Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the duty of the police to limit the use of amplified noise (a) on multiple occasions, (b) at extreme volumes and (c) in public places, whether in support of (i) political or (ii) non-political objectives; and what rights her Department recognises of other people in the vicinity to (A) go about their business undisturbed and (B) mount equally noisy counter protests nearby if no action is taken to limit the volume and repetitiveness of the disturbance.

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

The Government is committed to upholding the right to lawful protest, while ensuring that legislation across the framework of public order maintains a balance between freedom of expression and the need to protect the public from serious disruption or harm. The use of these powers and the management of protest is an operational policing matter and police forces work with organisers to plan protests and assess risks, including risks posed by counter protests.

The Government has tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which will require police to take cumulative disruption into account when imposing conditions under s12 or s14 of the Public Order Act 1986, including the the time and route of the protest. This new duty will help to protect communities from repeated disruption caused by protests especially where the same site has been targeted again and again, causing disorder or distress.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) mopeds, (b) motorbikes, including scramblers, (c) electric scooters, (d) electric bikes and (e) quad bikes; were seized and disposed of by (i) crushing or breaking and (ii) selling for reuse by police forces in England in the most recent year the data is available.

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

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of mopeds, motorbikes, electric scooters, electric bikes, or quad bikes that have been seized or disposed of by police in England and Wales.

Decisions on the seizure and disposal of mopeds, motorbikes, electric scooters, electric bikes, or quad bikes are for police, who have the expertise and knowledge to make operational decisions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that spousal visa applications are processed in line with equality standards, especially where one party has (a) a learning disability and (b) Down's Syndrome.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The partner route under Appendix FM includes different requirements for those who have a disability in recognition of the Home Office’s equality obligations. For example, where the sponsor is claiming certain health disability allowances the family must meet the adequate maintenance test rather than the minimum income requirement and applicants are exempt from meeting English language requirements if they have a disability which prevents them learning English.

All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and where there are vulnerabilities, the caseworker will take this into consideration. Equality Impact Assessments are kept under review and updated as necessary.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the investigation and prosecution of any person in the United Kingdom who is suspected of being responsible for torture or inhuman treatment of Palestinian detainees since 7 October 2023.

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

The War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command are responsible for the investigation of allegations of Core International Crimes CIC). The Counter Terrorism Division within the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for the review and prosecution of CIC.

The CPS will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

The CPS has also published War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity Referral Guidelines in regard to the investigation and prosecution of allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture (Core International Crimes), in order to enable the process for investigations, arrests and prosecutions to be conducted in an orderly and transparent way.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants were apprehended between Stranraer and Belfast in each of the last three years; and how many of those were apprehended during a) daytime and b) evening sailings.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.

Information about illegal migrants encountered specifically at the Port of Cairnryan and between Stranraer and Belfast is not available in our published data.

Our published national data on enforcement activity is available at the following link and includes data on irregular migration: Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants have been apprehended onboard ferry sailings between Stranraer and Belfast in each of the last three years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.

Information about illegal migrants encountered specifically at the Port of Cairnryan and between Stranraer and Belfast is not available in our published data.

Our published national data on enforcement activity is available at the following link and includes data on irregular migration: Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal migrants have been apprehended at the Port of Cairnryan in each of the last three years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.

Information about illegal migrants encountered specifically at the Port of Cairnryan and between Stranraer and Belfast is not available in our published data.

Our published national data on enforcement activity is available at the following link and includes data on irregular migration: Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department is using to determine if a third country is safe to deport migrants.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The criteria to designate all, or part, of a country as safe for the purpose of certification of protection or human rights claims as clearly unfounded is set out in s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002:

(5)The Secretary of State may by order add a State, or part of a State, to the list in subsection (4) if satisfied that—

(a)there is in general in that State or part no serious risk of persecution of persons entitled to reside in that State or part, and

(b)removal to that State or part of persons entitled to reside there will not in general contravene the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Human Rights Convention.

Other countries not designated in this manner may still be considered to be safe in respect of an individual and their personal circumstances.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Queen's Own Highlanders Regimental Association will be required to relocate from Cameron Barracks in Inverness as a result of plans to temporarily house asylum seekers there; and if so, where they will be relocated to, and will they be compensated for any costs incurred.

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

Discussions are underway to use the Cameron Barracks site for asylum accommodation. Consideration of this site is ongoing and any final decision to utilise any site for the intended purposes will be made once the relevant factors have been properly considered.

The government remains committed to engaging with local authorities and stakeholders, and to transitioning away from hotel use as soon as practicable.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which countries she is discussing hosting return hubs for failed asylum seekers with.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

To support the UK Government’s commitment to controlled immigration, the Home Office is exploring the use of return hubs for failed asylum seekers with a number of countries.

We are not in a position to share further details that could prejudice discussions at this stage. However, the Government has been clear we will continue to work with international partners to tackle the global migration crisis.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the number of children subject to removal under her plans to remove families from the UK.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

All families will be offered financial support to enable them to return but, if that support is refused and steps are not taken to comply with the requirement to leave the UK, their return will be enforced. Decisions will continue to be governed by Section 55 duties and the Family Returns Process, with safeguarding and the best interests of the child paramount.

The Department has not published a numerical assessment of the number children who might be subject to removal under the plans announced on 17 November, which will continue to be developed over the coming months.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the risk of modern slavery in hand car washes.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery across all sectors, including hand car washes.

The Home Office funds the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), which operates a national licensing scheme in certain high-risk sectors to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation. The GLAA has specially trained officers with police-style powers to prevent, detect, and investigate serious labour exploitation across the entire economy in England and Wales.

The Government is improving the enforcement of employment rights by establishing the Fair Work Agency (FWA) through the Employment Rights Bill. The FWA will bring together the GLAA, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, and HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Team. This will ensure a more cohesive and streamlined response to exploitation.

The FWA will have strong powers to investigate and take action against a range of labour market abuses, including serious exploitation and modern slavery. This includes new powers to investigate under the Fraud Act 2006.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of asylum seekers claim to be under the age of 18 once they have reached their assigned hotel or army camp.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the news story entitled ‘Honour’-based abuse crackdown in raft of new measures, published on 26 August 2025, by when she plans to pilot a prevalence study into ‘honour’-based abuse.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

'Honour’-based abuse is a serious form of abuse that nobody should have to experience. This is why we are tackling it through our mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.

To prevent and respond effectively to forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) it is essential that we understand the prevalence of these crimes.

Building on the feasibility study conducted by the University of Birmingham in 2023/24, the Home Office has commissioned a pilot research project to support the development of a national prevalence estimate for forced marriage and female genital mutilation. This work is already underway.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to deliver clearer, cheaper and more accountable local police oversight in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The Government announced on 13 November that it plans to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) at the end of their current term of office in May 2028, subject to legislation.

PCC functions will transfer to Mayors of Combined Authorities, where possible, and to elected council leaders where it is not. Where there are no confirmed plans for a Mayor, as is the case in Staffordshire, we will create new Policing and Crime Boards to bring local council leaders together to oversee the force in their area, supported by an appointed day to day Policing and Crime lead.

We estimate that at around £100m will be saved in this Parliament as a result of these governance reforms. Once delivered, we expect they will achieve savings to the Home Office of around £20m a year, enough to fund around 320 extra police constables.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support police forces in tackling shoplifting in North West Norfolk constituency.

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

Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level. We will not stand for this.

We are ensuring the right powers are in place. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing in a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We are also removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.

Additionally, we are providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team – in partnership with the retail sector - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.

Tackling retail crime requires a partnership approach between policing representatives and business. The previous Minister for Crime and Policing launched the ‘Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy’, which was jointly developed by the police and industry and aims to provide a collaborative and evidence-based approach to preventing retail crime, including organised shop theft.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the review of standards for Home Office Type Approval of road enforcement technology will be completed.

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

My officials are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) standard in collaboration with stakeholders, including safety camera manufacturers and suppliers and technical experts from the scientific and standards communities.

The review of the standards will conclude as soon as practicable.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding her Department has allocated to local policing in North West Norfolk in the last 12 months.

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

Norfolk Police will receive up to £239.2 million in 2025-26, an increase of up to £16.5 million when compared to 2024-25.

In addition to the funding announced at the settlement, the Home Office provided £1.3 million to Norfolk Police to help with the cost of the 2025-26 police pay award.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the readiness of the West Midlands Combined Authority to assume policing governance responsibilities from the Police and Crime Commissioner; and what estimate she has made of the (a) costs of that transfer and (b) projected long-term annual savings from the merger.

