Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Three arrested in fake immigration law firm raid [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 25 January 2024.

Three suspected fraudulent immigration lawyers have been arrested in Greater Manchester following a Home Office raid on Wednesday 24 January.

The suspects are believed to be part of a legal advice firm run by Chinese and British nationals out of a garage attached to a residential property, which had been converted into an office.

The company owners, a married couple, are alleged to have been supplying fake documents to enable foreign nationals to falsify asylum claims and remain in the UK. It is believed they have been charging more than £3,000 per client.

The firm is not registered with either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

Minister for Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson MP, said:

This operation shows once again that we are relentless in our pursuit of those we suspect of abusing and gaming our immigration system for profit.

Anyone who is found guilty of this will face the full weight of the law.

Assistant Director of Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations, Andrew Radcliffe, said:

These arrests send a clear message to the criminals exploiting our laws and borders.

Facilitating illegal entry into the UK will not be tolerated and we are working tirelessly to dismantle networks of people helping illegal migrants stay in the UK by encouraging them to make false claims.

This operation shows the importance of strong intelligence and cooperation between the Home Office and the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

John Tuckett, Immigration Services Commissioner, said:

This operation demonstrates how truly valuable our work is to prevent illegal practice and protect the vulnerable.

OISC investigators work across the UK to ensure illegal activity of unregistered immigration advisors is identified, disrupted, and terminated.

We put the advice-seeker first, and by working alongside the Home Office and law enforcement, we are better able to ensure their safety and see an end to this cruel criminal activity.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New law to ban zombie-style knives and machetes [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 25 January 2024.

Zombie-style knives and machetes will be outlawed under legislation laid today. A surrender and compensation scheme will launch in the summer.

Dangerous zombie-style knives and machetes will be banned under new legislation to take these weapons off our streets and keep young people safe.

Under the measures, first announced by the Prime Minister last year and laid before Parliament today, it will be illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport these zombie-style knives and machetes.

The government is urging anyone with one of these dangerous weapons to voluntarily hand it into a knife surrender bin, before the official surrender and compensation scheme is launched in the summer. This will get these knives off our streets as soon as possible, while giving people in possession an opportunity to hand them in without legal implications. The full ban will come into in force in September, after which anyone in possession of one of these knives will face time behind bars.

During this time, the government will work with police, communities and partners to ensure there is public awareness of the surrender scheme, which have been implemented in the past to accompany knife bans.

This is just one part of a package of measures being introduced by the government to strengthen existing knife crime laws, which are already among the toughest in the world. It is illegal to carry any knife in public without good purpose, carrying a sentence of 4 years in prison, and, in 2016, the government banned zombie knives, whilst cyclone knives were banned in 2019.

Since 2019, police have taken 120,000 knives off our streets through stop and search and other targeted police action. Knife crime has gone down 5% since 2019 and hospital admissions for under 25s involved in stabbings has fallen by 25%. Violent crime is also down 51% since 2010.

Building on this record, the Criminal Justice Bill will go further by increasing the maximum sentence for the possession of banned weapons from 6 months to 2 years, while anyone caught selling knives to under-18s, including online, will also face 2 years behind bars.

Police will also be given new powers to seize and destroy knives found on private premises if there are reasonable grounds to suspect the blade will be used in a serious crime. Previously, police could not seize knives found during a search on a property, even if they had suspicions of criminal use.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Knife crime continues to take precious lives away, and I am determined to put an end to this senseless violence.

We must stop these dangerous knives ending up on our streets and in the hands of criminals. We cannot let them be sold to children, and we must give young people a way out of violence.

That is why I have expedited the ban on zombie-style machetes and we are increasing the maximum sentence for selling knives to under 18s. We will continue to invest in youth services that have prevented thousands of violent injuries.

Zombie-style knives are just as dangerous as traditional zombie knives, however, they do not have the same distinct images or threatening wording that incites violence.

The police have identified that zombie-style knives are increasingly used in criminality, emerging on the back of the 2016 ban when some retailers exploited this loophole to keep selling these dangerous weapons but evade the law. The measures being introduced today will put an end to this technicality.

In line with previous knife bans, a surrender and compensation scheme will be introduced from the 26 August, and further guidance on how this will operate will be published in June.

