Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment she has made of dedicated transnational repression reporting mechanisms operated in other jurisdictions, including the FBI's dedicated reporting line in the United States; and what lessons have been drawn for the UK.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
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 101 non-emergency police line as the primary route for Hong Kongers in the UK to report incidents of transnational repression.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will reconsider the Government's rejection of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' recommendation for a dedicated national reporting mechanism for victims of transnational repression.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training 101 call handlers receive in (a) identifying and (b) recording reports of transnational repression.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of transnational repression made via the 101 service by members of the Hong Kong diaspora have been recorded in each of the last three years; and how many of those reports resulted in (a) a recorded crime, (b) a referral to specialist counter-state-threats policing, and (c) protective security advice being provided to the complainant.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the evidential basis was for the Government's assessment that expected call volumes to a dedicated transnational repression hotline would be low; and whether that assessment accounted for evidence of significant under-reporting through existing channels including 101.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what legal power the Government seized the property belonging to Rifaat al-Assad in Mayfair, London following his conviction for money laundering and embezzling public funds in France in 2020.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) provides law enforcement agencies with a wide range of powers to freeze, seize and recover criminal assets, such as property.
These include restraint orders, property freezing orders, recovery and confiscation orders. Over 250 agencies have had POCA powers extended to them, including the National Crime Agency, police forces, HMRC and the Serious Fraud Office.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, following the seizure of the property belonging to Rifaat al-Assad in Mayfair, London, in 2020 by UK authorities, who is currently the legal owner of that property and who is responsible for managing it.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) provides law enforcement agencies with a wide range of powers to restrain and recover criminal assets, such as property.
Restraint orders ensure that suspected criminal property cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of whilst investigations and other proceedings are ongoing. In some circumstances the Court can appoint a receiver to manage the property during proceedings, including potential sale if a confiscation order is subsequently made, the defendant may also need to sell property without the involvement of a receiver as a result of a confiscation order.
The Home Office cannot comment on individual cases and questions relating to them should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency or prosecutorial body.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment the factors that can prevent adults with positive reasonable grounds decisions from entering support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure all those eligible for support can receive it.
Answered by Jess Phillips
Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.
All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.
Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.
If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.
Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.
For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure adults with a positive Reasonable Grounds decision can enter support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract; how many attempts are made to contact a person; and what happens if the person cannot be contacted.
Answered by Jess Phillips
Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.
All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.
Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.
If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.
Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.
For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.