Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Azerbaijan [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

The UK delivered a statement during Azerbaijan’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.
Thank you, Madam Vice President,

The United Kingdom welcomes Azerbaijan’s engagement in the UPR process and their increased protection to those affected by landmine contamination. We encourage Azerbaijan to advance post-conflict reconciliation particularly the protection of displaced persons.

We remain concerned at restrictions to freedoms of expression and assembly, as highlighted by the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu. We urge Azerbaijan to improve human rights protections for all.

We recommend:

Ensuring that all allegations of human rights violations against human rights defenders, civil society activists and journalists, and detained foreign nationals are investigated effectively and transparently, including pending unresolved cases requiring urgent attention.

Removing articles 147 and 148 from the Criminal Code, which stipulates liability against journalists for slander and insult, as committed to by Azerbaijan in 2001.

Adopting necessary legislation in the Criminal Code to criminalise all forms of domestic violence.

Thank you.
November 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Funding boost for new train station in Bradford as part of Network North Plan [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 14 November 2023.

New station to improve connectivity, benefitting education and business in the UK’s ‘City of Culture’.
- government invests in plans to develop new railway station in Bradford
- comes on top of £2 billion Network North commitment to better connect the city and deliver faster rail journeys to Manchester and Huddersfield
- station will support regeneration, business and job opportunities in the UK’ s ‘City of Culture’
Rail passengers in Bradford will be connected to more jobs, education and business opportunities, thanks to the government’s commitment to deliver a new train station in the city.

The plan was first revealed last month as part of the government’s launch of Network North – a £36 billion long-term plan to improve the country’s transport across roads, buses and railways, through unprecedented levels of investment.

Today (14 November 2023), the Department for Transport is building on its promise of building a brand-new railway station in Bradford by providing £400,000 for the local authority to kickstart master planning on the project.

The work will consider how the new station can best support regeneration in the surrounding area and maximise its potential to create new homes, jobs and local economic growth – as well as significantly improving transport links and cutting journey times.

Once complete, the findings will form part of a wider business case for the project which will include details on the proposed location and delivery date for the station.

Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, said:

I have championed the case for a new railway station in Bradford for a long time and the funding announced today will make this commitment one step closer to becoming a reality.

Bradford is soon to become the UK’s ‘City of Culture’ and our scheme to deliver a brand new station and railway line will help attract tourism, unlock access to neighbouring cities and provide the area with the huge regeneration opportunities it deserves to boost connectivity and economic growth.

The station will be delivered as part of the government’s Network North pledge to connect major cities in the North of England with more frequent trains, increased capacity and faster journeys.

On top of the £400,000 announced today for regeneration plans in the city, a total of £2 billion will be invested to build the station and a new line to deliver a significantly faster, 30-minute journey to Manchester via Huddersfield.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said:

It is good to see this moving forward, everyone has worked so hard for so long to get this progressed. Improving connectivity for Bradford to the rest of the North is so important to enable greater investment, jobs and opportunities. There can be no successful North without Bradford being successful.

Today’s announcement comes on top of a further £2.5 billion Network North pledge to support the West Yorkshire mass transit system which will improve connections between Leeds and Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax. It will mean Leeds is no longer the biggest European city without a mass-transit system, with up to 7 lines potentially created as part of a transformed network.

In addition to this, the government continues to push forward plans to electrify the Calder Valley Line between Bradford and Leeds – backed by £500 million – to cut journey times by around 40% from 20 minutes to as low as 12 minutes.
November 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Victims to be protected through Sentencing Reforms [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 14 November 2023.

Cowardly domestic abusers will continue to face time behind bars under legislation laid in Parliament today which will also see the most horrific murderers face life behind bars and rapists locked up for longer.
Sentencing Bill to crackdown on violent offenders

Bill will see rapists spend their full custodial sentence in prison and Whole Life Orders for any murder involving sexual or sadistic conduct

The reforms to sentencing will also help low risk offenders escape the merry-go-around of short prison terms and turn their lives away from crime

Stalkers, abusers, and prolific offenders continue to face time behind bars

As action is being taken to stop low risk offenders getting stuck in the revolving door of short prison sentences, the Government has confirmed that domestic abusers will continue to face jail, and judges will have full discretion to lock up any tormentor who puts an individual at significant risk of psychological or physical harm.

