View source for Home Office

{{Short description|Ministerial department of the UK Government}}
{{About|the British interior ministry|a working room or study in a domestic dwelling|Study (room)|small businesses operated from home|Small office/home office}}
{{redirect|Home Department|other uses|Ministry of home affairs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox government agency
| type            = Department
| agency_name     = Home Office
| seal            = 
| seal_size       = 
| seal_caption    = 
| seal_alt        = 
| logo            = Home Office.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert-image
| logo_size       = 
| logo_caption    = 
| logo_alt        = 
| image           = Marsham Street.jpg
| image_size      = 180
| image_caption   = Headquarters at [[2 Marsham Street]], [[Westminster]]
| image_alt       = 
| formed          = {{Start date and age|1782|3|27|df=yes}}
| preceding1      = [[Southern Department (Great Britain)|Southern Department]]
| agency_type     = 
| jurisdiction    = [[Government of the United Kingdom]]
| status          = 
| headquarters    = 2 Marsham Street, London
| coordinates     = <!-- {{coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}} -->
| motto           = 
| employees       = 
| budget          = £20.3 billion (2022–2023)<ref>{{Citation |title=Home Office annual report and accounts: 2022 to 2023 |date=2023-09-19 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023 |publisher=Home Office |isbn=978-1-5286-4083-1}}</ref>
| minister_type   = Secretary of State
| minister1_name  = [[Shabana Mahmood]] MP
| minister1_pfo   = [[Home Secretary]]
| deputyminister_type = Ministers of State (attending Cabinet)
| deputyminister2_name = 
| deputyminister2_pfo = 
| deputyminister3_name = 
| deputyminister3_pfo = 
| minister4_name  = 
| minister4_pfo   = 
| minister5_name  = 
| minister5_pfo   = 
| minister6_name  = 
| minister6_pfo   = 
| minister7_name  = 
| minister7_pfo   = 
| minister8_name  = 
| minister8_pfo   = 
| chief1_name     = [[Antonia_Romeo|Dame Antonia Romeo]]
| chief1_position = Permanent Secretary
| chief2_name     = [[Simon Ridley]]
| chief2_position = Second Permanent Secretary
| parent_department = 
| child1_agency   = 
| child2_agency   = 
| child3_agency   = 
| website         = {{URL|https://gov.uk/home-office}}
| map             = 
| map_size        = 
| map_caption     = 
| map_alt         = 
| footnotes       = 
}}

[[File:Home Office Immigration Enforcement vehicle north Finchley.jpg|thumb|A Home Office Immigration Enforcement vehicle in north London]]

The '''Home Office''' ('''HO'''), also known (especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament) as the '''Home Department''',<ref>{{Cite web|author=((Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster))|url=https://Publications.Parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080609/debtext/80609-0001.htm#0806094000006|title=Hansard – Oral Questions to the Home Department – 9 June 2008|website=Publications.Parliament.uk|publisher=[[Government of the United Kingdom]]|date=9 June 2008|access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref> is the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[interior ministry]]. It is responsible for public safety and policing, border security, immigration, passports, and civil registration.

Agencies under its purview include police in [[England and Wales]], [[Border Force]], [[UK Visas and Immigration|the Visas and Immigration authority]], and the [[MI5|Security Service (MI5)]]. It also manages policy on [[drugs]], [[counterterrorism]], and [[immigration]]. It was formerly responsible for [[His Majesty's Prison Service]] and the [[National Probation Service]], but these have been transferred to the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]]. 

The Cabinet minister responsible for the department is the [[Home Secretary|home secretary]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secretary of State for the Home Department - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-the-home-department |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> a post considered one of the [[Great Offices of State]]; it has been held by [[Shabana Mahmood]] since September 2025. The Home Office is managed from day to day by a [[civil servant]], the [[Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office|permanent under-secretary of state of the home office]].

The expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office are scrutinised by the [[Home Affairs Select Committee]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/83/home-affairs-committee/role/ |title=Role - Home Affairs Committee |work=parliament.uk |access-date=28 February 2022 |quote=The House of Commons appoints the Committee with the task of examining the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office and its associated public bodies.}}</ref> 

==History==
On {{Start date and age|1782|03|27|df=yes}}, the Home Office was formed by renaming the existing [[Southern Department (Great Britain)|Southern Department]], with all existing staff transferring. On the same day, the [[Northern Department]] was renamed the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|Foreign Office]].