Steel Warriors Head of Operations Christian d’Ippolito said:

Steel Warriors welcome the steps being taken by the government to strengthen its tough knife crime laws to keep dangerous knives off our streets. Weapons like these should not be available to young people, they have no place in modern society and should not be glorified.

At Steel Warriors we believe that lives should be built by steel, not destroyed by it. We melt down confiscated knives and recycle them into outdoor gyms, we then provide free community classes to transform the lives of young people affected by crime, violence and social exclusion, giving them the confidence they need to create positive futures.

During a visit to Kent Police yesterday, the Home Secretary saw first-hand how Home Office-funded youth violence prevention projects are helping steer young people away from violent crime. Recent independent evaluation has shown that the government’s Violence Reduction Units, in combination with hotspot policing patrols, have prevented an estimated 3,220 hospital admissions for violent injury since 2019 in areas where the programme operates.

The Home Secretary also met with Yemi Hughes, the mother of a knife crime victim, Idris Elba and members of his ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ campaign yesterday afternoon to discuss action being taken on serious violence and what more can be done to tackle the issue.

The legislation laid in Parliament will amend the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Bank of England and HM Treasury respond to digital pound consultation [January 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 25 January 2024.

The Bank of England (the Bank) and HM Treasury have today published their response to the consultation on a digital pound that was launched in February 2023.
- Bank of England and HM Treasury update on proposals for a digital pound which would include primary legislation to guarantee users’ privacy and control.
- Response confirms that neither the Bank nor the government would have access to users’ personal data.
- Authorities committed to maintaining access to cash for those who prefer it.
- Continuing work on digital currency will strengthen the UK’s position as a competitive global leader in finance.
The Bank of England (the Bank) and HM Treasury have today (25 January) published their response to the consultation on a digital pound that was launched in February 2023.

No final decision has been made to pursue a digital pound – also called a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Work will continue during the design phase exploring its feasibility and potential design choices. This will look at how a digital pound could be used in the UK economy, providing greater choice, convenience and innovation for households and businesses making and accepting everyday payments. As part of broader work on payments innovation, the work will also help strengthen the UK’s position as a competitive global leader in finance.

The feedback from respondents from a range of industries and organisations was largely supportive of the proposed design set out in the 2023 Consultation Paper, while other respondents raised concerns about the implications of a digital pound for access to cash, users’ privacy, and control of their money.

To address these concerns, today’s publication confirms that, if a digital pound were to be implemented, primary legislation would be introduced, and this would guarantee users’ privacy and control. The Bank and the government would not have access to any personal data and users would have freedom in how they spent their digital pounds. There would also be a further public consultation on a digital pound prior to the introduction of primary legislation. These commitments would give both Parliament and the public further opportunities to have their say.

In addition, today’s publication reiterates the commitment of both the government and the Bank to protect access to cash, even if a digital pound were introduced.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami, said:

“We are at an exciting time of innovation in money and payments, and we want to ensure the UK is ready should a decision to build a digital pound be taken in the future. This is the latest stage in our national conversation on the future of our money – and it is far from the last.

“We will always ensure people’s privacy is paramount in any design, and any rollout would be alongside, not instead of, traditional cash.“

Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, Sarah Breeden, said:

“Trust in all forms of money is an absolute necessity. We know the decision on whether or not to introduce a digital pound in the UK will be a major one for the future of money. It is essential that we build that trust and have the support of the public and businesses who would be using it if introduced.”

Following the design phase, the Bank and the government will decide whether or not to build a digital pound, and, if proceeding, would set out a timetable for further consultation on legislation and a potential launch.

What would a digital pound look like?
- A digital pound would complement the role of cash in a digital world and give people more choice in how they make everyday payments.
- £10 of a digital pound would always be worth the same as £10 in banknotes or coins.
- It would be issued by the Bank of England, widely available and convenient to use.
- It would be easily exchangeable with other forms of money, including cash and bank deposits.
- It would be accessed through digital wallets offered to the public and businesses by the private sector through smartphones or smartcards.
- It would be intended for payments made online, in-store, and between individuals, rather than for savings, and it would not pay interest.
- There would be restrictions, at least initially, on how much an individual or business could hold.
- Like banknotes, it would be a claim on the Bank of England, have intrinsic value and be stable, unlike unbacked cryptoassets.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Anti-drone no fly zones to combat prison smuggling [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 January 2024.

