Written questions by Wrigley.

How (a) Homes for Ukraine and (b) UPE visas may be translated into UK citizenship.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to support victims of coercive control.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her department is taking to, a) reduce the number of children that go missing, and b) find children who have gone missing, in Devon.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to protect the right to peaceful protest in Devon.

This Government is committed to protecting the right to peaceful protest, while ensuring public order legislation balances freedom of expression with protecting the public from serious disruption or harm.Under the Public Order Act 1986, the police have the necessary powers to manage protests, and it is for individual forces to determine the most appropriate approach based on the specific context.The Government is taking the Crime and Policing Bill through Parliament to equip police with targeted powers to manage evolving protest tactics while safeguarding public safety and the right to protest. The measures aim to protect the right to protest while keeping public spaces safe and accessible.The Home Secretary launched an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation on 5 October 2025. It will ensure police powers remain fit for purpose, are used consistently, and strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest.   Lord Ken Macdonald of River Glaven KC is leading the review and is expected to report its findings to the Home Secretary by the end of May.

How many people have been waiting more than 4 months for UPE phase 1 extension.

A range of processing data including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK and Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

With reference to the oral evidence to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on 3 June 2025, HC 523, what steps her Department has taken with mobile operating system providers to prevent stolen devices from accessing cloud services internationally.

Mobile phone theft causes significant distress to victims and fuels wider criminality, and the Government is determined to reduce it. We recognise the important role that technical solutions, such as options aimed at preventing stolen devices from accessing cloud services, can play in reducing the market value of a stolen device.The Metropolitan Police Service is currently leading collaboration with technology partners, including mobile operating system providers, to explore the quickest and most effective ways of achieving this. The Home Office is supporting this important collaboration between law enforcement and technology partners.

With reference to the oral evidence to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on 3 June 2025, HC 523, whether her Department plans to pilot enhanced device‑blocking and cross‑platform verification tools with the Metropolitan Police and other police forces.

Mobile phone theft causes significant distress to victims and fuels wider criminality, and the Government is determined to reduce it. We recognise the important role that technical solutions, such as options aimed at preventing stolen devices from accessing cloud services, can play in reducing the market value of a stolen device.The Metropolitan Police Service is currently leading collaboration with technology partners, including mobile operating system providers, to explore the quickest and most effective ways of achieving this. The Home Office is supporting this important collaboration between law enforcement and technology partners.

What role her Department has in providing oversight and assurance where public confidence in policing has been undermined by media reporting and documentary evidence; and whether there are existing independent bodies and review mechanisms to which such concerns should appropriately be directed.

This Department supports the police and is clear that public confidence is crucial to our model of policing by consent. We hold our police to the highest of standards and expect action to be taken where this confidence is undermined. There are a number of measures in place to help ensure this.The Home Secretary has powers to direct targeted inspections by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) where there are specific concerns. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) oversees the police complaints system under which the public can raise concerns directly with the Professional Standards Department in their local police force or via the IOPC. The most serious and sensitive matters, including deaths or serious injuries involving the police, must be sent immediately by forces to the IOPC and the IOPC determines if it is necessary for such matters to be independently investigated. The IOPC, which has a statutory duty to maintain public confidence in the system, also has powers to “call in” a referral or to investigate such matters that have come to its attention on its own initiative, without waiting for a referral.We set out plans for policing reform in the recent White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” on 26 January, including reforms to increase accountability and standards.Finally, the independent Angiolini Inquiry is currently examining a range of issues in policing such as vetting, recruitment and culture in policing and the Home Office will carefully consider its findings when available.

What protections exist for police (a) officers and (b) staff who (i) raise and (ii) disclose (A) historical and (B) modern (1) concerns and (2) wrongdoing.

Serving police officers and police staff in England and Wales are given protections in law against detriment (adverse treatment), if they “blow the whistle” about wrongdoing by their forces or colleagues, providing certain conditions are met. This includes making disclosures about (A) historic or (B) recent or concurrent issues.The protections in law include protections from reprisal or unfair dismissal. Separately, police officers are required by law to report any wrongdoing by colleagues that they witness or find out about.There are internal whistleblowing routes available for police officers and staff in police forces and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) also has its own dedicated reporting line specifically for police officers and staff to report concerns. The Director General of the IOPC is a “prescribed body” for whistleblowing disclosures as listed in the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014.In addition, the Government is exploring options to amend legislation to allow police officers to use the public complaints system where there are allegations of police-perpetrated domestic abuse.

What role her Department has in (a) overseeing and (b) advising on pilot deployments of novel AI systems that process sensitive personal data in policing.

