Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 594 · Home Office
When the Afghan Response Route was approved by her Department.
The Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) was launched in April 2024 in response to a data incident by the Ministry of Defence. The scheme was launched by the last Government following appropriate discussions and collective agreement.
What discussions her Department had with the Ministry of Defence prior to the approval of the Afghan Response Route; and when they occurred.
The Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) was launched in April 2024 in response to a data incident by the Ministry of Defence. The scheme was launched by the last Government following appropriate discussions and collective agreement.
With reference to page 41 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, what is meant by a pathfinder merger.
The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament. This included a commitment to explore opportunities to undertake pathfinder mergers by the end of this Parliament.A pathfinder merger would take place with the support of local forces and make progress towards the proposed end state of regional forces across England and Wales.
How many Royal Protection Officers were assigned to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from 2001 until 2026.
It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on protective security arrangements, including funding, as doing so could compromise their integrity and individuals' security.
With reference to page 61 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, when she plans to establish the Home Office Police Performance Improvement Unit.
The White Paper entitled “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” contained announcements on the tiered performance system, the Police Performance Framework and the Police Performance Dashboard.As part of the new performance system announced in the White Paper, we committed to launching a Police Performance Monitoring Group which will decide on where a force is placed within the tiering system. The new assessment and monitoring process will formally launch from April 2026, operating on a tri-annual cycle.The Police Performance Framework was launched on the same day as the publication of the Home Office White Paper (26th January). A link to the framework can be found here - Police Performance FrameworkWithin this document, we confirm that an initial Police Performance Dashboard will be introduced for the sector early in 2026. This will initially cover headline measures within the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee Performance Framework, but we will expand the dashboard iteratively to cover the breadth of the Performance Framework.We also confirm in the Framework document that we will establish new Local Policing Guarantees that set out the minimum levels of service the public should expect to receive from their police force wherever in England and Wales they live by building on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. These guarantees will cover areas such as how the police will rapidly and effectively respond when the public need them, how victims of crime will be treated in accordance with the Victims’ Code of Practice and public protection.I also refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer which I gave to his question on 16 February 2026 (UIN 110965).
With reference to page 41 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, when she plans to stand up an independent review of force structures.
The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambitious package of reform, including an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament.We will imminently launch the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, which will make recommendations on the optimum configuration of fewer, larger forces, and the timetable for implementation.We plan to publish the Terms of reference alongside the announcement of the Chair in the coming weeks. The Review is expected to report its findings by summer.
With reference to page 43 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, what her planned timetable is for appointing an independent chair to conduct the Independent Review of Force Structures.
The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambitious package of reform, including an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament.We will imminently launch the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, which will make recommendations on the optimum configuration of fewer, larger forces, and the timetable for implementation.We plan to publish the Terms of reference alongside the announcement of the Chair in the coming weeks. The Review is expected to report its findings by summer.
With reference to page 44 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, when she will publish the terms of reference for the Independent Review of Force Structures.
The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambitious package of reform, including an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament.We will imminently launch the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, which will make recommendations on the optimum configuration of fewer, larger forces, and the timetable for implementation.We plan to publish the Terms of reference alongside the announcement of the Chair in the coming weeks. The Review is expected to report its findings by summer.
With reference to page 43 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, who the policing stakeholders are who will co-design the geographies.
We expect the Independent Review of Police Structures to engage extensively with a wide range of stakeholders to make recommendations on the optimum size and configuration of forces as well as their governance and accountability arrangements.We expect that it will draw on the expertise and experience of a wide range of stakeholders including but not limited to frontline officers, policing leaders and other representative bodies. We will expect the Chair of the Review to consider how to most appropriately engage with Members of Parliament, including engaging appropriate Ministers, shadow Ministers and Select Committees.
With reference to page 43 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, whether Members of Parliament will be included within the scope of policing stakeholders.
We expect the Independent Review of Police Structures to engage extensively with a wide range of stakeholders to make recommendations on the optimum size and configuration of forces as well as their governance and accountability arrangements.We expect that it will draw on the expertise and experience of a wide range of stakeholders including but not limited to frontline officers, policing leaders and other representative bodies. We will expect the Chair of the Review to consider how to most appropriately engage with Members of Parliament, including engaging appropriate Ministers, shadow Ministers and Select Committees.
With reference to page 35 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, which police forces will transfer to the authority of (a) Strategic Authority Mayors and (b) Policing and Crime Boards.
The Government committed in the English Devolution White Paper to transfer Police and Crime Commissioner functions to mayors of strategic authorities by default, wherever possible. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provisions to achieve this aim. Subject to the Bill receiving Royal Assent, transfers of functions to mayors will take place in areas where the boundaries of the mayoral strategic authority and policing area align, at a date set by the Secretary of State by Order.In all other areas, Policing and Crime Boards will be established in May 2028 at the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner model.
