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UK — Securing the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games

July 17, 2012 Comments off

Securing the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games

Source: Home Office

The Home Office is responsible for ensuring the 2012 Olympic Games is safe and secure. Find out about our plans for Olympic security and other work to make the Games a success.

The equality strategy – building a fairer Britain: progress report

June 7, 2012 Comments off

The equality strategy – building a fairer Britain: progress report
Source: Home Office

The equality strategy sets out the government’s vision for a strong, modern and fair Britain. It is built on two principles of equality – equal treatment and equal opportunity. This means building a society where no one is held back because of who they are, or where they come from.

This progress report describes how the government’s new approach to equality, which is based on transparency, local accountability and reducing bureaucracy, is beginning to make a difference across the five key priority areas outlined in the equality strategy.

UK — The Drug Data Warehouse: Linking data on drug misusers and drug-misusing offenders

May 30, 2012 Comments off
Source:  Home Office
Home Office Research Report 63 introduces the Drug Data Warehouse, a newly created database that anonymously links a range of drug treatment and criminal justice datasets on drug misusers. It provides a unique overview of drug misusers’ activity across the Criminal Justice System and drug treatment in a way which has not been done before. The Drug Data Warehouse is a resource to aid understanding of the complexity of drug misusers’ contact with services in turn informing their effective management.
The report also presents findings from initial, descriptive analysis on levels of drug use of different groups of individuals within the Drug Data Warehouse as well as the different treatment and criminal justice groups which individuals have contact with.

UK — Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls

April 30, 2012 Comments off
Source:  Home Office
There were over 1 million female victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales in the last year. Over 300,000 women are sexually assaulted and 60,000 women are raped each year. Overall in the UK, more than one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, often with years of psychological abuse, Worldwide violence against women and girls can be a problem of pandemic proportions. This is unacceptable.
The vast majority of these violent acts are perpetrated by men on women. In 2009/10, women were the victim of over seven out of ten (73%) incidents of domestic violence. More than one third (36%) of all rapes recorded by the police are committed against children under 16 years of age. This is unacceptable.
Internationally, findings in a number of developing countries suggest that violence against women and girls is significant and is often endemic. Between 40% and 60% of women surveyed in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Peru, Samoa, Thailand and Tanzania said that they had been physically and/ or sexually abused by their close partners. This is unacceptable.

UK — Human Trafficking: The Government’s Strategy

April 19, 2012 Comments off
Human trafficking destroys lives and its effects damage communities. The transport and exploitation of vulnerable men, women and children by predatory organised criminal groups is something that no civilised country should tolerate. We need to do more to stop this horrific crime.
The UK has a good record in tackling human trafficking. That is something we must build on. Our new strategy for tackling human trafficking has four key aims: international action to stop trafficking happening in the first place; a stronger border at home to stop victims being brought into the UK; tougher law enforcement action to tackle the criminal gangs that orchestrate the crime; and improved identification and care for the victims of trafficking.
Human trafficking is a truly international crime, with potential victims identified from over 80 different countries to date. We are determined to work more closely with our international partners in transit and source countries to stop this terrible crime. By applying to opt in to the EU Directive on human trafficking, we have demonstrated our commitment to working with other countries in Europe to drive up standards across the continent in tackling trafficking. This is particularly important as we head towards the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. Monitoring intelligence will help us to respond quickly and appropriately to any potential increased risk of trafficking.
After being taken from a source country and transiting third countries, victims of trafficking must then cross the UK border. For too long our response at the border has not been well enough informed or coordinated. Fulfilling a key pledge in the Programme for Government, in June I announced that we would establish a new National Crime Agency (NCA) containing a dedicated Border Policing Command to strengthen our borders and help prevent human trafficking and other serious crimes.
A further aspect of preventing trafficking is to take tough action against the organised criminals who run the abhorrent trade in human beings. Again, the NCA will have a key role by using its enhanced intelligence capabilities and its coordination and tasking functions to target the organised criminal groups involved in human trafficking.
As well as increasing prevention, we are also committed to further improving the level of support for victims. Victims of trafficking have been deceived and exploited. They will undoubtedly be frightened and vulnerable. We must therefore do all we can to support them as they try to rebuild their lives. Recognising the importance of this area, we have protected the level of funding at £2 million per year for the next two years, even at a time when savings have to be made across Government.
The National Referral Mechanism provides a way for all agencies such as the police, the UK Border Agency, local authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations to cooperate, share information about potential victims, identify those victims and facilitate their access to advice, accommodation and support. We are making the National Referral Mechanism more accessible and I am delighted that the NSPCC and Barnardo’s have recently joined and are now able to help child victims of trafficking to get the help they need.
The Government’s commitment to tackling human trafficking is clear and unequivocal. Our strategy will give a renewed focus on prevention overseas, a stronger border at home, tougher action on the perpetrators and better identification and care for the victims. These measures will make a real difference to the lives of those at risk of human trafficking.

