Category: News Story

STORY

Serious violent and sexual offenders released from prison are to face new geographical restrictions limiting them to designated areas, with GPS technology used to monitor their movements. The Government plans to introduce the tighter restriction zones from September, allowing probation services to confine some offenders to areas only a few miles across where the restrictions are considered necessary and proportionate.

The measures go further than existing exclusion zones, which prevent offenders entering particular locations such as a victim’s home or workplace. Under the new approach, an offender can instead be prohibited from leaving a defined area. Victims will be able to contribute to decisions about boundaries, while the zones must still allow offenders to attend appointments and access services intended to reduce the risk of reoffending.

The Sentencing Act 2026 provides powers for additional licence conditions including restriction zones, bans on driving, prohibitions on attending public events and restrictions on entering pubs, clubs and bars. Offenders who breach licence conditions can be recalled to prison. Justice Secretary Alex Norris said the changes were intended to reduce the risk of victims unexpectedly encountering the people who harmed them.

STORY

The Government has briefed energy company executives on measures to protect infrastructure following reports that hackers linked to Iran forced a small British energy generator offline for four days. The incident was reported to have taken place in July, although the Government has not confirmed who was responsible or disclosed the location or identity of the affected facility.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the Government and industry had taken the incident seriously and were working with regulators and the National Cyber Security Centre to assess threats and strengthen protection. He said the generator involved was very small compared with what would normally be regarded as a power station and stressed that there had been no threat to the wider electricity grid.

The Department for Energy said nobody lost power as a result of the incident and described the UK energy network as highly resilient. The reports were published by the Financial Times and Daily Telegraph, which attributed the attack to hackers linked to Iran. The Iranian embassy in London had not commented on the allegations when approached by Reuters.

STORY

The UK Government has agreed that defence company MBDA can release classified information about British components used in the SCALP long range missile as part of plans to establish assembly lines in Ukraine. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the move during a visit to Kyiv on 24 August, his first overseas trip since becoming Prime Minister, as Ukraine marked the 35th anniversary of its independence.

SCALP is the French produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile and the two systems use shared British and French technology. The Government said releasing the information would allow France and Ukraine to move forward with plans for Ukrainian assembly of the weapon. The measure will sit alongside Project Brakestop, the UK programme intended to develop lower cost advanced long range strike weapons for Ukraine.

Burnham was also due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and co chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing while in Kyiv. The Government said the UK has committed £25 billion in support to Ukraine since Russia’s full scale invasion, including £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non military support.

STORY

Chris McDonald MP has been appointed as the Government minister with responsibility for intellectual property. The Intellectual Property Office confirmed the appointment following McDonald’s move in July 2026 to become Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Investment, a role held jointly across the Department of Health and Social Care and the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

The new responsibilities will see McDonald take ministerial oversight of intellectual property policy, including the framework through which businesses, creators and innovators protect their work and ideas. The Intellectual Property Office is the Government body responsible for intellectual property rights including patents, trade marks, designs and copyright.

Intellectual Property Office chief executive Adam Williams welcomed the appointment and said intellectual property was central to the UK’s creative and innovative strengths. He said the system helped individuals and businesses protect ideas, attract investment and bring new products, services and content to market, adding that he looked forward to working with McDonald in his new role.

STORY

The UK, Australia and Canada have condemned Israel’s decision not to pursue criminal investigations into the 2024 strikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza which killed seven humanitarian workers. In a joint statement, the three countries described the decision as “shameful” and said the victims and their families deserved justice and accountability.

The convoy was struck by the Israel Defense Forces on 1 April 2024 while delivering food to civilians in Gaza. Seven aid workers were killed, including nationals of the UK and Australia and a dual Canadian-US national. The IDF subsequently described the incident as a serious mistake and failure. The three governments said they had spent more than two years pressing Israel to consider the case thoroughly and hold those responsible to account.

Israel announced on 19 August 2026 that it would not pursue criminal investigations into the strikes, a decision the UK, Australia and Canada said had been made without further explanation. The governments also called on Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and do more to ensure humanitarian workers can operate safely in Gaza. The statement said 186 humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza during 2025 and added that the three countries would continue seeking answers on behalf of those killed in the World Central Kitchen attack

STORY

A former director of an NHS waste disposal company has been banned from running companies for nine years after transferring assets worth almost £3 million to connected businesses as major NHS contracts were being lost. Garry Pettigrew, 59, was director of Healthcare Environmental Services Limited, which entered liquidation in April 2019 owing more than £15 million. The Court of Session imposed the disqualification on 20 August, preventing Pettigrew from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without court permission.

The Insolvency Service said Pettigrew began transferring equipment just days before Healthcare Environmental Services lost 17 NHS England contracts in October 2018, with further transfers continuing as additional NHS contracts were terminated that December. Assets valued at £2,979,383 were transferred to HEG Sustainable Solutions Limited and Starryshaw Consultants Ltd, two connected companies of which Pettigrew and his wife were then the only directors. The transfers were made without the consent of the company’s bank, despite advice from accountants and solicitors that consent was required.

An attempt to sell Healthcare Environmental Services collapsed in December 2018 and all staff were made redundant before the company entered liquidation the following April. Lord Lake described Pettigrew’s conduct as a “flagrant” breach of his duties and said a nine-year disqualification was appropriate. Pettigrew had also been fined £1,000 in June 2025 after being found in contempt of court for taking photographs of witnesses and later misusing them on social media. Separate criminal proceedings concerning allegations of illegally stored medical waste were dropped in October 2023.

