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  • PRESS RELEASE : MOD signs infrastructure contracts at RAF Waddington – the new home of the Red Arrows [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : MOD signs infrastructure contracts at RAF Waddington – the new home of the Red Arrows [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 December 2023.

    The MOD have signed contracts to provide new and refurbished infrastructure for the Red Arrows at their new home of RAF Waddington.

    These contracts, signed with construction company Galliford Try, also include work to build or refurbish facilities at three other RAF stations. The Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team (RAFAT), better known as the Red Arrows, moved to RAF Waddington in October last year. New facilities are now required for the team and their distinctive red Hawk fast jets.

    The project is part of the MOD’s wider Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Portfolio, which is investing £5.1bn in the infrastructure needed by our service people through construction activity, unit and personnel moves, and the release of sites that are no longer suited to the needs of our modern military.

    Air Officer Airbases, Air Commodore Portlock welcomed senior leaders from DEO, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and representatives from Galliford Try to RAF Waddington. They signed four contracts to deliver a project which spans RAF Leeming, RAF Saxton Wold, both RAF Boulmer sites and RAF Waddington.

    Speaking at the signing, Air Commodore Portlock said:

    This significant milestone marks an exciting transition into the much-awaited design and build phase of the project. Providing this essential infrastructure will enable the RAF to make best use of its estate, whilst also delivering our capabilities which are critical to defence.

    Earlier this year, multiple contractors from the construction industry were awarded packages of work across the DEO Portfolio in a landmark move to speed up project delivery. The move will also provide a more collaborative way of working, and a consistent approach to sustainable building practices.

    Director of Major Projects and Programmes for DIO, Charles Hoskins said:

    Our first DEO project for Air Command under the new contracting mechanism is embarking on a journey to turn vision into reality. Today we sign the design and build contracts and look forward to collaborating with Galiford Try to deliver all capabilities within this project.

    These contracts, which have enabled the disposal of RAF Scampton, will now see Galliford Try design and deliver the required infrastructure for Battlespace Management (BM) Force’s Deployable Air Surveillance and Control System (DASCAS), the Mobile Meteorological Unit (MMU) and the Red Arrows.

    Jon Marston, Managing Director of Galliford Try Building East Midlands, said:

    We are delighted to be signing these contracts and look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the MOD to successfully deliver these projects for the RAF and defence.

    The project team are set to deliver a combination of refurbishments, new build facilities and single living accommodation across the sites.

    DEO Air Programme Manager, Frank Green said:

    Today’s signing ceremony is the result of an exhaustive process that required hard work and a collaborative attitude from all. Moving forward, I am excited to be part of a truly collegiate venture, bringing key improvements to the supported RAF units.

    RAFAT will benefit from refurbishment and the modernisation of existing infrastructure, including space for aircraft parking and runway access, as well as maintenance capabilities, a refurbished aircraft hangar and office space.

    Plans also include new, modern Single Living Accommodation (SLA) to replace the existing life-expired accommodation as part of a wider scheme to replace SLA. The increase in facilities will see about 150 additional personnel operating from the site once complete.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech on Illegal Migration

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech on Illegal Migration

    The speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, in London on 7 December 2023.

    Today the government has introduced the toughest anti-illegal immigration law ever.

    I know it will upset some people and you will hear a lot of criticism about it.

    It’s right to explain why I have decided to do this.

    I’m the child of immigrants…

    I understand why some people take the risk of getting into unsafe dinghies to cross open waters…

    …it’s because the United Kingdom is an incredible country… it offers opportunity, hope and safety.

    But the difference is… my family came here… legally.

    Like most immigrants, they integrated into local communities…

    …worked hard to provide for their family

    …built lives and businesses, found friends and neighbours…

    … and most of all… they were really proud to become British.

    That feeling of pride… it cascades down the generations and grows… and that’s why you see so many children of immigrants sitting around the Cabinet table.

    But it’s not a given… illegal immigration undermines not just our border controls… it undermines the very fairness that is so central to our national character.

    We play by the rules. We put in our fair share. We wait our turn.

    Now if some people can just cut all that out… you’ve not just lost control of your borders… you’ve fatally undermined the very fairness upon which trust in our system is based.

    That’s why this legislation is necessary.

