Damian Hinds named new Security Minister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made former cabinet minister Damian Hinds his new Security Minister, following the worst shooting incident on UK soil since 2010.

Despite reports that Home Secretary Priti Patel would undertake new responsibilities, including counter terrorism and cyber crime, Johnson announced on 13 August that Hinds would take the job that has been vacant since James Brokenshire stepped back from duties for health reasons.

The Security Minister brief outlined on the government’s website is extensive. Responsibilities include counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, hostile state activity, extradition, and royal and VIP protection.

During the pandemic, the minister also oversaw the functioning of the domestic national security system, including MI5 and counter-terrorism policing, as well as the functioning of the serious and organised crime system, including the National Crime Agency, and cyber security.

Hinds is a former Education Secretary, who served in Theresa May’s government, and was once tipped as a potential Prime Minister by Michael Gove and Nick Timothy, the former co-chief of staff to May.