[Withdrawn] Home Office single departmental plan: May 2018
Updated 27 June 2019
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This publication was withdrawn on 13 June 2019
It has been replaced by a new version
The single departmental plan sets out the department’s goals and how these will be achieved.
Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; that makes a core contribution to HM Government’s plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain.
Our vision is for a United Kingdom that is secure and prosperous; where citizens, residents and visitors are safe and feel safe to go about their lawful business; and where institutions at all levels of society uphold rights, liberties and the rule of law.
The Home Office sector comprises 3 systems: Public Safety, Homeland Security and Borders, Immigration and Citizenship.
Our goals
We will:
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Cut crime and the harm it causes, including cyber-crime and serious and organised crime
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Manage civil emergencies within the remit of the Home Office
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Protect vulnerable people and communities
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Reduce terrorism
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Control migration
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Provide world-class public services and contribute to prosperity
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Maximise the benefits of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union
1. Cut crime and the harm it causes, including cyber-crime and serious and organised crime
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State for Countering Extremism and Minister for Equalities
Victoria Atkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability and Minister for Women
Lead officials
Scott McPherson, Director General, Crime, Policing and Fire Group
Tom Hurd OBE, Director General, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
1.1 Take early action against emerging and changing crime trends
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Continue to implement the Modern Crime Prevention Strategy, addressing the key drivers of crime (contributes to SDG 3) |
| Enhance our response to serious violence, including knife and gun crime, building on existing work to promote prevention and early intervention (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Review the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act and implement the Drug Strategy (contributes to SDG 3) |
| Establish and Implement Serious Violence Taskforce and deliver the Serious Violence Strategy (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Bring forward the Offensive Weapons Bill, to ban the sale of the most dangerous corrosive products to under-18s and introduce tough restrictions on online sales of knives |
1.2 Protect our people by reducing the risk from serious and organised crime
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Continue work to choke off the supply and availability of illegal firearms to prevent their use by criminal or terrorist groups in the UK (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Introduce new measures to make the UK a more hostile place for those seeking to move, hide or use the proceeds of crime and corruption or to evade sanctions (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Strengthen our approach to tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse (contributes to SDG 5 & 16) |
| Improve the response to cyber-crime with reforms to police training and the expansion of volunteer ‘Cyber Specials’ |
| Ensure a whole of government approach to countering Serious and Organised Crime through the implementation of a new strategy (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Establish a multi-agency National Economic Crime Centre to act as the national authority for the UK’s operational response to economic crime (contributes to SDG 16) |
Our performance
Figures on crime levels and trends for England and Wales are based primarily on 2 sets of statistics: the Independent Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and police recorded crime data. In the year to December 2017, there was an overall fall in crime of 7%, driven largely by a 28% decrease in computer misuse offences.
Crime has fallen over the long term; it has been stable in the short-term. Those crimes traditionally measured by the Independent Crime Survey for England and Wales (ie excluding fraud and computer misuse offences) show that “most types of crime have stayed at similar levels to the previous year” (for the year ending December 2017).
Crimes measured by the independent crime survey for England and Wales (exc. Fraud)
| Year | Crimes measured |
|---|---|
| Year ending December 2015 | 6.4m |
| Year ending December 2016 | 6.1m |
| Year ending December 2017 | 6.0m |
Source: Independent Crime Survey for England and Wales year ending Dec 17; release schedule: quarterly
In contrast to the crime survey, police recorded crime figures are currently showing a 13% increase for the year to December 2017. The Office for National Statistics is clear that the crime survey is the better measure of long term trends for most offences, because police figures are affected by changes in recording practices and police activity, as well as changing behaviour in public reporting of crime. However, recorded crime is able to provide a better measure of low volume but high-harm offences which aren’t well covered by the survey, like serious violence. Crime recorded by the police shows an increase of 22% for offences involving knives or other sharp instruments and an 11% increase in firearms offences.