To match the new names, there was a transferring of responsibilities between the two Departments of State. All domestic responsibilities (including colonies, previously administered under the [[Board of Trade]]) were moved to the Home Office, and all foreign matters (including the administration of [[British protectorate]]s) 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 [[petition]]s and addresses sent to the King
*Advising the King on
**Royal grants
**[[Warrant (law)|Warrant]]s and [[letters patent|commissions]]
**The exercise of [[royal prerogative in the United Kingdom|Royal Prerogative]]
*Issuing instructions on behalf of the King to officers of [[The Crown]], [[Lord-lieutenant|lords-lieutenant]] 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
*Colonial matters

Responsibilities were subsequently changed over the years that followed:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.Casbah.ac.uk/cats/archive/138/PROA00008.htm|title=Changes to Home Office responsibilities|website=Casbah.ac.uk|access-date=19 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709220106/http://www.casbah.ac.uk/cats/archive/138/PROA00008.htm|archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref>
*1793 added: regulation of [[alien (law)|aliens]]
*1794 removed: control of [[British armed forces|military forces]] (to [[Secretary of State for War]])
*1801 removed: [[British Empire|colonial]] business (to [[Secretary of State for War and the Colonies]])
*1804 removed: [[Barbary States|Barbary State]] consuls (to Secretary of State for War and the Colonies)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.Google.co.uk/search?hl=en&tbm=bks&ei=LUuNXN-GIIGp1fAP-MOc2AI&q=%22The+consuls+remained+under+the+direction+of+the+Home+department+until+May+1804%22&oq=%22The+consuls+remained+under+the+direction+of+the+Home+department+until+May+1804%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3...14337.17317.0.22962.2.2.0.0.0.0.72.136.2.2.0....0...1c.1j2.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.jto7e-y4Q2Y|title=Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research|volume=23-24|publisher=Longmans, Green|year=1950|page=197}}</ref>
*1823 added: [[prison]]s
*1829 added: [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] and other [[Law enforcement in the United Kingdom|police services]]
*1836 added: [[General Register Office for England and Wales|registration of births, deaths and marriages]] in England and Wales
*1844 added: [[naturalisation]]
*1845 added: registration of [[Friendly society|Friendly Societies]]
*1855 removed: [[Yeomanry|yeomanries]] and [[militia]]s (to [[War Office]])<ref name=Han04may1855> See {{Ukhansard|house=HC|date=4 May 1855|vol=138|c=131}} Sir George Grey: 'The business of the militia was transferred from the Home Office to the War Office...'.</ref>
*1858 added: [[Local board of health|local boards of health]]
*1871 removed: local boards of health (to [[President of the Local Government Board|Local Government Board]])
*1871 removed: registration of births, deaths and marriages (to Local Government Board)
*1872 removed: [[highway]]s and [[toll road|turnpikes]] (to Local Government Board)
*1875 added: control of [[explosive material|explosives]]
*1875 removed: registration of Friendly Societies (to [[HM Treasury|Treasury]])
*1885 removed: Scotland (to [[Secretary for Scotland]] and the [[Scottish Office]])
*1886 removed: fishing (to [[Board of Trade]])
*1889 removed: [[Commissioners of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues|Land Commissioners]] (to [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom)|Board of Agriculture]])
*1900 removed: matters relating to [[cemetery|burial grounds]] (to Local Government Board)
*1905 removed: [[council house|public housing]] (to Local Government Board)
*1914 added: dangerous drugs
*1919 removed: aircraft and air traffic (to [[Air Ministry]])
*1919 removed: [[Anatomy Act 1832|use of human bodies in medical training]] (to Ministry of Health)
*1919 removed: infant and child care (to Ministry of Health)
*1919 removed: lunacy and [[mental health]] (to Ministry of Health)
*1919 removed: health and safety (to Ministry of Health)
*1920 added: [[firearm]]s
*1920 removed: Representation of Britain abroad in labour matters (to [[Secretary of State for Employment|Ministry of Labour]])
*1920 removed: mining (to [[Secretary for Mines|Mines Department]])
*1920 added: [[Northern Ireland Department of the Home Office|Northern Ireland]]
*1921 added: [[election]]s (from the [[Secretary of State for Health|Ministry of Health]])
*1922 removed: relations with [[Irish Free State]] (to [[Colonial Office]])
*1923 removed: [[Order of the British Empire]] (to Treasury)
*1925 removed: registration of [[trade union]]s (to Ministry of Labour)
*1931 removed: [[county council]]s (to Ministry of Health)
*1933 added: [[poison]]s
*1934 removed: [[metropolitan borough]]s (to Ministry of Health)
*1935 added: [[Civil Defence Service]]
*1937 removed: road accident returns (to Ministry of Transport)
*1938 added: [[firefighter|fire services]]
*1938 removed: [[Imperial Service Order]] 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 society|building societies]] (to Treasury)
*1948 removed: [[Broadmoor hospital]] (to Lunacy Board of Control)
*1949 added: [[Civil Defence Corps]]
*1950 removed: structural precautions for civil defence (to [[Ministry of Works (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Works]])
*1950 removed: minor judicial appointments (to [[Lord Chancellor]])
*1953 removed: [[slaughterhouse]]s (to [[Ministry of Housing and Local Government]])
*1954 removed: [[Market (place)|markets]] (to Ministry of Housing and Local Government)
*1956 removed: railway accidents (to [[Department for Transport|Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation]])
*1969 removed: [[reservoir]]s (to Ministry of Housing and Local Government)
*1971 removed: [[child care]] in England (to [[Department of Health and Social Security]])
*1971 removed: child care in Wales (to [[Welsh Office]])
*1972 removed: [[Northern Ireland Department of the Home Office]] (to [[Northern Ireland Office]])
*1973 removed: [[adoption]] (to Department of Health and Social Security)
*1992 removed: [[broadcasting]] and [[sport]] (to the new Department of National Heritage – later the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport]])
*2000 removed: [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] (to [[Metropolitan Police Authority]] - later [[Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime]])
*2001 removed: [[elections]], fire and rescue services in England, Bylaws (to the [[Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions]])
*2001 removed: [[Crown Dependencies]], [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information]] and [[Data security|data protection]] (to [[Lord Chancellor's Department]] – now [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]])
*2001 removed: [[Gambling in the United Kingdom|Gambling]], [[Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom|Alcohol licensing]] and [[Horse racing in Great Britain|Horse racing]] (to the [[Department for Culture, Media and Sport]])
*2001 removed: [[British Summer Time]], Sunday Trading and [[Easter Act 1928|Easter]] (to the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] – now the [[Department for Business and Trade]])
*2005 removed: [[Coroners]] (to the [[Department for Constitutional Affairs]] – now [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]])
*2007 removed: [[Home Office Drugs Inspectorate]] branch, formed in 1934
*2007 removed: [[criminal justice]], [[prison]]s & [[probation]] and legal affairs (to new [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]])
*2007 added: [[counter-terrorism]] strategy (from the [[Cabinet Office]])
*2016 added: fire and rescue services in England (from the [[Department for Communities and Local Government]])
*2025 removed: fire and rescue services in England (to the [[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government]])

