Crime & Safety
Major change to UK passport fees comes into effect today
The government has announced an increase to passport fees, which comes into effect from today (April 8).
Here’s what we know about the price increase, including how much adult and child passports will cost.
Passport fees to increase for Brits from April
In its original announcement, the government said the new prices needed to be approved by Parliament as it released the proposed prices.
The government has since confirmed that prices will increase today.
Here are the new prices:
Standard online application:
- For adults – £102 (up from £94.50)
- For children – £66.50 (up from £61.50)
Standard postal application:
- For adults – £115.50 (up from £107)
- For children – £80 (up from £74)
A Premium Service (one day) application made from the UK will cost £239.50, up from £222.
A standard online application that’s applied for from overseas will cost £116.50 for adults (increased from £108) and £75.50 for children (up from £70).
It’s no joke if you lose your passport — especially when you’re about to travel. Keep it safe, and if it’s lost or stolen, report and cancel it as soon as possible to help protect your identity: https://t.co/wDGNdHdlyO #HoldItTight #ZipIt pic.twitter.com/KvFDLS30ec
— His Majesty’s Passport Office (@HM_Passport) April 1, 2026
If you apply from overseas for a new standard passport by post, you can expect the price to jump from £120.50 to £130 for adults and from £82.50 to £89 for children.
Why are passport fees going up?
The government said: “The new fees will help the Home Office to continue to move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.
“The government does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications.
“The fees contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.”
Recommended reading:
How long does it take to get a new passport?
The government asks Brits to apply for a passport “in good time before travelling”.
It added: “In 2025, where no further information was required, 99.7% of standard applications from the UK were processed within three weeks.”
What do you think of the new passport fees? Let us know in the comments below.
Crime & Safety
Tommy Robinson ‘not welcome in Oxford’ after ‘inciting riot’
Oxford Stand Up To Racism has accused Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of inciting the ‘awful violent scenes’ in Southampton on Tuesday night (June 2).
The city where 18-year-old Henry Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived became a scene of destruction after hundreds descended to smash car windows, hurl bricks and cause eleven officers and a police dog to be injured.
READ MORE: New date set for Tommy Robinson appearance in Oxford
Following the disorder, the chief of Hampshire police said those involved were ‘determined to spark fear and division’.
Screen grab taken from a video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. (Image: Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)
Yaxley-Lennon, who has been jailed multiple times for a variety of offences including when he was imprisoned in October 2024 for contempt of caught, addressed the crowd at the riot.
He said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Oxford Stand Up to Racism is now renewing its call for the Oxford Union to withdraw its invitation for the ‘riot agitator’ to speak on June 17 on the subject of Islam.
He was originally due to speak at the historic debating society on Thursday, May 28 before his appearance was postponed over security concerns and after massive backlash.
A previous Stand Up to Racism protest in Oxford (Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
Ian McKendrick, a member of the anti-racism group, said: “Despite Henry Nowak’s family clearly requesting that his death should not be used to promote further hatred, Robinson was at the centre of protests in Southampton last night and clearly inciting violence.
“Giving him a televised platform at the Oxford Union legitimises hate and violence, and gives him the opportunity to incite violence to an audience of millions.
“It does not promote free speech – instead, it promotes fear and intimidation among minoritised communities.
“Already we have seen Oxford fascists alongside Robinson in Southampton and now mobilising to bring more hate onto Oxford’s streets.”
Tommy Robinson with protesters outside Southampton police station (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA)
Members of Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire were called to attend the Southampton protest on Tuesday night, with the leader of the group posting on Facebook to ask followers to join the ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ protest.
Mr McKendrick added: “There is a concerted effort by far right leaders and fascist groups to incite outrage and bring people on to the streets to riot.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos in Witney amid report of ‘major incident’
“We risk an explosion of violence similar to what we saw around the Southport murders across the UK.
“We’re calling on Oxford to say a clear ‘no’ to this hate and division by protesting against Yaxley-Lennon’s appearance at the Oxford Union.”
Faith and civic leaders of Oxford already wrote to the Oxford Union asking it to rescind the controversial figure’s invitation, and hundreds have signed an open letter calling for the same.
Crime & Safety
Witney traffic chaos amid report of 'major incident' at junction
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
Source link
Crime & Safety
Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
At least three ambulances responded to what appeared to be a medical emergency in St Aldate’s, Oxford (Image: Contributed)
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoWaitrose supermarkets across UK shut due to ‘critical error’
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoMan arrested in connection with rape in Oxfordshire town
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoBanbury woman jailed after lying to police about kidnapped children
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoHow to spend a day in Harpsden among UK’s poshest villages
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoStage Watch: Somerset House enters the comedy arena with major new festival Laughterama
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoStrictly Come Dancing new hosts reportedly Emma Willis
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoCBI posts 14% revenue rise as payment services grow
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoUK Hantavirus update as 22 ship passengers moved to hospital
