Written questions by Collins.

What discussion her Department has had with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology about the impact of social media platforms in enabling online scams and fraud.

The Home Office and DSIT work closely on online harms and ensuring people are safe online from fraud. This includes the Online Safety Act which is in the process of implementation. Since March 2025, Ofcom have been enforcing the illegal content codes which includes fraud committed through user generated content on social media platforms. Ofcom will also be consulting on further codes to prevent fraudulent advertising on these platforms this year.The Government launched the Fraud Strategy in March, which sets out how we will work with all partners, including tech companies and industry, to make the UK a much harder place for fraudsters to operate.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle hate crimes in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Government is committed to tackle all forms of hate crime wherever in the country it occurs, including in Harpenden and Berkhamsted.We have a robust legislative framework in place to respond to hate crimes and work closely with the police to ensure the strongest action is taken against the perpetrators of these appalling offences.We have taken steps to strengthen this framework, through the Crime and Policing Bill, to extend the aggravated offences in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to cover hostility based on disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity and sex. This will provide parity with existing racially and religiously aggravated offences and strengthen protection for victims across the country.We are also providing record levels of funding for protective security for faith communities, with up to £73.4 million in funding available in 2026/27.In addition, we have commissioned an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation, led by Lord Ken Macdonald of River Glaven KC, to assess whether existing legislation is effective and proportionate, and whether it adequately protects communities from intimidation and hate.

What steps her Department is taking to improve levels of confidence in the police amongst minority communities.

The Government actively supports the aims of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing’s ‘National policing culture and inclusion strategy’ which aims to tackle discrimination within policing, as well as the Police Race Action Plan, which aims to address confidence in policing among black communities.The Angiolini Inquiry is also examining a range of issues relating to processes and cultures in policing so that the public can have confidence that the police are there to protect them, and we will carefully consider any recommendations it makes.

What recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the levels of reported violent crime in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Home Office publishes official statistics on violent crime recorded by the police in England Wales at the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Area level.Figures for the CSP areas of St Albans and Dacorum can be found in Open Data Tables, available here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UKGiven the relatively low volume of offences involving knives or sharp instruments, such statistics are only published at the Police Force Area (PFA) level and those for Hertfordshire PFA can also be found at the weblink given above.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the duplication of safeguarding requirements for volunteers working across schools, charities and community organisations.

It is for employers and the sectors involved to set requirements for criminal record checks as part of their safeguarding requirements. However, the disclosure and barring regime does allow for transfer of criminal record certificates, provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, if the certificate is for the same workforce and at the same level.For further information, I would refer the hon member to the response previously provided by the Home Office, UIN: 119660.

What recent assessment her Department has made in trends in the level of reported knife offences in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Home Office publishes official statistics on violent crime recorded by the police in England Wales at the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Area level.Figures for the CSP areas of St Albans and Dacorum can be found in Open Data Tables, available here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UKGiven the relatively low volume of offences involving knives or sharp instruments, such statistics are only published at the Police Force Area (PFA) level and those for Hertfordshire PFA can also be found at the weblink given above.

What assessment she has made of the feasibility of making enhanced DBS certificates transferable between organisations where the role and level of check required are equivalent.

Under current arrangements, enhanced and other certificates issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) are transferable between organisations, where the role and level of check required are equivalent. That is, where the level of check for which the role is eligible is the same.Employers can accept an existing criminal record certificate for recruitment purposes if it is the same type of check (for example, enhanced with a check of the adults’ barred list) and it has been issued for the same workforce (for example, adults’, children’s, other). There is no expiry date on criminal record certificates, as the information disclosed on certificates is correct at the date they are issued.Importantly, the level of check an employer or organisation is entitled to request depends on the role’s eligibility in relation to DBS checks. For example, if an individual already has an enhanced with children’s barred list check certificate and the second role is only eligible for a standard certificate, the second employer or organisation would potentially be seeing information it is not legally entitled to request.Conversely, if the employer for the second role requires an enhanced with barred list check but the existing certificate held by the applicant is enhanced only, not all relevant information would be available for the organisation to make a suitability decision. Further guidance and an eligibility tool are available at this link: www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-eligibility-guidance.The DBS Update Service supports the portability of an individual’s certificate by ensuring the information is up to date. To support ongoing suitability decisions, applicants can subscribe to the Update Service, which allows employers to check if any relevant information has changed since the certificate was issued, although it is the employer’s decision whether to use the Update Service or to request the applicant re-apply for a certificate.The Update Service offers a digital solution that supports real-time checking. It can also be of benefit to employers, who can undertake instant online checking of DBS certificates, thus saving time and money. The applicant would only need to obtain a new certificate in cases where there has been a change in recorded information, or in cases where they need to apply for a different type of criminal record check. The Update Service is free to use for volunteers and costs £16 a year for paid employees. Further information and details of how to subscribe can be found at https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

How many applications for refugee family reunion submitted before the route was temporarily suspended have been awaiting a decision for longer than the published service standard.

