and view important messages posted by the Home Office

Found: record check for overseas applicants, or those that have previously lived outside of the UK, on the Home Office

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: means that total arrivals over long time periods should be similar between the two sources, but Home Office

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: Related content Home Office press statement on small boat crossings For press enquiries, please contact

Found: DescriptionForeign National HubSentenced offenders who are subject to immigration proceedings by the Home Office

Found: Technology Ethics Advisory Committee, an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office

Found: MHCLG, Home Office (HO) and Department for Business and Trade (now DBIST) are the only departments to

Found: emphasis on improving accountability, workforce diversity, and community scrutiny, working with the Home Office

Found: Approved submission methods The information required must be supplied to the Home Office using one

Found: independent from your partner or parent • you want to apply for access to public funds The Home Office

Found: You must send your application form and supporting documents to the Home Office by post, to: EU Settlement

Found: whistleblowing framework and is leading this consultation, working with the Serious Fraud Office and the Home Office

Found: Ethics Advisory Committee (STEAC) provides independent ethical advice, challenge and support to the Home Office

Found: about individuals or organisations joint activity with enforcement partners (such as the police, Home Office

Found: absence of personal blameworthiness in his solicitor’s failure to serve the appeal timeously on the Home Office

Found: animals in science sector, Lord Hanson of Flint has written to Dr Sally Robinson to set out the Home Office

Found: Home Office Research Report 99.

Found: Executive Summary In January 2025, the Home Office commissioned the Animals in Science Committee (ASC

Found: Science Committee – Strengthening the Effective Functioning of Named Persons In January 2025, the Home Office

Found: In January 2025, the Home Office commissioned the Animals in Science Committee (ASC) to provide advice

Found: This governance will meet the Home Office Biometric Strategy’s transparency requirements, take account

Found: and where it will not undermine the deployment’s specific objectives, publish advance notice on Home Office

Found: Letter dated 07/10/2026 from Matthew Pennycook MP to Nusrat Ghani MP regarding an application by the Home Office

Found: Deportation of Foreign-born Prisoners Members sought an update on scheduled discussions with Home Office

Found: Stakeholders have also drawn attention to recent Home Office proposals in relation to vehicle retention

Found: Scottish Executive on youth and gang violence • 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Office, and the Home Office

Found: Home Office Online Report 30/05. Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P ., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R.

Found: Based on Home Office estimates for England and Wales, CSA may cost Scotland in the region of £1 billion

Found: 2022 and the Slavery and Human Trafficking (Definition of Victim) Regulations 2022, alongside Home Office

Found: not being able to contact friends and family, missed appointments (including vital solicitor and home office

Found: Hate Crime Statistics for England and Wales 2025 to 2026, published by the Home Office on 8 October 2026

Found: Independent member of Home Office Quality Assurance Board for Domestic Abuse Related Dearth Reviews

Found: GB comparisons Data for England (published by the Home Office from April 2016 until March 2025 and the

Found: England and Wales is estimated at £66 billion (The economic and social costs of domestic abuse, Home Office