Category: News Story

STORY

The Home Office today announced the creation of the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce, aimed at overhauling the police response to UK-based people-smuggling networks facilitating Channel crossings.

The unit will be led by Deputy Chief Constable Wendy Gunney, National Lead for Serious Organised Crime at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, supported by a full-time assistant chief constable. Together, they will report regularly to Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to ensure swift progress against organised immigration crime.

This initiative responds directly to ten key recommendations from a January–July 2024 inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which concluded that while police forces had made headway, a more unified approach was essential to disrupt smuggling gangs operating on UK soil.

Under the new framework, every regional police force will work in concert with the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force. Enhanced information-sharing protocols and coordinated tasking are designed to harness all available tools—from intelligence gathering to targeted enforcement—to root out and dismantle organised immigration criminals.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“This specialist taskforce marks a significant step in our Plan for Change to secure Britain’s borders. By uniting expertise under Deputy Chief Constable Gunney’s leadership, we’re ensuring organised immigration crime sits at the very top of policing priorities and giving our officers the tools they need to protect lives and uphold the law.”

Deputy Chief Constable Gunney added that the taskforce will build on existing NPCC programmes tackling modern slavery and organised immigration crime, accelerating intelligence flows and maximising multi-agency disruption. Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt praised Wendy Gunney’s “wealth of experience” as vital to the government’s “whole-system approach” to border security.

STORY

An investigation by the Guardian newspaper has cast serious doubts on the integrity of sports hospitality provider Seat Unique after its use of a controversial “dynamic pricing” model saw fans charged exorbitant sums for FA Cup final packages only to witness dramatic price drops days later. The story reveals that Seat Unique, backed by high-profile athletes including England captain Harry Kane and former cricket captain Ben Stokes, sold two VIP hospitality tickets for over £1,500 each, before slashing the same package to £399 less than a fortnight later. In email exchanges seen by The Guardian, a company employee admitted the pricing structure could be “confusing”, likening it to airline fare fluctuations.

Fans describe the practice as indistinguishable from ticket-touting. One purchaser, identified only as Gabrielle, told The Guardian she felt “exploited” when she realised a package bought to cheer up her football-mad nephew had plunged in price—yet Seat Unique declined her request for a partial refund or upgrade and ceased responding to her follow-ups. Consumer group Which? warned that obscuring dynamic pricing is “unacceptable” especially for flagship events such as the FA Cup Final, calling on Seat Unique to be “upfront about its pricing practices so fans can make informed decisions”. Despite the flak, Seat Unique maintains it is an “official platform” offering “fair, transparent and accessible” bookings, insisting that “prices are always clearly advertised with no hidden booking fees” and pledging to “rectify” any unfulfilled promises. However, sceptics argue that undisclosed price volatility undermines consumer trust and demands for regulatory scrutiny are mounting.

STORY

In a statement to the UN Security Council today, Ambassador James Kariuki, the UK Deputy Permanent Representative, underlined Britain’s determination to restore freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea, describing it as “essential in upholding stability in the region.” He welcomed recent de-escalation efforts around Yemen and urged that they serve as a pathway to sustainable peace, while warning that “the risk of escalation remains” given continued threats and worrying military posturing on the frontlines.

Highlighting practical support, Ambassador Kariuki announced that the UK continues to back the Yemen Coast Guard in safeguarding maritime borders and confirmed plans to launch the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership in June, alongside the Yemeni government and international partners. Turning to the humanitarian dimension, he drew attention to the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women, noting that 4.8 million internally displaced people are women, and 6.2 million women and girls remain at risk of gender-based violence—statistics drawn from the UN’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

He also highlighted that UK funding in 2024 provided lifesaving services to nearly 1.5 million women and children and enabled 15,000 to access protection and gender-based violence response services, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to championing women’s roles in peacebuilding. Ambassador Kariuki condemned the ongoing detention of aid workers by the Houthis, calling for their “immediate and unconditional release” and warned that such actions further constrict humanitarian access at a time when nearly 20 million Yemenis are in dire need of assistance. Finally, he expressed gratitude to Dr Ahmad bin Mubarak, the outgoing Yemeni Prime Minister, and welcomed the new Prime Minister, Salem Bin Breik, pledging continued UK support for Yemen’s ambitious reform programme under the new administration.

STORY

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today urged government reform of the water sector’s regulatory accountability mechanisms, advocating a consistent appeal process in place of the current “redetermination” system and proposing that appeals be heard by a specialist judicial body such as the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). In its response to the Independent Water Sector Regulatory System Commission’s call for evidence, the CMA highlighted two key recommendations: first, that all regulatory decisions—including Ofwat’s price controls—be subject to an appeal on defined legal grounds rather than a full redetermination; and second, that the function of hearing these appeals be transferred from the CMA to an appropriately resourced judicial body.

