Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 281–300 of 575 · Home Office
How many specialist officers have been recruited for the Border Security Command since 1 September 2024.
The Border Security Command (BSC) has been appropriately resourced with staff in policy, diplomatic and intelligence roles to ensure it can provide strategic leadership across government, with operational partners and in the UK and overseas. The department's staffing detail is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts.
What the process is for risk assessing the pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
There is no prohibition on undertaking a pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.Decisions on when to initiate a pursuit involving a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet are operational matters for the police, taking into account each particular set of circumstances. When deciding whether or not to undertake or continue a pursuit, an officer should take into account the guidance offered in the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Roads Policing Police Pursuits.The APP makes clear that the key consideration is whether the pursuit is necessary, proportionate and balanced against the threat, risk and harm of pursuit to the person being pursued, the officers and others who may be affected and sets out the authorisation requirements for the pursuit.
What is the total cost of the 4.2% police pay rise for Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
The Home Office does not hold paybill information for each police force. It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office will provide £120m of additional funding in 2025/26 to police forces to help with the cost of the 2025 police pay award.
What proportion of police officers in England and Wales are former armed forces service personnel.
The Home Office does not hold data on police officers that were previously in the armed forces.
What level of access the Sovereign Base Area police in Cyprus has to Interpol databases.
The Sovereign Base Area police in Cyprus do not have direct access to INTERPOL databases. Access to INTERPOL databases is facilitated through the UK’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), which sits within the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on amending The Air Navigation Order 2016 to allow greater use of drones by police forces.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for ensuring that all UK aircraft operators must comply with the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016.In the use and deployment of drones, police forces must have due regard to the ANO which specifies the requirements and conduct drone operators must abide by to use drones in a manner which is both safe and does not unduly endanger or negatively impact members of the public.To support policing in developing a national drone capability which is both effective and safe, in FY2025/26, the Home Office has allocated £3.9m to national police-led programmes of work to drive standardisation and improve coordination in police drone operations to support public safety outcomes.Furthermore, to support development of these programmes and improve the safe and legal use of drones by policing, the Home Office and policing are currently working closely with the Department of Transport (DFT) and CAA. This is to ensure both compliance with the ANO whilst continuing to create an enabling environment that allows policing to increasingly use drones both innovatively and dynamically in the operational response to incidents.
What percentage increase in police pay did Cambridgeshire Constabulary budget for against the 4.2% pay increase awarded.
The Home Office does not hold paybill information for each police force. It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office will provide £120m of additional funding in 2025/26 to police forces to help with the cost of the 2025 police pay award.
What additional funds above and beyond the police grant have been allocated to Lincolnshire Police to extend the financial viability of the police force.
Despite the challenging fiscal environment, this government is committed to investing in policing.In May 2025, the Home Office provided a package of funding support to Lincolnshire worth up to £5.7m. The Home Office is working closely with Lincolnshire, other forces and the NPCC to understand force budget pressures ahead of the police funding settlement At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power over the next three years. Force level allocations will be confirmed in the usual way at the settlement.
How much the 4.2% police pay rise will cost each police force.
The Home Office does not hold paybill information for each police force. It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office will provide £120m of additional funding in 2025/26 to police forces to help with the cost of the 2025 police pay award.
By what date Taser 10 will be approved for use by Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
We are considering the results of independent testing and assessments of the Taser 10, before we take a decision on whether to approve it for police use.
What assessment she has made of the potential threat posed by Palestinian Martyrs for Justice.
The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence and security matters, including individual groups or cases.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56675 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Roads, what progress she has made on completing the transaction that would see access to Police land granted to Hinchingbrooke Hospital for the new access road to facilitate construction of the proposed new hospital.
This is a local matter. The Home Office has not had a direct role in discussions between the interested parties in relation to the ownership of this land and its use for a new access road to Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49534 on Asylum: Finance, how many instances of Aspen card usage for purposes not within the parameters of the cards’ use have been recorded since 5 July 2025.
Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support. Those on Section 95 support are able to withdraw cash and utilise chip and pin for transactions. Aspen cards for those on Section 4 can only be used for chip and pin payments. Asylum seekers are able to report any difficulties, including loss or theft of their Aspen card, by calling Migrant Help, available 24/7 by telephone, webchat or email.The Home Office publishes regular information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, but the specific cost data requested is considered commercially sensitive, and its disclosure could undermine the ability of the Home Office to secure maximum value for money in future contract negotiations.
What her target date is for publishing the updated strategy on tackling violence against women and girls.
The strategy will be published early in the autumn.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 64795 on MBR Acres, what additional support has been provided to Cambridgeshire Constabulary on the national security concerns.
We keep things under review at this site at all times.The Government has made a manifesto commitment to phase out animal testing. At present the use of animals in research continues to play a vital part in our understanding of how biological systems work and supports the development of new medicines and medical technologies, for both humans and animals.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 64795 on MBR Acres, what recent assessment she has made of the potential risks to the (a) local and (b) national population from the site.
We keep things under review at this site at all times.The Government has made a manifesto commitment to phase out animal testing. At present the use of animals in research continues to play a vital part in our understanding of how biological systems work and supports the development of new medicines and medical technologies, for both humans and animals.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of approving the use of beyond-line-of-sight drones by police forces.
Drone technology is developing at a rapid pace and decisions on operational equipment are made independently by police forces, who are best placed to assess their own operational needs.The Home Office and operational partners are working closely across government, including with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport, to support police use of drones and explore the benefits that future drones’ capabilities may provide to police operations. This includes standardising police operations, trialling innovative use of drones to improve police productivity, and supporting the progression of a future operating model for police aviation.
How many and what proportion of serving officers from Cambridgeshire constabulary's rural crime action team are have been included within the number of new officers for Cambridgeshire under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
Our approach to delivery in 2025/25, which will be year 1 of a 4-year programme, is designed to deliver an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce in a manner that is flexible, and can be adapted to the local context and the varied crime demands a force faces. The precise workforce mix proposed in 2025/26 was therefore a local decision.All forces, including Cambridgeshire Constabulary, have agreed neighbourhood policing delivery plans. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has been allocated £2,065,069 and will deliver an increase of 30 police officers, 7 PCSOs and 13 special constables by 31 March 2026. Force-level recruitment projections are also published here: Neighbourhood policing grant allocations and projections: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK.Additionally, this financial year we are providing Home Office funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit. The unit aims to help police forces tackle rural crime priorities through the provision of specialist operational support, as well as through sharing best practice and encouraging regional and national approaches to tackling rural crime.
Whether Cambridgeshire constabulary's rural crime action team have been designated as an operational support unit or a neighbourhood policing resource.
Our approach to delivery in 2025/25, which will be year 1 of a 4-year programme, is designed to deliver an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce in a manner that is flexible, and can be adapted to the local context and the varied crime demands a force faces. The precise workforce mix proposed in 2025/26 was therefore a local decision.All forces, including Cambridgeshire Constabulary, have agreed neighbourhood policing delivery plans. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has been allocated £2,065,069 and will deliver an increase of 30 police officers, 7 PCSOs and 13 special constables by 31 March 2026. Force-level recruitment projections are also published here: Neighbourhood policing grant allocations and projections: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK.Additionally, this financial year we are providing Home Office funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit. The unit aims to help police forces tackle rural crime priorities through the provision of specialist operational support, as well as through sharing best practice and encouraging regional and national approaches to tackling rural crime.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62853 on National Security: Reviews, when he plans to introduce the State Threats Proscription-like Tool.
Following a review of state threats and terrorism legislation by Jonathan Hall KC, the Home Secretary pledged to take forward his recommendations.This included a proscription-style tool to tackle state-based security threats in the UK. The Home Secretary has committed to introduce legislation to this effect as soon as Parliamentary time allows.