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Home Office could be split in two Home Office could be split in two
(about 1 hour later)
The crisis-hit Home Office could be split into two departments under recommendations put forward by Home Secretary John Reid. The Home Office could be split into two departments under recommendations put forward by Home Secretary John Reid.
One department would deal with security and the other with justice, said BBC correspondent James Hardy. One department would deal with security issues and the other with justice under the plans, which are set be to put to the Cabinet for discussion.
Mr Reid said part of the department was not fit for purpose when he took over last year, and is presiding over a shake-up to improve performance. Mr Reid said part of the Home Office was not fit for purpose when he took over last year, and is presiding over a shake-up to improve performance.
The Home Office has been hit by a series of blunders in recent months.The Home Office has been hit by a series of blunders in recent months.
Mr Reid is recommending a separate national security department which would be responsible for anti-terrorism policy, immigration and the security services.
ReviewReview
Alongside it would be a new ministry of justice which would have control of probation, prisons and stopping reoffending. Under Mr Reid's recommendations, the security department would be responsible for anti-terrorism policy, immigration and the security services.
The ministry of justice would have control of probation, prisons and stopping reoffending.
Breaking up the department may well create a whole new set of problems David DavisShadow home secretary
BBC correspondent James Hardy said Mr Reid had discussed the plans with senior government figures, but said the future of the Home Office depended on who became the next prime minister.
"I'm told he's discussed it with the prime minister, the Chancellor Gordon Brown and the Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and he now wants to go to the full cabinet for discussion in the near future," he said.
"What really happens next depends on who is prime minister.
"If it is Gordon Brown he is known to be taking an interest in security policy, what we don't know yet is whether this will be a runner with him."
'New problems'
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said there was an argument for an extra cabinet minister within the Home Office, but said a split could create new problems.
He said: "The problems afflicting the Home Office have been embodied by a lack of co-ordination, whether it be the IND [Immigration and Nationality Directorate] not talking to Home Office records, or the police not talking to Home Office IT.
"However, breaking up the department may well create a whole new set of problems."
If there was a separate cabinet minister with responsibility for security they would need "the time and commitment" to take care of a range of issues, from community and cultural cohesion to making sure the police and MI5 talk to each other, he said.
Predecessor sacked
The recommendations are the result of a review Mr Reid set in motion last May when he moved into the Home Office.The recommendations are the result of a review Mr Reid set in motion last May when he moved into the Home Office.
Mr Reid pledged to "sort out" the department, saying that its immigration operation was "not fit for purpose".
He took over as home secretary after Charles Clarke was sacked in a row over foreign criminals released from prison without being considered for deportation.He took over as home secretary after Charles Clarke was sacked in a row over foreign criminals released from prison without being considered for deportation.
Mr Reid pledged to "sort out" the Home Office after saying that its immigration operation was "not fit for purpose". But since then Mr Reid's department has continued hitting the headlines.
Earlier this month it emerged that more than 27,000 case files on Britons who had committed crimes abroad, including rape and murder, had not been entered on the police computer.Earlier this month it emerged that more than 27,000 case files on Britons who had committed crimes abroad, including rape and murder, had not been entered on the police computer.
It also emerged that a third terror suspect on a control order had absconded.
And before that there was a row when it emerged the head of the Prison Service did not know how many inmates were on the run from open jails in England.