Home Department

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, opened the debate by addressing the serious incident that had taken place in Southport, expressing concern and conveying support to the police and emergency services. She then outlined the government's position on tackling illegal small boat crossings in the English Channel, stating that criminal gangs are profiting from this dangerous trade and that a new border security command with additional cross-border police and counter-terror powers will be established to address the issue. The shadow Home Secretary, Tom Tugendhat, expressed support for the Home Secretary's response to the Southport incident. He then raised concerns about the potential security risks of any deal the government might make to accept migrants from European countries in exchange for a returns agreement, urging the Home Secretary to ensure strong safeguards to prevent anyone who could pose a security threat from entering the UK. The debate then covered a range of topics, including the government's mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, with the Home Secretary acknowledging that this issue has been treated as an inevitability for too long and outlining plans to drastically improve the policing and criminal justice response. Members from both sides of the House welcomed this commitment and discussed the need for a whole-of-society approach, including collaboration with local authorities and the voluntary sector. The discussion also touched on the government's plans to tackle youth violence, with the Minister of State highlighting the new "young futures" programme to prevent teenagers from being drawn into violence. The debate also covered the government's steps to tackle retail crime, antisocial behaviour, and the asylum system backlog, with the Home Secretary and Ministers outlining various legislative and operational measures to address these challenges. Additionally, the debate addressed concerns around the use of live facial recognition surveillance, with the government acknowledging the need for strong safeguards and a robust legal framework. The issue of foreign interference in elections was also raised, with the government reaffirming its commitment to protecting the UK's democratic integrity. Throughout the debate, members from both the government and opposition benches engaged in constructive discussions, highlighting the key priorities and challenges facing the Home Office, and outlining the government's plans to address them.