About Us

Press Officer contact details and areas of responsibility.

The Home Office press office deals with enquiries from the media on all aspects of the department's work.

Director of Communications

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

Head of News

The head of news is Simon Wren C.B.E: 020 7035 3833

• Deputy Head of News, Scot Marchbank: 020 7035 1141
• Personal Assistant, Kay Featherstone: 020 7035 3863 

Newsdesk & Support

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.

It also handles:

• interview requests
• requests for facts, figures, statements, statistics
• diary information
• cross-cutting issues
• specialist areas including: mass fatalities, animal testing, extradition and mutual legal assistance

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer, Gayle Douglas: 020 7035 3535
• Caroline Jack: 020 7035 3535
• Janine Lloyd-Jones: 020 7035 3535
• Eva Perkins: 020 7035 3535
• Simon Barrett: 020 7035 3535
• Robert Hall: 020 7035 3535
• Nick Logan: 020 7035 3535
• Tim Matthews: 020 7035 3535
• Ellen Miller: 020 7035 3535

Admin desk

Office Manager, Stephen Hadley: 020 7035 3864
Ben Spittle: 020 7035 3862 

Strategy & Media Engagement

Assistant Director, Allan Ross: 020 7035 3860

Strategy and international desk

Strategic planning, co-ordination of cross-cutting issues, corporate communications and long term forward planning. Also Home Office international business including justice and home affairs in the European Union.

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer, Alison MacLeod: 020 7035 3859
• Senior Press Officer, Kate Williams: 020 7035 3858
• Nisar Hussian: 020 7035 3856
• Stephen Rosenthal: 020 7035 3857

Media engagement team

Proactive work and features with long lead media; consumer and lifestyle magazines; BME media; non-news broadcast; online media; regional media.

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer, Peter Wilson: 020 7035 3827
• Helena Markovic: 020 7035 6835
• Nadia Ramsey: 020 7035 3825
• Hazel Gidley 020 7035 3850

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

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer, Richard Warburton: 020 7035 3823
• Richard Knight: 020 7035 3848
• Rachel Shaw: 020 7035 3830
• Carolyn Armstrong: 020 7035 3852

Crime and community safety desk

The community safety desk supplies briefings and interviews on crime reduction and community safety, including:

• action against drugs
• anti-social behaviour
• violent crime
• firearms
• crime statistics

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer, Rachel Yeomans: 020 7035 3836
• Andrew Bell: 020 7035 3835
• Kerry Taylor: 020 7035 3831
• Laura McCleary: 020 7035 3832
• Sam Eversden: 020 7035 3849

Immigration and Identity & Vetting

Assistant Director, Wendy Fielder: 020 7035 3815

Immigration desk

The immigration desk supplies briefings and interviews on all aspects of immigration policy, including:

• asylum
• work permits
• Border & Immigration Agency
• immigration removal centres
• nationality and citizenship

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer, Matt Laddin: 020 7035 3829
• Zoe Paxton: 020 7035 3821
• Rhiannon Spellman: 020 7035 3817
• Cubby Fox: 020 7035 3820
• Matt Jackson: 020 7035 3816
• Jamie Davies: 020 7035 3820

UK Border Agency(UKBA) Regional Press Officers

• Senior Press Officer, Stephen Carter: 020 7035 3853
• London & South East- Sian Freestone-Walker: 020 8196 3738
• Midlands & East- Simon Ballinger: 0121 713 3388
• Wales & South West- Chris Herdman: 02920 924665
• North West- Vida Bromby-Tavenner: 0161 261 1099
• North East, Yorkshire and Humber- Vacant: 020 7035 3853
• Scotland and Northern Ireland- Carla Franchitti: 0141 555 1231 

Identity & Vetting desk

Specialist media planning, facilities, briefings and interviews on ID Cards, the Identity & Passport Service, the National Identity Scheme, and the Criminal Records Bureau.

Staff on this desk include:

• Senior Press Officer: Toby Nation: 020 7035 3839
• Sam Matthews: 020 7035 3819

Please note: responsibility for criminal justice and offender management rest with the Ministry of Justice (new window).  

See also

• Find a press release
• View latest speeches