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The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security and order. As such it is responsible for the police, United Kingdom Borders Agency and 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.

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 Agency, 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.

Objectives of the Home Office

The Home Office has the following stated objectives:

• To reduce crime
• 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 immigration laws and manage migration to the benefit of the UK.

Ministers

(as of 3 October 2008)

• Secretary of State for the Home Department (aka the "Home Secretary"): The Rt Hon. Jacqui Smith, MP
• Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing : Vernon Coaker, MP
• Minister of State for Borders and Immigration: Phil Woolas, MP (jointly with HM Treasury)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime: Alan Campbell, MP
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Identity : Meg Hillier, MP
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Security and Counter Terrorism: Admiral The Lord West of Spithead, GCB, DSC

History