What You Need to Know about the Home Office at London
The Home Office of the government of the United Kingdom, whose headquarters is situated in London, is responsible for maintaining the safety, peace and order of people living in England and Wales. It is the command point of the justice system and police service not only in the London, but the rest of Wales and England as well.
For 26 years, the Home Office was housed within a Brutalist block at 50 Queen Annes Gate, Westminster, London, near the St. Jamess Park subway station. The former Home Office building was designed by renowned architect Sir Basil Spence. In the spring of 2005, the Home Office transferred to its current site at 2 Marsham Street, also in Westminster, London. The new building was a work of Sir Terry Farrell.
The work of the Home Office is to promote safety, justice and tolerance in society. This is brought about by six objectives:
1. Protecting the United Kingdom from attacks made by terrorists
2. Busting crime, especially those involving violence and drugs
3. Assuring residents of their safety in their homes and their lifestyles, by instilling visibility, responsiveness, and accountability of the police
4. Bringing back balance to the criminal justice system, giving favor to victims of crimes and law-abiding citizens
5. Managing law offenders to protect the general public from them and to avoid further offenses
6. Guarding the borders and preventing offenses of the immigration laws of the United Kingdom
The Home Office governs five agencies, each responsible for specific aspects of the offices duties. They are:
1. The Assets Recovery Agency responsible for returning property lost through criminal activities. This agency is under the office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
2. The Criminal Records Bureau responsible for keeping the managing offenders and keeping their records. This agency is under the office of the minister of State.
3. The Forensic Science Service responsible for criminal investigations. This agency is governed by the office of the Minister of State.
4. The HM Prison Service responsible for ensuring penal service of offenders. This agency is governed by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
5. The Identity and Passport Services responsible for matters regarding citizenship and immigration. This is governed by the Minister of State.
With the responsibilities of the Home Office, people living in London and other parts of the United Kingdom are assured of safety and security.
