Home Office
Encyclopedia
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency
, and the Security Service (MI5
). It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs, counter-terrorism, and ID cards. It was formerly responsible for the Prison Service
and Probation Service, but these are now under a newly created Ministry of Justice
.
It continues to be known, especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament, by its former title, the Home Department.
, who look after inward migration and asylum applications to the United Kingdom. The Home Office is also responsible for the Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Directorate and the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
, which manage the UK's response to terrorist incidents through the emergency and security services
, and develops legislation relating to terrorism
.
On 28 March 2007 it was announced that the Department for Constitutional Affairs
would take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending in England and Wales
from the Home Office and be renamed the Ministry of Justice
. This took effect on 9 May 2007.
Theresa May
is also Minister for Women and Equalities and Lynne Featherstone
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Government Equalities Office
.
Nick Herbert
works between the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice
.
On 27 March 1782, the Home Office was formed by renaming the existing Southern Department
, with all existing staff transferring. On the same day, the Northern Department
was renamed the Foreign Office
.
To match the new names, there was a transferring of responsibilities between the two Departments of State. All domestic responsibilities were moved to the Home Office, and all foreign matters became the concern of the Foreign Office.
Most subsequently created domestic departments (excluding, for instance, those dealing with education) have been formed by splitting responsibilities away from the Home Office.
The initial responsibilities were:
Responsibilities were subsequently changed over the years that followed:
The Home Office retains a variety of functions that have not found a home elsewhere, and sit oddly with the main law-and-order focus of the department, such as regulation of British Summer Time
.
The department is also responsible for a government-owned company, the Forensic Science Service
, reporting to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Crime and Security).
From 1978 to 2004, the Home Office was located at 50 Queen Anne's Gate, a Brutalist
office block in Westminster
designed by Sir Basil Spence
, close to St. James's Park tube station
. Many functions, however, were devolved to offices in other parts of London and the country, notably the headquarters of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate
in Croydon
.
In Spring 2005, the Home Office moved to a new main office designed by Sir Terry Farrell
at 2 Marsham Street
, Westminster, SW1P 4DF, on the site of the demolished Marsham Towers
building of the Department of the Environment
. The contract to build the new headquarters was a public-private partnership
deal intended to last for around 29 years.
For external shots of its fictional Home Office, the TV series Spooks
uses an aerial shot of the Government Offices Great George Street
instead, serving as stand-in to match the distinctly less modern appearance of the fictitious accommodation interiors the series uses.
s including:
Scotland
Reserved matters:
The Scottish Government Justice and Communities Directorates are responsible for policing and community safety policy.
Northern Ireland
Excepted matters:
The following matters were not transferred at the devolution of policing and justice on 12 April 2010 and remain reserved:
The Home Office's main counterparts in Northern Ireland are:
The Department of Justice is accountable to the Northern Ireland Executive
whereas the Northern Ireland Office is a UK Government department.
Wales
Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales
rather than reserved to Westminster.
UK Border Agency
The UK Border Agency is the border control body of the United Kingdom government and part of the Home Office. It was formed on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency , UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs...
, and the Security Service (MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
). It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs, counter-terrorism, and ID cards. It was formerly responsible for the Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
and Probation Service, but these are now under a newly created Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
.
It continues to be known, especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament, by its former title, the Home Department.
Organisation
The Home Office is currently undergoing a major reform programme, following well-publicised issues in early 2006. This is the current organisation of the Home Office, but is likely to change. It is also immensely complex as there are many sub-groups within the Home Office, such as the UK Border AgencyUK Border Agency
The UK Border Agency is the border control body of the United Kingdom government and part of the Home Office. It was formed on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency , UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs...
, who look after inward migration and asylum applications to the United Kingdom. The Home Office is also responsible for the Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Directorate and the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism
The Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism is an executive directorate of the Home Office responsible for leading the work on counter-terrorism in the UK, working closely with the police and security services...
, which manage the UK's response to terrorist incidents through the emergency and security services
Security agency
A security agency is a governmental organization which conducts intelligence activities for the internal security of a nation. They are the domestic cousins of foreign intelligence agencies...
, and develops legislation relating to terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
.
On 28 March 2007 it was announced that the Department for Constitutional Affairs
Department for Constitutional Affairs
The Department for Constitutional Affairs was a United Kingdom government department. Its creation was announced on 12 June 2003 with the intention of replacing the Lord Chancellor's Department...
would take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
from the Home Office and be renamed the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
. This took effect on 9 May 2007.