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

The Government has committed in its English Devolution White Paper to transfer policing functions to Mayors of Strategic Authorities wherever boundaries of the mayoral and policing areas align, by default. Subject to Royal Assent to provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, it is anticipated that the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of West Midlands would happen by May 2028; the end of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s term of office and at the next election for the Mayor.

There are no costs to the Home Office in transferring PCC functions to the Mayor of an existing Mayoral Combined Authority. As has previously been the case for transfer of policing functions to mayors, the cost of local implementation will be expected to be met locally.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent the online sale of devices capable of compromising keyless vehicle security in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 show that 58% of vehicle theft offences involved the offender manipulating the signal from remote locking device.

In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.

We are also working with the police and industry, to ensure a strong response to vehicle crime, including keyless car theft.

The National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of, and from, vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the scale of keyless car theft enabled by signal-amplifying technology in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2024 show that 58% of vehicle theft offences involved the offender manipulating the signal from remote locking device.

In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.

We are also working with the police and industry, to ensure a strong response to vehicle crime, including keyless car theft.

The National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of, and from, vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on the review of standards for the Home Office Type Approval process applied to road enforcement technology.

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

My officials are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) standard in collaboration with stakeholders, including safety camera manufacturers and suppliers and technical experts from the scientific and standards communities.

The review of the standards will conclude as soon as practicable.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will establish a limit on the proportion of foreign national officers that may be employed by each police force.

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

Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. This is done within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing. Forces are also expected to act lawfully in line with equalities legislation and adhere to best practice in this area when carrying out recruitment.

Police forces that reflect the communities they serve are crucial to tackling crime and maintaining public trust and confidence in a modern diverse society. A person of any nationality may apply to be a police officer in England and Wales, subject to candidates satisfying eligibility and vetting requirements, including meeting relevant residency criteria.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for transferring Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of the West Midlands.

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

The Government has committed in its English Devolution White Paper to transfer policing functions to Mayors of Strategic Authorities wherever boundaries of the mayoral and policing areas align, by default. Subject to Royal Assent to provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, it is anticipated that the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor of West Midlands would happen by May 2028; the end of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s term of office and at the next election for the Mayor.

There are no costs to the Home Office in transferring PCC functions to the Mayor of an existing Mayoral Combined Authority. As has previously been the case for transfer of policing functions to mayors, the cost of local implementation will be expected to be met locally.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the access to a police front counter for people (a) living, (b) working and (c) learning in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

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

Decisions regarding the police estate, including the availability of front counters at police stations, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, or equivalents. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience.

A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing. As such, all forces including Staffordshire, now have named and contactable neighbourhood officers dedicated to addressing the issues that matter most to their communities. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve public access to police officers in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

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

Decisions regarding the police estate, including the availability of front counters at police stations, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, or equivalents. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience.

A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing. As such, all forces including Staffordshire, now have named and contactable neighbourhood officers dedicated to addressing the issues that matter most to their communities. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to provide additional support to police officers to tackle drug-related crime .in North West Norfolk constituency.

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

To deliver on our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade, it is crucial that we tackle the gangs that lure children and young people into crime and run county lines through violence and exploitation. County Lines is the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, law enforcement activity through the County Lines Programme taskforces has resulted in more than 2,300 deal lines closed, 6,200 arrests (including the arrest and subsequent charge of over 1,100 deal line holders), 3,200 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people, and 600 knives seized.

While the majority of county lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire Police, we recognise that this is a national issue which affects all forces, which is why we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC) to monitor the intelligence picture and co-ordinate a national law enforcement response. We also have a dedicated fund to help local police forces, including Norfolk Constabulary, tackle the scourge of county lines.

As part of the Programme, the NCLCC regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in, including Norfolk Constabulary. The most recent of these took place 23-29 June 2025 and resulted in 241 lines closed, as well as 1,965 arrests, 1,179 individuals safeguarded and 501 weapons seized.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of abolishing the office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall on savings to her Department.

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

The Government will work with local government and policing to design new Policing and Crime Boards in areas where it is not possible to transfer police governance functions to a mayor at the end of the current term of PCCs in 2028.

The Government estimates that around £100m will be saved in this Parliament by moving to these new arrangements. This includes no longer running separate policing elections and by abolishing Police and Crime Panels. Once delivered, these changes are expected to achieve savings to the Home Office of around £20m a year, enough to fund around 320 extra police constables. Home Office officials will engage with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and her office on the implications for Devon and Cornwall.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to transfer oversight of cannabis-based medicinal products to the Department of Health and Social Care.

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

The Home Office is the lead department for controlled drug legislation. The Department for Health and Social care and its arms’ length bodies, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (‘MHRA’), have responsibility for healthcare and medicines policy.

The Government has no plans to change this. The two departments work together with the MHRA and other agencies on issues related to the use of controlled drugs in healthcare and therefore share responsibility for policy and governance relating to cannabis-based medicinal products.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of current powers available to police officers to address anti-social behaviour in North West Norfolk constituency.

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

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2025 to Question 84267 on the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, what direct financial or in-kind support her Department currently provides to NaVCIS; whether she has assessed the adequacy of its industry-funded model for tackling organised HGV and freight theft; and whether she plans to allocate public funding to support that Service in the 2026-27 financial year.

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

As noted in response to question 84267, the Government does not fund the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) and has no plans to do so.

NaVCIS is funded by industry to provide dedicated specialist intelligence and enforcement. However we have regular discussions with key policing partners, including the NPCC, NaVCIS and Opal, the national policing intelligence unit for organised acquisitive crime, about the best ways to tackle organised freight crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of police staffing levels in Norfolk.

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

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this.

All members of the police workforce play a vital role in delivering an effective police service to communities across England and Wales. As at 31 March 2025, Norfolk Constabulary had a total paid workforce of 3,193 full-time equivalent (FTE). This includes, a total of 1,911 (FTE) police officers, 1,281 (FTE) police staff and designated officers and 101 (FTE) special constables.

It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions, to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. This includes how best to allocate the resources at their disposal to provide an effective service to local communities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of suicide prevention training for staff working in police custody suites in the North East.

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

The Government is committed to preventing deaths in or following police custody, including suicides both in custody and following release.

The College of Policing sets the professional standards for police in England and Wales. The College’s 'Vulnerability in Custody' training package, launched in 2022, seeks to improve the consistency and quality of custody training, focusing on identifying vulnerability and managing risk.

In addition, the initial training for officers under the Policing Education Qualifications Framework teaches officers to assess vulnerability and amend their approach as required, incorporating autism, learning disabilities and mental health.

Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide which additional training their officers should undertake.

The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody, in co-operation with the National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing have recently produced guidance on preventing suicides in and following police custody. Chief Constables, custody officers and other policing leaders should carefully consider this guidance and implement its recommendations where appropriate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the (a) Mayor of London and (b) British Transport Police on reducing the theft of mobile phone thefts on the London Underground.

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

The Home Secretary and Policing Minister are determined to take the strongest possible action to reduce the number of phone thefts in London and elsewhere across the country.

This is a crime that causes significant distress to victims and fuels wider criminality. That’s why we are driving greater collaboration between policing leaders, the Metropolitan Police, National Crime Agency, the Mayor of London, British Transport Police, leading tech companies and others to break the business model of mobile phone thieves.

All stakeholders must play their part in designing out and disincentivising theft, disrupting the resale of stolen phones, exploring technological solutions to make devices harder to re-register or resell, and helping the public protect themselves and the data and personal information on their devices.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the prevalence of organised begging networks operating in England.

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

The Government has introduced targeted measures in the Crime and Policing Bill to replace the powers in the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 to ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe, including a new criminal offence of facilitating begging for gain.

This is intended to address organised begging, which is often facilitated by criminal gangs, and exploits vulnerable individuals.

This offence makes it unlawful for anyone to organise others to beg, for example, by driving people to places for them to beg. It will allow the police to tackle the organised crime gangs that use this exploitative technique to obtain cash for illicit activity. Recording these crimes will also allow us to develop an improved picture of prevalence of this activity across the country.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to work with relevant authorities to tackle the illegal sale of cigarettes in (a) England and (b) the parliamentary constituency of Romford.

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

The Government is committed to reducing the number of illicit tobacco and vaping products on sale nationally.

In January 2024, HMRC and Border Force published their latest illicit tobacco strategy, ‘Stubbing Out the Problem’. This sets out the Governments’ continued commitment to restrict the trade in illicit tobacco with a focus on reducing demand, and to tackle and disrupt organised crime groups. This strategy is supported by £100 million of new smokefree funding allocated over 5 years to boost existing HMRC and Border Force enforcement capability.

HMRC are also working closely with both Trading Standards and Border Force to develop a robust compliance approach for the introduction of Vaping Products Duty (VPD) on 1 October 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the use of catapults as offensive weapons.

