Written questions by Kearns.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2026 to Question 472, whether any of the enhanced technical solutions and technological tools rely on Chinese (a) technology and (b) equipment.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of evidence in the Wilson Report on the direction of Chinese organised crime activity by the PRC.

Across the country, officers are confronting complex serious organised crime groups who collaborate across borders.We are stepping up efforts by introducing a world class National Police Service to bring together specialist capabilities and adopt best-in-class technology. This will bolster action to detect and disrupt the most dangerous criminals.As is longstanding government policy, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific national security matters.This Government, working closely with our law enforcement partners, is strengthening our understanding of Chinese organised crime activity in the UK. Where crime is identified, we will pursue all avenues to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

What steps her Department is taking to prevent people with known links to Chinese organised crime groups from being treated as community representatives by public bodies.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to improve police access to Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien and Eastern Min language capabilities for serious organised crime and national security investigations.

Counter Terrorism Policing continues to maintain the technological tools andtranslation capabilities necessary to meet legislative and evidentialrequirements.CTP are strengthening this capacity, including through the development anddeployment of enhanced technical solutions and by increasing the number ofsuitably cleared translators.

Whether her Department has conducted an assessment of trends in links between Chinese Communist Party United Front organisations and individuals involved in (a) labour exploitation, (b) money laundering and (b) irregular migration schemes in the UK.

As is longstanding government policy, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific national security matters.This Government, working closely with our law enforcement partners, is strengthening our understanding of Chinese organised crime activity in the UK. Where crime is identified, we will pursue all avenues to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.Where there are individuals who pose a threat to our national security, we are committed to using the full range of powers available to disrupt them. This includes the National Security Act 2023, which introduced a significant package of measures to be used against the full range of state threats activity.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of trends in the level of People's Republic of China-linked transnational repression involving criminal proxies targeting UK-based dissidents.

Perpetrating states use a wide range of methodologies to conduct transnational repression. The UK’s approach to countering state-directed threats is systematic, comprehensive, and continually improving.The Government continually assesses the threat using a multisource model - combining intelligence assessments, policing insight, international engagement and contributions from civil society and affected individuals - to improve our understanding of behaviours and countries of concern.Some foreign states are recruiting proxies to commit harmful acts that threaten the UK’s national security.The implementation of the National Security Act has provided our intelligence services and police with a suite of measures to protect our national security, the safety of the British public, and our vital interests from malign state threat activity. Individuals may be at risk of committing an offence under the National Security Act if they knew, or ought reasonably to have known they were undertaking activity on behalf of a foreign power.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of Chinese language training, including in Hokkien and Hokchia dialects, provided to police officers investigating organised crime.

Awaiting answer.

If her Department will take steps to help ensure that police forces have access to an adequate number of security-vetted translators proficient in Chinese languages and dialects, including Hokkien and Hokchia, for use in organised crime investigations.

Awaiting answer.

Whether her Department is taking steps to support the use of artificial intelligence tools by police forces to help tackle language barriers in investigations, particularly those involving less widely spoken languages and dialects.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Home Office or any of its contractors used Global Switch data centres for the storage or transmission of government data between 2016 and 2026.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How many aslyum claims were made in Northern Ireland in the last five years.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many illegal crossings were made over the Northern Ireland border in the last 5 years.

It is not possible to state how many illegal crossings were made over the Northern Ireland border in the last 5 years as not all people arriving via illegal entry routes will be detected.Operation Gull is an ongoing Home Office Immigration Enforcement intelligence led initiative that tackles Common Travel Area (CTA) immigration abuse in air and sea ports in Northern Ireland. Through Operation Gull Immigration Enforcement will be aware of those individuals who they encounter abusing the CTA.To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office prefers to refer to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.Our published data is available at the following link and includes data on illegal entry to the UK : Immigration system statistics, year ending December 2025 - GOV.UK

If she will reconsider the termination of the temporary visa free access scheme for overseas seasonal sheep shearers from Australia and New Zealand.

All Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 14 years and the sheep farming sector has made significant efforts to provide skills training within the domestic workforce.To give sheep farmers two years to transition to new arrangements, and move away from using overseas shearers, the concession has been renewed for one more year. The concession will not be renewed in 2027 and will close for a final time on 30 June 2026.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of Conflict Management Dogs as a less-lethal option for Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers; and what plans she has to ensure that capability is maintained.

Armed policing capabilities are built upon ongoing assessments of operational threat and risk and are used in threat to life situations. The use of firearms by the police should always be the last resort, considered only where there is a serious risk to public or responder safety. Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFOs) receive the highest level of police firearms training and can provide a second-wave response to more complex or long running attacks.The Home Office works closely with the police to ensure they have the necessary capabilities and their capacities to respond to a range of incidents across the policing and counter-terrorism landscape, while respecting their operational independence from Government.

If the UK will proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terrorist organisation following its designation by the European Union.

The UK stands proudly on the side of freedom and human rights, and we have long criticised Iran’s authoritarian regime and taken robust action to protect UK interests from Iranian state threats. On 13 January, the Foreign Secretary set out the action that the Government is taking in coordination with allies in response to the consistent threat that the Iranian regime poses to stability, security, freedom and the UK national interest. We are now working further with the EU and other partners to explore what sanctions will be needed to respond to the horrific escalation seen in recent weeks.It is the Government’s long-standing position not to comment on the detail of security and intelligence matters, including whether or not a specific organisation is being considered for proscription.However, we are acting decisively to disrupt threats posed by Iran here in the UK. We have placed the Iranian state on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), meaning that anyone working for or directed by the Iranian state to conduct activities in the UK must declare that activity, or risk up to five years in prison. The National Security Act 2023 also strengthens our powers to counter state threats, including from Iran, and provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt these threats. Furthermore, we have committed to take forward plans recommended by Jonathan Hall KC for a proscription-like power for state and state-linked bodies to tackle malign activity more appropriately than is offered under the existing powers. We will introduce legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.The UK now has over 550 sanctions against Iranian linked individuals and entities, including the IRGC, which has been sanctioned in its entirety. Over 220 designations have been imposed since this Government came into office. In concert with international partners, we will use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK, and our interests, from state threats.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a (a) single, (b) centralised and (c) digitised firearms licensing body to replace the current system of 44 separate licensing authorities.

The Government has no plans to introduce a new national body for firearms licensing. The Firearms Act 1968 places statutory responsibility for firearms licensing on the Chief Officer of Police of each individual force in England, Wales and Scotland.This framework is supported by Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police issued by the Home Secretary in respect of firearms licensing and by Authorised Professional Practice issued by the College of Policing.

What the immigration status was for Kamren Khan at the time he was charged with multiple rapes of a child between April and July 2025.

Any disclosures of the immigration or asylum status of suspects will be made in line with the processes set out in the National Police Chiefs’ Council interim guidance published on the 13 August.

What the immigration status was for Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu at the time he was charged with three counts of sexual assault.

Any disclosures of the immigration or asylum status of suspects will be made in line with the processes set out in the National Police Chiefs’ Council interim guidance published on the 13 August.

What the immigration status was for Rabie Knissi when he was sentenced for a sexual offence committed in March 2024.

Any disclosures of the immigration or asylum status of suspects will be made in line with the processes set out in the National Police Chiefs’ Council interim guidance published on the 13 August.

What the immigration status was for Khaliz Ali Alshimery at the time he committed rape in November 2023.

Any disclosures of the immigration or asylum status of suspects will be made in line with the processes set out in the National Police Chiefs’ Council interim guidance published on the 13 August.