Objectives
The Home Office has the following stated objectives:- To reduce crimeCrimeCrime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
- To ensure people feel safer in their homes and daily lives, particularly through more visible, responsive and accountable policing
- To protect the UK from terrorist attacks
- To re-balance the criminal justice system in favour of the law-abiding majority and victims
- To manage offenders in order to protect the public and reduce re-offending
- To secure the borders of the United Kingdom, prevent abuse of immigrationImmigrationImmigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
laws and manage migration to the benefit of the UK.
Ministers
The Home Office Ministers are as follows:| Minister | Rank | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rt Hon Theresa May Theresa May Theresa Mary May is a British Conservative politician who is Home Secretary in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition government. She was elected to Parliament in 1997 as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, and served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party, 2003–04... MP |
Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Secretary) |
Overall responsibility (includes security and counter-terrorism) |
|
| The Rt Hon Nick Herbert Nick Herbert Nicholas Le Quesne "Nick" Herbert is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs... MP |
Minister of State | Policing and criminal justice | |
| Lord Henley Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley Oliver Michael Robert Eden, 8th Baron Henley is a British politician and Conservative member of the House of Lords, currently a Minister of State at the Home Office with responsibility for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, a role in which he succeeded Lady Browning in September... |
Minister of State | Crime prevention and anti-social behaviour reduction | |
| Damian Green Damian Green Damian Howard Green is a British politician who has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for Ashford since 1997. He came to national prominence after being elected in his constituency. Before standing for parliament, Damian Green was Channel 4's business editor... MP |
Minister of State | Immigration, asylum and border control | |
| James Brokenshire James Brokenshire James Peter Brokenshire is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup and Minister for Security at the Home Office that grants him a seat on the National Security Council.-Early life:He was educated at Davenant Foundation Grammar School, the... MP |
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Crime and security | |
| Lynne Featherstone Lynne Featherstone Lynne Choona Featherstone , is a British Liberal Democrat politician, and the Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green.... MP |
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Criminal information |
| Key | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the... |
Theresa May
Theresa May
Theresa Mary May is a British Conservative politician who is Home Secretary in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition government. She was elected to Parliament in 1997 as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, and served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party, 2003–04...
is also Minister for Women and Equalities and Lynne Featherstone
Lynne Featherstone
Lynne Choona Featherstone , is a British Liberal Democrat politician, and the Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green....
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Government Equalities Office
Government Equalities Office
The Government Equalities Office is a United Kingdom government department. It was created in October 2007 when the Women and Equality Unit, based within the Department for Communities and Local Government was converted into an independent department.It has lead responsibility for gender equality...
.
Nick Herbert
Nick Herbert
Nicholas Le Quesne "Nick" Herbert is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs...
works between the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
.
History
Southern Department
The Southern Department was a former department of the government of England and later the Kingdom of Great Britain. It had a variety of responsibilities, including domestic and Irish policy, colonial policy and foreign affairs concerning southern European powers such as France, Spain, Portugal,...
, with all existing staff transferring. On the same day, the Northern Department
Northern Department
The Northern Department was a department of the government of England and later the Kingdom of Great Britain, responsible for dealing with government business in the northern part of Europe. This included foreign affairs concerning such northern powers as Russia, Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire...
was renamed the Foreign Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
.
To match the new names, there was a transferring of responsibilities between the two Departments of State. All domestic responsibilities were moved to the Home Office, and all foreign matters became the concern of the Foreign Office.
Most subsequently created domestic departments (excluding, for instance, those dealing with education) have been formed by splitting responsibilities away from the Home Office.
The initial responsibilities were:
- Answering petitionPetitionA petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
s and addresses sent to the King - Advising the King on
- Royal grants
- WarrantWarrant (law)Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
s and commissions - The exercise of Royal PrerogativeRoyal Prerogative (United Kingdom)The Royal Prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognised in the United Kingdom as the sole prerogative of the Sovereign. Many of the executive powers of British government, vested in a monarch, have been bestowed under the mandate of the Royal...
