Written questions by Mayer.

What information her Department holds on the numbers of people who have been released under investigation for more than a year during the last five years.

Decisions on release and safeguarding are operational matters for individual and operationally independent police forces, taken in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, its Codes of Practice, and national professional guidance. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services regularly inspects police forces, including on how they protect vulnerable people.The Home Office hold statistics on the numbers of individuals Released Under Investigation by duration in the Police Custody and Pre-Charge Bail release, which covers the years 2022/23 to 2024/25:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69d50f114d39faba1f3b27a9/released-under-investigation-data-tables-year-ending-march-2025.odsPrior to this, for 2020/21 and 2021/22 the Released Under Investigation statistics were published as Experimental Statistics.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61b74f1fe90e070445fd782c/released-under-investigation-data-tables-police-powers-and-procedures-year-ending-march-2021.xlsxhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/636e3e4a8fa8f559604a0b2f/pre-charge-bail-statistics-police-powers-and-procedure-year-ending-march-2022.xlsx.odsDue to the provisional and incomplete nature of this dataset, statistics on Released Under Investigation have been designated as ‘Official Statistics in Development’, to acknowledge that further development is ongoing to improve data quality.Additionally, as different numbers of police forces have been able to provide Released Under Investigation data in each year, any trends on the number of people who were on Released Under Investigation for longer than a year should be interpreted with caution.

What guidance her Department has issued to police forces on assessing the risk of self-harm of people released under investigation.

Decisions on release and safeguarding are operational matters for individual and operationally independent police forces, taken in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, its Codes of Practice, and national professional guidance. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services regularly inspects police forces, including on how they protect vulnerable people.The Home Office hold statistics on the numbers of individuals Released Under Investigation by duration in the Police Custody and Pre-Charge Bail release, which covers the years 2022/23 to 2024/25:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69d50f114d39faba1f3b27a9/released-under-investigation-data-tables-year-ending-march-2025.odsPrior to this, for 2020/21 and 2021/22 the Released Under Investigation statistics were published as Experimental Statistics.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61b74f1fe90e070445fd782c/released-under-investigation-data-tables-police-powers-and-procedures-year-ending-march-2021.xlsxhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/636e3e4a8fa8f559604a0b2f/pre-charge-bail-statistics-police-powers-and-procedure-year-ending-march-2022.xlsx.odsDue to the provisional and incomplete nature of this dataset, statistics on Released Under Investigation have been designated as ‘Official Statistics in Development’, to acknowledge that further development is ongoing to improve data quality.Additionally, as different numbers of police forces have been able to provide Released Under Investigation data in each year, any trends on the number of people who were on Released Under Investigation for longer than a year should be interpreted with caution.

If she will provide a list of the locations that Asylum Move-On Liaison Officers are based in England.

We have placed Asylum Move‑On Liaison Officers (AMLOs) in 59 local authorities across the UK, working alongside Migrant Help to support individuals who will be leaving asylum accommodation.In England, we have AMLO presence in the following regions:– London– West Midlands– East Midlands– North West– Yorkshire and the Humber– South East– South WestAMLO deployment is kept under regular review to ensure support is directed appropriately.

With reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2024; published on 23 October 2025, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the (a) number and (b) types of procedures carried out compared to the previous year.

In 2024, there were 2.64 million regulated scientific procedures carried out in Great Britain involving living animals. This is a decrease of 1% on the previous year, and the lowest number since 2001.The trends in the number of animals and types of procedures carried out each year are linked to the volume and nature of scientific work undertaken and products being brought to market.The Home Office is responsible for regulating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with protections afforded to animals used in science. Trends in requirements are the responsibility of other authorities. For instance, regulatory requirements for animal testing are the responsibility of the relevant regulators, such as the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (for medicines) and Health and Safety Executive (for chemicals).

What estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of extreme weather related to climate change since 1 January 2020.

The government’s third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3), published in 2021 under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, includes a Monetary Valuation of Risks and Opportunities assessment of the current and future costs of climate change to the UK. A 2022 study from LSE’s Grantham Institute estimates that with current policies, the total UK cost of climate damage is equivalent to 1.1% of GDP currently.For estimating future costs of extreme weather, decisions on key government spending are subject to clear requirements through the Green Book. This includes supplementary guidance which covers the impacts of climate change, i.e. accounting for the effects of climate change. This ensures that policies, programmes and projects are resilient to the effects and future costs of climate change, and that such effects are being taken fully into account when appraising policy options.