==Organisation==
<!--This page is about a British subject. In British English, 'organisation' is spelt with an 's' not a 'z' - this is the spelling used by the Home Office itself, as per http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/organisation/ Please respect this and do not alter the spelling.-->
The Home Office is headed by the [[Home Secretary|home secretary]], a Cabinet minister, supported by the department's senior civil servant, the [[Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office|permanent secretary]].

===Organisational structure===
The Home Office comprises eleven directorates that help fulfil the department's responsibilities.<ref>{{Citation |title=Teams - Home Office Careers |url=https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/teams |website=careers.homeoffice.gov.uk|publisher=Home Office |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>

====Immigration====
* [[Border Force]] – controls migration at ports and airports across the UK and overseas.
* [[Border Security Command]] – combats [[People smuggling|smuggling gangs]] that facilitate [[English Channel migrant crossings (2018–present)|illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel]].
* [[HM Passport Office]] – provides passport and civil registration services in England and Wales.
* [[Immigration Enforcement]] – responsible for enforcing immigration law in the UK.
* [[UK Visas and Immigration]] – processes visa, asylum, and citizenship applications.
* Migration and Borders Group – responsible for immigration policymaking.

====Public services and policing====
* Public Safety Group – responsible for policy areas including fire, policing, and crime reduction. Also responsible for implementing the [[Emergency Services Network]].
* [[Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism|Homeland Security Group]] – develops policy and works with law enforcement and intelligence services to reduce risk from [[Terrorism in the United Kingdom|terrorism]], state threats, and [[Organized crime|organised crime]] to the UK.

====Other====
* Corporate and Delivery – fulfils corporate duties such as [[human resources]], [[project management]], [[corporate finance|finance]], and [[information technology|IT]].
* Communications Directorate – delivers communications to the wider public to achieve the Home Office's objectives.
* STARS (Science, Technology, Analysis, Research, and Strategy) – performs data and evidence [[Analytics|analysis]] to maximise organisational effectiveness.

===Other related public bodies===

As of April 2024, the Home Office works with the following agencies and public bodies:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#home-office|title=Departments, agencies and public bodies - GOV.UK|website=GOV.UK|publisher=UK Government|access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>

====Executive non-departmental public bodies====
*[[Disclosure and Barring Service]] (DBS)
*[[Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority]]
*[[Independent Office for Police Conduct]] (IOPC)
*[[Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner]]
*[[Security Industry Authority]] (SIA)

====Advisory non-departmental public bodies====
*[[Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs]]
*[[Animals in Science Committee]]
*[[Biometrics and Forensic Ethics Group]]
*[[Migration Advisory Committee]]
*[[Police Advisory Board for England and Wales]]
*[[Police Remuneration Review Body]]
*[[Technical Advisory Board]]

====Tribunals====
*[[Investigatory Powers Tribunal]]
*[[Police Discipline Appeals Tribunal]]

====Independent monitoring bodies====
*[[Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner]]
*[[Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner]]
*[[Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration]]

====Others====
*[[Adjudicator's Office]]
*[[College of Policing]]
*[[Commission for Countering Extremism]]
*[[Forensic Science Regulator]]
*[[His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services]]
*[[Independent Family Returns Panel]]
*[[Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation]]
*[[Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office]]
*[[National Counter Terrorism Security Office]]
*[[National Crime Agency Renumeration Review Body]]
*[[MI5|Security Service]] (MI5)

