Home Office facts for kids
 2 Marsham Street, the headquarters of the Home Office |
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| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 27 March 1782 |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom (but in respect of most policing and justice matters: England and Wales only) |
| Headquarters | 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF |
| Annual budget | £10.8 billion (current) and £500 million (capital) in 2018–19 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Department executive |
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The Home Office (often called the HO) is a very important part of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is in charge of big things like who can come into the UK, keeping people safe, and making sure laws are followed.
It looks after the police in England and Wales. It also helps with fire and rescue services in England. The Home Office handles visas (permission to enter a country) and immigration (people moving to live in a country). It also works with the Security Service (MI5), which protects the country from serious threats.
The Home Office also creates government plans for safety issues like fighting terrorism and using ID cards. The main minister in charge of the Home Office is called the Home Secretary. Currently, this is Priti Patel. The Home Office is known as the Home Department in official papers. It is seen as one of the most important government jobs in the UK.
Contents
What is the Home Office?
The Home Office is a special department within the UK government. It was created a long time ago, in 1782. Its main job is to keep the country safe and make sure laws are followed. It works to protect people and manage important national services.
Who is in Charge?
The person leading the Home Office is called the Home Secretary. This is a very important job in the government. The Home Secretary makes big decisions about safety and security for the whole country. They are a member of the Cabinet, which is a group of senior ministers who lead the government.
What Does the Home Office Do?
The Home Office has many different responsibilities. These jobs help keep everyone in the UK safe and make sure things run smoothly.
Keeping People Safe
One of the biggest jobs of the Home Office is looking after the police. This includes police forces across England and Wales. They help make sure police have the rules and resources they need. The Home Office also supports fire and rescue services in England. These brave teams help people during emergencies like fires and accidents. Another key role is working with the Security Service (MI5). MI5 is a secret service that protects the UK from threats like terrorism and spying.
Managing Borders
The Home Office is also in charge of immigration. This means they decide who can come into the UK to live, work, or visit. They handle visas, which are official permissions to enter the country. They also work to make sure that people entering and leaving the UK do so legally. This helps keep the country's borders secure.
Images for kids
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The former Home Office building at 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London
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Lunar House in Croydon, which holds the headquarters of UK Visas and Immigration
See also
In Spanish: Ministerio del Interior (Reino Unido) para niños