    To deliver an effective deterrent to those who wish to come here illegally…

    …to restore people’s trust that the system is fair…

    … and ultimately: to stop the boats.

    And so, our Bill today fundamentally addresses the Supreme Court’s concerns over the safety of Rwanda.

    I did not agree with their judgement, but I respect it.

    That is why I have spent the last three weeks working tirelessly to respond to their concerns…

    …and to guarantee Rwanda’s safety in a new legally binding international treaty.

    The Supreme Court were clear that they were making a judgement about Rwanda at a specific moment 18 months ago…and that the problems could be remedied.

    Today we are confirming that they have been…

    …and that unequivocally, Rwanda is a safe country.

    And today’s Bill also ends the merry-go-round of legal challenges that have blocked our policy for too long.

    We simply cannot have a situation where our ability to control our borders…

    …and stop people taking perilous journeys across the channel…

    …is held up in endless litigation in our courts.

    So this Bill gives Parliament the chance to put Rwanda’s safety beyond question in the eyes of this country’s law.

    Parliament is sovereign. It should be able to make decisions that cannot be undone in the courts.

    And it was never the intention of international human rights laws…

    …to stop a sovereign Parliament removing illegal migrants to a country that is considered safe in both parliamentary statute and international law.

    So the Bill does include what are known as “notwithstanding” clauses.

    These mean that our domestic courts will no longer be able to use any domestic or international law…

    …including the Human Rights Act…

    …to stop us removing illegal migrants.

    Let me just go through the ways individual illegal migrants try and stay.

    Claiming asylum – that’s now blocked.

    Abuse of our Modern Slavery rules – blocked.

    The idea that Rwanda isn’t safe – blocked.

    The risk of being sent on to some other country – blocked.

    And spurious Human Rights claims – you’d better believe we’ve blocked those too…

    …because we’re completely disapplying all the relevant sections of the Human Rights Act.

    And not only have we blocked all these ways illegal migrants will try and stay…

    …we’ve also blocked their ability to try and stay by bringing a Judicial Review on any of those grounds.

    That means that this Bill blocks every single reason that has ever been used to prevent flights to Rwanda from taking off.

    The only, extremely narrow exception will be if you can prove with credible and compelling evidence…

    ….that you specifically have a real and imminent risk of serious and irreversible harm.

    We have to recognise that as a matter of law – and if we didn’t, we’d undermine the treaty we’ve just signed with Rwanda.

    As the Rwandans themselves have made clear…

    …if we go any further the entire scheme will collapse.

    And there’s no point having a Bill with nowhere to send people to.

    But I am telling you now, we have set the bar so high…

    …that it will be vanishingly rare for anyone to meet it.

    And once you have been removed, you’ll be banned for life from travelling to the UK, settling here, or becoming a citizen.

    But, of course, even with this new law here at home…

    …we could still face challenges from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

    So let me repeat what I said two weeks ago –

    I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights.

    If the Strasbourg Court chooses to intervene against the express wishes of our sovereign Parliament…

    …I will do what is necessary to get flights off.

    And today’s new law already makes clear that the decision on whether to comply with interim measures issued by the European Court…

    …is a decision for British government Ministers – and British government Ministers alone.

    Because it is your government – not criminal gangs, or indeed foreign courts –who decides who comes here and who stays in our country.

    Now of course, our Rwanda policy is just one part of our wider strategy to stop the boats.

    And that strategy is working.

    I’ve been Prime Minister for just over a year now and for the first time, small boat arrivals here are down by a third….

    …even as illegal crossings of the Mediterranean have soared by 80 per cent.

    Let me just repeat that: small boat arrivals here are down by a third.

    To help achieve that, we’ve signed returns and co-operation agreements with France, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, and Georgia.

    Illegal working raids are up by nearly 70 per cent.

    50 hotels are being returned to their local communities and we are housing people in a new barge and in former military sites.

    The initial asylum backlog is down from 92,000 to less than 20,000.

    We’ve returned over 22,000 illegal migrants.

    And as our deal with Albania shows – deterrence works.

    Last year, a third of all those arriving in small boats were Albanian.

    This year we have returned 5,000 people and cut those arrivals by 90 per cent.

    And Albanian arrivals have far more recourse to the courts than anyone under this new legislation.

    That’s why I’m so confident that this Bill will work.