Criminal gangs who try to fly phones, drugs and weapons into prisons using drones face finding themselves there instead under tough new restrictions coming into force today (25 January).
- New 400m drone ‘no-fly zones’ around prisons come into force
- Ten-year maximum prison sentence for criminals who breach restrictions
- Major disruption to criminal gangs as key drug supply route cut off
The new law makes it an automatic offence simply to fly drones within 400 metres of prisons and young offender institutions. Previously, police could only act where there was evidence of contraband being smuggled.

Drone operators who break the rules will be fined up to £2,500 while those smuggling illicit items which drive violence and criminality in custody may face up to a decade behind bars.

The crackdown comes as figures reveal that the number of drones captured or sighted within prison grounds has more than doubled between 2019 and 2021.

The virtual ‘no-fly zones’ will increase the likelihood of police catching organised criminals in the act – making it easier to bring prosecutions, convictions and lengthy jail terms. These new anti-drone measures will also enhance security by preventing illegal aerial filming of prisons.

Prisons and Probation Minister Edward Argar said:

We are working harder than ever to prevent the smuggling of contraband into our prisons and this is the latest step to keep ahead of the tactics exploited by organised criminals.

These new anti-drone measures – along with our advanced airport-style x-ray security and drug detection dogs – will crackdown on those illicit items that fuel violence behind bars.

Over 500 drones were either sighted, intercepted or seized around prisons in England and Wales between 2019 and 2021. Since June 2016, police and prison staff have worked collaboratively to make over 70 drone-related convictions amassing a total of 240 years behind bars for those who broke the law.

One attempted illegal drone operation at HMP Risley in Cheshire saw an organised gang try and smuggle in Class A drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards worth upwards of £1.7million in prison. This group undertook more than 20 drone flights above prison grounds between August and December 2020. Following an extensive joint operation between Cheshire Police and staff at HMP Risley, the seven individuals involved were sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

The new law follows a £100 million investment in bolstered prison security measures which has seen 95 prisons equipped with next-generation trace detection equipment and 75 additional prisons equipped with X-ray body scanners. Other measures include:
- The deployment of more than 600 specially trained search dogs to help crack down on attempts to smuggle illicit contraband behind bars.
- The recruitment of 160 additional counter-corruption personnel to help root out the dangerous few prison staff who abuse our rules.
January 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Press Release – The UK and State of Kuwait celebrates 125 years of official diplomatic relations [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

Joint statement on the 125th Anniversary of Official Diplomatic Relations between the State of Kuwait & the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This week marks 125 years since our two countries signed the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899, launching official diplomatic relations between the State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Believing in the importance of celebrating this landmark, our respective Governments have jointly agreed to declare 2024 the Year of the Kuwaiti-British Partnership, as per the agreement signed on 29 August 2023, in the margins of the visit of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, then Crown Prince, to the United Kingdom.

The close and deep-rooted relationship between our two countries has grown steadily over the past century and a quarter. We have supported each other to tackle regional and global challenges, and to defend and promote our common values.

The Year of the Kuwaiti-British Partnership is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past 125 years, such as our historic investment relationship, underpinned by the Kuwait Investment Office’s 70-year presence in the City of London, and our collaboration to defend Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during the First Gulf War. We will also seek to enhance current and future cooperation through high-level visits, events and initiatives, such as cultural exchanges and education programmes. Both Governments are committed to continuing to broaden and deepen our friendship, and ensuring the special ties between our two peoples continue to grow for another 125 years.

Key areas of focus for cooperation will include trade and investment, defence, cyber security, education, culture, and international development. Foreign Ministers will meet for our Strategic Dialogue, while other senior visits will support this cooperation, and drive forward collaboration on key foreign policy issues which underpin our mutual security and prosperity, as well as on the shared challenges and opportunities that are emerging in our ever-changing world.

Both countries are eagerly awaiting the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to Kuwaiti Nationals in February. This will strengthen further our people-to-people ties by making it easier than ever before to travel to the UK. We also look forward to building on existing cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and defence, including the United Kingdom’s work to help establish the National Cyber Security Center in Kuwait, and to reinforcing long-standing ties between our two countries.

The State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom renew their commitment to continue strengthening cooperation for the benefit of our two friendly peoples and the wider world.

