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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Home Office to be split into two | Home Office to be split into two |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Home Office will be split into two separate departments for security and justice, the BBC has learned. | The Home Office will be split into two separate departments for security and justice, the BBC has learned. |
| A new Ministry of Justice will oversee probation, prisons and preventing re-offending, Tony Blair is expected to tell MPs later. | |
| A separate Home Office will deal with terrorism, security and immigration. | A separate Home Office will deal with terrorism, security and immigration. |
| Home Secretary John Reid has said the current Home Office has too many issues for one ministry to handle, but Tories say a split will "compound" problems. | Home Secretary John Reid has said the current Home Office has too many issues for one ministry to handle, but Tories say a split will "compound" problems. |
| 'Not fit' | 'Not fit' |
| The Department for Constitutional Affairs will be renamed the Ministry of Justice or Department of Justice, led by a Secretary of State for Justice. | The Department for Constitutional Affairs will be renamed the Ministry of Justice or Department of Justice, led by a Secretary of State for Justice. |
| It will absorb from the Home Office the handling of convicted offenders, sentencing policy, prisons and probation. | It will absorb from the Home Office the handling of convicted offenders, sentencing policy, prisons and probation. |
| HOME OFFICE SPLIT Two ministries instead of oneHome Office to refocus on security, policing, counter-terrorism, immigration, borders and ID cardsMinistry of justice for courts, prisons, sentencing policy, probation | HOME OFFICE SPLIT Two ministries instead of oneHome Office to refocus on security, policing, counter-terrorism, immigration, borders and ID cardsMinistry of justice for courts, prisons, sentencing policy, probation |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the Ministry of Justice could be set up within the next two months, run by Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. | BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the Ministry of Justice could be set up within the next two months, run by Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Reid's slimmed-down Home Office will absorb counter-terrorism strategy from the Cabinet Office. | Meanwhile, Mr Reid's slimmed-down Home Office will absorb counter-terrorism strategy from the Cabinet Office. |
| The government is also expected to form a new national security body that will bring all key figures together once a month. | The government is also expected to form a new national security body that will bring all key figures together once a month. |
| The Home Office has already lost responsibility for community building and faith issues, including the preventing extremism strategy, which were passed to a new Whitehall department in 2006. | The Home Office has already lost responsibility for community building and faith issues, including the preventing extremism strategy, which were passed to a new Whitehall department in 2006. |
| And last year, Mr Reid said parts of the Home Office were "not fit for purpose". | And last year, Mr Reid said parts of the Home Office were "not fit for purpose". |
| But in an interview last month, his predecessor, Charles Clarke, said the problem with the department was "a lack of co-ordination between its various elements". | But in an interview last month, his predecessor, Charles Clarke, said the problem with the department was "a lack of co-ordination between its various elements". |
| He added: "I think dividing the Home Office would make those problems far worse". | He added: "I think dividing the Home Office would make those problems far worse". |
| Dogged by crises | Dogged by crises |
| The Home Office has been dogged by a series of problems. | The Home Office has been dogged by a series of problems. |
| UNFIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 200 years old£13bn budget70,000 staffDozen key policy areas | UNFIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 200 years old£13bn budget70,000 staffDozen key policy areas |
| Earlier this year 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 year 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 that 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 that the head of the Prison Service did not know how many inmates were on the run from open jails in England. |
| The Conservatives have called the plan an "admission of failure". | The Conservatives have called the plan an "admission of failure". |
| Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has said there is an argument for an extra Cabinet minister within the Home Office with specific responsibility for security. | Shadow Home Secretary David Davis has said there is an argument for an extra Cabinet minister within the Home Office with specific responsibility for security. |
| But he said a departmental split could create "a whole new set of problems". | But he said a departmental split could create "a whole new set of problems". |