    Lord Sumption, the former Supreme Court Judge, believes this Bill will work.

    We will get flights off the ground.

    We will deter illegal migrants from coming here.

    And we will, finally, stop the boats.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Message for Chanukah

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Message for Chanukah

    The message issued by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 7 December 2023.

    As we welcome the beginning of Chanukah, it’s important to recognise the challenging times being faced by our Jewish friends everywhere.

    For many families, the tragedy of recent events will hang heavily on celebrations, but the resilience you have shown is humbling.

    As we commemorate the recovery of Jerusalem all those centuries ago, I want to celebrate the enduring strength of Jewish communities.

    I will be lighting the menorah with you as you mark this important festival and want you to be in no doubt that I will always stand with you.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech on Cyber Operations

    Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech on Cyber Operations

    The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 7 December 2023.

    Of all the risks that this country faces… there are none that are evolving more rapidly than those in the cyber domain.

    More actors…

    Have more sophisticated tools…

    To target more people…

    Than ever.

    Protecting the public from cyber attack is a matter of the utmost importance.

    Let’s be clear what’s being targeted here.

    The critical services that government delivers:

    Our public finances…

    Our roads and railways…

    Our schools…

    Our health service…

    Our armed forces…

    Even the heart of central government itself.

    Of all the vaults that cyber criminals are desperate to crack into…

    … this one contains some of the greatest rewards.

    That’s why we see so many attempts to breach our digital defences.

    Last year, 40 per cent of the attacks addressed by the National Cyber Security Centre were against the public sector.

    In a world where the new frontline is online…

    …the people in this room are manning the barricades to keep us safe and secure…

    … and for that I want to say thank you.

    Despite the challenges we face, our cyber defences are stronger than ever.

    Since it was published two years ago, the Government Cyber Security Strategy has been a game-changer.

    Work is well underway to ensure that government’s most critical functions are significantly hardened to cyber attack.

    And we have established ambitious targets that will see all government organisations made resilient to known vulnerabilities and common attack methods.

    Through GovAssure – which I launched in April – we have transformed the oversight of governmental cybersecurity…

    And the new ‘Government Cyber Coordination Centre’ – better known as ‘GC3’ is bringing together a community of cyber defenders from across government…

    …sharing best practice…

    … and showing that a “whole of government approach” is not a slogan, it’s a reality.

    Working together with the National Cyber Advisory Board… (which I Chair)…

    …and of course the National Cyber Security Centre.

    All of you play a crucial role in iterating the strategy…

    … and ensuring it is implemented right across Government.

    Your work never stops… because the risk of attack never stops.

    The threats we face are increasing and the nature of those threats is evolving.

    Technologies are developing at an exponential rate…

    …and have lowered the bar for hostile actors – states and criminals.

    The biggest cyber threats are not just to our public services but the democratic means by which we deliver them.

    Some states are likely to be harnessing significantly more sophisticated technology to sow confusion and dissension and chaos in our society.

    Malicious actors continue to target high profile people within the political process.

    This is not an abstract possibility. We have already seen it…

    In Ukraine – with deep-fakes of President Zelensky…

    In the US – where Iranian hackers have been indicted for undermining voter confidence and sowing discord…

    And here in the UK – with our Electoral Commission targeted by a complex cyber attack.

    As I warned at CYBERUK in Belfast in April…

    …the greatest risks still emanate from the “usual suspects”…

    …China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

    But they are increasingly using ‘Wagner-style’ sub-state hackers to do their dirty work.

    Today in concert with our Five Eyes and Euro-Atlantic partners….

    I can tell you that a unit within the Russian Federal Security Service, known as Centre 18, has been behind sustained hostile cyber operations…

    …aimed at interfering in parts of the UK’s democratic processes…

    This has included targeting members of parliament…

    …Civil servants, think tanks, journalists, and NGOs…

    …through a group commonly known as Star Blizzard.

    This group, operated by FSB officers, has also selectively leaked and amplified information designed to undermined trust in politics, both in the UK and in like minded states.

    A senior representative of the Russian government has been summoned to the Foreign Office this morning and appropriate sanctions have been levelled.

    Our political processes and institutions will continue to endure in spite of these attacks.

    But they serve to prove that the cyber threat posed by the Russian Intelligence Services is real and serious.