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

The Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention chaired a meeting with concerned MPs and the Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals at DEFRA to discuss this issue.

We are clear that catapults should not be used against wildlife, property or people, and we are convening a roundtable to understand the problem better and to identify what more can be done.

We are conducting a round table to consider the matter further.

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 establishing a statutory Code of Practice on the Sikh articles of faith to prevent discrimination.

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

The Home Office has made no assessment of the potential merits of establishing a statutory Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith to prevent discrimination as religious discrimination is not a matter for the Home Office.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on ensuring parity of policing resources between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

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

Policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and decisions on the allocation of police funding rests with the Northern Ireland Executive.

Since 2010, the Home Office has had responsibility for police funding only in England and Wales.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending Section 37 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to exclude any part of the Cannabis Sativa L plant with THC of 0.2% or less.

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

The flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant are controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (‘the 1971 Act’) irrespective of their tetrahydrocannabinol (‘THC’) content. The Government has no plans to review the definition of cannabis for control purposes.

Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug under Part 2 of Schedule 2 the 1971 Act. ‘Cannabis’ is defined in section 37(1) of the MDA 1971 and is, in essence, the plant or any part of the plant with the exception of the mature stalk; fibre produced from the mature stalk; or the seed of any such plant. It is also listed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (‘the 2001 Regulations’) and designated under the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2015 (2015 Order). As such, it is unlawful to possess, supply, offer to supply, produce, import or export this drug except under a Home Office licence.

THC, as a cannabinol derivative, is separately controlled as Class B drug. It is also an offence to cultivate any plant of the genus Cannabis except under a Home Office licence. Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (‘CBPMs’) are defined separately in the legislation and placed in Schedule 2 to the 2001 Regulations. Specialist clinicians can prescribe unlicensed CBPMs (i.e. CBPMs without a marketing authorisation granted under medicines legislation) where they deem it clinically appropriate and in the best interests of their patients.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to support the enforcement of legislation to tackle the illicit use of nitrous oxide.

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

Nitrous oxide was controlled under Class C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in November 2023.

The government has not provided specific support to the police for the enforcement of this legislation. There were 2,564 seizures of nitrous oxide by police and Border Force in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024. This is an increase of 237% upon the previous year’s figure (761). Police forces accounted for almost all nitrous oxide seizures (2,552).

Further information about this data is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seizures-of-drugs-in-england-and-wales-financial-year-ending-2024

The most recent data about drug misuse from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, showed that 0.9% of those aged 16-59 in England and Wales used nitrous oxide in the year ending 31 March 2024, a reduction from 1.3% in the previous year. This is equivalent to a reduction from 419,000 to 311,000 users and the lowest figure since this data was first collected in the year ending March 2013.

Further information about this data is available at the following link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/drugmisuseinenglandandwalesyearendingmarch2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) hate crime and (b) non hate crime arrests have taken place for social media posts, messages and interactions in England in each year since 2015.

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

The Home Office does not hold arrest data specific to social media posts, messages and interactions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Team have been tasked (1) to secure and preserve admissible evidence of torture or inhuman treatment of Palestinian detainees since 7 October 2023, (2) to assess potential command responsibility, and (3) to issue guidance to immigration and border officials in connection with any person present in the UK who is reasonably suspected of responsibility for torture or inhuman treatment of Palestinian detainees, consistent with Articles 5–7 of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the UK’s non-refoulement obligations under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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

The War Crimes Team at the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command are responsible for the investigation of allegations of Core International Crimes CIC). The Counter Terrorism Division within the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for the review and prosecution of CIC.

The CPS will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

The CPS has also published War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity Referral Guidelines in regard to the investigation and prosecution of allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture (Core International Crimes), in order to enable the process for investigations, arrests and prosecutions to be conducted in an orderly and transparent way.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Police Scotland has had discussions with her Department on its investigation into McClures Solicitors asset protection trusts.

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

The Public Safety Group has no role in data collection on trustee mismanagement, or in any police investigations which may or may not be going on.

Matters relating to solicitor regulation or misgivings are for Ministry of Justice’s Arms Lengths Bodies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have been subject to disciplinary action as a result of (a) poor communication and (b) language comprehension in the last five years.

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

The Home Office does not hold the requested information.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on cases handled under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 as a part of its published Police Misconduct: England and Wales statistical series:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics

This includes information on the volume of complaints, internal conduct matters and recordable conduct matters which, if proven, could result in disciplinary action.

Allegations are categorised using the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) allegation types, which includes a category of impolite language/tone. Data on the volume of allegations and action taken, by IOPC allegation type can be found in the misconduct allegations by type open data table, available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-misconduct-open-data-tables

The Home Office does not currently collect information on cases that resulted in disciplinary action for unsatisfactory performance, handled under the Police (Performance) Regulations 2020.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) police misconduct cases and (b) police misconduct cases involving non-UK national police officers since 2020.

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

The Home Office does not hold the requested information.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on cases handled under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 as a part of its published Police Misconduct: England and Wales statistical series:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics

This includes information on the protected characteristics of those facing complaint, conduct matter and recordable conduct matter allegations. The Home Office does not collect information on the nationality of those who face allegations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the National Crime Agency has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years.

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

The National Crime Agency has spent around the following amounts on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five financial years:

• 2020/21 – £0.9m
• 2021/22 – £0.9m
• 2022/23 – £1.2m
• 2023/24 – £1.4m

• 2024/25 – £1.3m

These figures include both translation and interpretation costs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national officers have failed vetting or re-vetting procedures since 2015.

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

The Home Office does not centrally collect information on the number of police officers who fail vetting or re-vetting procedures. This information is held individually by each of the 43 territorial police forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proportion of police officers that are of foreign nationality or non-native English speakers on public confidence in police forces.

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

Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. This is done within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing. We expect all forces to uphold the highest standards in recruitment so that only those fit to serve as police officers are appointed.

The Home Office does not collect data on the nationality of police officers, nor on police officers that have completed English language training. However, all candidates for appointment as a police officer must meet the standards set by the College of Policing.

As set out in Regulations, police officers must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. We are working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that forces continue to make improvements to all entry routes. As part of this work, the College of Policing is currently consulting police leaders to assess and determine the appropriate English language standard required for all policing roles.

Forces are operationally independent, and decisions about training requirements and the deployment of officers remain an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that police officers demonstrate fluent spoken and written English before being deployed in frontline roles.

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

Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. This is done within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing. We expect all forces to uphold the highest standards in recruitment so that only those fit to serve as police officers are appointed.

The Home Office does not collect data on the nationality of police officers, nor on police officers that have completed English language training. However, all candidates for appointment as a police officer must meet the standards set by the College of Policing.

As set out in Regulations, police officers must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. We are working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that forces continue to make improvements to all entry routes. As part of this work, the College of Policing is currently consulting police leaders to assess and determine the appropriate English language standard required for all policing roles.

Forces are operationally independent, and decisions about training requirements and the deployment of officers remain an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers recruited since 2019 have required English language training after appointment.

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

Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. This is done within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing. We expect all forces to uphold the highest standards in recruitment so that only those fit to serve as police officers are appointed.

The Home Office does not collect data on the nationality of police officers, nor on police officers that have completed English language training. However, all candidates for appointment as a police officer must meet the standards set by the College of Policing.

As set out in Regulations, police officers must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. We are working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that forces continue to make improvements to all entry routes. As part of this work, the College of Policing is currently consulting police leaders to assess and determine the appropriate English language standard required for all policing roles.

Forces are operationally independent, and decisions about training requirements and the deployment of officers remain an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department provides to police forces on English language standards for police recruitment.

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

Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. This is done within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing. We expect all forces to uphold the highest standards in recruitment so that only those fit to serve as police officers are appointed.

The Home Office does not collect data on the nationality of police officers, nor on police officers that have completed English language training. However, all candidates for appointment as a police officer must meet the standards set by the College of Policing.

As set out in Regulations, police officers must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. We are working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that forces continue to make improvements to all entry routes. As part of this work, the College of Policing is currently consulting police leaders to assess and determine the appropriate English language standard required for all policing roles.

Forces are operationally independent, and decisions about training requirements and the deployment of officers remain an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) fines, (b) community punishments, (c) cautions and (d) custodial sentences have been administered for the illegal possession of nitrous oxide in England since November 2023.

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

The Home Office collects information on the number of notifiable offences, and their investigative outcomes, recorded by the police in England and Wales. This includes possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and possession of nitrous oxide with intent to supply.

Information on the number of the Cautions, Community resolutions and Penalty Notices for Disorder for these offences issued between 1^st November 2023 and 30^th June 2025 are shown in the table below.

