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Contact the press office

Find out how to contact the Home Office press office if you have a media enquiry.

Press office hours

Newsdesk (020 7035 3535):
Monday - Thursday 07:00 - 19:00
Friday 07:00 - 19:00

Specialist desks (phone numbers listed below):
Monday - Friday: 09:15 - 17:30

Emergency media calls out of those hours: 020 7035 6434

Please be aware that the press office deals with press enquiries only. If you are not a member of the media, please phone 020 7035 4848.

Director of communication

The director of communication for the Home Office is Yasmin Diamond.

Head of news

The head of news is Andy Tighe: 020 7035 3833

  • deputy head of news, Wendy Fielder: 020 7035 1141
  • personal assistant, Kay Featherstone: 020 7035 3863

Newsdesk, equalities and operations

  • assistant director, Ray Tang:  020 7035 3854

Newsdesk

The newsdesk is the first point of contact for media on all breaking news and major developments.

  • senior press officer, Anna Sinfield: 020 7035 3535
  • Simon Barrett: 020 7035 3535
  • Sam Eversden: 020 7035 3535
  • Polo Guilbert-Wright: 020 7035 3535  
  • Andrew Bell: 020 7035 3535
  • Melanie Purkis: 020 7035 3535
  • Matt Francis: 020 7035 3535

Equalities

  • senior press officer, Rhiannon Spellman: 020 7035 3253
  • assistant press officer, Mimi Phengsavanh: 020 7035 3865

Operations 

  • office manager, Stephen Hadley: 020 7035 3864
  • Adam Murcutt: 020 7035 3862

Strategy, international, campaigns and digital media

  • assistant director, Rob Hal: 020 7035 3860

Features and campaigns

Campaigns and proactive features with long-lead media; consumer and lifestyle magazines; consumer and lifestyle magazines; BME media; non-news broadcast; online media; and regional media

  • senior press officer, vacant: 020 7035 3827  
  • Nisar Hussain: 020 7035 6835
  • Caroline Jack: 020 7035 3846
  • Eleanor Hart: 020 7035 3821

Digital and social media

Online media centre; social networks; digital campaigns

  • vacant: 020 7035 1035

Strategy and international desk

Strategic planning, co-ordination of cross-cutting issues, corporate communications and all international business

  • senior press officer, Robert Hall: 020 7035 3859
  • senior press officer, vacant: 020 7035 3858
  • Ruth Hodgson: 020 7035 3856
  • Tom Carr: 020 7035 3821

Policing, security, crime and community safety

  • assistant director, Lisa Lee: 020 7035 3840

Policing and security desk

The policing and security desk supplies briefings and interviews on police policy and reform; counter-terrorism; organised crime; football disorder; the Security Service (MI5); HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

  • senior press officer, Vacant: 020 7035 3823
  • Olympic security, senior information officer: Matt Jackson: 020 7035 3836  
  • Jon Tunney: 020 7035 3830
  • vacant: 020 7035 3852
  • Philip Skelton: 020 7035 3849

Crime and community safety desk

The community safety desk supplies briefings and interviews on crime reduction and community safety, including action against drugs; antisocial behaviour; violent crime; firearms; crime statistics.

  • senior press officer, Kate Williams: 020 7035 3832
  • Christian Lockyer: 020 7035 3835
  • Eva Perkins: 020 7035 3844
  • Shelly Naylor: 020 7035 3825

Immigration, identity and vetting

  • assistant director, Patricia Keville: 020 7035 3815

Immigration desk

The immigration desk supplies briefings and interviews on all aspects of immigration policy, including asylum;work permits; UK Border Agency; immigration removal centres; nationality and citizenship.

  • senior press officer, Sam Matthews: 020 7035 3839
  • Hazel Gidley: 020 7035 3850
  • Ben Biddulph: 020 7035 3857
  • Rachel Stanton: 020 7035 3828

Passport and vetting desk

This desk handles specialist media planning, facilities, briefings and interviews for the Identity & Passport Service, the Vetting and Barring Scheme, wheelclamping, human trafficking and the Criminal Records Bureau.

  • senior press officer, Carolyn Armstrong: 020 7035 3849
  • Tim Matthews: 020 7035 3855

UK Border Agency regional press officers

  • assistant director, Toby Nation: 020 7035 3824

Other staff include:

  • senior press officer London and South East - Richard Shrubb: 0114 207 2844 
  • London and South East - Adam Edwards: 020 8814 5252
  • London and South East - Bev Morgan: 01304 664826
  • London and South East - Richard Crowe: 020 7035 6665 
  • Midlands and East - Simon Ballinger: 0121 713 3338
  • Midlands and East - Toby Allanson: 01279 336956
  • senior press officer, North: Mike Burrell: 020 7035 3819
  • Wales and South West - Chris Herdman: 02920 924665
  • North West - Karen O'Brien: 0151 213 2805
  • North East, Yorkshire and Humber - vacant: 0114 207 2844
  • North East,Yorkshire and Humber - Ben Guy: 0191 376 2857
  • Scotland and Northern Ireland - Carla Franchitti: 0141 555 1231
  • Scotland and Northern Ireland - Kieran Dougan: 0289 0191017
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