Shropshire Star

What are the key priorities for new Home Secretary Sajid Javid?

Here are the tasks the new Home Secretary will face in his new role.

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Protests were held against the treatment of the so-called Windrush generation (Yui Mok/PA)

In the wake of Sajid Javid’s appointment, the Press Association sets out the key items on the agenda for the new Home Secretary.

– The Windrush fallout

The Empire Windrush was one of a number of ships which brought Caribbean migrants to the UK (PA)
The Empire Windrush was one of a number of ships which brought Caribbean migrants to the UK (PA)

– The ‘hostile environment’

Measures to crack down on illegal immigration have come under sharp focus and calls for the policy to be abandoned are unlikely to subside after Ms Rudd’s resignation. Her successor will also doubtless face questions over the department’s targets culture, in particular in the area of immigration.

– Brexit

Britain's future relationship with the European Union post-Brexit is yet to be fully decided (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Britain’s future relationship with the European Union post-Brexit is yet to be fully decided (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

– Crime

Before the furore over Windrush and immigration targets erupted, the Home Office was already coming under mounting pressure after a spate of deadly violence in London. Figures released last week showed police in England and Wales registered rises in knife and gun crime last year. Mr Javid will inherit leadership of the Government’s strategy to tackle serious violence – the unveiling of which earlier this month was overshadowed by a fresh row over police officer numbers.

– Terrorism

The official threat level remains at severe, meaning an attack is “highly likely”. Britain was hit by five attacks last year, and police and MI5 have around 23,000 individuals on their radar. An early task for Mr Javid will be to finalise the Government’s refreshed counter-terror strategy, which is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.

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