Home Office

In the UK context, the Home Office is a government department responsible for a range of domestic issues related to security, law and order, immigration, and citizenship. It has broad responsibilities for ensuring the safety and security of the UK and its residents, as well as managing immigration and nationality matters. On 1 April 2025 ministerial responsibility for all fire functions moved from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The Home Office plays a crucial role in maintaining public safety, protecting national security, and upholding the rule of law in the UK. It works closely with other government departments, law enforcement agencies, and international partners to address a wide range of domestic security and immigration challenges.

The updated list of ministerial responsibilities published by the cabinet office in March 2025 includes those of the Home Office as described below:

• Immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police, including:
  • Working on the problems caused by illegal drug use
  • Shaping the alcohol strategy, policy and licensing conditions
  • Keeping the United Kingdom safe from the threat of terrorism
  • Reducing and preventing crime, and ensuring people feel safe in their homes and communities
  • Securing the UK border and controlling immigration
  • Considering applications to enter and stay in the UK
  • Issuing passports and visas
  • Supporting visible, responsible and accountable policing by empowering the public and freeing up the police to fight crime
  • Fire prevention and rescue

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Building a Safer Future
• Building Safety Act
• Building Safety Regulator.
• Building safety.
• Fire Safety Act.
• Government departments.
• Grenfell Tower fire
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
• Hackitt review of the building regulations and fire safety, final report.