UK — Individual Disengagement from Al Qa’ida-Influenced Terrorist Groups: A Rapid Evidence Assessment to Inform Policy and Practice in Preventing Terrorism

April 12, 2012 Comments off
Source:  Home Office (Office for Security and Counterterrorism)
The project looks at why and how individuals stop being violent and what can we learn from other areas that has relevance for Prevent, including whether there are intervention practices we can learn from.

UK — Tents banned from Olympic sites

February 13, 2012 Comments off

Tents banned from Olympic sites
Source: Home Office

Tents and camping equipment will be banned from Olympic venues Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.

Speaking at a conference on Olympic security and safety, Home Secretary Theresa May said the plans would prevent encampment protests similar to those seen in recent months in the capital.

The Home Secretary said strict security and screening measures would stop camping equipment being brought into Olympic venues and that police would act swiftly to deal with anyone who tried to flout the ban.

She said: ‘Our aim is to deliver a safe and secure London 2012 Games, that upholds Olympic values and the Olympic ethos.

‘That means we need a security approach that is robust but seemless; visible but not intrusive; tough but intelligent. And that is what we will deliver.’

+ Home Secretary RUSI olympic security conference speech

Perceptions of Crime, Engagement with the Police, Authorities Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour and Community Payback: Findings From the 2010/11 British Crime Survey, Supplementary Volume 1 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11

January 18, 2012 Comments off

Perceptions of Crime, Engagement with the Police, Authorities Dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour and Community Payback: Findings From the 2010/11 British Crime Survey, Supplementary Volume 1 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11 (PDF)
Source: Home Office

This bulletin is the first in a series of supplementary volumes that accompany the main annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin, ‘Crime in England and Wales 2010/11’ (Chaplin et al., 2011). These supplementary volumes report on additional analysis not included in the main annual publication.

Figures included in this bulletin are from the British Crime Survey (BCS), a large, nationally representative, face-to-face victimisation survey in which people resident in households in England and Wales are asked about their experiences of crime in the 12 months prior to interview.

Since 2001/02 the BCS has run continuously with interviewing being carried out throughout the year. Until recently the BCS did not cover crimes against those aged under 16, but since January 2009 interviews have been carried out with children aged 10 to 15. BCS respondents are also asked about their attitudes towards different crime-related issues such as the police and criminal justice system, and about their perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour. BCS figures in the main body of this report are limited to adults aged over 16 as in previous years, but experimental statistics for children are shown separately in Chapter 1. This bulletin presents findings from additional analyses based on the 2010/11 BCS on people’s contact and engagement with the police, their views of how the authorities in the local area are dealing with anti-social behaviour, their awareness and perceptions of Community Payback and their perceptions of crime.

UK — Local to Global: Reducing the Risk From Organised Crime

December 14, 2011 Comments off
Source:  Home Office

The overall cost to the UK from organised crime is estimated as between £20 billion to £40 billion a year. It involves around 38,000 individuals, operating as part of around 6,000 criminal gangs. Those organised criminals have a global reach and a local presence.

About half of all organised criminals are involved in the illegal drugs trade. Others are involved in human trafficking, fraud and money laundering, and organised acquisitive crime, ranging from armed robbery to organised vehicle theft. Many are involved in more than one crime type. As new opportunities arise, such as computer-enabled crime, organised criminals will be quick to take advantage and unless we have a flexible and effective response it will be the ordinary people of Britain who will pay the price.

This comprehensive cross-government organised crime strategy is the first of its kind in this country. It will help galvanise and coordinate the work of all those with a role in combating organised crime. For the first time it will mean all the agencies involved in tackling organised crime working to common objectives and with a clear line of accountability. The strategy puts an emphasis on preventative and self-protection work, alongside a focus on enforcement activity. It establishes a basis for enhanced international cooperation in combating this global threat. It also includes implementation work to improve our intelligence gathering, analysis and exploitation and further research to strengthen our understanding of the impact of organised crime.

Drug Misuse Declared: Findings From the 2010/11 British Crime Survey, England and Wales

September 28, 2011 Comments off

Drug Misuse Declared: Findings From the 2010/11 British Crime Survey, England and Wales (PDF)
Source: Home Office

The 2010/11 BCS estimates that 8.8 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 had used illicit drugs (almost three million people) and that 3.0 per cent had used a Class A drug in the last year (around a million people). Neither estimates were statistically significantly different from the 2009/10 survey.

Of the individual types of drug asked about in the survey, there were decreases in the use of powder cocaine between the 2009/10 (2.4%) and 2010/11 BCS (2.1%) and an increase in methadone (from 0.1% to 0.2%); for other types of drugs levels of last year usage remained similar to the previous year.

As in previous years, among adults aged 16 to 59, cannabis was the most commonly used type of drug (6.8%, around 2.2 million people), followed by powder cocaine (2.1%, 0.7 million people) and ecstasy (1.4%, 0.5 million people). The 2010/11 BCS shows that levels of ketamine use (at 0.6%) were around double those when questions on the use of this drug were first asked in the 2006/07 BCS (0.3%)

UK — Compensation scheme for damaged property announced

August 15, 2011 Comments off

Compensation scheme for damaged property announced
Source: Home Office

Business owners and householders hit by riots will be able to apply for compensation, the government has announced.