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Beccles Caxton Football Club has reported that its ground was broken into overnight, with locks forced and damage caused at the site. The club announced the incident on social media on Sunday, saying it was angry about what had happened at the football ground and appealing for information from anyone who may know anything about the break in.

Beccles Caxton play at Caxton Meadow in Beccles and compete in Division One of the Anglian Combination for the 2026 to 2027 season. The club also operates a reserve side and is one of a number of longstanding community sports organisations in the town. The club has asked people with information about the incident to make contact.

STORY

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, today. 

The leaders discussed strengthening the UK-Japan partnership, including closer trade cooperation to drive growth and create opportunities in both countries.

Turning to defence, the Prime Minister set out his ambition for the UK, Japan and Italy to continue to strengthen defence security through GCAP and both leaders welcomed Canada becoming the first observer.

Moving to Ukraine, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Takaichi for Japan’s ongoing support against Russia’s illegal invasion on Ukraine, and outlined the need to apply further pressure on Russia.

The leaders discussed challenges in the Indo-Pacific and the importance of the two nations to working together to support security and stability in the region.

The Prime Minister praised the work done by the Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hiroshi Suzuki for helping deepen the relationship between the United Kingdom and Japan.

The two leaders looking forward to speaking again soon.

STORY

The five people who died when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 near Middlesbrough collided with a police vehicle have been named. They were Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18. All five occupants of the Passat died in the collision, which happened at around 3.39am on Saturday 22 August in South Bank.

Two Cleveland Police officers travelling in the marked police vehicle were also killed. They were PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38. Police said their vehicle was travelling in the correct direction when it was struck head-on by the Passat. Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the officers as brave and said they had been protecting communities and serving residents when they died.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. The watchdog said officers had earlier identified the Volkswagen as a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before it travelled onto the A66. The circumstances leading up to the collision, including police actions before the crash, are now being independently investigated. Cleveland Police has asked people to avoid speculation while enquiries continue and the families of those who died are being supported.

STORY

Minister for Tourism and Place brings together leaders across eight local authorities to understand local perspectives on new theme park and resort development.

• Leaders discussed the range of opportunities across jobs and skills, education and training, creative industries, culture, heritage, tourism and local transport connectivity 
• The project is expected to create 28,000 jobs between construction and employment and generate nearly £50 billion for the UK economy, bringing new jobs, skills and investment to Bedford and the surrounding region 
• Demonstrates government’s commitment to devolution to empower local leaders and deliver for their communities

Following the announcement in June of the transformational investment in a new theme park and resort in Bedford, Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock held the first meeting of regional leaders to understand local priorities and discuss how the benefits of the development will be spread across the region. 

Minister Peacock chaired the roundtable at The Swan Hotel in Bedford, bringing together government, Universal Destinations and Experiences and eight local authorities to discuss how they can work together to maximise the benefits of the landmark Universal United Kingdom Resort for Bedford and the wider region.  

Attendees at the roundtable were council leaders and CEOs from Bedford Borough Council, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Central Bedfordshire Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Luton Borough Council, Milton Keynes City Council, North Northamptonshire Council, and West Northamptonshire Council; as well as the MPs for Bedford and Mid Bedfordshire, and a senior representative from Universal.  

At the roundtable, leaders discussed the opportunities the Universal United Kingdom Resort will provide, and the importance of working together in a coordinated way to take advantage of them. Opportunities discussed included how to drive local regeneration and boost the local economy by attracting tourists across the region and making sure local businesses can be involved in supplying the park and resort. Attendees also considered how to make sure young people across the region have a chance to gain skills, qualifications, and paths to employment to leave a lasting legacy for the region.  

To deliver this work partners are being brought together in a series of themed groups. Working groups covering the Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage, and the Visitor Economy, are aiming to ensure the transformative impact of the development supports local priorities and contributes to growth across the region. A Socio-Economic Taskforce will help make sure the local workforce is prepared to take advantage of the opportunities the theme park and resort will bring. This includes working towards providing world-class training opportunities, in a variety of industries, for the next generation of the Universal workforce, including through a range of apprenticeships and internships for young people and those early in their careers. 

Benefits from this work are expected to be felt across the region as young people gain valuable skills. This aligns with the Government’s ongoing work to unleash the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and lay the foundations for Bedford to become an innovation hub.  

Set to become the UK’s most popular tourist attraction, the Universal United Kingdom Resort will bolster Bedfordshire’s existing visitor offering, which boasts a range of attractions including Wrest Park, the 18th-century mansion set in 90 acres of gardens, and Whipsnade Zoo – the largest zoo in the UK.   

Minister for Tourism and Place Stephanie Peacock said: 

For the people of Bedford, the Universal United Kingdom Resort is more than just the thrill of a new theme park on their doorstep – it’s about the jobs, investment and opportunities it’ll create.  

That is why the Government is committed to supporting local communities to drive forward their priorities as the development progresses towards its opening in 2031.  

From apprenticeships and career pathways for young people, to new opportunities for local businesses and tradespeople, we want communities across Bedford and the wider region to feel the benefits of this investment. This is about putting power and opportunity into local communities, driving growth and bringing pride to every postcode.

This roundtable was the first of its kind and there will be continued engagement with local authorities.