About us
Back to previous pageInternational Directorate
Director: Peter Storr
Contact us
Write to:
The Home Office
International Directorate
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
Tel: 020 7035 4848
In a globalised world, the Home Office cannot effectively protect the public from terrorism, crime and illegal immigration unless it engages internationally - both bilaterally, with other countries, and multilaterally, through bodies like the European Union (EU) (new window), United Nations (new window) and the G8 group of eight leading industrial nations (new window).
The International Directorate exists to help the Home Office do just that: work with international partners to achieve objectives right here at home.
To accomplish its goals, the directorate works closely with many Home Office units and related agencies including the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, Association of Chief Police Officers, and Border and Immigration Agency. It also works with other government departments, particularly the Ministry of Justice, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, HM Revenue & Customs and Cabinet Office.
The directorate's work is divided between two sections. Their responsibilities are set out below.
The EU section
The member states of the EU are committed to developing the union into an area of freedom, security and justice. This means that the EU is working on the same issues the Home Office oversees.
This EU section of the International Directorate:
- guides Home Office involvement with the EU and the Council of Europe (new window), as well as with other EU member states, and with informal groups such as the G6 (the interior ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK)
- represents (alongside other governmental departments and agencies, as well as the UK Mission to the EU) UK justice and home affairs in EU Council working groups
- assists UK ministers when they represent the UK in Europe
- makes sure the Home Office complies with UK Parliamentary scrutiny
- coordinates UK dealings with EU agencies such as the European Police Office (Europol) and the EU crime prevention network
- aims to ensure that UK projects to reduce crime, combat terrorism, prevent the use of illegal drugs, stop violence against women and children, and promote judicial cooperation benefit from EU funding
The European Near Neighbours and Wider World section
This section of the directorate:
- initiates, supports and develops Home Office involvement with some 166 non-EU countries; priority areas include the EU’s neighbours (particularly those aiming to join the EU), North Africa, Pakistan and the United States
- ensures that the Home Office uses G8 tools relating to justice and home affairs, in particular the work of the Lyon-Roma Group (which deals with counter-terrorism and organised crime issues)
- promotes, supports and secures funding for justice and home affairs projects in countries hoping to join the EU and those near the EU (i.e. ‘twinning’ projects)
- coordinates and develops Home Office work with other multilateral bodies such as the UN Commission on Drugs, the UN Crime Commission and the Council of Europe (including the council’s drugs co-ordination group, the Pompidou Group)
- coordinates (in close cooperation with the Drugs Strategy Unit) Home Office input for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) (new window)