Source: Home Office Data Hub, Police Recorded Crime and Outcomes

The Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on court sentencing outcomes including for the illegal possession of nitrous oxide in England and Wales. The latest published statistics for the period between 1^st December 2023 and the 30^th June 2025 are presented in the table below.

Source: Outcomes by Offences data tool, which can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many serving police officers in England and Wales are foreign nationals, broken down by nationality.

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

Decisions about police recruitment, including how recruitment and selection processes are run, are a matter for Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners and are therefore managed locally by forces. This is done within a national application, assessment and selection framework, in line with national guidance maintained by the College of Policing. We expect all forces to uphold the highest standards in recruitment so that only those fit to serve as police officers are appointed.

The Home Office does not collect data on the nationality of police officers, nor on police officers that have completed English language training. However, all candidates for appointment as a police officer must meet the standards set by the College of Policing.

As set out in Regulations, police officers must demonstrate competence in written and spoken English. We are working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that forces continue to make improvements to all entry routes. As part of this work, the College of Policing is currently consulting police leaders to assess and determine the appropriate English language standard required for all policing roles.

Forces are operationally independent, and decisions about training requirements and the deployment of officers remain an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Oral Statement of 18 November 2025 on Asylum Policy (Official Report, Vol.775, c.509-513), whether equalities impact assessments have been made for the new measures announced.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Specific Equality Impact Assessments will be produced for individual policies in due course. These will be kept under review to ensure that there are no unintended impacts on people with protected characteristics.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 85948 on Immigration: English Language, whether the English language requirements would apply to asylum seekers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The English language requirements will not apply to asylum seekers. As a signatory to the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), we are legally obliged to consider all asylum claims admitted to the UK asylum system and to consider people’s human rights in all circumstances where a person would be removed from the UK. This is irrespective of a person’s ability to speak English, and it ensures that we do not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they would face persecution or serious harm.

Every asylum claim admitted to the UK asylum system is carefully considered on its individual merits. Protection is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention, or a claimant faces a real risk of serious harm. Those found not to need protection are refused. Once appeal rights are exhausted, they are expected to leave the UK. Otherwise, they will be liable for enforcement action and removal.

English language proficiency is a requirement across a range of other immigration routes. Full details, including the list of routes and acceptable evidence, is available in the official guidance on Assessing the English Language requirement (accessible version) - GOV.UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) review and (b) update Ukraine-related immigration (i) policies and (ii) guidance (A) in general and (B) on the application of protection principles depending on immigration route; what evidential criteria are used to justify refusal based on internal relocation; and if she will suspend removals to Ukraine during that review.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Our assessment of the situation in Ukraine is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs), which are available on the Gov.UK website.

The CPINs for Ukraine are based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The material drawn from those sources, including links to the original documents, are available in the published notes. This provides the evidence base for our assessment, which itself considers the situation in general, and regionally, against the relevant legal and policy framework for considering protection claims. Decision makers will consider how this applies in individual cases, including considerations such as internal relocation. The CPINs are kept under constant review and are updated periodically to ensure they remain accurate and reflect current country conditions.

Decisions on whether to remove individuals are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the situation at the time.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of digitising the provision of English language tests for student and working visas on applicants.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office is committed to maintaining the highest standards of security and integrity in our immigration system whilst modernising services for legitimate applicants. Any changes to English language testing delivery through the upcoming Home Office English Language Testing (HOELT) procurement shall include robust safeguards including identity verification, secure test delivery, active monitoring, and fraud detection.

The fundamental service shall be the same as the current SELT provision that is being replaced – a test which is largely digital already, albeit sat in a physical test centre.

We will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders, experts, and the market to ensure proposals maintain rigorous standards, comply with regulatory requirements, and consider how language testing can be transformed to deliver the best service possible for our customers, by improving accessibility and efficiency for applicants.

Any additional impacts will be addressed through a comprehensive Equalities Impact Assessment and associated mobilisation activity upon the conclusion of procurement and before the HOELT service goes live for customers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that no retrospective eligibility conditions will be applied to existing British National (Overseas) visa holders who have settled in the UK on the basis of the rules originally published for the five year pathway.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

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 the Electronic Travel Authorisation on European business representatives attending trade events and conferences in the UK.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

ETAs have been introduced to strengthen the security of our border. They also make travel easier by further digitising our immigration and borders system, ensuring millions of visitors, including business travellers, enjoy a seamless experience. The department does not hold data on numbers of visitors attending trade events and conferences.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that any changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain eligibility criteria do not retrospectively disadvantage British National (Overseas) visa holders who arrived in the UK under the five year settlement pathway on the basis of the Government’s original commitments; and whether BN(O) families will be exempted from potential new income thresholds.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's open consultation on Earned settlement, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of applying the proposed tax-contribution requirement to (a) non-working dependants and (b) other members of British National (Overseas) families.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact on families arriving from Hong Kong under the British National (Overseas) visa route of introducing a minimum income requirement at the Indefinite Leave to Remain stage.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce new English language requirements for dependants on the British National (Overseas) visa route who were accepted under conditions that did not include such requirements.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed minimum income requirement set out in the Government’s consultation on Indefinite Leave to Remain rules will apply to applicants on the British National (Overseas) visa route.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.

BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.

The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.

In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Oral Statement of 20 November 2025 on A Fairer Pathway to Settlement (Official Report, Vol.775, c.889-891), whether equalities impact assessments have been made for (a) the decision to extend the standard settlement qualification time from five to ten years and (b) the other measures she announced would go for consultation.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The new earned settlement model outlined in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement has been subject to an equality impact assessment. Equality impact assessments are kept under regular review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what sliding scale her Department will use to impose visa penalties.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office keeps the returns cooperation of all its international partners under close and regular review and will not hesitate to take action where needed. Countries which do not cooperate on returns must demonstrate rapid and sustained improvements in their returns cooperation, to allow for the swift and frictionless return of their nationals who have no right to be in the UK, in order to avoid visa penalties.

If a country does not cooperate on returns, that country should no longer expect a normal relationship on visas, and this government will not hesitate to impose Visa Penalties as set out in Sections 70-74 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. This could include: requiring that entry clearance is not granted pursuant to an application before the end of a specified period; suspending the power to grant entry clearance pursuant to an application; requiring an application to be treated as invalid for the purposes of the immigration rules; or requiring an applicant to pay £190 for an application.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many work visa compliance visits were carried out for illegal working in the fast food delivery economy in the most recent year for which data is available; and how many breaches were found for (a) Ubereats, (b) Justeat, (c) Deliveroo, (d) Foodhub, (e) McDonalds/McDelivery and (f) others.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

However, the latest published data that we do have on illegal working and recent enforcement activity focusing on delivery drivers can be found at the links below: Illegal working and enforcement activity to the end of September 2025 - GOV.UK

Hundreds arrested in illegal delivery rider shut down   - GOV.UK

Illegal working activity between 20 July and 26 July 2025 - GOV.UK

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 reducing the move-on period for newly recognised refugees from 56 days to 28 days on (a) rates of refugee homelessness and (b) local authority budgets and services.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

From 1 September 2025, the Home Office took the decision to pause the 56 day move on period pilot for single adults in receipt of a positive asylum decision, with the exception of individuals who are pregnant, over the age of 65 or have a known/evidence disability, as defined by the 2010 Equality Act.

This decision was taken to ensure that the asylum system continues to run efficiently, enabling the Home Office to continue reducing the overall number of asylum hotels in use, and the number of people staying in them.

We continue to work with local authorities and use our Asylum Move On Liaison Officers alongside Migrant Help to support newly recognised refugees during the move on period and to mitigate the risk of homelessness.

The Home Office will continue to monitor the impact of all our policies on the number of hotels in use for accommodating asylum seekers, the overall cost of the asylum accommodation estate, the wider effect on local communities, and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department offers (a) bonuses and (b) financial incentives to asylum caseworkers for meeting targets and clearing backlogs.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Asylum decisions are subject to stringent quality checks to ensure that claims are properly considered, decisions are sound, and protection is granted to those who genuinely need it.

Performance targets are agreed with managers and reviewed regularly, supported by robust performance management processes. Rewards are linked to the consistent delivery of outputs, high quality work and professional behaviour that reflect the values of the Civil Service. This framework ensures that any recognition of staff goes hand in hand with maintaining the high standards expected in asylum decision-making.

To address delays and reduce costs to the taxpayer, we introduced a short-term scheme to recognise colleagues who produced additional output while continuing to meet their existing targets, and in line with our quality assurance framework. It was tightly controlled, subject to regular review, and monitored closely to ensure correct and consistent implementation.