===Budget and spending===
In the financial year 2022–2023, the Home Office had a total budget of £20.3 billion.<ref>{{Citation |title=Home Office annual report and accounts: 2022 to 2023 |date=2023-09-19 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Home Office |isbn=978-1-5286-4083-1}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Spending by financial year
|-
! rowspan=2 | Directorate
! colspan=2 | 2022–2023
|-
! Resource<br>(£millions) !! Capital<br>(£millions)
|-
| Delivery || 77.8 || 3.0
|-
| STARS || 34.6 || 43.0
|-
| Homeland Security Group || 1,125.1 || 157.8
|-
| Public Safety Group || 11,204.4 || 225.4
|-
| Migration & Borders || 228.0 || 172.2
|-
| Customer Service (UKVI & HMPO) || -3,166.3 || 87.4
|-
| Asylum & Protection || 4,498.8 || 6.9
|-
| Borders & Enforcement || 1,404.8 || 135.4
|-
| Corporate Enablers || 945.6 || 37.9
|-
| Digital Data & Technology || 473.0 || 40.0
|-
| Legal || 11.1 || -
|-
| Communications || 8.6 || -
|-
| Arms Length Bodies || 99.9 || 16.4
|- class=sortbottom
! Total !! 17,005.3 !! 925.4 
|}

==Ministers==
The Home Office ministers are as follows, with cabinet ministers in bold.<ref>{{OGL-attribution|{{Cite web|title=Our ministers|url=https://www.GOV.uk/government/organisations/home-office|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Home Office|access-date=8 September 2025}}}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
! width=95x|Minister
! Portrait
! Office
! Portfolio
|-
| '''[[Shabana Mahmood]]''' <small>MP</small>
|[[File:Shabana Mahmood Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg|133x133px]]
| [[Home Secretary|Secretary of State for the Home Department]]
| Overall responsibility for all Home Office business, including: overarching responsibility for the departmental portfolio and oversight of the ministerial team; cabinet; National Security Council (NSC); public appointments; oversight of the Security Service<ref>{{cite web |title=Secretary of State for the Home Department - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-the-home-department|website=GOV.UK |access-date=7 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dan Jarvis]] <small>MP</small>
|[[File:Dan Jarvis official portrait, 2024 (cropped).jpg|133x133px]]
|[[Minister of State for Security]]
|Counter terrorism and extremism; state threats; cyber security and crime; serious and organised crime; oversight of the National Crime Agency; anti-corruption; economic crime (excluding fraud)<ref>{{cite web |title=Minister of State (Minister for Security) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--174 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[David Hanson, Baron Hanson of Flint]] <br><small>Life peer</small>
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Hanson of Flint crop 2.jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
| Minister of State for the Home Department
| Fraud; departmental finance; Home Office business in the Lords; Overseas Territories; public appointments and sponsorship; inquiries; union and devolution<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rt Hon Lord Hanson of Flint |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-hanson#:~:text=Role-,Biography,Flint%20on%2019%20July%202024. |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sarah Jones (politician)|Sarah Jones]] <small>MP</small>
| [[File:Official portrait of Sarah Jones MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
| [[Minister of State for Policing and Crime]]
| Policing standards and governance, neighbourhood policing, public order, major events, and civil contingencies, criminal justice system, Young Futures, Safer Streets
|-
| [[Alex Norris (British politician)|Alex Norris]] <small>MP</small>
| [[File:Official portrait of Alex Norris MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
| [[Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum]]
| Border Security Command; asylum policy; asylum accommodation; returns and removals; irregular migration policy; organised immigration crime; foreign national offenders; Immigration Enforcement; small boat arrivals; National Referral Mechanism<ref>{{cite web |title=Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--186 |website=GOV.UK |access-date=5 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jess Phillips]] <small>MP</small>
| [[File:Jess Phillips official portrait, 2024 (cropped).jpg|133x133px]]
| [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls]]
| Violence against women and girls; safeguarding; rape and serious sexual offences; violent crime and domestic abuse; child sexual abuse and exploitation; modern slavery; spiking
|-
| [[Mike Tapp]] <small>MP</small>
| [[File:Official portrait of Mike Tapp MP crop 2.jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
| [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship]]
| Legal migration policy; Immigration Rules and visa policy; Windrush Compensation Scheme; Future Borders and Immigration System; HM Passport Office; General Register Office; Border Force operation; safe and legal routes and resettlement<ref>{{cite web |title=Minister of State (Minister for Migration and Citizenship) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--243|website=GOV.UK |access-date=5 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
|}

{{Politics of the United Kingdom}}

==Priorities==
{{Update|part=section|date=April 2025|updated=2012}}
The department outlined its aims for this Parliament in its Business Plan, which was published in May 2011, and superseded its Structural Reform Plan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home Office business plan 2011 to 2015 |date= 12 May 2011 |url=http://www.HomeOffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/business-plan/ho-business-plan-2011-15/|publisher=Home Office|access-date=12 April 2012}}</ref> The plan said the department will:

# Empower the public to hold the police to account for their role in cutting crime{{snd}}Introduce directly elected [[Police and Crime Commissioner]]s and make police actions to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour more transparent.
# Free up the police to fight crime more effectively and efficiently{{snd}}Cut police bureaucracy, end unnecessary central interference and overhaul police powers in order to cut crime, reduce costs and improve police value for money. Simplify national institutional structures and establish a [[National Crime Agency]] to strengthen the fight against organised crime (and replace the [[Serious Organised Crime Agency]]).
# Create a more integrated criminal justice system{{snd}}Help the police and other public services work together across the criminal justice system.
# Secure our borders and reduce immigration{{snd}}Deliver an improved migration system that commands public confidence and serves our economic interests. Limit non-EU economic migrants, and introduce new measures to reduce inflow and minimise abuse of all migration routes, for example the student route. Process asylum applications more quickly, and end the detention of children for immigration purposes.
# Protect people's freedoms and civil liberties{{snd}}Reverse state interference to ensure there is not disproportionate intrusion into people's lives.
# Protect our citizens from terrorism{{snd}}Keep people safe through the Government's approach to [[Counter Terrorism Policing]].
# Build a fairer and more equal society (through the [[Government Equalities Office]]){{snd}}Help create a fair and [[labour market flexibility|flexible labour market]]. Change culture and attitudes. Empower individuals and communities. Improve equality structures, frontline services and support; and help Government departments and others to consider equality as a matter of course.

The Home Office publishes progress against the plan on the [[10 Downing Street]] website.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Business Plan: Home Office|url=http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/transparency/srp/view-srp/40|website=Transparency.Number10.GOV.uk|publisher=[[10 Downing Street]]|access-date=12 April 2012|archive-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405091510/http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/transparency/srp/view-srp/40|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Programs include:
* the [[Metropolitan Police Service]]
** [[Counter Terrorism Command]]
** [[Protection Command]], one of the commands within the [[Specialist Operations]] directorate of the Met.
** [[Territorial Support Group]]
* [[CONTEST]], a strategy written as early as 2003 by which to deradicalize individuals who are at risk. CONTEST is composed of the "four Ps" – [[CONTEST#Prevent|Prevent]], [[CONTEST#Pursue|Pursue]], [[CONTEST#Protect|Protect]], and [[CONTEST#Prepare|Prepare]] – which aim to reduce terrorism at all levels through: Preventing more people from being radicalised; Pursuing suspects operationally and legally; Protecting the public through security measures, and Preparing to manage the response to mitigate the impact of an inevitable attack.
* [[Fixated Threat Assessment Centre]]: a UK police/mental health unit, whose function is to manage the risk to public figures from stalkers and individuals who are fixated on high profile public figures or prominent protected sites.

==Location==
[[File:HomeOffice QueenAnnesGate.jpg|thumb|The former Home Office building at [[50 Queen Anne's Gate]], [[London]]]]
[[File:Lunar House 86.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Lunar House]] in [[Croydon]], which holds the headquarters of [[UK Visas and Immigration]]]]
Until 1978, the Home Office had its offices in what is now the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office Main Building]] on King Charles Street, off [[Whitehall]]. From 1978 to 2004, the Home Office was then located at [[102 Petty France|50 Queen Anne's Gate]], a [[Brutalist architecture|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 2005, the Home Office moved to a new main office designed by [[Terry Farrell (architect)|Sir Terry Farrell]] at [[2 Marsham Street]], Westminster, on the site of the demolished [[Marsham Towers]] building of the [[Secretary of State for the Environment|Department of the Environment]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.TerryFarrell.co.uk/projects/finishing/finish_marsham.html|title=Marsham Street/The Home Office |publisher=[[Terry Farrell (architect)|Terry Farrell]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926144808/http://www.TerryFarrell.co.uk/projects/finishing/finish_marsham.html|archive-date=26 September 2006}}</ref>

For external shots of its fictional Home Office, the TV series ''[[Spooks (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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.GOV.uk/government/history/1-horse-guards-road|title=History of 1 Horse Guards Road |publisher=[[Government of the United Kingdom]]|access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref>

==Research==
To meet the UK's five-year science and technology strategy,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.HomeOffice.gov.uk/documents/PoliceST_S2_part11.pdf?view=Binary|title=Police Science and Technology Strategy: 2004 – 2009|publisher=Home Office|access-date=27 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205105335/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/PoliceST_S2_part11.pdf?view=Binary|archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref> the Home Office sponsors research in [[police science]]s, including:
*[[Biometrics]] – including face and voice recognition
*[[Cell type]] analysis – to determine the origin of cells (e.g. hair, skin)
*[[Chemistry]] – new techniques to recover latent [[Fingerprint|fingerprints]]
*[[DNA]] – identifying offender characteristics from DNA
*Improved [[Forensic profiling|profiling]] – of illicit drugs to help identify their source
*[[Raman Spectroscopy]] – 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 and criminal justice, are devolved in [[Scotland]] and [[Northern Ireland]] (and only very partially in [[Wales]]), but the following [[reserved and excepted matters]] are handled by Westminster.

===Scotland===
Reserved matters:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.OPSI.GOV.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980046_en_14#sch5-pt1|title=Scotland Act 1998, Schedule 5, Part I|website=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref>
*[[Misuse of Drugs Act 1971|The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971]]
*[[Extradition]] legislation, but the Scottish Ministers (working with the [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]]) have executive responsibility for extradition operations and policy responsibility for mutual legal assistance
*Most aspects of [[firearms]] legislation, but Scottish Ministers have some executive responsibilities for the licensing of firearms; further powers are transferred under the [[Scotland Act 2012]]
*[[Immigration]] and [[nationality]]
*[[Animal experiments|Scientific procedures]] on live animals.