Under the existing regime, Ofwat price control decisions can be “redetermined” by the CMA—a process that effectively requires the authority to retake decisions within a six- to twelve-month window, despite Ofwat’s multi-year review cycle. The CMA pointed to the growing scale and complexity of these reviews: its redetermination of PR19 spanned a 12-month process, culminating in a 1,239-page report and costing approximately £31.8 million in combined expenses for the CMA, Ofwat and disputing companies.

By contrast, an appeal framework would focus strictly on identifying legal errors in Ofwat’s original determinations, with the appellate body empowered to quash or remit decisions rather than substitute its own findings. The CMA argued this would deliver greater efficiency, reduce duplicative costs ultimately borne by consumers, and align water regulation with other sectors—such as energy and communications—where appeals are already judicially managed.

The CMA further noted that its core mission is competition enforcement rather than adjudication, and that the unpredictable timing and resource demands of regulatory redeterminations have become a diversion from its primary duties. Vesting appellate functions in the CAT, which possesses dedicated judicial expertise, would better serve both technical scrutiny and legal interpretation. Concluding its submission, the CMA welcomed the opportunity to assist the Commission and stands ready to engage with government on implementing these reforms to reduce regulatory complexity and bolster investor confidence in the water sector.

STORY

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) today issued a C3 grading to Swindon Borough Council after an inspection found “serious failings” in its delivery of consumer standards relating to tenant safety, repairs and resident engagement. RSH’s accelerated inspection, triggered by the council’s own self-referral over health and safety and repairs concerns, identified multiple breaches of statutory requirements. Inspectors found that Swindon Borough Council:

– Could not accurately report on the presence of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

– Failed to track or monitor faults uncovered by electrical safety checks.

– Held more than 800 overdue fire-safety actions—most outstanding for over a year.

– Did not actively monitor or report open damp and mould cases, despite effective follow-up once reported.

– Lacked evidence of involving tenants’ views in decision-making or encouraging participation from under-represented groups.

While the council has demonstrated awareness of these shortcomings and is taking steps to address them, RSH confirmed it will continue close engagement to ensure swift remedial action is taken. Separately, RSH published C2/G1-V1 gradings for three housing associations—Housing 21, Torus62 and Sovereign Network Group—indicating they meet governance and viability standards but require improvements in delivering consumer outcomes. An interim G1/V1 grading was also issued for Bromford Flagship following its merger with Bromford Housing Group in February.

Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:

“We take health and safety very seriously and expect all landlords to make sure tenants are not at risk in their homes. We also want to see better data management to demonstrate landlords understand their homes and tenants. Self-referrals show accountability and a willingness to improve.”

Under RSH’s framework, a C3 grading denotes “serious failings” in delivering consumer standards, obliging landlords to implement significant improvements or face further regulatory action.

STORY

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) today announced the appointment of Mr Qudsi Rasheed OBE as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, succeeding Ms Belinda Lewis, who will be transferring to another diplomatic post later this year. Mr Rasheed, a career diplomat and barrister, will assume his duties in September 2025. He brings a wealth of experience from senior roles across the Middle East and within the FCDO’s London headquarters. Most recently, he served as Deputy Head of Mission in Cairo from 2021 to 2024 and completed a period of full-time Arabic language training in 2020–21 alongside a stint as Deputy Director of the COVID Task Force.

Prior to his Cairo posting, Mr Rasheed was Deputy Director for Multilateral Policy and Head of the Sanctions Unit at the FCDO between 2018 and 2020. His overseas assignments include leading the UK Syria Office in Beirut (2017–18) and serving as External Relations Counsellor at UKREP Brussels (2014–17). Earlier in his career he was a Legal Adviser in the FCO’s Legal Directorate (2011–14) and, before joining the service in 2011, practised as a barrister after being called to the Bar of England and Wales. Mr Rasheed’s appointment underlines the UK’s commitment to deepening ties with Kuwait on energy, trade and regional security. During his tenure, he will work to strengthen bilateral cooperation on climate resilience, investment and cultural exchange, aimed at building on decades of UK–Kuwait partnership.

STORY

In a forceful address to the UN Security Council today, the UK’s Permanent Representative, Dame Barbara Woodward, urged Israel to immediately lift its blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning that “the whole of Gaza is at risk of famine” and condemning the “cruel and inexcusable” rotting of vital supplies at the border. Highlighting World Food Programme alerts that “they have no food left” and IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) data showing famine risk, Dame Barbara called on Israel to “allow the rapid and unimpeded provision of humanitarian aid to all civilians”, stressing that continued obstruction “risks further deaths that should be avoidable”.