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 implementing additional safeguards to protect victims of rape, including the bail conditions of those charged with rape.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We recognise the devastating impact sexual violence can have and are absolutely committed to tackling rape and sexual offences and achieving the best possible outcome for victims.

We are providing £13.1m to the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP), which is driving forward Operation Soteria, ensuring police forces better support and safeguard victims of rape and use every tool at their disposal to disrupt perpetrators and bring them to justice. Tools including imposing appropriate bail conditions and applying for protective orders, such as Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and Sexual Risk Orders at the earliest opportunity.

We know there is further to go to ensure people have the confidence to report these offences and trust they will be taken seriously when they do. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the right powers are available to tackle sexual crimes.

This includes ensuring there are specialist rape and sexual offence teams in every police force and introducing independent legal advice for victims of adult rape, to help them to uphold their legal rights.

We are going further than before to deliver a cross-government transformative approach to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG), underpinned by a new VAWG strategy to be published as soon as possible.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her department has recovered from asylum hotel providers in excess profits in each year since the creation of the contract, broken down by provider.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Since the creation of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts the Home Office has recovered £45.9m in excess profits.

It is not possible to give a yearly breakdown of the amounts. This breakdown covers the period to August 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are being taken to ensure reports of domestic abuse are taken seriously and not missed by the system.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We expect police to take all reports of domestic abuse seriously, taking necessary steps to protect victims. Missed opportunities are costing lives and far too many have already been lost.

At present, we know many domestic abuse victims do not receive an adequate response when they phone the police. The government will not stand by while women are failed by systems charged with keeping them safe. That's why earlier this year we launched 'Raneem's Law' in the first five police forces. Under 'Raneem's Law', domestic abuse specialists are embedded in 999 control rooms to improve the police response to reports of domestic abuse. The specialists use their expertise to advise on risk assessments, review 999 calls and support officers responding to domestic abuse incidents.

Through an expert-led and cohesive police response, ‘Raneem’s Law’ helps ensure that when a victim has the courage to come forward it will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves.

We are also committed to ensuring policing have the right skills and training to respond appropriately to reports of domestic abuse, and are working closely with the new National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection to deliver this.

The Home Office has already invested £13.1 million this year into the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP). This funding includes an uplift of nearly £2 million to deliver a robust package of training improvements.

Grounded in academic research and behaviour change science, new training programmes will prioritise trauma-informed learning to ensure that all officers are well equipped to investigate these crimes and provide support to victims.

The scale of violence against women and girls in our country is intolerable and this Government is treating it as the national emergency that it is. These steps are just some of many that we are taking towards tangible and impactful change.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the theft of (a) farm equipment and (b) livestock.

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

We will be implementing the Equipment Theft Act, making it harder for criminals to sell on stolen vehicles and equipment and assisting the police with identifying the owner.

The Act’s secondary legislation will require forensic marking to be applied to new All-Terrain Vehicles and for the details to be registered on a property database, for forensic marking to be applied to all new GPS units for use in agricultural and commercial settings, and for the details to be registered on a property database. This provides an important additional tool to help police identify if an item is stolen and to return it to its rightful owner.

Additionally, the Crime and Policing Bill introduces a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, which will help the police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

This financial year we have provided the first Home Office funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit. The NRCU, takes the lead on improving co-ordination and partnership working, which provides police forces with specialist operational support in their responses to rural crime, such as the theft of farming machinery and livestock theft.

We have also worked closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the new Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy which has just recently been published (25^th November). The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including theft of farming machinery and livestock theft as priority areas of focus for policing.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of retail crime in the West Midlands; and what steps her Department is taking to support local police forces to help tackle (a) persistent and (b) organised shop theft.

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

Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level. There were 33,363 shoplifting offences recorded by West Midlands police in the year ending June 2025, a 28% increase on the previous year. Nationally shop theft increased by 13% on the previous year.

We are ensuring the right powers are in place. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing in a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We are also removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.

Additionally, we are providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.

Tackling retail crime requires a partnership approach between policing representatives and business. The previous Minister for Crime and Policing launched the ‘Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy’, which was jointly developed by the police and industry and aims to provide a collaborative and evidence-based approach to preventing retail crime, including organised shop theft.

The Police Funding Settlement of £200 million will support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood personnel.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many vehicles were seized as a result of drivers not having the required insurance in place in England for each year from 2015 to date.

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

The Home Office does not centrally collect information on the number of vehicles seized by police forces in England and Wales, as a result of drivers not having the required insurance.

The Home Office publishes information on Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) and other outcomes for motoring offences, including licence, insurance and record-keeping offences, as a part of its annual Police powers and procedures: Roads policing statistical publication.

The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales

Under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, police officers have the power to seize and remove a vehicle if they reasonably believe it is being driven without a valid driving licence or without insurance. Before seizing, the officer should warn the driver that the vehicle will be taken unless the required documents are produced immediately. Once seized, the vehicle is taken to a designated recovery compound, and the owner must provide proof of licence and insurance and pay statutory removal and storage fees to reclaim it. If unclaimed within the set period, the vehicle may be disposed of under Section 165B.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support local enforcement action against illegal off-road bikes and antisocial vehicle use in the West Midlands.

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

Tackling criminality and anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission to take back our streets.

Our Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles used for anti-social behaviour including street racing, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing the vehicles.

The Government has also consulted on proposals to allow the police to dispose in quicker time of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially and ridden without insurance or a driving licence.

Combined, these actions will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially and illegally by sending a clear message to would be offenders and to communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to (a) prevent and (b) tackle transnational oppression.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

As I set out in my statement to the House on 14 May, the Defending Democracy Taskforce conducted a review into the UK’s response to transnational repression (TNR).

In line with the Review recommendations, this Government has introduced new training and guidance for all 45 territorial police forces. This includes upskilling 999 call handlers to improve frontline identification and escalation of state-directed crimes. Additionally, the Government published practical safety guidance on GOV.UK for individuals who believe they may be at risk.

The Government continues to work closely with international partners, victims of transnational repression, and civil society organisations to tackle this threat. For example, in November I met with UK-based pro-democracy activists targeted by Hong Kong arrest warrants and bounties to listen to their experiences of TNR and provide reassurance on the measures Government is taking to tackle the evolving threat.

Beyond that review, the National Security Act 2023 modernises the UK’s ability to detect, deter and disrupt hostile activity - including transnational repression - via a suite of new offences such as the Foreign Interference Offence. This ensures that the UK’s legal framework reflects the seriousness of TNR and raises the cost to foreign states of engaging in such activity.

The Government has also provided comprehensive written and oral evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) as part of its inquiry into TNR, and submitted a detailed response to its report in October.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued on the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service by (a) the Metropolitan Police and (b) private contractors.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Home Office has not issued guidance regarding the provision of official cars to Ministers outside the Government Car Service, whether through (a) the Metropolitan Police or (b) private contractors.

The provision of any vehicle as part of a protective security package is determined by an assessment of threat and risk faced by a Minister.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the potential risk of hybrid threats, including migration pressures, at the EU–Belarus border and their potential impact on UK security.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

National security is the first priority of any government and a foundation of our Plan for Change. We take any malicious activity that might pose a significant threat to our security and public safety extremely seriously and are committed to strengthening our defences against state threats. This includes continuing to implement measures contained in the National Security Act 2023, which make the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts.

The Home Office and its partner agencies continue to work closely with their international counterparts, including those working at the EU external border, to understand the drivers behind migration patterns, assess risks, and develop our responses accordingly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of tool thefts on lost working days to the economy.

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

This Government recognises that tradespeople are often targeted by criminals who seek to steal tools. We also recognise the deeply damaging impact on victims who rely on their tools to earn a living.

Whilst we do not have an official estimate of the costs of tool theft, recent research commissioned by industry indicated that 9% of victims in their cohort lost over three days of work as a result.

In the Government’s Small Business Plan, published on 31 July, we committed to working alongside industry and small business representatives to tackle the problem of tool theft. We are partnering with tradespeople’s representatives, policing and other partners, including retailers and manufacturers, to co-design actions Government and industry can take to encourage theft prevention.

A key part of making acquisitive crime less attractive to criminals is making stolen goods harder to sell on. That is why we work closely with policing and academic leads to examine what more can be done to tackle the disposal markets for stolen goods and reduce the profit from acquisitive crime.

We are providing £2m funding for the National Business Crime Centre over the next three financial years to help tackle the crimes most affecting businesses today, including tackling the sale of stolen goods.

The Chancellor has announced a real terms increase in police spending power over the next three years and more detail on force funding allocations for 2026-27 will be set out at the forthcoming police funding settlement.

The 2025-26 settlement represents a 6.4% cash increase and a 3.9% real terms increase in funding.

