Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice on tackling female (a) trafficking, (b) exploitation and (c) sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
Criminal justice is devolved in Northern Ireland, with responsibility for the policy and legislative response to modern slavery resting with the Northern Ireland Executive. However, we recognise that trafficking can involve the movement of vulnerable individuals across borders, and we work closely with our partners in the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that our response to modern slavery across the UK is joined-up and the legislation is complementary.
This includes, at official level, regular engagement with representatives from the Devolved Administrations, through quarterly meetings and the Modern Slavery Engagement Forums. These Forums focus on key policy areas, including enforcement, prevention, adult victim support, and child and victim support policy. Officials also engage in quarterly meetings with representatives on commercial sexual exploitation.
The Home Office also engages with First Responder Organisations, across the whole of the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland this includes the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Health and Social Care trusts and Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid. First Responders are trained by their respective organisations to identify indicators of modern slavery and refer potential victims into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). In 2023, there were 462 NRM referrals sent to the PSNI for investigation, accounting for 3% of all referrals received, as published in the National Referral Mechanism statistics on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has taken recent steps with the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland on tackling domestic abuse in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
As the question rightly implies, responsibility for tackling domestic abuse is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.
But just as domestic abuse is a society wide issue, so is it an issue for the whole of the UK. The jurisdictions routinely share progress, ideas and collaborate on projects.
This includes the current pilot of a codeword scheme that provides a discreet way for victims of domestic abuse to signal that they need emergency help in 19 Jobcentres across the UK including 4 Jobs and Benefit Offices in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many instances of honour based violence due to forced marriage there were in the (a) UK and (b) devolved Administration in each of the last three years.
Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
The Home Office holds data on the number of police recorded forced marriage offences in England and Wales. The data are given in the table. Police recorded offences in Northern Ireland and Scotland are the responsibility of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Scottish Government respectively.
As with all police recorded crime figures, these data only cover offences that were reported to and recorded by the police. It is recognised that force marriage is a hidden crime and victims can be reluctant to bring them to the attention of police or other authorities. These data, therefore, are likely to only represent a proportion of the actual forced marriage offences committed.
The joint Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) provides support and advice for victims, those at risk, and professionals, through its public helpline and inbox.
We are working to increase reporting of this crime which is why the FMU has an extensive outreach programme to provide dedicated training and awareness raising sessions for professionals and communities across the country, including the police and social workers. In 2023, the FMU delivered training and awareness-raising activity to 3,656 police officers, social workers and other professionals. Victims and organisations are encouraged to report potential signs of forced marriage to professionals with safeguarding responsibilities.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on national security.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
While the UK Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is or is not being considered for proscription.
The UK Government has long been clear about our concerns over the malign activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The UK maintains sanctions on over 400 Iranian individuals and entities covering human rights abuses and nuclear proliferation. The Government has also imposed sanctions on the IRGC in its entirety and on several senior security and political figures in Iran, including senior commanders within the IRGC and its Basij force.
The Government will continue to hold Iran and the IRGC to account. On 14 December 2023, a new sanctions regime came into force, providing the UK extensive new powers to disrupt Iran’s hostile activities in the UK and around the world.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that recruitment to (a) police and (b) security services are promoted positively; and what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice on an effective approach to this issue.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Government fully supports the excellent work that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) undertakes to keep people in Northern Ireland safe.The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland retains responsibility for national security in Northern Ireland, therefore he and his officials are in regular contact with the Chief Constable of the PSNI, regarding a variety of matters. However, as justice and policing are areas of devolved responsibility, it is necessary that oversight and decisions on PSNI recruitment are carried out by locally-elected politicians.
Across England and Wales, the Government delivered a successful campaign to recruit 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023. This was facilitated by a national recruitment campaign based on research and insights, showing that people are attracted to a career in policing by the variety of the role, and the ability to help local communities. The campaign was also supported by the creation of the Join the Police website, which promotes policing careers and provides a source of helpful information for candidates. This website remains available to anyone interested in joining the police.
It is the policy of successive UK governments not to comment on matters of intelligence and national security. This includes recruitment to the intelligence agencies.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that it stays connected with people seeking asylum subsequent to those people being provided accommodation.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We expect asylum seekers to stay in contact with the Home Office and comply with the asylum process, including providing up-to-date contact details and following any reporting conditions when required.
Asylum support is provided on the basis that a supported person (and any dependants they have) adhere to the terms and conditions attached to it. Conditions include residing at their allocated accommodation and limits on absences from their asylum accommodation. Our accommodation providers support individuals residing in our accommodation and monitor absences.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been identified under the national referral mechanism in the last 12 months.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics regarding the (NRM). The statistics for the last 12 months can be found here; National Referral Mechanism statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The data shows the number of potential victims that have been identified by the National Referral Mechanism.
Further disaggregated data is published via the UK Data Service.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to expedite applications for resettlement to the UK made by Afghan people who are (a) in Pakistan and (b) at risk of being removed to Afghanistan before they receive a decision.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
We continue to honour our commitment to bring eligible Afghans to the UK and plans are underway to relocate families as soon as possible.
Afghans in third countries including in Pakistan who are eligible for resettlement to the UK continue to be supported by the UK Government, and flights from Pakistan to the UK continue to take place. However, we are unable to provide further operational details on this.
The UK Government is aware of recent announcements made by the Government of Pakistan regarding Afghans being illegally present in Pakistan. We have engaged intensively with the Government of Pakistan to secure assurances that none of those eligible under Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will be subject to deportation while they await relocation to the UK.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to help increase public trust in the police.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has been clear that police officers must be held to the highest standards and that this is vital to public trust.
The Home Office established the Angiolini Inquiry following the horrific murder of Sarah Everard, to identify lessons for policing so that the public can have confidence that the police are there to protect them. Part 1 of the Inquiry is due to report in early 2024. In May this year the Home Secretary commissioned Part 2 of the Inquiry to consider broader issues in policing, such as vetting, recruitment and culture, as well as the safety of women in public spaces. The terms of reference for Part 2 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/angiolini-inquiry-part-2-terms-of-reference.
The Home Office has recently announced measures to strengthen the police dismissals system, to ensure processes are effective at removing those not fit to serve. The review’s full report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-officer-dismissals-home-office-review. The Home Secretary also asked the College of Policing to strengthen the statutory code of practice for police vetting, which was published in July and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-vetting-code-of-practice.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department are taking to protect Jewish people from hate crimes.
Answered by Sarah Dines
The Government is clear that all forms of hate crime, including antisemitic hate crime, are completely unacceptable. We expect the police fully to investigate these abhorrent offences and make sure those who commit them feel the full force of the law.
In March 2023, the Home Secretary, announced the continuation of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant and increased funding for 2023/24 by £1 million, to a total of £15 million. This grant provides protective security measures at Jewish schools, colleges, nurseries, and some other Jewish community sites, as well as a number of synagogues.
In light of the horrific Hamas terrorist acts in Israel and related reports of increased incidents of antisemitism in the UK, the Prime Minister has announced additional funding of £3 million for the Community Security Trust to provide additional security at Jewish schools, synagogues and other sites.
The Home Secretary chairs the Jewish Community Crime, Policing and Security Taskforce. This meeting brings together Government, law enforcement and the Community Security Trust in order to address Jewish community security concerns.
The Home Secretary also meets the Metropolitan Police Commissioner regularly, along with senior officers across the country, to ensure the police are doing everything they can to protect Jewish people from these crimes.