The pledge was made to help struggling businesses and families recover from the looting and arson and carried out by hooligans in cities up and down the country.

And the government has extended the period for applications for riot damage compensation in light of the exceptional damage caused in the outbreak of rioting.

+ UK riots: advice for the public

UK — Headhunters code of conduct launched

July 25, 2011 Comments off

Headhunters code of conduct launched
Source: Home Office

Theresa May has today welcomed the launch of a code of conduct for companies who help find and recruit individuals to fill senior positions on behalf of organisations

Created with the intention of improving gender balance on the boards of top UK companies, the code was recommended by Lord Davies.

His women on boards review for government said principles for executive search companies would help achieve better gender equality at board level.

UK — Terrorism — New Prevent strategy launched

June 9, 2011 Comments off

New Prevent strategy launched
Source: Home Office

A radically different strategy to prevent people being drawn into terrorism was unveiled today by the Home Secretary.

The new Prevent programme will:

  • deal with all forms of terrorism and target not just violent extremism but also non-violent extremism, which can create an atmosphere conducive to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists exploit
  • ensure government funding and support cannot reach organisations with extremist views who do not support mainstream British values
  • challenge the ideology that supports terrorism and those who promote it
  • support sectors and institutions, including universities and prisons, where there are risks of radicalisation
  • draw on existing successful programmes to protect vulnerable individuals from being drawn into terrorism
  • crucially, all new programmes will be evaluated rigorously to ensure effectiveness and value for money

+ Prevent strategy review 2011

UK — New regime for terror suspects

May 23, 2011 Comments off

New regime for terror suspects
Source: Home Office

Today marks a milestone for the coalition government in delivering its commitment to making counter-terrorism arrangements in the UK proportionate and focused.

The Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill, being introduced to Parliament today, will be used to restrict the behaviour of terror suspects who cannot be prosecuted or deported.

It will replace the existing control order regime, making sure that restrictions which impact on a suspect being able to follow a normal daily life are kept to the minimum necessary to protect the public.

UK — Festivals warned over drug use

May 23, 2011 Comments off

Festivals warned over drug use
Source: Home Office

The government’s new minister for crime prevention has written to organisers of major summer events asking them to review measures for tackling illicit drug use.

Baroness Angela Browning – who also has responsibility for anti-social behaviour reduction – warned that some people may be openly selling potentially illegal and harmful substances under the guise of products like ‘bath salts’ or ‘plant food’.

While people selling these products may give the impression they are legal and safe, they are more than likely not legal, and are certainly not safe,’ the minister explained.

‘Some of these substances are so novel anyone taking them is playing Russian roulette with their health. And if you are caught selling or buying them you could face arrest and prosecution.

‘The festival season is one of our great summer traditions and we want people to enjoy it responsibly and without breaking the law. We know organisers are alert to this worrying trend and I am inviting them once again to review the measures they have in place.’

+ Letter to music festival organisers

UK — Home Office — Our plan for the next four years

May 16, 2011 Comments off

Our plan for the next four years
Source: Home Office

The business plan, which replaces one published last November, reflects achievements to date and lays out plans for the future.

Our plan for the next four years

See other News

Thursday, 12 May 2011

The business plan, which replaces one published last November, reflects achievements to date and lays out plans for the future.

Find out more about our plan on this website.

It also sets out the department’s key objectives, which are to:

  • empower the public to hold the police to account for their role in cutting crime
  • free up the police to fight crime more effectively and efficiently
  • create a more integrated criminal justice system
  • secure our borders and reduce immigration
  • protect people’s freedoms and civil liberties
  • protect our citizens from terrorism
  • build a fairer and more equal society

Meanwhile, priorities for next year are set out, including:

  • preparing for introduction of police and crime commissioners
  • subject to Parliamentary approval, securing passage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill which will scale back the criminal records regime
  • delivering Home Office actions in the cross-government violence against women and girls action plan
  • completing work to allow religious premises to apply to host civil partnership registrations
  • bringing in new terrorism prevention and investigation measures to replace the control order regime

+ Home Office business plan 2011-2015

UK — New approach to community activism

April 1, 2011 Comments off

New approach to community activism
Source: Home Office

Baroness Newlove

A radical new approach to community activism that will see people reclaiming their streets, tackling local issues and improving their environment was set out in today.

The government’s champion for active safer communities, Baroness Helen Newlove, has detailed what residents, businesses, local agencies and central government can do to begin a generational shift in the country’s approach to activism and tackling neighbourhood crime.

The report, ‘Our vision for safe and active communities,’ calls for a change of culture so neighbourhoods no longer see crime, antisocial behaviour (ASB) and disorder as ‘someone else’s problem’.

It also says that services should go beyond simply asking communities what their problems are and see them as equal partners in resolving those issues.

+ Full Report

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