Commenting on this landmark occasion, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, British Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, stated:

I am delighted that we are celebrating this the 125th year of the Kuwaiti-British Partnership. The UK cherishes its close bond with Kuwait and is excited by the opportunity this special year presents to both reflect on our shared history and enhance future cooperation across a range of fields. On a personal note, I am very much looking forward to visiting Kuwait next month for the purpose of co-chairing the twentieth Kuwait-UK Joint Steering Group alongside my good friend His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait – and to taking part in further ‘125’ events and initiatives throughout 2024. I have every confidence that our extraordinary ties will continue to grow for another century and a quarter and beyond.

His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait added:

Kuwait is proud of its exceptional and historic relations with the United Kingdom, and determined to build on all we have achieved over the past 125 years, including through His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s, historic visit to London in August of last year as an official Guest of His Majesty’s Government. Both countries are looking forward to launching various activities and exchanging high-level visits throughout 2024, with the aim of strengthening both official and people-to-people relations between us.

January 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Sewer power to heat homes and businesses and help keep bills low after government backing [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 25 January 2024.

Homes and businesses to benefit from greener, low-cost heating as 4 new Green Heat Network projects receive a share of £80.6 million.
£80.6 million to develop greener, low-cost heating systems in 4 new projects across England

nearly 2,000 homes and businesses to be powered by excess heat taken from a sewer

more than £8 million will upgrade inefficient heat networks to reduce bills and improve reliability

Nearly 2,000 homes and businesses could be heated with sewer power, as a new green heating project receives a share of £80.6 million from the government today (25 January).

The new project, backed by £11 million from the government, will see Bolton residents keep their homes and businesses warm with waste heat from the town’s sewer. Energy will be extracted from both sewage and waste hot water from washing machines, bathrooms and kitchens to fuel a new heat pump, as part of Bolton’s first district heating network, helping to keep bills low.

The move will provide a recycled heating source for the local community – including the University of Bolton and the Town Council – helping keep energy bills down. It is one of 4 innovative green heating projects to receive grants today from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.

The projects in Exeter, London and Hull will help cut carbon emissions from homes and businesses – and put the UK a step closer to reaching net zero by 2050.

Today’s funding comes alongside more than £8 million of government investment to improve 34 inefficient heat networks. The money will enable upgrades, creating a more reliable heating supply for more than 9,000 residents, hospital patients, students and public sector workers, as well as keeping bills down.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

These innovative projects will help drive down energy costs while also demonstrating why the UK has led the way in cutting carbon emissions.

They show how energy sources can be found in the most unexpected places – as more homes and businesses will benefit from cleaner heating and lower energy bills.

Our upgrades will also make sure our existing heat networks are upgraded – so customers can get the reliable heating supply they deserve.

Other projects to receive a share of the £80.6 million from the Green Heat Network Fund include:

the Exeter Energy Network, which will receive £42.5 million to build a heat network using air source heat pumps and the UK’s largest high-temperature water source heat pump. Buildings connected to the network will see an initial reduction of 65-75% in carbon emissions compared to gas heating

the Hull East District Heat Network, awarded £22 million to build a heat network using excess heat generated by a nearby chemicals park. The project will provide low carbon heating to 14 public sector council buildings and industrial businesses

the Greenwich Peninsula ESCO District Heating Network in London will receive £4.6 million to connect more than 9,000 existing and new homes, as well as over 94,000 square metres of commercial space to low-carbon heating. This cleaner energy will be powered by an air source heat pump fixed on the roof of the Greenwich Peninsula Energy Centre

Heat networks supply heating and hot water to homes and businesses via heat pumps or sources from underground, manufacturing, and waste management. They help cut carbon emissions by supplying heat to multiple buildings from a central source, avoiding the need for households and workplaces to rely on individual, energy-intensive heating solutions, such as gas boilers.

The transition to heat networks forms a major part of the UK’s carbon reduction commitment, with heating in buildings making up 30% of all UK emissions.

Today’s £8 million investment from the government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme will support vital upgrades to 34 heat network projects across England and Wales. The scheme will enable network operators to replace inefficient or old equipment to offer a more reliable service and improved heating.