The Police Funding Settlement of £200 million will support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood personnel.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had recent discussions with Thames Valley Police on tackling number plate thefts in Oxford East.

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

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.

We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.

Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.

This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has had with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) on tackling the theft of number plates.

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

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.

We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.

Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.

This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on combatting the theft of number plates.

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

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.

We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.

Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.

This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle number plate theft.

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

Everyone should have confidence in the law and should feel protected. That is why the Home Office works closely with the police, industry, and other government departments to ensure we are collectively doing everything we can to cut crime and prevent it from happening in the first place.

We work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council to find solutions to all types of vehicle theft. We do this via the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, which focus on the prevention and deterrence of theft of vehicles.

Chief Constables have operational independence to tackle the crimes that matter most to their communities, and we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues.

This will be supported by the delivery of up to an additional 3000 officers into neighbourhood teams by spring next year.

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 exposure to online drug marketing on teenage drug use in West Dorset.

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

The Government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of online drug marketing on drug use among young people. We are committed to protecting young people from the harms of drug use through a range of universal and targeted prevention activity and are using the recent report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) ‘A Whole-System Response to Drug Prevention in the UK’ to inform our approach.

Furthermore, the Government is taking a co-ordinated approach to tackle harmful online content, which includes illegal drugs. This strategy combines law enforcement activity, stronger engagement with technology companies, improved education to raise awareness of risks and harms, and the introduction of measures that require internet companies to take responsibility for content on their platforms.

This includes strengthening the regulatory framework to address online harms. The unlawful sale of controlled drugs online is a priority offence under the illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act 2023. In-scope providers are legally required to implement measures to protect their users and to remove illegal content from their platforms. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the Act, is closely monitoring compliance with the regime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish data, broken down by police service, of all offences by category associated with suspects or offenders who were detected using live facial recognition (LFR) technology during each calendar year since 2016, along with any other categories of people added to LFR watchlists, if these were not suspects or offenders.

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

The Government is committed to equipping police forces with the tools they need to tackle serious crimes, locate offenders and bring them to justice. As part of this commitment, the Home Office has funded the roll-out of ten live facial recognition (LFR) vans.

The National Audit Office reports on Home Office expenditure which is then independently scrutinised and reported on by the Public Accounts Committee.

Oversight of LFR is provided by a number of independent bodies including the Information Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services.

However, oversight is fragmented and we want to improve it through the creation of a bespoke new legal framework. Subject to consultation, that framework will include specific oversight for the use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of arrests made following the police’s use of facial recognition technology, including the use of LFR, as specific LFR deployment decisions rest with individual police forces. The department is however funding national evaluation work to understand better the impact of facial recognition on police and crime outcomes.

Where police forces are using LFR, the number of arrests made following each deployment are published on their respective websites. Further, the Met Police have published these in their recent Live Facial Recognition Annual Report September 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of measures to deter antisocial behaviour among young people in rural areas, such as North East Hampshire.

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

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

Under the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we are putting neighbourhood officers back into communities, both urban and rural, and restoring public confidence by bringing back community-led, visible policing. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary will receive £5,187,776 as part of the funding settlement for 2025-26.

In addition, the Home Office is providing £66.3 million funding in 2025-26 to all 43 forces in England and Wales to deliver high visibility patrols in the areas worst affected by knife crime, serious violence and anti-social behaviour. As part of the Hotspot Action Fund, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary will be in receipt of £1,454,452.

Following on from the Safer Streets Summer Initiative, the Home Secretary has announced a “Winter of Action” in which police forces across England and Wales will again partner with local businesses, councils and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and other local issues that matter most to their communities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what independent scrutiny is being carried out on the use of the ten new live facial recognition systems provided to local police services by the Home Office, starting in November 2025, and when the conclusions of this scrutiny will be published.

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

The Government is committed to equipping police forces with the tools they need to tackle serious crimes, locate offenders and bring them to justice. As part of this commitment, the Home Office has funded the roll-out of ten live facial recognition (LFR) vans.

The National Audit Office reports on Home Office expenditure which is then independently scrutinised and reported on by the Public Accounts Committee.

Oversight of LFR is provided by a number of independent bodies including the Information Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services.

However, oversight is fragmented and we want to improve it through the creation of a bespoke new legal framework. Subject to consultation, that framework will include specific oversight for the use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of arrests made following the police’s use of facial recognition technology, including the use of LFR, as specific LFR deployment decisions rest with individual police forces. The department is however funding national evaluation work to understand better the impact of facial recognition on police and crime outcomes.

Where police forces are using LFR, the number of arrests made following each deployment are published on their respective websites. Further, the Met Police have published these in their recent Live Facial Recognition Annual Report September 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 20th November to question 86600, if she will use her powers under Section 41A of The Police Act 1996 to require Dorset Police to investigate remedial measures by reason of its failure to conclude to discharge its functions relating to the investigation and prosecution of fraud.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Operational policing is not a Home Office matter. Chief Constables are operationally independent, with decisions often made based on threat, risk and harm.

The Home Secretary has powers under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to ensure an efficient and effective policing system, which includes the power under S.40 and 40A of the Police Act 1996.

Under the Policing Protocol these powers can only be used in exceptional circumstances in order to prevent or mitigate risk to the public or national security. Where necessary, this Government has been clear it will provide active leadership for policing to make it more efficient and effective.

Fraud is now incorporated into His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Police Efficiency Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) framework. The upcoming inspection cycle will formally assess each police force in England and Wales on their performance in tackling fraud. This will provide valuable insight on investigative practices whilst also improving standards and consistency across police forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 20th November to question 86600, to whom Dorset Police is accountable for discontinuing investigations into serious fraud.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Operational policing is not a Home Office matter. Chief Constables are operationally independent, with decisions often made based on threat, risk and harm.

The Home Secretary has powers under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to ensure an efficient and effective policing system, which includes the power under S.40 and 40A of the Police Act 1996.

Under the Policing Protocol these powers can only be used in exceptional circumstances in order to prevent or mitigate risk to the public or national security. Where necessary, this Government has been clear it will provide active leadership for policing to make it more efficient and effective.

Fraud is now incorporated into His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Police Efficiency Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) framework. The upcoming inspection cycle will formally assess each police force in England and Wales on their performance in tackling fraud. This will provide valuable insight on investigative practices whilst also improving standards and consistency across police forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure biological males cannot be recorded as women in the crime statistics.

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

The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of sex within the Equality Act.

The Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team, based in the Office for National Statistics, are also in the process of reviewing standards and guidance for statistical data on sex and on gender identity.

Once this has concluded the Government will review current guidance to agencies that collect crime statistics across the criminal justice system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations the Department is having with relevant stakeholders in the Hexham constituency regarding steps to reduce rural crime.

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

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are protecting rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

Our engagement with rural areas is through the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) which is why we are working closely with them to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure we are tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with more officers helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life. Under the Guarantee, each community, including rural communities, will have a named, contactable officer to turn to.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of ATVs, quad bikes and GPS systems. We will bring the necessary secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit assists all police forces, including Northumbria, in tackling rural crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations the Department is having with relevant stakeholders in Northumberland regarding steps to reduce rural crime.

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

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are protecting rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

Our engagement with rural areas is through the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) which is why we are working closely with them to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure we are tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with more officers helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life. Under the Guarantee, each community, including rural communities, will have a named, contactable officer to turn to.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of ATVs, quad bikes and GPS systems. We will bring the necessary secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit assists all police forces, including Northumbria, in tackling rural crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations the Department is having with relevant stakeholders in the North East regarding steps to reduce rural crime.

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

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are protecting rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

Our engagement with rural areas is through the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) which is why we are working closely with them to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure we are tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with more officers helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life. Under the Guarantee, each community, including rural communities, will have a named, contactable officer to turn to.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of ATVs, quad bikes and GPS systems. We will bring the necessary secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit assists all police forces, including Northumbria, in tackling rural crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations the Department is having with relevant stakeholders in the Hexham constituency regarding steps to reduce farm theft in rural areas.

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

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are protecting rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

Our engagement with rural areas is through the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) which is why we are working closely with them to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure we are tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with more officers helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life. Under the Guarantee, each community, including rural communities, will have a named, contactable officer to turn to.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of ATVs, quad bikes and GPS systems. We will bring the necessary secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit assists all police forces, including Northumbria, in tackling rural crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations the Department is having with relevant stakeholders in Northumberland regarding steps to reduce farm theft in rural areas.