The [[Scottish Government]]'s [[Justice and Safer Communities Directorates]] are responsible for devolved justice and home affairs policy.

===Wales===
Reserved matters:

*[[Law enforcement in the United Kingdom|Policing]]
*[[Misuse of Drugs Act 1971|Drug Abuse]]
*[[Data Protection Act 1998|Data Protection]] and access to information
*[[Elections in the United Kingdom|Elections]]
*[[Gun control in the United Kingdom|Firearms]]
*[[British Board of Film Classification|Film Classification]]
*[[British nationality law|Immigration and Nationality]]
*[[animal experiments|Scientific Procedures]] on live animals
*[[National Security]] and [[Counter-Terrorism]]
*[[Gambling in the United Kingdom|Betting, Gaming and Lotteries]]
*[[Emergency Powers]]
*[[Extradition]]
*[[Lord Lieutenant|Lieutenancies]]
*[[Charities]]

===Northern Ireland===
Excepted matters:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.OPSI.GOV.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980047_en_11#sch2|title=Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 2|website=Legislation.gov.uk|date=4 November 1950|access-date=19 June 2010}}</ref>
*[[Extradition]] (as an [[international relations]] matter)
*[[Immigration]] and [[nationality]]

The following matters were not transferred at the devolution of policing and justice on 12 April 2010, and remain reserved:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.NIAssembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/100309.htm#4|title=The Assembly - Official Report |date=9 March 2010 |publisher=Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office|access-date=19 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216025255/http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2009/100309.htm#4|archive-date=16 December 2010}}</ref>
*[[Misuse of Drugs Act 1971|Drug classification]]
*[[Parades]]
*Security of [[explosives]]
*[[National Crime Agency]]

The Home Office's main counterparts in [[Northern Ireland]] are:
*[[Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)|Department of Justice]] (policing, public order and community safety)
*[[Northern Ireland Office]] (national security in Northern Ireland)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.NIO.GOV.uk/index/about-the-nio.htm|title=About the NIO |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Office]] |access-date=19 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917112740/http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/about-the-nio.htm|archive-date=17 September 2010}}</ref>

The Department of Justice is accountable to the [[Northern Ireland Executive]], whereas the Northern Ireland Office is a [[departments of the government of the United Kingdom|UK government department]].

==Criticism==
{{Criticism section|section|date=September 2021}}

===Windrush scandal===
{{also|Home Office hostile environment policy}}
The [[Windrush scandal]] resulted in some British citizens being wrongly deported, along with a further compensation scheme for those affected, and a wider debate on the [[Home Office hostile environment policy]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The first allegations about the targeting of pre-1973 [[Caribbean]] migrants started in 2013.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} In 2018, the allegations were put to the home secretary in the [[House of Commons]], and resulted in the resignation of the then home secretary. In 2019, the Home Office admitted to multiple breaches of data protection regulations in the handling of its Windrush compensation scheme. The department sent emails to Windrush migrants which revealed the email address of other Windrush migrants to whom the email was sent. The data breach concerned five different emails, each of which was sent to 100 recipients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.BBC.co.uk/news/uk-47855428 |first1=Danny |last1=Shaw |title=Windrush: Home Office admits data breach in compensation scheme|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=8 April 2019}}</ref> In April 2019, the Home Office admitted to revealing 240 personal email addresses of EU citizens applying for settled status in the UK. The email addresses of applicants were incorrectly sent to other applicants to the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.BBC.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47888214 |first1=Ross |last1=Hawkins |title=Brexit: Home Office sorry for EU citizen data breach|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=11 April 2019}}</ref> In response to these incidents, the Home Office pledged to launch an [[Independent reviews in the United Kingdom|independent review]] of its data protection compliance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.CivilServiceWorld.com/articles/news/home-office-launch-independent-review-data-protection-compliance|title=Home Office to launch independent review of data protection compliance |first1=Beckie |last1=Smith |publisher=Civil Service World|date=12 April 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, the [[Court of Appeal]] issued a judgement which criticised the Home Office's handling of immigration cases. The judges stated that the "general approach [by the home secretary, [[Sajid Javid]]] in all earnings discrepancy cases [has been] legally flawed". The judgement relates to the Home Office's interpretation of Section 322(5) of the Immigration Rules.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.TheGuardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/16/court-says-home-office-use-immigration-rule-legally-flawed |title=Court castigates Home Office over misuse of immigration law |first1=Amelia |last1=Hill |website=[[The Guardian]]|date=16 April 2019}}</ref>

In November 2020, the [[Equality and Human Rights Commission]], a statutory body that investigates breaches of the [[Equality Act 2010]] published a report concluding that the Home Office had a "lack of organisation-wide commitment, including by senior leadership, to the importance of equality and the Home Office's obligations under the equality duty placed on government departments". The report noted that the Home Office's pursuit of the "hostile environment" policy from 2012 onwards "accelerated the impact of decades of complex policy and practice based on a history of white and black immigrants being treated differently". Caroline Waters, the interim chair of the EHRC, described the treatment of Windrush immigrants by the Home Office as a "shameful stain on British history".<ref name="BBC-EHRC">{{Cite news|date=25 November 2020|title=Windrush generation: UK 'unlawfully ignored' immigration rules warnings|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55065061 |first1=Justin |last1=Parkinson |access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>