What steps her Department is taking to prevent the resale of stolen mobile phones in (a) Bedfordshire, (b) Cambridgeshire and (c) Suffolk.

The Home Secretary has been clear that tackling mobile phone theft and the resale of stolen devices is a priority.Earlier this year the Home Secretary brought together police, the National Crime Agency, the Mayor of London, leading tech companies and others to drive greater collaboration in breaking the business model of mobile phone thieves. The Summit resulted in clear commitments from attendees to work in partnership, including work to disrupt the resale of stolen phones, exploring technological solutions to make devices harder to re-register or resell, and working with the police to better understand the routes used to sell stolen phones.The Home Office is driving this work with the police and other stakeholders to tackle this criminality.In addition, the Crime and Policing Bill includes a measure to give police the power to enter and search premises for stolen property that has been electronically geo-location tracked to those premises, where it is not reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant without seriously prejudicing the entry and search purpose. This power will support efforts to recover stolen phones before they can be resold.

What evaluation framework is used to measure the effectiveness of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative.

The Home Office have developed a multi-strand analytical approach to measure the progress of the Safer Summer Streets Initiative. This includes:PCCs and police forces providing the Home Office with monthly light-touch monitoring data and qualitative insights related to the initiative.Home Office analysts will analyse data already reported to the Home Office via the Police Annual Data Requirement (ADR) on crime volumes and positive outcomes related to relevant offences.Light-touch process evaluation activity will also be conducted with a limited number of forces to understand how the initiative has been delivered and take learning forward to improve future activity and inform policy.This approach has been communicated to PCCs, including a drop-in session held on the 23 June and a meeting chaired by Minister Johnson on the 24 June.

Whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of transferring responsibility for the licensing of animal testing to the (a) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

It is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office to consider the benefits of any changes to the allocation of responsibilities between different government departments.

If she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the system of recording abuse against roadworkers.

Assaults against a person are already an offence (Common Assault) under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and are covered under other legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which also covers more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 creates a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on tackling anti-social car driving.

Ministers and officials meet with their counterparts on a regular basis and discuss a wide range of topics.Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for the Government, and a key part of the Safer Streets Mission.On 25 February 2025, the Crime and Policing Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill includes proposals to give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.On 28 May, the Government launched a 6-week consultation on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially from 14 days to 48 hours.These measures will strengthen the law and send a clear message that antisocial car driving will not be tolerated.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of rural crime in (a) Bedfordshire and (b) the East of England; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce that level.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas.Under our Safer Streets Mission reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent theft of farm equipment and fly-tipping.The Government is committed to strong neighbourhood policing for everyone in England and Wales, wherever they live. On 10 April, the Prime Minister outlined further details about our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, including that by July, every community, including rural communities, will have named and contactable officers dedicated to addressing their issues.This financial year we will be providing the first Home Office funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU), as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). The funding boost of over £800,000 in total will help the units tackle those crimes that predominantly affect our rural communities.This will allow these specialist units to continue their work in tackling rural and wildlife crime which can pose unique challenges for policing given the scale and isolation of rural areas.The National Police Chiefs’ Council Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy 2022-2025 provides a framework through which policing, and its partners can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues which predominantly affect rural communities NPCC-Wildlife-Rural-Crime-Strategy-2022-2025.pdf (nwcu.police.uk). We are working closely with the NPCC to deliver the next iteration of their strategy, to ensure the government’s Safer Streets Mission benefits every community no matter where they live, including rural communities.

Whether her Department (a) issues guidance and (b) requires mandatory training for police officers on the link between violence against (i) women and girls and (b) animals.

Domestic abuse can affect all parts of a victim’s life and relationships including, for example, through threats and harm to pets as a means of control. The Domestic Abuse Statutory Guidance that accompanies the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 provides an explanation of the different characteristics of domestic abuse and includes reference to how pets can be used by perpetrators.We are working with the new National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Public Protection to build on and enhance police training in tackling VAWG, including ensuring it is up to date to equip officers with knowledge on emerging issues and using the latest research to improve how it is delivered. This will mean training is strengthened at each level, from the front line to senior leadership.The new National Centre, in which we are investing £13.1 million, will help deliver our manifesto commitment for strengthened specialist training for officers across the country ensuring they offer consistent protection for victims and relentlessly pursue perpetrators.

How many incidents of dog bites have been recorded in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available.

The latest available data for the year ending December 2024 showed that there were 31,345 offences of an “Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales (whether or not a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog” or of an "Owner or person in charge allowing a dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person" recorded by the police in England and Wales.