2. Manage civil emergencies within the remit of the Home Office
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
Victoria Atkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability and Minister for Women
Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State for Countering Extremism and Minister for Equalities
Lead officials
Patsy Wilkinson CB, Second Permanent Secretary
Scott McPherson, Director General, Crime, Policing and Fire Group
Tom Hurd OBE, Director General, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
2.1 Deter state-based threats and respond to crises rapidly and effectively and build resilience at home and abroad
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Through the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism Operational Support team, provide a vital function to help facilitate the response to any major incident (with COBR) |
| Implement the Bio-Security Strategy which draws together all of the work that takes place across government to protect the UK and its interests from significant biological risks, for example significant outbreaks of disease, whether these occur naturally or as the result of an accidental or deliberate release of hazardous biological material |
| Continue to develop crisis response and resilience, including at the border |
| Complete the uplift to fire and rescue service specialist capabilities to support police and ambulance in responding to terrorist attacks, and enhance the specialist response to emergencies involving chemical release |
2.2 Prevent uncontrolled fires and reduce their impact
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Ensure effective fire and rescue service national capabilities are maintained |
| Support the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and progress associated issues of fire and safety |
3. Protect vulnerable people and communities
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Minister of State for Immigration
The Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
Victoria Atkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability and Minister for Women
Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State for Countering Extremism and Minister for Equalities
Lead officials
Patsy Wilkinson CB, Second Permanent Secretary
Scott McPherson, Director General, Crime, Policing and Fire Group
Tom Hurd OBE, Director General, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
3.1 Ensure a public safety system that protects vulnerable people, supports victims and brings perpetrators to justice
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Work across government to continue the successful work of specialist FGM and forced marriage units, refuges, rape crisis centres and other support services for victims of violence against women and girls (contributes to SDG 5) |
| Overhaul how police, social services and others work together to protect vulnerable children (contributes to SDG 5 & 16) |
| Ensure proper provision of health and community-based places of safety for people suffering mental health crises (contributes to SDG 3) |
| Introduce new laws and stronger powers to protect and support survivors of domestic abuse (contributes to SDG 5 & 16) |
| Strengthen our approach to tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse, including through the global We PROTECT initiative |
3.2 Protect refugees and victims of human trafficking and modern slavery
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Overhaul the support system for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery (contributes to SDG 8) |
| Deliver a progressive, trusted and efficient asylum system which provides consistent, timely and good quality decisions, supports those in need of protection, reduces unfounded intake and ensures those with no ongoing basis to remain in the UK leave the country swiftly |
| Resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees and up to 3,000 at-risk children and their families from the Middle East and North Africa region by May 2020 (contributes to SDG 10) |
| Ensure that we have the right capabilities in the UK and overseas, and a comprehensive action plan, to identify, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in modern slavery and immigration crime (contributes to SDG 5, 8 & 16) |
3.3 Reduce extremism and the harm it causes
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Implement the Home Office-led counter-extremism commitments across the four pillars of the Government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Manage implementation of the Home Office-led elements of the Hate Crime Action Plan, refresh the plan in 2018 and support the new police-led online Hate Crime Hub (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Support and respond to the independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s public engagement, study and advice (contributes to SDG 16) |
Our performance
Domestic abuse, sexual offences and modern slavery are all underreported crimes that affect the most vulnerable in our society, so it is encouraging that more victims are coming forward and police recording of these crimes is improving. For example, the number of police recorded crimes flagged as domestic abuse has risen 21% year-on-year; police recorded sex offences have risen 25%; and nearly one third of violence against the person offences were flagged as domestic abuse-related. These figures are thought to reflect an increase in reporting, rather than providing an indication of current trends.
In 2017, 5,145 potential victims of human trafficking were referred through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM); this was a 35% increase on the number of referrals in 2016. Further information on the NRM, including the latest 2017 quarterly statistics, can be found in the National Crime Agency’s National Referral Mechanism statistics.
Potential victims of human trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism
| Year | Number of potential victims referred |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,261 |
| 2016 | 3,804 |
| 2017 | 5,145 |
Source: National Referral Mechanism statistics (2017 annual report) / release schedule: quarterly
As at 30 December 2017, 10,538 people have been granted humanitarian protection under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) since the scheme began, against a target of 20,000 by end of financial year 2020.
Further information on the number of people granted asylum or other forms of protection, and the support provided to asylum seekers can be found in the Home Office immigration statistics quarterly release.
4. Reduce terrorism
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
The Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service
Lead officials
Tom Hurd OBE, Director General, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
4.1 Detect and disrupt terrorist threats to the UK and UK nationals and increase counter-terrorism (CT) capabilities and counter-measures
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Deliver and implement a new counter-terrorism strategy, including new legislation (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Deliver enhanced counter terrorism policing capabilities in line with the increased investment set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Implement the provisions of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (contributes to SDG 16) |
4.2 Have the right structures and skills in place through National Security implementation and reform
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Continue to support the security and defence diversity network, sharing best practice and addressing our shared challenges, to drive development of a more diverse and inclusive national security community (contributes to SDG 10) |
| Establish a virtual National Security Academy (with CO, contributes to SDG 4) |
Our performance
We have seen a shift in the threat. MI5 and counter-terrorism policing have foiled 25 Islamist plots since June 2013, 12 of which have been since March 2017, and since 2017 they have disrupted 4 extreme right-wing plots.