Changes to shorter jail stints also won’t apply to those in front of the court for breaching a court order such as a restraining or stalking prevention order. This will keep the safety of women and girls at the heart of the criminal justice system.

The announcement comes as the Sentencing Bill, which was set out in the King’s Speech, is introduced in the House of Commons.

As part of this bill, the Government will bring in a raft of measures to better protect the British public from the worst offenders.

Under the plans, the most heinous murderers will spend the rest of their lives locked up, including for any murder involving sexual or sadistic conduct. With Whole Life Orders being handed down in the worst cases, and judges only able to not impose one in exceptional circumstances, life will mean life.

The new legislation will also mean rapists and criminals who commit other serious sexual offences spend their full custodial term in prison behind bars, making the average sentence for rape up 50% when the Government came to power in 2010.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC said:

“We want domestic abuse victims to know this Government is on their side, so we will do everything possible to protect them from those who cause harm, or threaten to do so.

“That’s why we are ensuring that judges retain full discretion to hand down prison sentences to domestic abusers – to give victims the confidence to rebuild their lives knowing their tormentors are safely behind bars.”

While custody is the only appropriate punishment for the most dangerous and violent offenders, for many, a short time in custody can begin a merry-go-round of reoffending that can devastate communities and leave countless more victims.

That is why, through the Sentencing Bill, there will be a presumption on the courts to suspend custodial sentences of twelve months or less. This is backed by government statistics which show over 50 per cent of offenders serving a sentence of 12 months or less go on to commit another crime compared to 58 per cent of those serving six months or less.

Where suspended sentences are given, offenders will be punished in the community, repaying their debt to society by cleaning up our neighbourhoods and scrubbing graffiti off walls. They will also be strictly overseen by the Probation Service and subject to license conditions which could include state-of-the-art electronic monitoring tags and curfews.

They will also be able to better access drug and alcohol rehab, mental healthcare and other support that properly addresses the root causes of their offending.

In order to reduce the number of offenders trapped in the revolving prison door, the Sentencing Bill will:

Introduce a presumption to suspend prison sentences of 12 months or less in certain circumstances.

Expand the use of Home Detention Curfew (HDC) to suitable offenders serving sentences of four years or more.

Judges will retain their discretion to hand down custodial sentences where they feel it is right in the circumstances of the case.
November 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and US hit Hamas leadership with targeted sanctions [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

The UK and US have targeted Hamas with a new tranche of sanctions today, restricting the terror group’s ability to operate.
- sanctions on Hamas leadership to include travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes
- package is co-ordinated with US and set to disrupt Hamas operations both in Gaza and wherever their leaders base themselves
- Foreign Secretary declares UK “stands in solidarity” with the Palestinian people caught up in the crisis and calls on all parties to agree to humanitarian pauses to allow lifesaving aid into Gaza
The UK’s sanctions are against 4 Hamas senior leaders and 2 Hamas financiers. The stringent measures have been placed on Hamas’ leadership in an effort to disrupt the group’s acts of terror.

Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ political leader in Gaza, is among individuals from the group’s political and military wings targeted by today’s UK sanctions. He is reported to have been involved in the brutal attacks on Israel last month.

Also designated is Muhammed Deif, commander of the group’s military arm.

The sanctions show that the terror group’s leaders cannot escape the consequences of their actions, even if they are pulling the strings from outside of Gaza. Those covered include a Lebanon-based financier and money launderer in Sudan.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt the abhorrent activity of this terrorist organisation, working with the United States and our other allies, making it harder for them to operate and isolating them on the world stage.

The Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too. We stand in solidarity with them and will continue to support humanitarian pauses to allow significantly more lifesaving aid to reach Gaza.