    It is a stark reminder that…

    as we in government develop our capabilities…

    …so do our adversaries, and those who do their bidding.

    We are in a cyberspace race…

    …them – to develop the tools to do us harm…

    …us – to build the defences needed to protect against their attacks.

    Next year, 3 billion people in 40 countries will head to the polls …

    … and it is a fact that hostile state actors will continue to seek to undermine these collective expressions of democracy…

    …because they fear the freedoms they represent.

    We must – all of us – do all we can to resist.

    There are two main ways in which we can get ahead:

    Strengthening our cyber security systems…

    …and improving our skills.

    First, our systems.

    It wasn’t that long ago that the government was still using fax machines.

    I worked for the administration that helped to bring Whitehall into the digital age…

    …and made our services “digital by default”.

    The challenge is to make those digital systems “secure by design”…and to embed effective cyber security practices into our digital delivery.

    That’s why I am announcing today that we will make security everyone’s responsibility…

    …and make “secure by design” mandatory for central government organisations.

    This approach is already inspiring our partners around the world…

    …and, like our earlier digital revolution, is likely to be emulated around the world.

    Your role in embedding this approach at home will be crucial.

    Then there is the question of skills.

    In this room we have a wealth of deep technical expertise…

    …and we have the ability to share and collaborate with our international partners.

    But we need the experts of the future to be coming up, through that pipeline, to meet the challenges of the future.

    In the UK, as around the world, the shortage of cyber skills affects both the public and private sectors.

    It is estimated that we have a shortfall of around 14,000 professionals….

    …and that shortfall is particularly stark in the public sector.

    As one of the largest employers of cyber security experts, the government’s actions can make a real difference to the makeup of the national profession.

    So we have launched apprenticeship and fast stream programmes focused specifically on finding and developing  cyber talent.

    This is the new frontline.

    And we must form a united front…

    …government, business, academia, individuals, all coming together to pre-empt and ward off these risks.

    Not just “whole of government” – but “whole of society”.

    It is what we have that our adversaries and their agents lack: unity.

    And there are huge opportunities in that…

    …particularly for our entrepreneurs and innovators.

    They will develop the defensive technologies that will protect not just this country… but the world.

    Britain has the opportunity to lead … in tech, in AI and in cyber…

    …because the best place in the world to do business must also be the safest place in the world to do business…

    …and together we can make that a reality.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More lawyers sought to stop domestic abusers interrogating victims [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : More lawyers sought to stop domestic abusers interrogating victims [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 December 2023.

    More legal professionals are being encouraged to help prevent domestic abusers cross-examining their victims in court with a new expenses policy launched today ( 7 December 2023).

    • abusers banned from cross-examining victims under Domestic Abuse Act
    • hundreds of independent lawyers already signed up to take on this role instead
    • new expenses policy to help more sign up and attend courts across the country

    Hundreds of lawyers signed up to be Qualified Legal Representatives after the landmark Domestic Abuse Act banned abusers from interrogating their victims in family and civil courts.

    Cross-examination is, instead, carried out by these court-appointed legal professionals, to ensure that justice is done fairly for both sides and reduce the risk of victims being retraumatised.

    To encourage more lawyers to join, they will now be able to claim for travel to hearings up and down the country. Previously no expenses were available but lawyers will now be able to claim up to £180 for their travel and up to £161 per day for other expenses, including hotel stays and food.

    Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris, said:

    It takes unimaginable strength to bring your abuser to court which is why our Domestic Abuse Act provides vital protections, preventing vile ex-partners from cross-examining those they have tormented.

    Today’s changes will incentivise more legal professionals to take up these important roles ensuring no victim feels unsafe in the pursuit of justice.

    Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, said:

    In my Family Court report I called for greater funding for the Qualified Legal Representative scheme, and I am delighted that government have committed to this today.

    I hope to see an uptake following this announcement, and look forward to continuing my work with government to improve the Family Court’s response to domestic abuse.

    The measures in the Act followed concerns that domestic abuse perpetrators were using the process as a means of extending their abuse and victims were being retraumatised by their experiences in family and civil court.

    Full details of the expenses policy will be set out in guidance when the policy comes into force on 2 January 2024.

    To make it as easy as possible for domestic abuse victims to bring their attackers to court, the government has pledged an additional £25 million per year to expand legal aid so victims on universal credit seeking a protective order for themselves or their children against their attackers can access legal aid funding without facing a means test.