The Home Office temporarily paused the Refugee Family Reunion route from 4 September 2025, with applications submitted before that point continuing to be processed under the previous rules.The number of Refugee Family Reunion applications submitted before the pause and awaiting a decision beyond the service standard is not available in published statistics and could only be collated and verified at disproportionate cost.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, considering a number of factors including user needs, as well as quality and availability of data.

How many cases of Dating Scam Fraud were reported in 2025; and what the financial loss was.

The Home Office does not collect information on Dating Scam Fraud. City of London Police are the national lead force for fraud and operate the Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) reporting service which collects data on Dating Scam Fraud. The below data was collected from the reports made to Action Fraud (now Report Fraud) that amounted to a crime under the Home Office crime recording rules.In the first 10 months of 2025, there were 9,305 dating scam reports to Action Fraud (now ‘Report Fraud’). Losses for these reports totalled £90.9m. Source: Report Fraud Analysis Services (Public)

What timeline her Department has for introducing regulations that ensure generative AI cannot be misused to create extreme sexual abuse material involving children.

The Government recognises the serious and evolving threat posed by AI being misused to create child sexual abuse material. We know offenders will seek to exploit emerging technologies for their own sexual gratification.AI-generated child sexual abuse is not a victimless crime. The material often includes depictions of real children, escalating the risk of contact abuse. The volume and realism of this material can make it increasingly challenging for safeguarding partners to identify and protect children. Offenders can also use these images to groom and blackmail children.That is why this Government has introduced a measure within the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise AI models that have been developed to create child sexual abuse material. These optimised models produce hyper-realistic indecent images that often contains the likeness of real children. This offence will carry a sentence of up to five years. To further ensure that generative AI models are not misused to create extreme child sexual abuse material, this Government has also sought to update the existing law criminalising ‘paedophile manuals’ to cover AI as well. Manuals which provide guidance on how to use AI to create child sexual abuse material will be punishable by up to three years in prison.The Crime and Policing Bill is currently at the Lords Committee stage. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Crime and Policing Bill – and thus these two crucial measures to criminalise AI-generated child sexual abuse material – is expected to secure Royal Assent by the Spring of 2026.

Whether she plans to establish a national registration scheme for tradespeople’s power tools; and whether she has had discussions with manufacturers, retailers, insurers and the police on this matter.

We recognise the negative impact theft has on victims who rely on the tools of their trade to earn a living.We are partnering with tradespeople’s representatives, policing and other partners, including retailers and manufacturers, to co-design actions Government and industry can take to encourage the prevention of tool theft.We are also providing £2m funding for the National Business Crime Centre over the next three financial years to help tackle the crimes most affecting businesses today.

To provide a month-by-month breakdown of the number of people who are victims of (a) online and (b) offline fraud, for each year from 2020 to 2025.

Fraud is the most experienced crime in England and Wales according to the Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW). It accounts for 44% of all estimated surveyed crime committed in England and Wales in the year ending June 2025. The CSEW also estimates that approximately 50% of fraud is cyber-enabled.A month-by-month breakdown of the number of individuals who have experienced online, and offline fraud is not available. However, the ONS provides quarterly figures, the latest of which is available below:www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingjune2025

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent changes to the eligibility criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain on British Nationals (Overseas) students who have resettled in the UK.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements. Individuals on the BN(O) route who are studying in the UK will also qualify for the same reduction.We are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy.In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

What assessment she has made of the level of economic loss from AI-enabled fraud and scams.