All those sanctioned by the UK and US were targeted for their leadership or financing roles in the group, which was originally founded in the late 1980s with a commitment to destroy Israel. These designations add to existing UK sanctions against Hamas, including on the organisation itself.

Those now subject to UK travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes, which prohibit the sale of weapons and military equipment by a UK person to the designated person, include:
- Yahya Sinwar: Sinwar is a senior leader of Hamas and the group’s political leader in Gaza
- Muhammed Deif: Deif is a senior leader of Hamas and is the commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB), the military arm of Hamas, who announced the October 2023 terrorist attacks
- Marwan Issa: Issa is a senior leader of Hamas and is the deputy commander of the IQB
- Musa Dudin: Dudin is a West Bank-based Hamas official who has procured weaponry for the group, enabling them to commit acts of terrorism
- Abdelbasit Hamza: Hamza is a Sudan-based Hamas financier who owned a network of companies that laundered money and traded in currency in order to finance Hamas
- Nabil Chouman: Chouman has channelled funds to Hamas through his Lebanon-based currency exchange
The UK and the US stand united in their solidarity with Israel in its fight against Hamas. We continue to use our diplomatic efforts to support a two-state solution to provide justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, including through the Prime Minister’s recent visits to the region to speak with their counterparts.

The UK has sent 51 tonnes of lifesaving aid to the region and doubled our funding commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year.

The Prime Minister has called on all parties to allow the humanitarian pauses necessary to allow more aid to enter Gaza and been clear that Israel’s forces must act within international law and stop extremist violence in the West Bank.
November 19, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : North and South East Area Chairs appointed to Arts Council England [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 November 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed Annabel Turpin and Sally Shaw MBE as North and South East Area Chairs to Arts Council England for terms of four years.

Sally Shaw MBE – South East Area Chair

Appointed for a four year term commencing 01 December 2023.

Sally is Director of Firstsite, Colchester where she has been for seven years. With the team, she has delivered an exceptional turn-around programme realigning Firstsite with a highly creative and relevant purpose targeted at deploying art and culture as a means of addressing critical challenges in the community such as deprivation, food poverty and inequity.

Sally’s focus on ground-up community collaboration combined with exceptional quality contemporary art has led Firstsite to be recognised nationally and internationally for the gallery’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to win Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2021.

Along with major exhibitions by groundbreaking artists such as Sarah Lucas, Grayson Perry, Everton Wright and Elsa James, Firstsite’s agile and creative projects have included free digital art packs for families across the nation during COVID-19 and galvanising the top national museums across the country through the Great Big Art Exhibition. Firstsite’s innovative Holiday Fun programme has now provided more than 21,000 free meals to children and families in need during school holidays and as a result has engaged thousands of children in art and creativity at Firstsite for the first time.

These initiatives saw Sally recognised with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for Services to the Arts during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sally has also been invited to be a Fellow of the University of Essex Human Rights and Law Centre and is the University of Essex Honorary Fellow 2023.

Previously Sally was Head of Programme at Modern Art Oxford, Deputy Head of Culture for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Chief Curator for London Underground, Director of Media Art – Bath and Residency Programme Manager at Spike Island, Bristol. She has also established a number of independent projects and programmes including an artist residency programme in an open prison in Gloucestershire.

Annabel Turpin – North Area Chair

Appointed for a four year term commencing 01 December 2023.

Annabel Turpin is Chief Executive of Storyhouse in Chester, one of the country’s largest arts centres, incorporating theatres, a cinema and the city’s library, and welcoming more than 800,000 visitors a year. She is also Co-Director of the 140-strong Future Arts Centres national network, championing the role of arts centres in driving social, economic and cultural change.

In her previous role, as CEO and Artistic Director of ARC in Stockton on Tees, Annabel established the venue as a leading North East arts organisation with national and international influence, including for its Pay What You Decide pricing and arts freelancers’ policies. She founded Venues North, developing best practice through a network of venues supporting artists making new work, and produced and toured new theatre work nationally and internationally.