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

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are protecting rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

Our engagement with rural areas is through the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) which is why we are working closely with them to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure we are tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with more officers helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life. Under the Guarantee, each community, including rural communities, will have a named, contactable officer to turn to.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of ATVs, quad bikes and GPS systems. We will bring the necessary secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit assists all police forces, including Northumbria, in tackling rural crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what conversations the Department is having with relevant stakeholders in the North East regarding steps to reduce farm theft in rural areas.

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

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Through our Safer Streets Mission, we are protecting rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

Our engagement with rural areas is through the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) which is why we are working closely with them to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy. This joined up approach between government and policing will help ensure we are tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock.

Rural communities will also benefit from more local visible policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with more officers helping to tackle crimes like anti-social behaviour and county lines which can have a devastating impact on rural life. Under the Guarantee, each community, including rural communities, will have a named, contactable officer to turn to.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This will provide a valuable tool for police in tackling stolen equipment and machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its aims to tackle the theft and resale of ATVs, quad bikes and GPS systems. We will bring the necessary secondary legislation when parliamentary time allows.

This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit assists all police forces, including Northumbria, in tackling rural crime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of tool thefts in England have been made in each year since 2015.

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

The Home Office does not routinely collect data on the items stolen in theft offences which are reported to the police.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) provides estimates of the proportion of theft offences reported to the survey where tools were stolen. This will include incidents which were not reported to the police but will exclude incidents which affected commercial premises.

The most recently published data is presented in the table below

Table 1: Number of incidents and proportion where a tool was stolen, in year ending March 2024

Crime Survey for England and Wales, Office for National Statistics

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the future viability of the Community Speedwatch Scheme.

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

Decisions on adopting the Community Speedwatch scheme, and other schemes, are operational matters for individual Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to take, based on their local policing plans.

They are best placed to understand how to meet the needs of local communities.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of permitting self-defence weapons on personal safety.

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

The Government has no plans to permit the possession or use of currently prohibited weapons, such as pepper sprays or tasers, for self-defence purposes. Pepper sprays and tasers are prohibited under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

The Government considers that increased availability of such items potentially increases the risk of them being used by violent criminals, alongside a risk that they may be used inappropriately or irresponsibly in a variety of different circumstances, increasing the risk of serious injuries.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data the Department holds on the theft of agricultural equipment in the last (i) 5 years, (ii) 10 years in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

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

The Home Office does not routinely collect data on the items stolen in theft offences which are reported to the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many mobile phones were stolen in the most recent year for which data is available; and how many of those were recovered.

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

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) provides estimates of the number of people who were the victim of mobile phone theft. In the most recent year for which data is available (year ending March 2024), an estimated 235,000 people in England and Wales were the victim of mobile phone theft in the previous 12 months. Data for previous years is available as part of the Property crime tables (Table 13) published by the Office for National Statistics, at the link below:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/focusonpropertycrimeappendixtables

The CSEW cannot provide an estimate of the number of stolen mobile phones which were later recovered.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her department are taking to increase visible policing on streets.

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

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee ensures that every neighbourhood has named, contactable officers and that communities are now benefitting from more visible patrols, and stronger engagement.

Additionally, as part of the Guarantee, 3,000 additional officers and PCSOs will be deployed to neighbourhood policing teams across England and Wales by March 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with police forces about the handling of antisocial behaviour cases where responsibility is deferred to housing management companies.

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

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour. The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately local in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances.

It is right that all relevant agencies have the right tools to tackle anti-social behaviour quickly and effectively. That is why, through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are enhancing the powers available to the police and other local agencies under the 2014 Act. This includes extending the power to issue closure notices to registered social housing providers. Currently only local authorities and police can issue closure notices. This is despite registered social housing providers often being the first agency to be aware of the ASB in question. Extending this power to social housing providers will help to save police and local authorities time as housing providers will be able to make applications directly.

The Home Office regularly engages with police forces on a range of issues, including the handling of antisocial behaviour. This measure in the Crime and Policing Bill followed a consultation in 2023, which included responses from the police, and suggested several changes to the powers that could improve their application and effectiveness.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of sharing information between Border Force and Kent Police on HGV drivers that repeatedly break the speed limit.

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

The allocation of resources and deployment of officers in Kent is an operational matter for Kent Police’s Chief Constables to determine in line with local policing plans and in conjunction with their Police and Crime Commissioners.

Excess speed is a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads and anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face proper sanction.

Any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious road safety issue. We expect all drivers to observe the speed limit.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data the Police National Computer holds on the number of offences committed in the last 12 months, by where the offender was born.

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

The Police National Computer (PNC) is a system that provides real-time access to criminal records of offenders, vehicle data, and other information relevant to policing. The PNC retains records by individual suspects and offenders rather than by offences.

The PNC holds some information on the place of birth and in some circumstances the nationality of the individuals, but that data is not held for all convictions. It does not retain information in a format that would provide an answer on the number of offences committed in the last 12 months, by where the offender was born. In any case, the PNC is not designed to provide such bespoke reports and would need development to obtain such information.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Home Office hold regular discussions about the appropriate use of this information for purposes beyond policing.

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Found: Letter from Lord Carlile of Berriew to Lord Hanson of Flint (Home Office) re Crime and Policing Bill,

Found: Letter from Lord Hanson of Flint (Home Office) to Lord Carlile of Berriew re: Crime and Policing Bill

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Found: The Home Office provides multi-agency statutory guidance on FGM for all professionals alongside a free

Found: Letter from the Second Permanent Secretary at the Home Office and the Permanent Secretary at the Department

Found: Letter from the Second Permanent Secretary at the Home Office relating to recommendation 6 of the Committee

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Found: CommonsBTC - @CommonsBTC Sarah Jones MP Minister of State (Minister for Policing and Crime) Home Office

Found: Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system and toughen enforcement of the rules, Home Office

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an estimate of the costs incurred by police forces and courts as a result of the recent mistaken release of three prisoners.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address the issue.

Locating and re-apprehending suspects relate to policing and are a matter for the Home Office. There is no inherent court cost involved in the release in error cases.

The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps has his department has taken to mitigate the financial impact of the mistaken release of prisoners.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address the issue.

Locating and re-apprehending suspects relate to policing and are a matter for the Home Office. There is no inherent court cost involved in the release in error cases.

The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the risk of organised-crime groups targeting high-value freight loads during peak retail periods; and what steps she is taking to improve freight-security measures.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

This Government recognises the serious threat that freight crime poses to businesses, drivers, and the wider economy.

Through the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme (MFGS), the Department for Transport and industry partners are projected to deliver up to £35.7m of joint investment to enhance driver facilities and improve security at truck stops across England.

Drivers are now seeing the improvements that the scheme has been able to support, with more in development. The scheme is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve driver facilities, including investment in security measures.

The Home Office is working closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime. The Home Office has regular discussions with key partners, including Opal, about tackling organised freight crime.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out whether (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools are required to conduct immigration checks when adding new children to their admissions register.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many child refugees have attended (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools in England since 2015, broken down by (i) local authority, and (ii) year.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what reporting mechanism is in place for (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools when they find an adult asylum seeker impersonating a child.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many adult asylum seekers have been found attending (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools by local authority annually since 2015.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to prevent adult asylum seekers from impersonating children in (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) post-16 schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The law requires children of compulsory school age living in England, including foreign nationals, to receive a suitable full-time education.

If a school has concerns about an individual’s age and lack documentation, they should refer this to the local authority, which may conduct an assessment. Age assessment is the responsibility of local authorities and the Home Office. The local authority may liaise with the Home Office age dispute team and may also seek support from the National Age Assessment Board.

The department does not hold the data requested.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 28 October (HL10895), when will they publish a formal response to the Independent Review of Pornography, Creating a Safer World–the Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography (HC 592), published on 27 February; and whether its recommendations will feature in their Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Home Secretary announced in Parliament the decision to continue the Pornography Review, and we are grateful for Baroness Bertin’s work.

We welcome the findings of the Independent Pornography Review and the valuable insights it has provided into the online pornography landscape. The Review highlights a set of complex and challenging policy and regulatory issues.

Where relevant to violence against women and girls they are being considered by the Home Office in the development of the new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which aims to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade. The government will provide a further update on how it is tackling the issues raised in the Review as part of its mission to tackle VAWG in due course. The VAWG strategy sits with Home Office and DSIT has been feeding in.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with (a) asylum seeker status, (b) refused asylum seeker status and (c) no lawful immigration status are in receipt of benefit support; and what the annual cost of that support is.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

People without valid UK immigration status are prohibited from accessing public funds benefits, including asylum seekers and those refused asylum in the UK. People with a pending asylum application may be able to claim asylum support provided by the Home Office, which is separate to the mainstream welfare system.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, with reference to the Home Office policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated 20 November 2025, what assessment has the Attorney General made of how changes to the interpretation of Article 8 will impact the number of cases being escalated to Strasbourg.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

This Labour government is committed to bringing back control and fairness to our border.

