UK:Britain will concentrate counter-terrorism powers under a single minister in a shake-up announced yesterday as it combats security threats highlighted by a string of actual and foiled attacks.
"The changes set out here are aimed at producing a step change in our approach to managing the terrorist threat to the UK and winning the battle for hearts and minds," the prime minister, Tony Blair, said in a statement.
Beset by a series of embarrassing gaffes, the Home Office will be split in two, hiving off responsibility for prisons and criminal justice to a new justice ministry.
The Home Office will stay in charge of police, immigration and border control and include a new office for security and counter-terrorism.
It will bring together all relevant government departments and intelligence agencies for regular meetings, including what a Home Office source described as a monthly security council. "Basically it's a unified strategic centre . . . There will be a lot more cohesion and logic," he said.
He said the foreign spy service MI6 and eavesdropping centre GCHQ would be more closely "enveloped" in the new structure, while retaining their reporting lines to the Foreign Office.
The Conservatives said the reforms were ill-judged and failed to address the need for an extra ministerial post in charge of national security. "This country faces a threat of terrorism, a criminal justice system in disarray, prisoners overflowing and immigration out of control," Conservative home affairs spokesman David Davis said.
Under John Reid, the Home Office has been scathingly criticised for a series of blunders, including the escape of several terrorist suspects who were meant to be tightly supervised under government "control orders" amounting to virtual house arrest.
The scandals have damaged the political standing of Mr Reid, a tough-talking Scot once seen as a possible successor to Mr Blair.
Mr Reid's predecessor, Charles Clarke, was dumped after a scandal over the freeing of more than 1,000 foreign prisoners who should have been considered for deportation.
Britain suffered its first domestic attack by militant Islamists when four young Muslim men blew themselves up on London's transport system in July 2005, killing 52 people.
Since then authorities say they have foiled half a dozen major terrorist plots. While the government disputes it, security analysts say Britain's role in the Iraq war and its radicalising effect on homegrown militants have aggravated the terrorist threat, which the MI5 intelligence agency classes as "severe".
Mr Blair said in a written statement: "Our counter-terrorism capabilities are among the best in the world.
"However, the continuing and growing threat from terrorism means that the government must develop and improve its counter-terrorism and security capabilities, and its governance."
Mr Reid told the House of Commons: "We are refocusing the Home Office - not for the first time in its history - towards the priorities of today's world and the priorities of today's people." - (Reuters, PA)