She outlined three urgent demands: first, that Israel remove its aid blockade; second, that any aid mechanism must remain free of political or military objectives and adhere to humanitarian principles; and third, that Israel release findings and take concrete measures following the killing of Palestinian Red Crescent workers and the strike on a UNOPS compound in March.

Dame Barbara welcomed the recent release of Edan Alexander after 17 months in Hamas captivity as “a rare moment of hope”, but warned that attention must not wane for the remaining hostages. “It is ceasefire deals that have delivered the release of over 180 hostages and allowed a massive scale-up of aid for desperate Palestinians”, she said, urging political will to secure a comprehensive ceasefire that could also “achieve a pathway to a two-state solution”. Co-sponsored by Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, the UK-led meeting underscored growing international alarm at Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The UK reiterated its firm opposition to any expansion of the conflict, aligning with many hostages’ families in calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire to end civilian suffering.

STORY

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced the appointment of Mr Kanbar Hossein-Bor as the new British High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji. In addition to his primary posting in Suva, Mr Hossein-Bor will serve as non-resident High Commissioner to Kiribati and non-resident Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, succeeding Dr Brian Jones, who moves to another diplomatic assignment later this year.

Mr Hossein-Bor, who will assume his duties in July 2025, brings to the role over two decades of legal and diplomatic experience. Since 2021 he has been Deputy Director for Democratic Governance and Media Freedom at the FCDO, where he coordinated efforts to promote press freedoms and good governance. His earlier overseas postings include Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka (2018–2020), Chargé d’Affaires in Monrovia in 2015, and Head of the Libya Team at the FCO (2012–2015).

His extensive legal background includes serving as Head of International Tribunals and UK Agent to the International Court of Justice in The Hague (2009–2012) and as Legal Adviser in Baghdad (2006–2007). Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr Hossein-Bor practised as a barrister in private practice between 2002 and 2005.

The FCDO emphasised that Mr Hossein-Bor’s appointment underlines the UK’s commitment to strengthening its relationships across the Pacific region. His responsibilities will encompass fostering bilateral relations, supporting British nationals, and advancing cooperation on climate resilience, trade, and regional security in partnership with Pacific island nations.

STORY

The Court of Appeal has boosted the sentence of Keith Edun, a 48-year-old from Croydon, after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred his case under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Edun was convicted of encouraging another man to rape and sexually assault a baby, and of sharing videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants, via the messaging app Kik. He was identified following a separate investigation into the March 2020 rape of a baby, which led police to search his devices and uncover numerous indecent images of children. Officers also discovered that Edun had deleted the Kik app in an attempt to conceal his online activities.

Originally sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on 14 February 2025, Edun received an extended sentence totalling 21 years and six months—13 years and six months in custody, followed by an eight-year extended licence. On 13 May 2025, the Court of Appeal quashed that sentence and imposed a new extended term of 24 years and two months, comprising 16 years and two months behind bars and the same eight-year licence.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

“Keith Edun is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a serious risk to children. His crimes were deeply disturbing, and I would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation of this matter. The court has rightly decided to increase Edun’s sentence which I hope sends a strong message that this government will take robust action to keep dangerous sex offenders off our streets.”

The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme allows the Solicitor General to challenge sentences considered too low. Since its inception, it has been used to ensure serious offenders receive terms that reflect the gravity of their crimes.

STORY

The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has recommended the implementation of country-specific quota caps on certain steel imports to safeguard the domestic steel industry from global overcapacity and oversupply. Effective from 1 October 2025, the proposed measures would limit tariff-free imports from countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Algeria to 40% of the residual quota in specific steel categories, including metallic coated sheets, non-alloy and other alloy quarto plates, and rebar. Imports exceeding these caps would incur a 25% tariff.

Additionally, the TRA has suggested eliminating the “carry-over” provision, which currently allows unused quarterly import quotas to roll over into the next quarter. This change is set to take effect from 1 July 2025.

TRA Chair Nick Baird stated, “The TRA has listened to the concerns of the UK’s steel industry and worked at pace to recommend changes to steel import quota allocations to help protect the UK steel industry from the destabilising impact of global overcapacity.” However, industry group UK Steel has criticised the proposals as insufficient. Director-General Gareth Stace commented, “It is now time for government to step up and swiftly replace ineffective steel safeguards with a robust trade defence mechanism of quotas designed to suit the reality of the market and the world today.”