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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Home Office split 'within months' | Home Office split 'within months' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Home Office could be split into two separate departments "within months", government sources have told the BBC. | The Home Office could be split into two separate departments "within months", government sources have told the BBC. |
| Home Secretary John Reid has suggested a split to create one justice ministry and one focusing on public protection. | Home Secretary John Reid has suggested a split to create one justice ministry and one focusing on public protection. |
| Constitutional Affairs Secretary Lord Falconer said "the time might well have come" for a split, which was now a "very, very serious proposal". | Constitutional Affairs Secretary Lord Falconer said "the time might well have come" for a split, which was now a "very, very serious proposal". |
| But William Hague, for the Tories, called the plan "a pretty serious admission of failure" by John Reid. | But William Hague, for the Tories, called the plan "a pretty serious admission of failure" by John Reid. |
| And ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett told ITV that if the split happened there would only be two powerful figures in Cabine - the prime minister and the chancellor - and that would not be good for balanced government. | |
| The plans sketched out by Mr Reid are set be to put to the Cabinet for discussion at some time in the next few weeks. | The plans sketched out by Mr Reid are set be to put to the Cabinet for discussion at some time in the next few weeks. |
| Mr Reid famously said it was not fit for purpose when he gave evidence to MPs on the state of Home Office shortly after taking the job in May last year. | Mr Reid famously said it was not fit for purpose when he gave evidence to MPs on the state of Home Office shortly after taking the job in May last year. |
| Since then he has been reviewing the way it works and its structure as he seeks to end the long sequence of problems the department has faced on issues ranging from immigration to crimes abroad not being recorded on the national crime database. | Since then he has been reviewing the way it works and its structure as he seeks to end the long sequence of problems the department has faced on issues ranging from immigration to crimes abroad not being recorded on the national crime database. |
| Review | Review |
| Under Mr Reid's recommendations, the security department would be responsible for anti-terrorism policy, immigration and the security services. | 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. | The ministry of justice would have control of probation, prisons and stopping reoffending. |
| Splitting it in two is, I think, a pretty serious admission of failure on the part of John Reid if that's what he is contemplating William HagueShadow foreign secretary | Splitting it in two is, I think, a pretty serious admission of failure on the part of John Reid if that's what he is contemplating William HagueShadow foreign secretary |
| Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Reid said there would be "no sacred cows when it comes to protecting security and administering justice". | Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Reid said there would be "no sacred cows when it comes to protecting security and administering justice". |
| "Whilst in the short term my focus will be on putting right that which needs the most urgent attention - including the way we deal with the transfer of criminal records information and prison pressures - in the long term even more radical change may be unavoidable," he said. | "Whilst in the short term my focus will be on putting right that which needs the most urgent attention - including the way we deal with the transfer of criminal records information and prison pressures - in the long term even more radical change may be unavoidable," he said. |
| Mr Reid has discussed the plans with senior government figures - although it is not known whether that includes Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is seen as the man most likely to replace Tony Blair as prime minister when he steps down this year. | Mr Reid has discussed the plans with senior government figures - although it is not known whether that includes Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is seen as the man most likely to replace Tony Blair as prime minister when he steps down this year. |
| 'New problems' | 'New problems' |
| Lord Falconer, whose department would become a Ministry of Justice, told BBC One's Sunday AM such a split had been "considered a number of times before". | Lord Falconer, whose department would become a Ministry of Justice, told BBC One's Sunday AM such a split had been "considered a number of times before". |
| He said: "I think it may well be that that split's time has come as we face, for example, much greater waves of immigration across the world, much greater threats of terrorism." | He said: "I think it may well be that that split's time has come as we face, for example, much greater waves of immigration across the world, much greater threats of terrorism." |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said there was an argument for an extra Cabinet minister within the Home Office with specific responsibility for homeland security, but said a split could create "a whole new set of problems". | Shadow home secretary David Davis said there was an argument for an extra Cabinet minister within the Home Office with specific responsibility for homeland security, but said a split could create "a whole new set of problems". |
| And shadow foreign secretary William Hague told Sky News' Sunday Live programme "a massive upheaval at the Home Office, actually splitting it in two is, I think, a pretty serious admission of failure on the part of John Reid if that's what he is contemplating". | And shadow foreign secretary William Hague told Sky News' Sunday Live programme "a massive upheaval at the Home Office, actually splitting it in two is, I think, a pretty serious admission of failure on the part of John Reid if that's what he is contemplating". |
| "Many of the huge problems we have seen in the Home Office in the last year or so have been problems of co-ordination between the different departments." | "Many of the huge problems we have seen in the Home Office in the last year or so have been problems of co-ordination between the different departments." |
| Sir Menzies | Sir Menzies |
| Mr Hague said having a homeland security minister would not be as drastic as splitting the Home Office. | Mr Hague said having a homeland security minister would not be as drastic as splitting the Home Office. |
| He said: "That's different to having a massive upheaval which is often the excuse for doing nothing in the meantime." | He said: "That's different to having a massive upheaval which is often the excuse for doing nothing in the meantime." |
| Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell told Sunday AM: "We need a Ministry of Justice. There's no doubt whatsoever that by doing that we would allow the remainder of the Home Office, under whatever name it has, to concentrate on these issues of security. | Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell told Sunday AM: "We need a Ministry of Justice. There's no doubt whatsoever that by doing that we would allow the remainder of the Home Office, under whatever name it has, to concentrate on these issues of security. |
| "It has long been the case that the Home Office is not fit for purpose. Thank heavens there's an open recognition." | "It has long been the case that the Home Office is not fit for purpose. Thank heavens there's an open recognition." |
| Predecessor sacked | 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. |
| 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. |
| But since then Mr Reid's department has continued hitting the headlines. | 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. | 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. | 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. |