- Issuing instructions on behalf of the King to officers of the CrownThe CrownThe Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
, Lords LieutenantLord LieutenantThe title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
and magistrates, mainly concerning law and order - Operation of the secret service within the UK
- Protecting the public
- Safeguarding the rights and liberties of individuals
Responsibilities were subsequently changed over the years that followed:
- 1793 added: regulation of aliensAlien (law)In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
- 1794 removed: control of military forcesBritish Armed ForcesThe British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
(to Secretary of State for WarSecretary of State for WarThe position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
) - 1801 removed: colonialBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
business (to Secretary of State for War and the ColoniesSecretary of State for War and the ColoniesThe Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a British cabinet level position responsible for the army and the British colonies . The Department was created in 1801...
) - 1804 removed: Barbary State consuls (to Secretary of State for War and the Colonies)
- 1823 added: prisonPrisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
s - 1829 added: police services
- 1836 added: registration of births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales
- 1844 added: naturalisation
- 1845 added: registration of Friendly SocietiesFriendly societyA friendly society is a mutual association for insurance, pensions or savings and loan-like purposes, or cooperative banking. It is a mutual organization or benefit society composed of a body of people who join together for a common financial or social purpose...
- 1855 removed: yeomanriesYeomanryYeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
and militiaMilitiaThe term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s (to War OfficeWar OfficeThe War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
) - 1858 added: local boards of healthLocal board of healthLocal Boards or Local Boards of Health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate slaughterhouses and ensure the proper supply of water to their...
- 1871 removed: local boards of health (to Local Government BoardPresident of the Local Government BoardThe President of the Local Government Board was a ministerial post, frequently a Cabinet position, in the United Kingdom, established in 1871. The Local Government Board itself was established in 1871 and took over supervisory functions from the Board of Trade and the Home Office, including the...
) - 1871 removed: registration of births, deaths and marriages (to Local Government Board)
- 1872 removed: highwayHighwayA highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s and turnpikesToll roadA toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
(to Local Government Board) - 1875 added: control of explosivesExplosive materialAn explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
- 1875 removed: registration of Friendly Societies (to TreasuryHM TreasuryHM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
) - 1885 removed: Scotland (to Secretary for Scotland and the Scottish OfficeScottish OfficeThe Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
) - 1886 removed: fishing (to Board of TradeBoard of TradeThe Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
) - 1889 removed: Land Commissioners (to Board of AgricultureMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
) - 1900 removed: matters relating to burial groundsCemeteryA cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
(to Local Government Board) - 1905 removed: public housingCouncil houseA council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
(to Local Government Board) - 1914 added: dangerous drugs
- 1919 removed: aircraft and air traffic (to Air Ministry)
- 1919 removed: use of human bodies in medical trainingAnatomy Act 1832The Anatomy Act 1832 was a United Kingdom Act of Parliament that gave freer license to doctors, teachers of anatomy, and bona fide medical students to dissect donated bodies...
(to Ministry of Health) - 1919 removed: infant and child care (to Ministry of Health)
- 1919 removed: lunacy and mental healthMental healthMental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
(to Ministry of Health) - 1919 removed: health and safety (to Ministry of Health)
- 1920 added: firearmFirearmA firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s - 1920 removed: Representation of Britain abroad in labour matters (to Ministry of LabourSecretary of State for EmploymentThe Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
) - 1920 removed: mining (to Mines DepartmentSecretary for MinesThe position of Secretary for Mines is a now defunct office in the United Kingdom Government, associated with the Board of Trade. Responsibility for mines now lies with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry....
) - 1921 added: electionElectionAn election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s (from the Ministry of HealthSecretary of State for HealthSecretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...
) - 1922 removed: relations with Irish Free StateIrish Free StateThe Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
(to Colonial OfficeColonial OfficeColonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
) - 1923 removed: Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(to Treasury) - 1925 removed: registration of trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s (to Ministry of Labour) - 1931 removed: county councilCounty councilA county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
s (to Ministry of Health) - 1933 added: poisonPoisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
s - 1934 removed: metropolitan boroughMetropolitan boroughA metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
s (to Ministry of Health) - 1937 removed: road accident returns (to Ministry of Transport)
- 1938 added: fire servicesFirefighterFirefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
- 1938 removed: Imperial Service OrderImperial Service OrderThe Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...
and medal (to Treasury) - 1940 removed: factory inspections (to Ministry of Labour)
- 1945 removed: workmen's compensation scheme (to Ministry of National Insurance)
- 1947 added: infant and child care (from Ministry of Health)
- 1947 removed: regulation of advertisements (to Ministry of Town and Country Planning)
- 1947 removed: burial fees (to Ministry of Health)
- 1947 removed: registration of Building SocietiesBuilding societyA building society is a financial institution owned by its members as a mutual organization. Building societies offer banking and related financial services, especially mortgage lending. These institutions are found in the United Kingdom and several other countries.The term "building society"...