Prior to her 15 years at ARC, she was Director of Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead from 2002-2008.

She is a long-term advocate of purposeful strategic collaboration, and horizontal and vertical sector partnerships. She played a significant role in securing £20 million+ investment in local creative industries as Deputy Chair and Strategic Lead for Creative Place for the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Business Board. She has previously held a number of board positions including North East Culture Partnership, North East Screen industries Partnership, Sunderland Culture and Tangled Feet.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Area Chairs of Arts Council England are remunerated £6858 per year. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Sally Shaw MBE and Annabel Turpin have not declared any significant political activity.

November 19, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : New counter fraud team saves taxpayers £311 million in first twelve months, beating target by more than £100 million [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2023.
The Public Sector Fraud Authority far exceeded its £180m target and saved taxpayers £311 million in its first year, according to its annual report published today

The savings come from counter fraud schemes designed to prevent and identify fraud across the public sector – with the Authority created by the Prime Minister when he was Chancellor in 2022

Baroness Neville-Rolfe hails the saving as a “fabulous result for taxpayers, which shows the government has the right plan to fight fraud as we take the long term decisions needed to change this country for the better.”

The Public Sector Fraud Authority has saved taxpayers £311 million in its first year of operation, according to the authority’s first annual report, published today to mark the start of International Fraud Awareness Week. The savings figure compares favourably with the original target of £180 million set when the authority launched last year – meaning more money which could be spent on schools, the health service, policing and more.

These savings were identified through several activities led by the Public Sector Fraud Authority and working with other public bodies that helped prevent, identify and recover public money lost to criminals, including:

National Fraud Initiative saved £170,000,000 by collaborating with more than 1000 public bodies to compare sets of records to identify discrepancies that exposed fraud

Covid-19 Loan Schemes Fraud Analytics Programme uses advanced tools combined with public and private sector data to identify and recoup money stolen by fraudsters during the pandemic. The annual report shows the programme delivered respective savings of:

£99,476,014 by using government data to identify fraud in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme

£40,509,531 from loans that were repaid after the government blocked companies from being removed from the Companies Register due to outstanding loans.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the creation of the Public Sector Fraud Authority while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer in March 2022. The authority launched just five months later in August 2022, following intensive joint working between the Cabinet Office and His Majesty’s Treasury.

Since then, the authority’s first annual report shows it has hired more than 30 new counter fraud experts, introduced technical counter fraud training for professionals across the public sector and established a secondee programme to share expertise between private sector businesses such as EY and Deloitte and public sector bodies such as HMRC and DWP.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority also signed a partnership with the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre, to share best practice and facilitate secondments between the two organisations.

This month the authority launched a new artificial intelligence tool developed as part of a £4 million partnership with the tech unicorn Quantexa, which was signed in January 2023. The tool, known as the Single Network Analytics Platform, analyses millions of data points from across the public sector to identify patterns and connections that may indicate fraudulent activity. Companies House is the tool’s first user and it will soon be rolled out to other public sector bodies.

Last week Baroness Neville-Rolfe chaired the authority’s first roundtable with leaders from 12 industry bodies, private businesses and law enforcement agencies, illustrating the government’s continued commitment to learn from and collaborate with experts outside government.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:

The £311 million saving is a fabulous result for taxpayers, which shows the government has the right plan to fight fraud as we take the long-term decisions needed to change this country for the better. Every pound stolen by fraudsters is one pound less spent on vital public services, such as schools or hospitals or on reducing the burden of tax.

In the past year, we’ve transformed the government’s approach to public sector fraud. We’re training new experts across government and giving them the skills they need to prevent fraud from happening in the first place. When fraud does occur, we’ve partnered with the private sector to use the very latest technology to identify criminal networks and recover public money. It is exciting to be rolling out our new fraud busting AI tool in partnership with Quantexa.

But there’s more work to do. Last week I sat down with industry bosses to discuss further action we can take to reduce the money lost to criminals. By forming partnerships, both within government and across the private sector, we will remain prepared for the ever-changing threat posed by fraudsters.