Projects to receive funding to improve heat networks include:

Newport City Homes Housing Association Limited, which has been awarded £3.7 million to upgrade the Duffryn District Heating System, improving the performance of the network for more than 970 homes, a local school, and businesses. Funding will go towards replacing over 3km of pipework across the network, while also upgrading control systems and insulation

Bristol Heat Networks Limited, which will receive £746,582 for the Redcliffe Heat Network, with 740 residents benefitting from improvements. Funding will help replace the pipework across the network

the University of Plymouth, which has been awarded £243,280 to upgrade to a sustainable heating system in the Portland Square area of its campus. The funding will improve the efficiency of the network allowing fossil fuel-powered appliances to be replaced with heat pumps and electric boilers

Stephen Knight, Managing Director at Heat Trust, the national consumer protection scheme for heat network customers, said:

At Heat Trust we sadly hear of far too many examples of inefficient and poorly performing heat networks. These can result in much higher heating costs for residents, overheating corridors and frequent breakdowns.

The steep rises in gas prices over the last few years has meant that inefficient heat networks can be very expensive for residents.

The government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) is therefore an important step in the right direction, and we welcome today’s announcement of funding. I would urge all those responsible for running existing heat networks to consider bidding for this funding in future rounds.

Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at the Association for Decentralised Energy, said:

Today’s announcement takes us an important step closer to heat networks’ ultimate role in decarbonising the bulk of heat across the UK’s cities, towns and buildings. As we embark on the journey towards regulation, heat network zoning and the expansion of existing schemes, the ADE is very glad to see government supporting sector growth and high industry standards.

Heat networks are a key solution in the mix of technologies that will make up the energy system of the future – not only will they be essential in decarbonising our homes and offices, factories and shops, but without them, the UK will not be able to build the truly resilient and flexible grid needed for the future.
January 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government committed to MOT modernisation as consultation concludes [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 25 January 2024.

First MOT test to remain at 3 years from registration and annually thereafter while government works to establish a programme of longer-term reform for MOTs.
- first MOT test to remain 3 years after buying new cars, as government listens to drivers
- government to explore modernising the test for electric and automated vehicles following extensive feedback
- follows the biggest ever investment to improve local roads of £8.3 billion
Motorists will still take the first MOT test 3 years after buying their new car as the government continues to listen to drivers.

Today (25 January 2024), the government has published its response to the consultation on updating MOT testing for cars, motorbikes and vans, which confirms that the first MOT will remain at 3 years from registration. Every subsequent MOT will also continue to be taken once every year, ensuring motorists can continue to drive with peace of mind.

Launched in January 2023, the consultation sought views to ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance the cost to motorists, road safety, advances in vehicle technology and tackling vehicle emissions.

To ensure MOTs are fit for the future, the government will further investigate how to better monitor diesel vehicle emissions through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This will include whether testing should do more to ensure that diesel vehicles comply with emissions regulations.

Analysis from the AA suggests that an annual MOT can potentially save drivers between £200 and £400 as picking up developing faults each year means drivers aren’t hit with higher repair bills further down the road.

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, said:

We have listened to drivers and industry, and keeping MOTs in their current form shows once again that we are on the side of motorists.

By offering clarity on MOT tests, alongside our recent street works consultation and unprecedented £8.3 billion to resurface roads, we are helping motorists drive with peace of mind and ensuring Britain’s roads continue to be some of the safest in the world.

With the constantly improving technology of modern-day cars and electric vehicles (EVs), the Department for Transport will continue to work closely with industry stakeholders and drivers to establish a programme of longer-term reform for MOTs.

To ensure they remain fit for the future, the government is exploring a more effective test for diesel particulate emissions, whether further improvements could be made to the MOT for electric vehicles and the transfer of some larger zero-emissions vans to more standard, car-style MOT testing.

Neil Barlow, Head of Vehicle Policy at DVSA, said:

Ensuring the MOT remains fit for the future is a key part of DVSA’s work and getting ready for new technology will help keep Britain’s roads safe.

We hope, this positive news will provide some certainty for garages to enable the investment in new technologies that could be needed to keep the MOT at the forefront of road safety and the environment.

DfT will also monitor technological developments that could require an altered MOT, such as advanced driver assistance systems.

Jakob Pfaudler, AA CEO, said:

AA polling showed drivers overwhelmingly (83%) supported the annual MOT for keeping their cars and other cars safe. With 1 in 10 cars failing their first MOT, we fully support the government’s pragmatic decision to maintain the first MOT at 3 years and annually thereafter.