(to Treasury) - 1948 removed: Broadmoor hospitalBroadmoor HospitalBroadmoor Hospital is a high-security psychiatric hospital at Crowthorne in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It is the best known of the three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England, the other two being Ashworth and Rampton...
(to Lunacy Board of Control) - 1950 removed: structural precautions for civil defence (to Ministry of Works)
- 1950 removed: minor judicial appointments (to Lord ChancellorLord ChancellorThe Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
) - 1953 removed: slaughterhouseSlaughterhouseA slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
s (to Ministry of Housing and Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing and Local GovernmentThe Ministry of Housing and Local Government was a United Kingdom government department formed after the Second World War, covering the areas of housing and local government....
) - 1954 removed: marketMarketA market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
s (to Ministry of Housing and Local Government) - 1956 removed: railway accidents (to Ministry of Transport and Civil AviationDepartment for TransportIn the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
) - 1969 removed: reservoirReservoirA reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s (to Ministry of Housing and Local Government) - 1971 removed: child care in England (to Department of Health and Social SecurityDepartment of Health and Social SecurityThe Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
) - 1971 removed: child care in Wales (to Welsh OfficeWelsh OfficeThe Welsh Office was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. It was established in April 1965 to execute government policy in Wales, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales, a post which had been created in October 1964...
) - 1972 removed: Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
(to Northern Ireland OfficeNorthern Ireland OfficeThe Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
) - 1973 removed: adoptionAdoptionAdoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
(to Department of Health and Social Security) - 1992 removed: broadcastingBroadcastingBroadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
and sportSportA Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
(to the new Department of National Heritage - later the Department for Culture, Media and SportDepartment for Culture, Media and SportThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
) - 2007 removed: criminal justiceCriminal justiceCriminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
, prisonPrisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
s & probationProbationProbation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
and legal affairs (to new Ministry of JusticeMinistry of Justice (United Kingdom)The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
) - 2007 added: counter-terrorismCounter-terrorismCounter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
strategy (from the Cabinet OfficeCabinet OfficeThe Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
)
The Home Office retains a variety of functions that have not found a home elsewhere, and sit oddly with the main law-and-order focus of the department, such as regulation of British Summer Time
British Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
.
Permanent Under Secretaries of State of the Home Office
- Dame Helen GhoshHelen GhoshDame Helen Frances Ghosh DCB is a British civil servant. She is currently the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, having moved from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the end of 2010...
2011- - Sir David NormingtonDavid NormingtonSir David John Normington is the First Civil Service Commissioner and Commissioner for Public Appointments for the British government. He previously served in the British Civil Service as the Permanent Secretary of Department for Education and Skills from 2001 to 2005, and then the Home Office...
2006–2010 - Sir John GieveJohn GieveSir Edward John Watson Gieve, KCB is a former British Civil Servant, who served as Deputy Governor for Financial Stability of the Bank of England and an ex officio member of the Monetary Policy Committee from 2006 to 2009....
2002–2006 - Sir David OmandDavid OmandSir David Bruce Omand GCB is a former senior British civil servant.-Career:Educated at Glasgow Academy and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Omand started out with the Government Communications Headquarters. After years of service with the Ministry of Defence, from 1996 to 1997 he was Director of...
1997–2002 - Sir Richard WilsonRichard Wilson, Baron Wilson of DintonRichard Thomas James Wilson, Baron Wilson of Dinton GCB is a cross bench member of the British House of Lords.-Career:...
1994–1997 - Sir Clive Whitmore 1988–1994
- Sir Brian CubbonBrian CubbonSir Brian Crossland Cubbon GCB is a former senior civil servant and is currently a member of the Charter Compliance Panel of the Press Complaints Commission.Cubbon was educated at Bury Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge...
1979–1988 - Sir Robert ArmstongRobert Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of IlminsterRobert Temple Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster GCB, CVO , son of the musician Sir Thomas Armstrong, is a British life peer and former civil servant.-Life:...
1977–1979 - Sir Arthur Peterson 1972–1977
- Sir Philip AllenPhilip Allen, Baron Allen of AbbeydalePhilip Allen, Baron Allen of Abbeydale, GCB was a British civil servant.-Education and early life:...
