Tell us three words that sum up your 2023...
It’s hard to sum up the Home Office in 2023 in just three words since so much has happened! But I will go with: delivery, resilience and pride.
...And why you chose those words
Delivery. Well done to Home Office teams who have delivered: reductions in small boat crossings, clearing an asylum backlog, issuing passports and visas in huge numbers, recruiting an extra 20,000 police officers, and keeping the UK safe despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war with Hamas.
Resilience. This is about preparing for whatever the future throws at us by being flexible, focussing on prevention, not cure, and looking after ourselves and each other.
Pride. I’m incredibly proud of the achievements of civil servants in the Home Office, working with our colleagues in other departments and our operational partners. They demonstrate the civil service values and the Home Office ones (collaborative, courageous, compassionate, respectful) every day.
What are your organisational and personal priorities for 2024?
These are also my priorities for 2024 – making sure we continue to deliver the government’s top priorities, preparing for whatever the future brings, and holding firm to our values.
What’s your favourite festive treat, and what makes you say: ‘Bah, humbug’?
My favourite festive treat is mince pies, and I say bah humbug to eggnog!
This is part of CSW's annual perm secs roundup. Read all the entries to the 2023 roundup here