Home Office

The Home Office, formally the Home Department, is the United Kingdom's interior ministry. Founded on March 27, 1782, it is one of the oldest government departments, created during a reorganization of the secretaries of state under King George III. Initially it handled both domestic and colonial affairs until the Colonial Office split off in 1801. Over more than two centuries, its remit has expanded and contracted, but it remains responsible for public safety, border security, immigration, passports, civil registration, and counterterrorism. It oversees policing and criminal justice in England and Wales, with devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland handling their own.

The department is led by the Home Secretary, a senior cabinet position considered one of the Great Offices of State. Shabana Mahmood became Home Secretary on September 5, 2025, the first Muslim woman to hold the post. Day-to-day administration is managed by the Permanent Secretary, the most senior civil servant. The Home Affairs Select Committee, composed of MPs, scrutinizes the department's spending, administration, and policies. Key operational bodies include Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), and the Security Service (MI5). The Home Office previously ran His Majesty's Prison Service and the National Probation Service, but those functions moved to the Ministry of Justice in 2007.

The department's headquarters are at 2 Marsham Street in Westminster, London. It also has major offices in Croydon (Lunar House for immigration), Liverpool (The Capital for passports), Manchester, and Portishead. Globally, UKVI operates in over 100 countries through embassies and commercial partners. The Home Office's funding comes from HM Treasury; for 2024-2025, its resource budget was about £18.4 billion and capital budget around £2.5 billion. It does not generate revenue or have a commercial valuation, being a public sector entity. Its brand identity uses the Royal Coat of Arms and the GDS Transport font, consistent with UK government guidelines. Public information campaigns have included 'See It, Say It, Sorted' for counterterrorism and 'Knife Free' to reduce youth knife crime. [edit]