1966–1972 - Sir Charles Cunningham 1957–1966
- Sir Frank NewsamFrank NewsamSir Frank Aubrey Newsam GCB KBE CVO MC was a British civil servant notable for serving as Permanent Under-Secretary of State to the Home Office from 1948 to 1957, although he had been a central figure for many years previously...
1948–1957 - Sir Alexander Maxwell 1938–1948
- Sir Russell Scott 1932–1938
- Sir John AndersonJohn Anderson, 1st Viscount WaverleyJohn Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, PC, PC was a British civil servant then politician who served as a minister under Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill as Home Secretary, Lord President of the Council and Chancellor of the Exchequer...
1922–1932 - Sir Edward Troup 1908–1922
- Sir Mackenzie Dalzell ChalmersMackenzie Dalzell ChalmersSir Mackenzie Dalzell Chalmers KCB CSI , judge and civil servant, was Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury, a Judge of the County Courts and a Law Member of the Viceroy's Council in India. He was also Permanent Under Secretary of State of the Home Office from 1903 to 1908.His mother was Matilda,...
1903–1908 - Sir Kenelm DigbyKenelm Edward DigbyThis article is about Kenelm Digby, the English lawyer and civil servant. For other people with the same name, see Kenelm Digby Sir Kenelm Edward Digby KCB, GCB, was an English lawyer and civil servant...
1895–1903 - Sir Godfrey LushingtonGodfrey LushingtonSir Godfrey Lushington KCB, GCMG, , British civil servant and promoter of prison reform, was Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office of the United Kingdom from 1886 to 1895....
1885-1895
Executive agencies
- Criminal Records BureauCriminal Records BureauThe Criminal Records Bureau , is an Executive Agency of the Home Office, which provides wider access to criminal record information through its Disclosure service for England and Wales...
reporting to the Minister of State (Policing and Criminal Justice) - Identity and Passport ServiceIdentity and Passport ServiceThe Identity & Passport Service is an executive agency of the Home Office in the United Kingdom and became operational on 1 April 2006, succeeding the UK Passport Agency, after the passing of the Identity Cards Act 2006...
reporting to the Minister of State (Immigration) - UK Border AgencyUK Border AgencyThe UK Border Agency is the border control body of the United Kingdom government and part of the Home Office. It was formed on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency , UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs...
reporting to the Minister of State (Immigration)
The department is also responsible for a government-owned company, the Forensic Science Service
Forensic Science Service
The Forensic Science Service is a government-owned company in the United Kingdom which provides forensic science services to the police forces and government agencies of England and Wales, as well as other countries.-History:...
, reporting to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Crime and Security).
Location
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
office block in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
designed by Sir Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
, close to St. James's Park tube station
St. James's Park tube station
St James's Park is a London Underground station near St James's Park in the City of Westminster. It is served by the District and Circle Lines and is between Victoria and Westminster stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1....
. Many functions, however, were devolved to offices in other parts of London and the country, notably the headquarters of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
The Immigration and Nationality Directorate was part of the Home Office, a department of the United Kingdom government. The headquarters were in Croydon, South London where it occupied thirteen buildings...
in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
In Spring 2005, the Home Office moved to a new main office designed by Sir Terry Farrell
Terry Farrell (architect)
Sir Terry Farrell, CBE, RIBA, FRSA, FCSD, MRTPI is a British architect.-Life and career:Farrell was born in Sale, Cheshire. As a youth he moved to Newcastle upon Tyne, where he attended St Cuthbert's High School. He graduated with a degree from Newcastle University, followed by a Masters in urban...
at 2 Marsham Street
2 Marsham Street
2 Marsham Street London has been the headquarters of the Home Office, a department of the British Government, since March 2005. Before this date the Home Office was located at 50 Queen Anne's Gate.-History:...
, Westminster, SW1P 4DF, on the site of the demolished Marsham Towers
Marsham Towers
The Marsham Towers were three towers at the corner of Marsham Street and Great Peter Street in Westminster, London. They served as the headquarters of the Department of the Environment.-Redevelopment:The redevelopment of the site was long planned...
building of the Department of the Environment
Secretary of State for the Environment
The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
. The contract to build the new headquarters was a public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
deal intended to last for around 29 years.
For external shots of its fictional Home Office, the TV series Spooks
Spooks
Spooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
uses an aerial shot of the Government Offices Great George Street
Government Offices Great George Street
Government Offices Great George Street is a large UK Government office building situated in Westminster between Horse Guards Road, Parliament Street, King Charles Street and Parliament Square.-Description:...
instead, serving as stand-in to match the distinctly less modern appearance of the fictitious accommodation interiors the series uses.