Through Home Office funding to the NPCC AI portfolio we have produced and published detailed guidance on responsible use of AI, via the NPCC AI Playbook and Covenant. Building AI-enabled tools and systems | College of Policing. The NPCC AI lead, Alex Murray, has also worked with the College of Policing to produce Authorised Professional Practice in this area and a ‘Responsible AI’ checklist.It is the responsibility of Chief Constables to decide what tools they deploy within their force. All Chief Constables have signed up to the Covenant, which establishes core principles for the transparent, responsible and accountable use of AI and generative technologies in UK policing. Forces should pay due regard to these principles when implementing AI tools in force.Further to this, as a part of the Police Reform White Paper, the UK Government is announced the establishment of Police.AI, a new national centre for AI in policing focused on helping forces adopt AI tools responsibly and the set up of a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service (NDIES).Police.AI will ensure that operationally independent Chief Constables have the evidence and resources they need to ensure the AI they are using has proven benefits, is backed by robust evidence and is maximising accuracy whilst minimising bias. We are also creating a public-facing registry of AI deployments in policing, setting out what each tool does, why it is used, the risks identified, and how these risks are being mitigated, encouraging careful reflection on the merits and risks of each tool.

What process her Department uses for (a) approving and (b) being consulted on pilot deployments of AI-enabled policing tools that integrate sensitive personal data; and what criteria are used to assess such proposals.

Through Home Office funding to the NPCC AI portfolio we have produced and published detailed guidance on responsible use of AI, via the NPCC AI Playbook and Covenant. Building AI-enabled tools and systems | College of Policing. The NPCC AI lead, Alex Murray, has also worked with the College of Policing to produce Authorised Professional Practice in this area and a ‘Responsible AI’ checklist.It is the responsibility of Chief Constables to decide what tools they deploy within their force. All Chief Constables have signed up to the Covenant, which establishes core principles for the transparent, responsible and accountable use of AI and generative technologies in UK policing. Forces should pay due regard to these principles when implementing AI tools in force.Further to this, as a part of the Police Reform White Paper, the UK Government is announced the establishment of Police.AI, a new national centre for AI in policing focused on helping forces adopt AI tools responsibly and the set up of a new National Data Integration and Exploitation Service (NDIES).Police.AI will ensure that operationally independent Chief Constables have the evidence and resources they need to ensure the AI they are using has proven benefits, is backed by robust evidence and is maximising accuracy whilst minimising bias. We are also creating a public-facing registry of AI deployments in policing, setting out what each tool does, why it is used, the risks identified, and how these risks are being mitigated, encouraging careful reflection on the merits and risks of each tool.

What standards her Department sets for the ethical and technical assurance of AI systems used in law enforcement.

Although ethical decisions around AI are the responsibility of individual Chief Constables and heads of law enforcement agencies, the Home Office is taking steps to ensure these decisions are evidence-based and transparent.The Covenant for Using Artificial Intelligence in Policing provides a high-level framework for AI adoption by police forces. It sets out clear principles for the development and deployment of AI in policing, including lawfulness, fairness, transparency, explainability, accountability and robustness. These principles operate alongside existing statutory obligations, including the Equality Act 2010 and data protection legislation, and are supported by published guidance from the College of Policing and local governance and ethics arrangements within forces. We expect all law enforcement agencies to work within the current laws.In January 2026 the Police Reform White Paper set out plans to establish a new national centre for AI in policing which will be tasked with accelerating the rapid and responsible adoption of AI across forces. It will centralise the development, testing and evaluation of AI tools, support consistent application of assurance standards before deployment, and promote transparency through a public-facing registry of police AI use. It will move into the National Police Service.In addition, the Home Office launched a public consultation last year on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies. The consultation sought views on when and how these technologies should be used and what safeguards and oversight are needed. The consultation has now closed, and the responses received will inform the scope and content of future legal changes.

What the mean, medium and mode waiting times are for processing Homes for Ukraine visas; and how many of those visas take more than three weeks to issue.

UKVI are currently assessing Homes for Ukraine visas within the published processing times. Information on visa processing times can be found at Visa processing times - GOV.UKAverage processing times do not form part of any current transparency data for Home for Ukraine applications and are not published. A range of processing data including case outcomes on Ukraine visa applications, can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK and Migration transparency data - GOV.UK

If she will submit details of new AI-enabled IT systems to be procured for the proposed National Police Service for select committee scrutiny.