=== Aderonke Apata ===
[[Aderonke Apata]], a [[Nigerians|Nigerian]] [[LGBT social movements|LGBT activist]], made two asylum claims that were both rejected by the Home Office in 2014 and on 1 April 2015 respectively, due to her previously having been in a relationship with a man and having children with that man.<ref name=":42">{{Cite news|last=Dugan|first=Emily|date=9 June 2014|title=Aderonke Apata deportation case: 'If the Home Office doesn't believe I'm gay, I'll send them a video that proves it'|work=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/aderonke-apata-deportation-case-if-home-office-doesn-t-believe-i-m-gay-i-ll-send-them-video-proves-it-9509738.html|url-status=live|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201231021204/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/aderonke-apata-deportation-case-if-home-office-doesn-t-believe-i-m-gay-i-ll-send-them-video-proves-it-9509738.html|archive-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite news|last=Dunt|first=Ian|date=3 March 2015|title=Can you prove you're gay? Last minute legal battle for lesbian fighting deportation to Nigeria|work=[[Politics.co.uk]]|url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2015/03/03/can-you-prove-you-re-gay-last-minute-legal-battle-for-lesbia/|url-status=dead|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227143722/https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2015/03/03/can-you-prove-you-re-gay-last-minute-legal-battle-for-lesbia/|archive-date=27 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=":72">{{Cite news|last=Ashton|first=Jack|date=14 August 2017|title=Nigerian gay rights activist who judge accused of 'faking' her sexuality wins 13-year legal battle for asylum in UK|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nigeria-gay-rights-activist-aderonke-apata-uk-asylum-granted-high-court-fake-sexulaity-lesbian-lgbt-persecution-africa-a7888931.html|url-status=live|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201231020905/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nigeria-gay-rights-activist-aderonke-apata-uk-asylum-granted-high-court-fake-sexulaity-lesbian-lgbt-persecution-africa-a7888931.html|archive-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news|last=Dugan|first=Emily|date=3 April 2015|title=Nigerian gay rights activist has her High Court asylum bid rejected - because judge doesn't believe she is lesbian|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nigerian-gay-rights-activist-has-her-high-court-asylum-bid-rejected-because-judge-doesn-t-believe-she-lesbian-10155083.html|url-status=live|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201231020614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nigerian-gay-rights-activist-has-her-high-court-asylum-bid-rejected-because-judge-doesn-t-believe-she-lesbian-10155083.html|archive-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Claire|date=4 March 2015|title=Home Office tells Nigerian asylum seeker: 'You can't be a lesbian, you've got children'|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11448766/Lesbian-Nigerian-woman-told-Prove-youre-gay-to-stay-in-Britain.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150422123816/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11448766/Lesbian-Nigerian-woman-told-Prove-youre-gay-to-stay-in-Britain.html|archive-date=22 April 2015}}</ref> In 2014, Apata said that she would send an [[Pornography|explicit video]] of herself to the Home Office to prove her sexuality.<ref name=":42"/> This resulted in her asylum bid gaining widespread support, with multiple petitions created in response, which gained hundreds of thousands of signatures combined.<ref name=":72"/> On 8 August 2017, after a thirteen-year legal battle and after a new appeal from Apata was scheduled for late July, she was granted refugee status in the United Kingdom by the Home Office.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Diane|date=12 August 2017|title=Nigerian gay rights activist wins UK asylum claim after 13-year battle|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/14/nigerian-gay-rights-activist-aderonke-apata-wins-uk-asylum-claim-13-year-battle|url-status=live|access-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012506/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/14/nigerian-gay-rights-activist-aderonke-apata-wins-uk-asylum-claim-13-year-battle|archive-date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

===Use of the Bible for rejecting asylum claims===
In March 2019, it was reported that in two unrelated cases, the Home Office denied asylum to converted Christians by misrepresenting certain [[Bible]] quotes. In one case, it quoted selected excerpts from the Bible to imply that [[Christianity]] is not more peaceful than [[Islam]], the asylum-seeker's original religion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home Office refuses Christian convert asylum by quoting Bible passages that 'prove Christianity is not peaceful'|url=https://www.Independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/home-office-christian-convert-asylum-refused-bible-not-peaceful-a8832026.html |first1=May |last1=Bulman |work=[[The Independent]]|date=20 March 2019|access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref> In another incident, an [[Iran]]ian Christian application for asylum was rejected because her faith was judged as "half-hearted", for she did not believe that Jesus could protect her from the Iranian regime.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Illiterate' Home Office quotes Jesus in asylum rejection letter|url=https://www.TheTablet.co.uk/news/11523/-illiterate-home-office-quotes-jesus-in-asylum-rejection-letter|website=The Tablet |first1=Liz |last1=Dodd |access-date=4 April 2019|date=27 March 2019}}</ref> As criticism grew on social media, the Home Office distanced itself from the decision, though it confirmed the letter was authentic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rejecting asylum claim, U.K. quotes Bible to say Christianity is not 'peaceful'|url=https://www.NYTimes.com/2019/03/21/world/europe/britain-asylum-seeker-christianity.html |url-access=subscription |first1=Anna |last1=Schaverien |website=[[The New York Times]]|date=21 March 2019|access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref> Home Secretary [[Sajid Javid]] said that it was "totally unacceptable" for his department to quote the Bible to question an Iranian Christian convert's asylum application, and ordered an urgent investigation into what had happened.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home Secretary orders urgent investigation into asylum rejection letter which criticised Bible|url=https://www.Premier.org.uk/News/UK/Home-Secretary-orders-urgent-investigation-into-asylum-rejection-letter-which-criticised-Bible|website=Premier Christian News |first1= Eno |last1=Adeogun |access-date=4 April 2019|date=2 April 2019}}</ref>