Research
To meet the UK's 5-year science and technology strategy, the Home Office sponsors research in police sciencePolice science
Police science is often an ambiguous term that denotes the studies and research which directly or indirectly deal with police work. Studies and research in criminology, forensic science, psychology, jurisprudence, community policing, criminal justice, correctional administration and penology all...
s including:
- BiometricsBiometricsBiometrics As Jain & Ross point out, "the term biometric authentication is perhaps more appropriate than biometrics since the latter has been historically used in the field of statistics to refer to the analysis of biological data [36]" . consists of methods...
– including face and voice recognition - Cell typeCell typeA cell type is a distinct morphological or functional form of cell. When a cell switches state from one cell type to another, it undergoes cellular differentiation. A list of distinct cell types in the adult human body may include several hundred distinct types.-References:...
analysis – to determine the origin of cells (e.g. hair, skin) - ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
– new techniques to recover latent fingerprints - DNADNADeoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
– identifying offender characteristics from DNA - Improved ProfilingProfilingProfiling, the extrapolation of information about something, based on known qualities, may refer specifically to:* Profiling practices * Forensic profiling, used in several types of forensic sciences* Offender profiling...
– of illicit drugs to help identify their source - Raman SpectroscopyRaman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique used to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system.It relies on inelastic scattering, or Raman scattering, of monochromatic light, usually from a laser in the visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet range...
– to provide more sensitive drugs and explosives detectors (e.g. roadside drug detection) - Terahertz imaging methods and technologies – e.g. image analysis and new cameras, to detect crime, enhance images and support anti-terrorism
Devolution
Most front-line law and order policy areas, such as policing, are devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland but the following reserved and excepted matters are handled by Westminster.Scotland
Reserved matters:
- Drug abuse
- Emergency powers
- ExtraditionExtraditionExtradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
- Firearms
- ImmigrationImmigrationImmigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and nationalityNationalityNationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity.... - Scientific procedures on live animals
The Scottish Government Justice and Communities Directorates are responsible for policing and community safety policy.
Northern Ireland
Excepted matters:
- ExtraditionExtraditionExtradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
(as an international relationsInternational relationsInternational relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
matter) - ImmigrationImmigrationImmigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and nationalityNationalityNationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
The following matters were not transferred at the devolution of policing and justice on 12 April 2010 and remain reserved:
- Drug classificationMisuse of Drugs Act 1971The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is an Act of Parliament which represents UK action in line with treaty commitments under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic...
- Parades
- Security of explosives
- Serious Organised Crime AgencySerious Organised Crime AgencyThe Serious Organised Crime Agency is a non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom under Home Office sponsorship...
The Home Office's main counterparts in Northern Ireland are:
- Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice (Northern Ireland)The Department of Justice is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The current Minister of Justice is David Ford, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Executive...
(policing, public order and community safety) - Northern Ireland OfficeNorthern Ireland OfficeThe Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
(national security in Northern Ireland)
The Department of Justice is accountable to the Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
whereas the Northern Ireland Office is a UK Government department.
Wales
Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
rather than reserved to Westminster.
See also
- Home Office Large Major Enquiry SystemHOLMES2HOLMES 2 is an Information Technology system that is predominantly used by UK Police forces for the investigation of major incidents such as serial murders and multi-million pound frauds....
- John GieveJohn GieveSir Edward John Watson Gieve, KCB is a former British Civil Servant, who served as Deputy Governor for Financial Stability of the Bank of England and an ex officio member of the Monetary Policy Committee from 2006 to 2009....
- Ministry of Home SecurityMinistry of Home SecurityThe Ministry of Home Security was a British government department established in 1939 to direct national civil defence during the Second World War.-Background:...
- United Kingdom budgetUnited Kingdom budgetThe United Kingdom budget deals with HM Treasury budgeting the revenues gathered by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and expenditures of public sector departments, in compliance with government policy.Adjustment is achieved with the GDP deflator....
- UK Immigration ServiceUK Immigration ServiceThe United Kingdom Immigration Service, , was the operational arm of the Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate...
External links
- Home Office—main website
- Records created or inherited by the Home Office, Ministry of Home Security, and related bodies—gives a history of responsibilities of the Home Office, including which functions were merged into or transferred away from the Home Office
- Home Office Watch - list of Home Office mistakes and errors