    This followed recommendations made by the ‘Harm Panel’ to better safeguard vulnerable people against domestic abuse in family courts. Other changes the government has introduced in response to the report include:

    • pioneering pilot at family courts in North Wales and Dorset to improve information sharing between agencies such as the police, local authorities and the courts and give a greater voice to children at every stage of the process.
    • automatic special measures for victims such as protective screens and giving evidence via video link
    • clarifying the law on ‘barring orders’, to prevent perpetrators from bringing their ex-partners back to court, which can be used as a form of continuing domestic abuse.

    Notes to editors

  • PRESS RELEASE : Recreational fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna set to start in English waters next year [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Recreational fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna set to start in English waters next year [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 December 2023.

    New permitting regimes for a recreational catch and release fisheries in UK waters expected to be in place by summer.

    Recreational anglers will have broader access to a catch-and-release Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in English waters, the government has announced today (Thursday 7 December).

    Responding to overwhelming support for proposals in a consultation, Defra has confirmed that it will introduce legislation in the spring to establish permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna.

    This will mean that the English fishery should open from summer 2024, supporting skippers and helping to bring more tourists to coastal communities.

    The opening of the fishery has been made possible following the UK’s exit from the EU, with the establishment of UK-specific quota for bluefin tuna opening opportunities to manage the species sustainably outside the EU.

    Data from the fishery will be used to improve monitoring of bluefin tuna populations and ensure that the species is managed in English waters in a sustainable manner.

    Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

    “This announcement has been made possible following the UK’s exit from the EU and follows overwhelming support for our proposal across the fishing industry and environmental groups.

    “It will bring social and economic benefits to the fishing industry and coastal communities, whilst ensuring the ongoing sustainable management of Atlantic bluefin tuna.”

    The announcement also follows the success of the catch-and-release (CHART) tagging programmes, delivered by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Swansea University and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, which have allowed some recreational anglers to target bluefin tuna for the last three years.

    Following the success of CHART, a formal consultation was held between July and September 2023 to gather views on the design for a permitting regime to enable the opening of catch-and-release recreational fisheries for bluefin tuna in UK waters. Stakeholders were asked for views on the key principles for the design of permitting regimes, the level of interest and the social and economic benefits the fishery could bring.

    Stakeholders gave overwhelming support for the proposals in the consultation, which included an outline of the design of new permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna in the UK and an outline of Defra’s operational approach to implementing the English fishery.

    Each UK fisheries administration will determine if and when to introduce a bluefin tuna catch-and-release recreational fishery in its waters. Defra intends to open a catch-and-release fishery for bluefin tuna in English waters in 2024.

    Defra is currently trialling a separate commercial fishery for bluefin tuna. This trial will run until 31 December 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ministerial appointments [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ministerial appointments [December 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 December 2023.

    The King was pleased to approve the following government appointments.

    • Michael Tomlinson KC MP to be a Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration) in the Home Office;
    • Tom Pursglove MP to be a Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery) in the Home Office;
    • Robert Courts MP to be Solicitor General.

    Michael Tomlinson will attend Cabinet.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Artificial intelligence companies showcase defence capabilities at inaugural ‘DAIC Connect’ event [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Artificial intelligence companies showcase defence capabilities at inaugural ‘DAIC Connect’ event [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 December 2023.

    More than 70 AI companies shared how their innovations can enhance defence’s current and future capabilities at the inaugural DAIC Connect industry event on Monday 27 November.

    The event was organised by the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) in partnership with business community Chief Disruptor and brought together representatives from industry and academia alongside defence teams including the single services. The aim was to develop a pan-defence understanding of the current AI market and to foster new connections between industry and Ministry of Defence (MOD) teams. This collaborative approach helps to accelerate innovation and strengthen the UK’s AI ecosystem, giving defence a strategic edge.

    Most of the industry attendees were from small and medium sized enterprises, some of whom had not worked with the MOD before. Throughout the day, they engaged with senior staff and representatives from teams across defence, while 11 companies were given the chance to deliver a ten-minute pitch about how their AI projects could enhance defence’s current and future capabilities. The presentations were followed by Q&A sessions in which the audience explored the products’ capabilities and offered observations and advice.