How many regulatory tests were carried out on animals where non-animal methods were available in 2024.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) protects animals in scientific research by prohibiting their use if there is a practicable and validated non-animal alternative that would achieve the scientific outcome(s) sought.

With reference to data table 7.2 of her Department's statistics entitled Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain 2023: data tables, published on 11 September 2024, what legislation on medicinal products for human use required the use of dogs in regulatory procedures.

We are working with regulators to see how advances in technology can and will reduce use and phase out use in some areas.The explicit requirement for using animals in toxicology tests comes from section 50 (5) to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (as amended 2019 and 2020). Therefore, in most cases, new drugs are required to be tested in two animal species for public safety and efficacy purposes. There are rare exceptions where the medicine has no pharmacological effect in any species other than humans where this may not be applied.Although much research can be done without using animals, there are still purposes where use of live animals is essential, as the complexity of whole biological systems cannot be reliably replicated using validated alternative methodologies. Animal testing is therefore required by all global medicines regulators, including the UK’s Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). We are working with regulators to see how advances in technology can and will reduce use and phase out use in some areas.

With reference to data table 7.3 in the Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain 2023: data tables, published on 11 September 2024, what the legislation satisfying EU requirements was that required the 2581 procedures carried out on dogs.

With reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 2023, Table 7.3, the legislative requirements for the 2581 procedures carried out on dogs which satisfy EU requirements were: 2263 procedures that satisfied medicinal products for human use legislation; 205 procedures to satisfy plant protection product legislation; 111 procedures to satisfy medicinal products and veterinary use and their residues legislation; and, 2 procedures to satisfy industrial chemicals legislation

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of sanctions applied by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit for incidents of non-compliance with licence conditions or with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Animals in Science Regulator has published its compliance framework which explains how it identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. The Regulator’s published compliance policy aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.

What steps her Department is taking to facilitate engagement with trade unions representing police, fire and border security staff.

The Home Office places significant importance on building industrial relations with representative workforce organisations for police, fire and border security. I can advise specifically of the following:PolicePolice staff are employed by each force and report into their respective Chief Constables. The Home Office meets with unions that represent police staff on a regular basis to understand the issues of importance to their members. Police officers are represented by their police staff associations and not trade unions, and the Home Office meets with these organisations on a regular basis. Fire and Rescue ServicesThe Home Office is proactively engaging with unions in relation to fire and rescue related policy and has conducted ministerial and official level engagement with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and other representative organisations. We have also created a Ministerial Advisory Group, with representation from senior leaders across the sector, including the FBU. Border Security StaffBorder security staff are employed by the Home Office. The department has long standing trade union recognition and engagement arrangements, which seek to ensure unions representing border security staff are appropriately engaged on matters impacting their members.

Pursuant to the Answers of 21 January 2025 to Questions 23569 and 23568 on Animal Experiments, what steps she is taking to ensure that more (a) establishments are audited, (b) audits are unannounced and (c) animals are not subjected to additional harms through failures to provide adequate care.

All establishments licensed to breed or supply animals, or to carry out regulated procedures on animals under ASPA in Great Britain, are subject to the full requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). This provides for a regulatory regimen of activities that protects animals in science including facilities audits by the Home Office to ensure compliance with the terms of their licences, the Code of Practice and with ASPA.The Animals in Science Regulation Unit conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance with the terms of their licences, the Code of Practice and with ASPA. Each establishment will receive an audit at least every three years if it does not hold special species and at least every year if it holds specially protected species.The Regulator is presently undertaking a structured programme of reforms. This will increase the total number of Inspectors from 17 at the end of 2023, to 22 by end of 2025.

With reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit’s annual report 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what steps her Department is taking to increase compliance with (a) legislation and (b) licence conditions with respect to the provision of care for animals.

The Regulator’s annual report details the range of ways in which it detects instances of non-compliance and seeks to drive greater compliance with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and licence conditions.The Regulator conducts regular on-site audits. The published framework for audit is based on clear benchmarks and assessing compliance through organisational governance to encourage greater commitment to compliance. The framework is publicly accessible at: www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#process-and-standards-for-establishment-full-system-audits.To provide assurance of compliance with the Regulation, the Regulator provides clear and accessible operational guidance. All establishments licensed to breed or supply animals, or to carry out regulated procedures on animals, under ASPA must comply with the Code of Practice which sets out mandatory standards for the appropriate care and accommodation of animals.