The measures follow last week’s proposals to tackle overrunning street works from utility companies and the biggest ever funding boost of £8.3 billion to resurface over 5,000 miles of local roads in England, as the government continues to be on the side of drivers and improve journeys for more people, in more places, more quickly.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

Government and the automotive industry have worked together to ensure the UK has some of the world’s safest roads. The decision to retain the existing MOT system is the right one, helping maintain this proud record and giving drivers confidence in car and van roadworthiness.

With vehicle technology continuing to evolve at pace in terms of both safety and environmental performance, we will maintain this collaboration with government and other stakeholders so that the MOT continues to be fit for purpose, helping Britain improve what is already a strong road safety record.

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards, Nicholas Lyes, said:

An MOT gives drivers confidence their vehicle is conforming to minimum roadworthiness standards and many see it as an essential technical health check. Well-maintained vehicles make our roads safer and reduce the chances of collisions caused by worn-out parts and more serious defects.

We welcome the government listening to drivers and prioritising both road safety and emissions as part of this package of announcements.
January 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Bridging the gap – Essential military bridging contract secures 300 UK jobs [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 January 2024.

British Army battlefield mobility will be bolstered in a new £150 million contract for military-grade general support bridges which will secure 300 UK jobs.
£150 million contract for cutting-edge Army bridges to secure around 300 UK jobs in North West.

New bridges can extend almost 50 metres across land or water and carry weight of British Army tank.

High-tech capability is interoperable with UK’s NATO partners.

British Army battlefield mobility will be bolstered in a new £150 million contract for military-grade general support bridges which will secure 300 UK jobs.

Stockport-based company KNDS UK (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter), which has a long history of manufacturing military bridge systems, will deliver the support bridges based on their Dry Support Bridge design.

Extending up to 46 meters – the length of five buses – and able to carry the weight of the Army’s future tank, the Challenger 3, the bridges can be used to cross both wet and dry gaps.

Enabling the safe movement of personnel and equipment across the battlefield, the bridges will also ensure the resupply of forward fighting elements and humanitarian aid in disaster relief situations.

Replacing the BR90 ABLE system previously in service with the British Army, the new capability will be interoperable with other NATO partners’ bridge systems, meaning that resources can be shared between nations during joint exercises and deployments.

Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge said:

This is a fantastic example of this government delivering on our Land Industrial Strategy – investing in UK industry and delivering world-class bridging capabilities to our Armed Forces.

Securing hundreds of jobs in Stockport, this contract is a crucial step forward in our military capability, improving interoperability with our NATO allies as we work closer together.

The £150 million contract for General Support Bridges has been placed by Defence Equipment and Support as part of Project TYRO. TYRO will provide a significant capability improvement for the British Army, facilitating the mobility of future Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, and equipment across gaps in the terrain.

Defence Equipment & Support Fires, Infrastructure & Manoeuvre Support (FIMS) Portfolio Lead Mr Mark Bunyan said:

Military Equipment Bridging is the bedrock of successful operations and is vital to ensuring that our personnel can move around a battlefield in the safest and quickest way.

Project TYRO GSB will enable the UK to maintain an operational advantage and is a great example of British Industry supporting UK Defence Capability.

The TYRO general support bridge system will be one of the world’s most technically advanced, rapidly deployable military bridges and will be mounted on Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicle (RMMV) HX2 tactical trucks.

AHQ DProgs – Col Adam Foley, SRO for Military Engineering Capability said:

Project TYRO GSB has been an excellent example of close collaboration with industry and our NATO and ABCANZ partners to meet our bridging requirements now and into the future.

Managing Director, KNDS UK – Ian Anderton said:

We are delighted that the British Army will join the ever-growing community of Dry Support Bridge users. The Dry Support Bridge is a proven capability that is manufactured in the UK and exported globally.