We will be establishing a programme of work with policing to deliver the National Police Service. The immediate priorities are to develop the legislation to bring about the new police force; and to deliver the integration of existing capabilities and systems in phase 1, such as National IT, Commercial, Forensics and National Police Air Service. These will form the initial functions of the National Police Service. Parliament and its select committees will be able to scrutinise the development of the National Police Service and its systems in the usual wayWe recently announced over £115 million over the next three years to support the rapid and responsible development, testing and rollout of AI tools across all 43 police forces in England and Wales. This will be spearheaded by the creation of Police.AI, a new National Centre for AI in Policing. Police.AI will support forces to adopt AI tools and software by testing and assuring AI models, helping with scaling implementation, and providing public facing transparency through a registry of AI tools in use by policing.The Home Office are now working closely with the NPCC AI portfolio to establish Police.AI. This includes recruiting its staff and securing a host organisation. Police.AI will transition into the National Police Service when it is appropriate to do so.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the Skilled Worker route for Indefinite Leave to Remain on people already legally resident in the UK; and whether she plans to introduce transitional protections for people in the UK under the existing five‑year settlement pathway.

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. The Immigration White Paper included a commitment to consult on these changes. The changes involve significant reforms to the settlement pathway, and it is right that we consult to assess their impact on affected groups. The consultation includes questions intended to seek respondents’ views on the impacts of the proposed model and also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the final earned settlement scheme will be finalised once the consultation has closed and the responses analysed.The final model will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What process of commercial bidding in IT systems will be required to tender within the new national police service.

Any commercial bidding for IT systems for the National Police Service will follow standard Government procurement processes governed by the Procurement Act 2023.

If he will take steps to take into account the time spent on Ukraine Scheme visas and the Ukraine Sponsorship, family, extension and permission extension schemes to qualify for the (a) and (b) 5 year pathway to permanent residence.

On 1 September, the Government announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permission under UPE.Individuals who currently have permission under the UPE scheme will be able to apply for the extension online, in advance of their current permission expiring. More detail on the application process will follow in due course.By requesting Ukrainians to submit an application to further extend their permission, the Home Office can continue to identify those who are still in need of the UK’s sanctuary and residing primarily in the UK, as well as ensure that adequate safeguarding measures are in place for the most vulnerable applicants.The UK Government has always been clear that our offer of temporary sanctuary under the Ukraine Schemes does not lead to settlement in the UK, nor can it be relied upon to count towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.However, the UPE extension reflects a generous and meaningful commitment to support those displaced by the conflict, while also respecting the Ukrainian Government’s strong desire for the future return of its citizens when it is safe to do so. The Government will continue to monitor developments in Ukraine closely and act responsibly in its response.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the 24-month extension to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) is applied automatically for those already holding UPE visas.

On 1 September, the Government announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permission under UPE.Individuals who currently have permission under the UPE scheme will be able to apply for the extension online, in advance of their current permission expiring. More detail on the application process will follow in due course.By requesting Ukrainians to submit an application to further extend their permission, the Home Office can continue to identify those who are still in need of the UK’s sanctuary and residing primarily in the UK, as well as ensure that adequate safeguarding measures are in place for the most vulnerable applicants.The UK Government has always been clear that our offer of temporary sanctuary under the Ukraine Schemes does not lead to settlement in the UK, nor can it be relied upon to count towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.However, the UPE extension reflects a generous and meaningful commitment to support those displaced by the conflict, while also respecting the Ukrainian Government’s strong desire for the future return of its citizens when it is safe to do so. The Government will continue to monitor developments in Ukraine closely and act responsibly in its response.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of expanded police powers to use facial recognition on the privacy of residents in Devon.

The Home Office has not assessed the potential impact of expanded use of facial recognition on the privacy of residents in Devon, specifically, although the Government recognises that facial recognition will usually involve some degree of interference with people’s rights, such as the right to privacy, which must be minimised, necessary and proportionate to a policing purpose.The existing legal framework governing police use of facial recognition requires compliance with data protection, equalities, and human rights laws, national guidance, the Code of Practice for surveillance cameras, and is supplemented by specific policies published by individual forces.The Government launched a public consultation on 04/12/2025 on the use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies which, will help inform the design of a new legal framework for these technologies. The consultation explores when and how these technologies should be used and asks the public what factors are relevant to consider when assessing interference with privacy.

What steps she is taking to help tackle modern slavery in Devon.

The UK is committed to ensuring victims can access the necessary support to assist in their recovery from their experiences of exploitation or trafficking.Adult victim support is provided on a national basis, across England and Wales. The Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract provides specialist support to adult victims of exploitation and trafficking who have been identified through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).The MSVCC provides safe accommodation where necessary, financial support and a support worker to help victims access other support services such as the NHS and legal aid.With regards to support for child victims, local authorities are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in their area. The Government-funded Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship (ICTG) service provides advocacy and support to child victims of exploitation and trafficking who have been referred to the NRM. In September 2025, we launched an invitation-to-tender for the national contract which will expand the service to provide national coverage in England and Wales, including Devon. The tender process is now underway.