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Home Office to be split into two Home Office to be split into two
(about 2 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, Tony Blair is expected to say.
A new Ministry of Justice will oversee probation, prisons and preventing re-offending, Tony Blair is expected to tell MPs later. The Department for Constitutional Affairs will take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending and be renamed the Ministry of Justice.
A separate Home Office will deal with terrorism, security and immigration. The slimmed down Home Office will then be left to concentrate on dealing 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. Ministers say the change will allow a better focus, but Conservatives say a split will "compound" problems.
'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.
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, probationHOME 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. The Ministry of Justice could be set up within the next two months. The department is currently 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 crisesDogged 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 areasUNFIT 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.
A series of civil service "capability reviews" found the Home Office to be the worst performing of the 12 Whitehall departments thus far examined.
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".