Project TYRO also marks over 50 years as a prime contractor to the UK MoD and we remain very proud to support the UK Defence Capability.
January 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Putin’s War of Aggression in Ukraine increases Russia’s Diplomatic Isolation – UK statement to the OSCE [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Putin’s disastrous military campaign has diplomatically diminished Russia as it turns to North Korea and Iran.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I look forward to working with you and your team over this trimester and note the rich programme of Security Dialogue topics that will be discussed during this period. Sadly, however, the overwhelming concern of this Forum remains Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of its sovereign neighbour has contravened international law and the underlying principles of this organisation. It is important that we, as a collective organisation of responsible states, reflect on the reality of this point because Russia is keen that this brutal action becomes lost in the noise of diplomatic obfuscation and a sense of normality.

There is nothing ‘normal’ in this reality; everyday innocent Ukrainian lives are lost as a consequence of Russia’s war of choice. Russia has continued to terrorise the Ukrainian civilian population, exemplified in its missile and drone attacks which struck residential areas in Kyiv and Kharkiv yesterday. Viewed from any angle, Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine is nothing short of an unmitigated disaster for Russia. Having failed in the pursuit of its war aims, Russia’s campaign in the last week has achieved little except an increase in its own casualties and equipment losses.

In order to continue its war, Russia has needed to ramp up its defence spending, which has come at the expense of other areas and accelerating inflation. This has forced the Central Bank of Russia to double interest rates to 16% since July 2023. The cost of Russia’s war continues to rise.

As a consequence of the resilience of the brave people of Ukraine, and with the support of the vast of majority of this Forum, Ukraine remains resolute in the face of aggression and continues to thwart Russia’s malign intentions. On 14 January, Ukraine destroyed a Russian A-50 MAINSTAY, a key enabler for Russian operations over Ukraine, providing airborne early warning of threats as well as command and control functionality. Ukraine has increased its agricultural exports in December 2023 to the highest level since the war began, reopened its main Black Sea ports and it has established a unilateral shipping export channel. Additionally, it has largely repelled the Russian Black Sea Fleet from operating in the western Black Sea.

These achievements are demonstrative of what can be accomplished when illegal aggressive actions are confronted. This situation is a far cry from Putin’s assertion that Russia’s subjugation of Ukraine would be accomplished within a matter of days and, almost two years on from the full scale invasion, Russia is now diplomatically diminished, aligning with North Korea and Iran.

Following the UK Prime Minister’s visit to Ukraine on 12 January, the United Kingdom has committed to an increased package of support amounting to £2.5Bn next financial year and signed an historic security agreement to provide Ukraine with the assurances it needs for the long term. As a consequence of this package, the United Kingdom has provided Ukraine with close to £12Bn of military, economic and humanitarian support in a clear signal of our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine has fought with great courage to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy. But Ukraine will never be alone. The United Kingdom will stand with Ukraine today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes. Thank you.

January 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Owners urged to take action ahead of XL Bully ban [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 January 2024.

Owners must act now to register their dog by 31 January.
XL Bully dogs will be banned in less than one week, as the Government takes action to protect the public.

From the 1st February, anyone found in possession of one of these dangerous dogs, if it is not registered and does not adhere to strict conditions, will face a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

The decision to ban XL Bully comes after a concerning rise in tragic dog attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully dogs.

In order to safely manage the existing population of these dogs, owners of XL Bully dogs have less than one week to register their dog, if they have not already done so. The registration system for the breed will close at noon on Wednesday 31 January and owners have until then to obtain their certificate in time.

The UK’s Chief Vet is urging any remaining unregistered XL Bully owners not to delay any further and register their dog. Alternatively, the owner can arrange an appointment with their veterinarian for their dog to be put down by 31 January.

By registering their XL Bully, owners will have to comply with restrictions to ensure pets do not pose a danger to the public. This includes having them microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled when in public and, to make sure these dogs cannot continue breeding, they must also be neutered. For most dogs, this will be by 30 June, and for dogs under one year old, this should be by the end of 2024.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

“Please do not risk leaving it to the last minute if you want to keep your dog, you should register it now.

“If you are unsure if your dog is an XL Bully or whether any puppies may grow up to be of this dog type, you should comply with the relevant requirements and restrictions.”

If owners are unsure whether their dog could be classed as an XL Bully, they should check their dog carefully against our guidance and photo examples of XL Bully dogs to help them decide. If someone has a dog that is clearly another established breed, the ban does not apply.

Owners can access the most up to date information on what action they need to take and when on this dedicated page, Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Notes to editors:

Over 30,000 dogs have now been registered.

There have been over 100 claims for compensation.
January 25, 2024