The Government does not hold an estimate of the full socio-economic cost from AI enabled fraud. Not all incidents of fraud are reported but reports to Action Fraud which reference the suspected use of artificial intelligence resulted in estimated losses of £0.69m in 2023, £4.55m in 2024 and £3.74m in the period of January to September 2025. Action Fraud was replaced by the improved Report Fraud service on 4 December. It is a self-reporting tool, meaning those making reports will not always be aware if AI has been used and it is not possible to independently verify the use of AI generated content.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of section 12(1A) and 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The UK has one of the strongest counter-terrorism frameworks in the world, but we keep this under continuous review. The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation provides recommendations to HMG on the effective functioning of the counter-terrorism framework.In January 2025, the Government published post-legislative scrutiny on the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, which introduced the offence in section 12(1A) and made changes to section 13 to ensure it could apply to online displays of support as well as introducing associated police seizure powers.This explained that the section 12(1A) offence has been useful in practice in supporting charging decisions and convictions of individuals whose conduct stopped short of deliberately inviting others to support a proscribed organisation, but rather expressed their support recklessly in such a way that there was a risk of others being influenced to support the organisation, whether online or offline. It also explained that the introduction of seizure powers under section 13 has been particularly important in protest settings, as it offers the police an additional route to deal with displays of support for proscribed organisations, such as flags. However, the police can still arrest individuals under this offence if they consider it necessary to do so.The Government takes proscription offences very seriously, including sections 12 and 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Investigations into the activities of proscribed organisations or individuals who demonstrate support for proscribed organisations are an operational matter for the police and intelligence agencies.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring police forces to record thefts (a) from and (b) of light commercial vehicles as distinct crime categories to enable accurate national monitoring of van-related offending.

The Home Office has access to a monthly extract of data from the Police National Computer (PNC) which provides additional intelligence information on the type of vehicles stolen in England and Wales. Such data already enables the monitoring of offences involving the theft of light commercial vehicles and so no additional crime code is needed to identify such thefts.When collecting data for national monitoring purposes there is always a tension between seeking to capture more detail to identify emerging threats, which are hidden within existing broad offence groupings, and adding to recording complexity and burden on the police.The Theft Act covers a wide range of criminality, and the Home Office currently require the police to record such offences under some fairly broad groups such as Theft from a motor vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking, and Theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle.

Whether she plans to transfer oversight of cannabis-based medicinal products to the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Home Office is the lead department for controlled drug legislation. The Department for Health and Social care and its arms’ length bodies, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (‘MHRA’), have responsibility for healthcare and medicines policy.The Government has no plans to change this. The two departments work together with the MHRA and other agencies on issues related to the use of controlled drugs in healthcare and therefore share responsibility for policy and governance relating to cannabis-based medicinal products.

What information her Department holds on detection rates for thefts (a) from and (b) of light commercial vehicles, broken down by police force area; and whether she is taking steps to support forces with low detection rates for such thefts.

The Home Office requires the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales to report trends in crime using aggregated categories such as theft of a vehicle or theft from a vehicle and we do not hold detailed data on the type of vehicles involved.This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime and we are working with the automotive industry and police, including working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on the issue, to ensure the strongest response possible to this damaging crime. Through the policing National Vehicle Crime Working Group, a network of vehicle crime specialists has been established, involving every police force in England and Wales, to ensure forces can share information about emerging trends in vehicle crime and better tackle regional issues.In the Crime and Policing Bill we have brought forward legislation to ban electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing and supplying them. This will support the changes manufacturers continue to make to prevent thefts. The Bill has now completed its passage through the House of Commons and is now at Committee stage in the House of Lords.We provided £275,000 last financial year to help support enforcement work at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including additional staff and specialist equipment. An additional £210k is being provided by the Home Office (totalling £485k) this financial year to build on and further bolster these efforts to tackle vehicle crimeChief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for understanding local crime patterns and for setting priorities which reflect the concerns of local communities, but we expect them to take all forms of crime seriously.

Whether she plans to issue guidance to police forces on responding to (a) thefts from vans and (b) tool theft, in the context of the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023.

The Government is currently bringing forward legislative proposals to extend the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to include tradespeople’s power tools. As set out in the recently published Government Response to the Call for Evidence on the scope of the legislation, concerns were raised by stakeholders that property marking tools would be impractical and costly. The economic impact assessment findings indicate that the total cost to business would be disproportionate to the benefits of implementing this proposal.We recognise the devastating impact theft of tools can have for tradespeople. We are working with the police-led National Business Crime Centre and industry via the Combined Industries Theft Solutions forum to explore ways to tackle and prevent the theft of tools.We encourage tradespeople to use existing guidance such as the NBCC and Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Secured By Design) crime prevention guidance to help prevent theft.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory suicide preventing training for emergency service workers.

The Home Office only has responsibility for territorial police forces.The College of Policing set the professional standards for police in England and Wales. The College’s core guidance includes the initial training for officers under the Policing Education Qualifications Framework which incorporates autism, learning disabilities, mental health and vulnerabilities. Through this, officers are taught to assess vulnerability and amend their approaches as required.The College further promotes the need for frameworks to assess vulnerability, to aid in consistent identification, support decision making, and to trigger appropriate safeguarding action. Such principles and practices are set out in a number of college products, including the Detention and Custody Authorised Professional Practice.Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide which additional training their officers should undertake.