There were 412 arrests for terrorism-related offences in the year ending December 2017, an increase of 58% compared with the previous year and the highest number of arrests in a year since the data collection began in 2001.
Further data relating to counter-terrorism, including terrorism arrests and outcomes, can be found in the statistical bulletin: ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000’
Persons arrested for terrorism-related offences
| Year | Number of arrests |
|---|---|
| Year to December 2015 | 280 |
| Year to December 2016 | 260 |
| Year to December 2017 | 412 |
Source: Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 (year to December 2017, annual data); release schedule: quarterly
5. Control migration
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Minister of State for Immigration
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime
Lead officials
Patsy Wilkinson CB, Second Permanent Secretary
Tom Hurd OBE, Director General, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
Scott McPherson, Director General, Crime, Policing and Fire Group
5.1 Secure the border against threats from people and goods
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Continue to invest in improving our systems and advance data about people and goods intending to come to this country, so that they can be checked against our records, including through rollout of the Digital Services at the Border Programme (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Take forward the recommendations of the 2017 National Security Capability Review into Ports and Borders, particularly by taking a cross-government approach to prioritising activity and investment at the border (contributes to SDG 15 & 16) |
| Work with partners in the aviation and maritime sectors to reduce threats to the UK (contributes to SDG 16) |
5.2 Control legal migration - manage net migration at sustainable levels: the tens of thousands
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Continue to build and manage an immigration system that meets the economic and social needs of the UK, including by reducing net migration to sustainable levels |
| Introduce an Immigration Bill that will end the free movement of EU nationals as part of Britain’s departure from the European Union |
| Continue to take steps to ensure that Britain is able to attract the brightest and the best – for example, having already doubled the Tier 1 (exceptional talent) visas available to support the technology sector (contributes to SDG 8 & 10) |
5.3 Reduce the illegal population and the harm that it causes
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Take vigorous enforcement action against the criminal gangs and networks that seek to benefit from illegal migration, and who facilitate and victimise those involved (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Review safeguards to ensure that lawful migrants do not become entangled in measures intended to tackle unlawful behaviour (contributes to SDG 8 & 10) |
| Continue to encourage and enforce removal from the UK of people with no legal right to stay here (contributes to SDG 8 & 16) |
Our performance
The latest immigration figures show that net migration was at 244,000 in the year ending September 2017, down from the recent peak of 336,000 seen in the year ending June 2016 and is at a similar level to early 2014.
Annual net migration
| Year to date | Annual net migration |
|---|---|
| Year to December 2016 | 249,000 |
| Year to March 2017 | 243,000 |
| Year to June 2017 | 230,000 |
| Year to September 2017 | 244,000 |
Source: Migration Statistics Quarterly Report (ONS): February 2018; release schedule: quarterly
More detailed data and analysis about migration is provided in the ONS Migration Statistics Quarterly Reports and in the Home Office Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release.
6. Provide world-class public services and contribute to prosperity
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Minister of State for Immigration
The Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service
Lead officials
Patsy Wilkinson CB, Second Permanent Secretary
Scott McPherson, Director General, Crime, Policing and Fire Group
6.1 Provide world class border, immigration and citizenship services
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Quickly right the wrongs experienced by the Windrush Generation, including through the provision of a taskforce and helpline to support them to resolve their status. Provide compensation where appropriate (contributes to SDG 8 & 10) |
| Learn the lessons from Windrush: embed a more customer-focused culture |
| Extend the UK’s online visa application processes, and improve and simplify the practical process of applying for a visa in the UK (for example, by making it easier for customers to submit biometrics and documentation) |
| Create a digital passport application system for all customer types |
| Extend digital interviewing across asylum and visa services, with interview audio files digitally accessible by applicants, legal representatives and the courts from a cloud portal |
| Embed the use of e-gates and the Registered Traveller Service at the border |
6.2 Promote collaboration, improve capabilities and increase transparency through public safety system transformation
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Enable fire and police services to work more closely together and develop the role of elected and accountable Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) |
| Continue to overhaul the police complaints system (contributes to SDG 16) |
| Transform the delivery of fire and rescue services, including reform of governance, transparency, accountability, efficiency, workforce and fire prevention |
| Use the Police Transformation Fund to incentivise the transformation of the police to achieve the 2025 Vision for Policing |
Our performance
Information on performance against service standards in the border and immigration system can be found in migration transparency data. For example, the latest release shows that 98% of passengers were cleared at the border within published service standards in quarter 4 of 2017, and 90% of UKVI applicants were satisfied with the application service overall in 2016 (latest published figures).