The treatment of Christian asylum-seekers chimes with other incidents in the past, such as the refusal to grant [[Travel visa|visas]] to the [[Archbishop]] of [[Mosul]] to attend the consecration of the UK's first [[Syriac Orthodox]] Cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Britain bans heroic bishops: persecuted Christian leaders from war zones refused entry|url=https://www.Express.co.uk/news/uk/739563/Christians-leaders-persecuted-bishops-Iraq-Syria-visas-UK |publisher=[[Daily Express]]|access-date=4 April 2019|date=4 December 2016}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=tabloid|date=September 2021}} In a 2017 study, the Christian [[Barnabas Fund]] found that only 0.2% of all Syrian refugees accepted by the UK were Christians, although Christians accounted for approximately 10% of Syria's pre-war population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UK government discriminates against Christian refugees from Syria|url=https://BarnabasFund.org/news/UK-government-discriminates-against-Christian-refugees-from-Syria |publisher=[[Barnabas Fund]] |date=2 November 2017 |access-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404171736/https://barnabasfund.org/news/UK-government-discriminates-against-Christian-refugees-from-Syria |archive-date= Apr 4, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Law|Politics|United Kingdom}}

*[[HOLMES 2|Home Office Large Major Enquiry System 2 (HOLMES 2)]]
*[[Law enforcement in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Home Secretary]]
**[[Home Secretary#List of home secretaries|List of home secretaries]]
*[[Ministry of Home Security]]
*[[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department]]
*[[Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office]]
*[[UK Immigration Service]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Bailey, Victor. "The Metropolitan Police, the Home Office and the threat of outcast London." in ''Policing and Punishment in Nineteenth Century Britain'' (Routledge, 2015) pp.94–125.

* Bartrip, Peter W.J. ''The Home Office and the dangerous trades: regulating occupational disease in Victorian and Edwardian Britain'' (Rodopi, 2002).
* Chadwick, George Roger. "Bureaucratic mercy: the home office and the treatment of capital cases in Victorian England" (PhD dissertation, Rice University; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,  1989. 9110955.).

* Emsley, Clive. "The home office and its sources of information and investigation 1791-1801." ''English Historical Review'' 94.372 (1979): 532-561.

* Gibson, Bryan. ''The New Home Office: An Introduction'' (2nd ed. Waterside Press, 2008) [https://books.google.com/books?id=DgTbCgAAQBAJ  online]
* Newsam, Frank. ''The Home Office'' (Routledge, 2024).
* Pellew, Jill. "The home office and the aliens act, 1905." ''The Historical Journal'' 32.2 (1989): 369-385.
* Pellew, Jill. ''The Home Office, 1848-1914, from Clerks to Bureaucrats'' (Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1982) [https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=gakvFS910DkC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=History+Home+Office.&ots=EnAgCD7_YP&sig=NwulDU7ehMchDFKVM_0geRgQhh8  online].
* Petrow, Stefan. ''Policing morals: The metropolitan police and the Home Office 1870–1914'' (Oxford University Press, 1994) [https://academic.oup.com/book/26352?itm_content=Oxford_Academic_Books_0&itm_campaign=Oxford_Academic_Books&itm_source=trendmd-widget&itm_medium=sidebar  online].
* Roberts, David. "Lord  Palmerston at the Home Office," ''The Historian'' (1958) 21#1 pp. 63-81 {{JSTOR|24437747}}

* Smith, David. "Sir George Grey at the Mid-Victorian Home Office." ''Canadian Journal of History'' 19.3 (1984): 361-386.
* Smith, Melissa. "Architects of armageddon: the home office scientific advisers' branch and civil defence in Britain, 1945–68." ''The British Journal for the History of Science'' 43.2 (2010): 149-180.
* York, Sheona. "The ‘hostile environment’: How Home Office immigration policies and practices create and perpetuate illegality." ''Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law'' 32.4 (2018).

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110709220106/http://www.casbah.ac.uk/cats/archive/138/PROA00008.htm 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}}
{{Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Home Office (United Kingdom)| ]]
[[Category:Ministerial departments of the Government of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:English law]]
[[Category:Public safety ministries|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in England and Wales]]
[[Category:Internal affairs ministries|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Government ministries established in 1782]]
[[Category:1782 establishments in Great Britain]]