By long-standing convention, the fact that I, or a fellow Law Officer, may have advised or not advised, as well as the content of our advice, is not disclosed outside government.

As explained in Erskine May: “By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to appoint a Minister for Homeland Security.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Overall responsibility for national resilience, national security and cross-government coordination sits with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. In addition, the Security Minister’s role is now split across the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, the purpose of which is to improve coordination across Government on national security. The Government's priorities for these areas are detailed in the Resilience Action Plan and the National Security Strategy.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Home Office’s policy paper entitled Restoring order and control: a statement on the Government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 17 November 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Home Office’s proposed legislation on the duty for public bodies to prioritise vulnerable children, as set out in the Children Act 1989.

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

The department will work with the Home Office as they carefully consider the appropriate pathways and wider provision for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and asylum-seeking families with children. We will continue to focus on ensuring vulnerable children are protected and their welfare safeguarded.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to measure the key performance indicators in the third cycling and walking investment strategy, specifically for women and girls.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, is seeking the views of stakeholders on a national vision, statutory objectives and underlying performance indicators. The shape of the final strategy, intended to be published next year including key performance indicators, will be informed by the responses to the consultation.

The Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls within a decade through prevention and overhauling society’s response to these crimes. As part of this, we are working closely with the Home Office on their cross-government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which is due to be published later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether alternative training facilities have been identified to replace Crowborough training camp; and if so, what estimate they have made of the cost and operational impact of redirecting units to those sites.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government takes the safety and wellbeing of all Cadets and Service personnel extremely seriously. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, including training, to develop any necessary mitigation actions. Our priority is to ensure these developments have limited impact on Cadets and we will always apply appropriate safeguarding measures so that we can continue delivering cadet programmes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a risk assessment was conducted of the effect on reservist, cadet and regular unit training of diverting Crowborough training camp to non-military use; and, if not, why not.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government takes the safety and wellbeing of all Cadets and Service personnel extremely seriously. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, including training, to develop any necessary mitigation actions. Our priority is to ensure these developments have limited impact on Cadets and we will always apply appropriate safeguarding measures so that we can continue delivering cadet programmes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on training schedules, capacity and operational readiness as a result of the use of Crowborough training camp for asylum accommodation.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government takes the safety and wellbeing of all Cadets and Service personnel extremely seriously. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, including training, to develop any necessary mitigation actions. Our priority is to ensure these developments have limited impact on Cadets and we will always apply appropriate safeguarding measures so that we can continue delivering cadet programmes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by motorists using ghost plates, and what steps they plan to take to deal with the threat posed by the use of ghost plates to evade speed cameras and engage in other criminal activities.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned and “ghost” number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned or “ghost” number plates.

The enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced. The Police are operationally independent and they will investigate each case according to its individual merits.

The Government has pledged £2.7m for each of the next three years to support police enforcement activity. This is Operation Topaz which is a strategic partnership between the Department for Transport, Home Office and National Police Chiefs’ Council around roads policing.

Operation Topaz is helping to support and co-ordinate the existing effort that is already delivering the National Police Chiefs’ Council Roads Policing Strategy.

Funding has been allocated to enhance roads policing to deliver a proof-of-concept activity period, coordinated via the central Operation Topaz team, focused on unreadable number plates and all aspects connected to unattributable drivers or vehicles.

This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy; the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences. We are considering concerns raised by campaigns, Parliamentarians and bereaved families that Ministers have met.

The Government intends to publish the Road Safety Strategy by the end of the year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps have been taken alongside the Home Office to prevent UK companies from facilitating evasion of sanctions on behalf of sanctioned individuals.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Following publication of the cross-government review of sanctions in May 2025, we are committing to making compliance easier for UK industry, deterring non-compliance, and making sure we have the right powers and capabilities to enforce breaches. For example, we published guidance in January 2025 for UK businesses on Countering Russian sanctions evasion which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countering-russian-sanctions-evasion-and-circumvention/countering-russian-sanctions-evasion-guidance-for-exporters.

Furthermore, we have launched a sanctions hub signposting essential UK sanctions content, an enforcement page highlighting outcomes and key compliance lessons, a starter guide for UK sanctions and a navigation tool to report suspected breaches.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what responsibilities his Department has in providing alternative safe, legal and compliant space for the Crowborough Cadets at Crowborough Training Camp, in the context of its proposed use for asylum seeker accommodation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government takes the safety and wellbeing of all Cadets extremely seriously. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, and to develop any necessary mitigating actions. Our priority is ensuring these developments have limited impact on our Cadets, and we will always apply the appropriate safeguarding measures so that we can continue delivering Cadet programmes. We will also ensure that staff, Cadets and their families are kept abreast of any updates.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the guidance entitled the approvals process for the creation of new arm's-length bodies, published on 15 March 2018, whether the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Team assessed the National Centre of Policing against the requirement that the creation of a new arms length body should only be considered as a last resort; whether the Department provided evidence that alternative delivery models were considered; and which of the tests in chapter 2 of that guidance it overcame.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The initial intention to explore a National Centre of Policing was announced by the then Home Secretary at the APCC/NPCC Conference in November 2024, as part of outlining their ambition for police reform. The Home Office will publish a White Paper on Police Reform in due course. If those proposals include establishing a new Arm's Length Body (ALB), then the standard process for establishing an ALB will be followed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what responsibilities he has for the Crowborough cadets at Crowborough training camp.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government takes the safety and wellbeing of all Cadets extremely seriously. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, and to develop any necessary mitigating actions. Our priority is ensuring these developments have limited impact on our Cadets, and we will always apply the appropriate safeguarding measures so that we can continue delivering Cadet programmes. We will also ensure that staff, Cadets and their families are kept abreast of any updates.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Crowborough Training Camp.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any objection has been received from Wealden District Council as the Local Planning Authority on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Crowborough Training Camp.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government which recommendations of the Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review, published in March 2023, have been taken forward; and which recommendations have not been taken forward; and why.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review made 17 recommendations for reform. Of these, eight fall within the remit of the Ministry of Justice, five of which were accepted. The previous Government introduced a statutory aggravating factor for murders involving ‘overkill’, and a statutory aggravating factor and a statutory mitigating factor for murder in relation to controlling or coercive behaviour, which came into force in February 2024. This Government introduced statutory aggravating factors for murders connected with the end of a relationship, and for those involving strangulation, which came into force in October 2025.

The Ministry of Justice rejected three recommendations, including the recommendation to disapply the 25-year starting point in domestic murder cases. Implementing this recommendation would lead to significant inconsistency between domestic and non-domestic murders where a weapon has been taken to the scene. The Government rejected the Review’s recommendation to exclude sexual infidelity as mitigation and to exclude the use of a weapon as aggravation in domestic murder cases because the framework currently in place already enables judges to consider and account for the varied facts of each case.

Two of the recommendations fall within the remit of other Government Departments. The review recommended establishing a system for collecting data relevant to domestic homicides. The Home Office, in partnership with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, created a central library for all Domestic Homicide Reviews. The recommendation to create mandatory training for lawyers and judges on coercive control is not within Government’s remit, so the previous Government wrote to the judiciary and regulatory bodies for solicitors and barristers to offer support with any potential review of training. The CPS already provides a comprehensive training package on domestic abuse and coercive or controlling behaviour.

The remaining seven recommendations fall under the remit of the independent Sentencing Council. In April 2024, following consultation, the Sentencing Council made changes to the manslaughter sentencing guidelines relating to strangulation and coercive control.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what conversations the Department has had with relevant stakeholders in the North East regarding the Shared Rural Network.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

In the North East, the Shared Rural Network is currently planning to upgrade nine Home Office Emergency Services Network sites across the regions of Durham and Northumbria. The programme has primarily engaged with Northumberland County Council who the department has met with twice in the last six months. Previously the Department and its delivery partner Mova have engaged with the Borderlands Partnership and spoken to key audiences at Connected North. The Department and Mova have also responded to enquires from local stakeholders, including elected members.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that individuals whose immigration status no longer entitles them to public funds are automatically removed from benefit systems; and how many such removals have taken place in each of the last five years.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Universal Credit systems carry out daily automatic checks against Home Office data to identify any changes in immigration status, and subsequently, DWP caseworkers stop claims where the individual no longer has an immigration status that permits recourse to public funds.

However, the department does not hold data on the number of benefit claims disallowed after a review.

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Found: Byron Camilleri MP, hosted the Home Office Migration Director to discuss migration challenges, deterrence

Found: Byron Camilleri MP, hosted the Home Office Migration Director to discuss migration challenges, deterrence

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