With reference to page 37 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, whether the estimated cost of the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections excluded the cost of the accompanying local elections.
The estimated cost of the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections excluded the cost of the accompanying local elections, as those are met by the respective local authorities.While the final cost of the 2024 PCC elections will not be known until all the claims have been reviewed and settled, the total estimated cost as set out in the relevant Charges Order was £87m.
With reference to page 40 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, which central bodies will be replaced with the National Police Service.
The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” sets out which central bodies are planned to be replaced by the National Police Service.Further details will be set out in the legislation to create the National Police Service.
What information her Department holds on whether the (a) behaviour and (b) activities of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were reported by police officers from Royalty and Specialist Protection to Protection Command between 2001 and 2026.
The police are operationally independent of government and as such the Home Office does not hold this information.Police officers are required to act diligently in the exercise of their duties and responsibilities. A failure to do so is a breach of policing’s Standards of Professional Behaviour and could lead to disciplinary action.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to shotgun licensing will have on the time taken to process shotgun licence renewals in Cambridgeshire.
The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We will publish the consultation in due course.We will also provide an impact assessment in relation to any changes that we intend to bring forward after the consultation, including on police firearms licensing departments, in the normal way.The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces, including the timeframe taken for processing shotgun licence renewals, is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners. Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Bedfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary work together as part of a tripartite arrangement intended to provide a consistent firearms licensing service across the three police force areas. The arrangements are led by Hertfordshire Constabulary and report to the Chief Constables of all three forces.
How many extradition requests have been a) received and b) accepted, from Category 2 Type B countries since 5th July 2024.
Between 5th July 2024 until today’s date UK Central Authority (UKCA) in the Home Office received 64 extradition requests from Category 2 Type B countries.We have understood your request in relation to having been ‘accepted’ as how many cases have been certified under s70 of the Extradition Act 2003 (the ‘Act’). Of the 64 requests received, 56 have been certified to date. Once a request has been certified it is sent to the courts, after which the request is subjected to a largely judicial process.Please note that all figures are from local management information and have not been quality assured to the level of published National Statistics. As such they should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.
How many (a) warranted Police Officers, (b) Police Community Support Officers and (c) Special Constables there were on (i) 31 March 2025 and (ii) 11 February 2026.
The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales, on a biannual basis, as at 31 March and 30 September each year in the Police Workforce, England and Wales statistical bulletin available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.Data for this release is collected as a snapshot at 31 March and 30 September only. As such, data for 11 February 2026 is not available. The latest information covers the situation as at 30 September 2025.Information on the number of police officers, police community support officers and special constables, on both a full-time equivalent and headcount basis, as at 31 March 2007 to 2025 can be found in the Police Workforce Open Data Table here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697255b5a1311bdcfa0ed8f3/open-data-table-police-workforce-280126.ods
How many people have arrived against each job on the (a) Immigration Salary List and (b) the former Shortage Occupation List since 5 July 2024.
We are unable to estimate the number of workers with specific roles that have physically arrived to take up employment, but we do hold data on the numbers that have obtained visas with the intention of taking up a role.The Home Office publishes data on sponsored work visas, by occupation, in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants of Skilled Worker visas are published in table ‘Occ_D02’ of the Sponsored work visas by occupation and industry dataset. A visa grant does not necessarily correspond to the person arriving in the UK. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2021 up to the end of September 2025.
What is the total number of people who have arrived to fulfil jobs on the Immigration Salary List (formerly the Shortage Occupation List), since 5 July 2024.
We are unable to estimate the number of workers with specific roles that have physically arrived to take up employment, but we do hold data on the numbers that have obtained visas with the intention of taking up a role.The Home Office publishes data on sponsored work visas, by occupation, in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants of Skilled Worker visas are published in table ‘Occ_D02’ of the Sponsored work visas by occupation and industry dataset. A visa grant does not necessarily correspond to the person arriving in the UK. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2021 up to the end of September 2025.
What policing powers Border Force personnel hold.
Border Force immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales may utilise some powers set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as applied by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013.In Northern Ireland, Border Force immigration officers and designated customs officials may utilise some powers set out in The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 as applied by The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Application to Immigration Officers and Designated Customs Officials in Northern Ireland) and Consequential Amendments Regulations 2026.In Scotland, The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2018 applies relevant provisions from the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 to Border Force immigration officers and designated customs officials.Additionally, section 2 of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides a power for designated immigration officers in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to detain an individual they think are subject to a warrant for arrest or may be liable to arrest by a constable under certain sections of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, or the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, subject to a certificate under section 74B of the Extradition Act 2003. Designated immigration officers may detain such individuals for up to three hours pending the arrival of a constable.