Mark Cheeseman OBE, Chief Executive of the Public Sector Fraud Authority, said:

The strength of our performance this year shows the depth of our commitment to transform the fight against criminals defrauding public money.

Over the past twelve months we’ve stepped up the government’s use of AI in counter fraud, launched new training courses to upskill public servants, and signed partnerships with businesses to share best practice between the public and private sector.

All this work is a sure foundation we can build on in the years ahead, as we begin to roll out more tools and programmes across the public sector.
November 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Somerset cheesemaker, Alvis Brothers Ltd, fined £20,000 for third pollution offence [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 13 November 2023.

Somerset cheese making company, Alvis Brothers Ltd, who make Lye Cross Farm cheeses, has been ordered to pay fines and costs of over £23,700 for a third case of causing pollution from their farm, near Bristol.

The company, of Lye Cross Farm, Redhill, Bristol, admitted a charge of causing discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter and fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs totalling £3520.20, and a victim surcharge of £190. The case was brought by the Environment Agency.

Alvis Brothers Limited supply a number of large supermarket chains, including Waitrose, Ocado and Asda, and export to more than 40 countries.

Bristol magistrates heard on Friday that the company had similar offences from 2013 and 2019. District Judge Matthews said that this was another case of the company failing to self-report a pollution incident to the Environment Agency because “they hope to get away with pollution incidents.” She ordered the Farm Operations Director, Nick Green, to tell the court under oath how many times they had self-reported a pollution incident, to which he replied “zero.”

The court heard that in September 2020, following reports of white discolouration in a watercourse, Environment Agency officers went to a tributary of the Congresbury Yeo, downstream of Lye Cross Farm. The watercourse was milky both in colour and odour.

The source of the pollution was found to have been caused by a blockage in a pipe that took wash water from their cheese production facility to their onsite treatment works which had subsequently overflowed to the watercourse. The blockage had consisted of a plastic bag containing gloves and other plastic.

In a later interview under caution, Mr Green, on behalf of the company, admitted the offence and said the company was sorry and pointed out the measures taken after they became aware of the pollution spill to mitigate the effect on the watercourse.

The Environment Agency maintained in court that the materials that caused the blockage were everyday items clearly inappropriately disposed of, there appeared to be no form of alarm to notify of the blockage to the drainage system or of a spill and while the pollution was clearly visible it was not reported to the Environment Agency.

The judge said that in view of the company’s history of offending, she was not surprised that their offer to the Environment Agency of paying an Environmental Undertaking sum – an alternative penalty to a criminal conviction – was rejected.

Following the court hearing, Senior Environment Officer, Jo Masters said:

This is the third time Alvis Brothers Limited has been prosecuted since 2015 for polluting the watercourse. We strive to work with farmers to prevent pollution through advice and guidance, but we are clear we will take action where offending is repeated and offenders aren’t willing to change their practices to ensure environmental protection. Incidents can be reported to our incident hotline 24/7, 365 days a year on 0800 80 70 60.

November 17, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Kosovo – Jonathan Hargreaves [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2023.

Mr Jonathan Hargreaves has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo in succession to Mr Nicholas Abbott who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Hargreaves will take up his appointment in early 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Jonathan Mark Richard Hargreaves

Married to: Kate Wilson Hargreaves

Children: Two

Date	Role
2020 to present	FCDO, UK Special Representative for Syria
2017 to 2020	Department for International Development (DFID), Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division
2014 to 2017	DFID, Head of Governance, Open Societies and Anti-Corruption Department
2012 to 2014	DFID Jerusalem, Head of Office, and Head of DFID Palestinian Programme
2008 to 2012	DFID Kenya/Somalia, Deputy Head, and Somalia Programme Manager
2006 to 2008	UK Stabilisation Unit, Team Leader/Senior Adviser
2005 to 2006	DFID, Top Management Group, Adviser, White Paper Team
2002 to 2005	DFID, Governance Adviser, Great Lakes and Horn of Africa
2000 to 2002	DFID, Governance Adviser, Central and South Eastern Europe
1997 to 2000	KPMG, Consultant, Public Services Consulting
1996 to 1997	Dansk Energi Management, Belgium, Consultant
1994 to 1996	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania, Adviser
1993 to 1994	United Nations Development Programme Lithuania, Programme Officer
1991 to 1993	European Commission, Brussels, Desk Officer

November 17, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Violent robbers ordered to serve longer in prison [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 13 November 2023.