Passengers cleared at the border within published service standards
| Quarter | Proportion of passengers (%) |
|---|---|
| Q1 2017 | 98.5 |
| Q2 2017 | 97.0 |
| Q3 2017 | 95.7 |
| Q4 2017 | 98.2 |
Source: Border Force transparency data: February 2018; release schedule: quarterly
UK Visas and Immigration applicants satisfied with the application service
| Year | Percentage of applicants |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 88 |
| 2016 | 90 |
Source: Customer service operations data: February 2018 / release schedule: annual
Victim satisfaction with the police remains high with victims ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ satisfied with the police in 68% of incidents of crime in the year ending March 2017 (according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales).
Victim satisfaction with the police
| Year ending | % ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ satisfied |
|---|---|
| Year ending March 2015 | 72 |
| Year ending March 2016 | 71 |
| Year ending March 2017 | 68 |
Source: Crime Survey for England and Wales (year ending March 2017 - supplementary tables) / release schedule: annual
7. Maximise the benefits of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union
Lead ministers
The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Minister of State for Immigration
The Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service
Lead officials
Patsy Wilkinson CB, Second Permanent Secretary
Tom Hurd OBE, Director General, Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
7.1 Implement a new immigration system following the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union
| How we will achieve this (subject to negotiations) |
|---|
| Deliver a system which provides control of the number of EU nationals coming into the UK and secures the status of EU nationals who are already living in the UK |
| Deliver a practical solution that allows for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area, whilst protecting the integrity of the UK’s immigration system |
| Deliver the components of a new, mutually beneficial customs agreement with the EU |
| Design and manage the transition to new UK passports |
| Develop options for ministers on future immigration arrangements to enable the government to control immigration in the national interest |
7.2 Keep British citizens safe as we leave the EU
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Agree a comprehensive new security, law enforcement and criminal justice partnership with the EU to fight shared threats from terrorism and organised crime (with DExEU, MoJ, FCO) (contributes to SDG 16) |
Our equality objectives
We have set objectives to advance equality. These are:
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Support the security and defence diversity network, to drive development of a more diverse and inclusive national security community
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Improve the diversity of police recruitment – especially of black, Asian and minority ethnic officers
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Secure a future for specialist FGM and forced marriage units, refuges and rape crisis centres
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Legislate to mandate changes in police practices if stop and search does not become more targeted and stop-to-arrest ratios do not improve
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Manage implementation of the Home Office-led elements of the Hate Crime Action Plan and support the new police-led online Hate Crime Hub
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Support public sector and civil society in identifying extremists, countering their messages and promoting pluralistic British values
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Address the existing gender pay gap
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Widen representation and build a talent pipeline of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, women and lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals
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Attract, engage and retain individuals from a range of generations, faith and belief systems and socio-economic backgrounds as well as the breadth of gender identity and expression
- Build, encourage and support all staff support networks to increase representation in line with Home Office diversity goals and ambitions
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Improve the accessibility, for people with disabilities, of internal and external services, both online and offline, plus associated materials
- Improve the provision of workplace adjustments, and the process for putting them in place, for staff with disabilities and their line managers
Our finances
Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £10.95 billion
Resource DEL (including depreciation): £10.51billion
Capital DEL: £0.44 billion
Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £2.70 billion
Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2018/19 and are currently subject to Parliamentary approval. Any changes arising from the Parliamentary approval process will be reflected in due course.
Source: Main Supply Estimates 2018-19, HM Treasury
An additional £395m has been allocated to the Home Office to support preparations for exiting the EU. This was announced alongside the Spring Statement 2018 and will be confirmed through the Supplementary Estimates 2018 to 2019.
Our people
As at 31 December 2017, the Home Office had 27,170 full-time equivalent employees, not including its agencies.
Source: Public sector employment (ONS): December 2017; release schedule: quarterly
How we contribute to cross-government priorities
We work across government on cross-cutting issues, including:
- Tackling modern slavery and people trafficking
- Immigration
- Employment and skills
- Mental health
- Digital
- Race disparity