    In the networking area, the six companies who had sponsored the event ran exhibition stands, alongside DAIC, Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Defence Equipment & Support Digital (DE&S Digital) from the MOD. This provided a further forum to discuss innovations and challenges encountered when developing and adopting AI.

    Charlie Forte, MOD Chief Information Officer, who delivered the opening address, said:

    It is essential that defence develops a more dynamic and integrated relationship with a wide and more diverse group of industry partners because it is through these partnerships that truly transformative solutions can be developed and placed into the hands of users. I am therefore delighted to be opening the inaugural DAIC Connect and to see such a breadth of representation from so many different companies and MOD teams.

    Cdre Rachel Singleton RN, Head DAIC, said:

    It’s fantastic to see so much enthusiasm in the room as people form new connections. Events like DAIC Connect are about bringing together people from across the AI ecosystem so we can continue to explore how we can exploit AI in support of defence challenges.

    Dina Kakaras, Head of Commercial X, explained her team’s work to drive end-to-end, fast-paced acquisition of innovative military capability and to break down barriers for SMEs and wider industry looking to work with the MOD. She emphasised the need to start small and embrace risk, while highlighting the importance of SMEs in driving innovation in the field.

    The day closed with speeches and a joint Q&A by Director of Defence Innovation John Ridge and Director of Strategy and Military Digitalisation, Defence Digital, Air Vice-Marshal David Arthurton. John Ridge called for a collaborative approach across defence and industry in encouraging innovation in defence, and building on efforts by many teams over the past few years in achieving what he described as “Innovation 2.0.” Air Vice-Marshal David Arthurton emphasised that trust will be a critical element in bringing all stakeholders on board for the journey.

    Paul Jones, VP UK Business Development at CrateDB, said:

    CrateDB was proud to be a part of the inaugural DAIC Connect, a unique event where the MOD’s leading AI teams demonstrated the latest challenges and opportunities to the industry. The event was a great success, generating a lot of enthusiasm and interest among the participants.

    About the DAIC

    The Defence AI Centre was established in 2022 as an outcome of the 2021 Integrated Review. It has the mandate to accelerate defence’s ability to harness AI, in line with our principles and values. Its mission is to champion, enable and innovate the safe and responsible adoption of AI in defence.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Non-judicial member appointed to Sentencing Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Non-judicial member appointed to Sentencing Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 December 2023.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Chief Constable Rob Nixon as a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council with Policing experience.

    The Sentencing Council (SC) was established under Section 118(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The SC’s responsibilities include: developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use; assessing the impact of guidelines on sentencing practice; and promoting the understanding of and increasing public confidence in sentencing and the criminal justice system.

    The appointment of non-judicial SC members is made by the Lord Chancellor after consulting the Lord Chief Justice.

    The appointment of non-judicial SC members is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Biography

    Rob Nixon has served with Leicestershire Police, since 1993, and was appointed as Chief Constable in November 2022. He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable in April 2017, with responsibility for local policing, crime and intelligence and public protection, before being promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in February 2018.

    Between 2015 and 2018, as temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Rob worked on collaborative projects across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. From 2009 to 2014, he was Chief Superintendent for the Leicester City Basic Command Unit. In 2008, he was appointed as the Head of the force’s Community Safety Bureau, which was responsible for the development of Strategic partnerships, implementation of neighbourhood policing, anti-social behaviour, offender management and preventing counter terrorism. He was appointed as Detective Inspector in charge of the City CID in 2002, with responsibility for introducing the force approach to Offender Management.

    Rob was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM), in December 2020, as part of the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

  • NEWS STORY : Robert Courts Appointed as Solicitor General

    NEWS STORY : Robert Courts Appointed as Solicitor General

    STORY

    Robert Courts, the Conservative MP for Witney, has been appointed as the Solicitor General in succession to Michael Tomlinson. Courts said in a statement:

    “It is a great privilege to have been appointed as Solicitor General for England and Wales. It is a fascinating time to join the department alongside new leaders at the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service. I look forward to working with the Attorney General, Government lawyers and the Civil Service to play my part in making the law and politics work together at the heart of the UK constitution. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Michael Tomlinson KC MP, who was both a brilliant Solicitor General and my fellow pupil at 3 Paper Buildings.”

    RESOURCES

    Government Press Release