Three men with a history of violence who robbed a man in a Bristol takeaway have their prison sentences increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

Jack Walker, of Yate, Abdifatah Sharif, of Easton, and Billy Madden, of Hartcliffe, saw their sentences increase after the Solicitor General referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal as being unduly lenient.

The court heard that on 18 February 2023, the three men entered a takeaway on Stockton Croft with their faces hidden. The trio approached a man demanding the keys to his car before violently attacking him.

They repeatedly punched the victim in the face and head before Jack Walker threatened him with a large machete. The men left the takeaway with the victim’s bag, which contained £3,000, €400, his passport, a silver ring, and a pair of sunglasses.

Thirty minutes later, Walker targeted a second victim, who was riding an electric scooter.  Walker punched the victim in the face and threatened to stab him before taking the victim’s bag and scooter worth £600.

The Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, said:

The level of violence and brutality used by these men in this case was particularly heinous.

The courts have quite rightfully increased their sentences and I hope it send a clear message that we will pursue violent offenders through the court to protect the public from harm.

Walker, Sharif and Madden were sentenced on 18 August 2023 at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty

Walker was sentenced to 20-month’s imprisonment for two counts of robbery and one count of possessing a bladed article. Sharif was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment for one robbery offences and possession of class A drugs. Madden was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment for one offence of robbery.

On Friday 10 November, the Court of Appeal increased Walker’s sentence to five years imprisonment, Sharif’s to three years and four months imprisonment and Madden’s to two years and 10 months imprisonment.

The trio’s sentences were referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

November 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Brothers who recruited vulnerable youngsters to supply crack and heroin as part of a £100K County Line Operation have their sentence increased [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 13 November 2023.

Two brothers who recruited vulnerable young people to supply crack cocaine and heroin worth more than £100,000 in Shropshire have been ordered to serve longer in prison after their sentence was strengthened by the Court of Appeal.

James Mason, 33 and his brother Joshua, 25 from Liverpool were part of an organised crime gang which operated the County Line, called the Boris Line from between Merseyside and Oswestry, a market town in Shropshire, between July 2018 and February 2020.

County Lines typically involves using vulnerable children and young adults to supply drugs as a form of forced or compulsory labour. Nine young people were recruited as runners to supply crack and heroin for the gang – one was just 14 – and many were known to Children’s Services.

The Boris Line was controlled by their associate – Adam McCardle – but both brothers took an active role travelling between the two locations to supply drugs and sending regular messages to hundreds of drug users in Oswestry offering their products.

When the home of James Mason was raided in July 2019, Police found large quantities of heroin and crack cocaine as well as drug paraphernalia and £10,000 in cash. They also found a black Samsung phone, which, turned out to be the Boris Line telephone.

Both brothers pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin but were put on trial for conspiracy to require a person to commit forced or compulsory labour.

In August this year, James Mason was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and Joshua was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

On Thursday 9 November, the Court of Appeal increased the sentence for both brothers after the Solicitor General referred them under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

There is no doubt that class A drug use has a devastating impact on local communities and the young age of some of the people recruited to act as runners for this gang makes this case even more appalling.

Thankfully, the court recognised the damage caused by these brothers and they have been ordered to spend longer in jail. I hope this case serves as a strong warning that those responsible for distributing hard drugs on our streets will be punished.

James Mason’s sentence was increased to a total of 10 years imprisonment and Josh Mason’s sentence was increased to a total of eight years imprisonment.

November 16, 2023