Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Downing Street celebrates Visual Arts to mark 20 Years of Frieze London [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 October 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will today champion the arts at Number 10 Downing Street to mark the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking Frieze London Art Fair.
- A day of events championing the visual arts to be held at Number 10 Downing Street
- Comes as Frieze London Art Fair turns 20 years old
- Events to focus on providing pathways into the arts for young people and supporting regional museums
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will today champion the arts at Number 10 Downing Street to mark the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking Frieze London Art Fair.

The event demonstrates the government’s support for the visual arts as a key part of the success of the wider arts sector as a major contributor to the UK economy. The UK is the second largest art market in the world, just behind the US with 18% of sales globally. It is larger than the rest of Europe combined.

The arts are an important part of our thriving creative industries, which were worth £108 billion to the economy in 2021 and supported over two million jobs across the country last year. The creative industries were recognised as a priority growth sector by the Chancellor and in June the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published the Creative Industries Sector Vision, which sets out how the Government will work together with industry to support growth and prosperity.

Also attending the event will be Minister for Arts and Heritage Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, British art market leaders and representatives from art galleries and museums across the UK.

The full day of events at Downing Street will start with an award ceremony in the morning unveiling a new print commissioned for the Robson Orr TenTen Award 2023 by the Government Art Collection, hosted by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay.

The Robson Orr TenTen Award is a ten-year scheme, which commissions a unique limited edition print by a leading British artist each year. Fifteen editions are gifted to the Government Art Collection to put on display in UK government buildings around the world while the sale of eleven editions help raise funds for the Government Art Collection to support emerging British artists and those currently underrepresented in the Collection. The award is presented by the Government Art Collection with Outset Contemporary Art Fund and sponsored by leading philanthropists Sybil Robson Orr and Matthew Orr.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

We are in a golden age for British arts and culture and the government will do all we can to continue to maximise the potential of our creative industries, which boasts talent the length and breadth of the UK.

The Robson Orr TenTen Award is a fantastic initiative that gives a platform to this talent, providing much-needed opportunities for underrepresented artists.

Later in the day, a Youth Leaders Networking Lunch will take place in the State Dining Room at Number 10 to highlight innovative programmes across the UK that support young people in the arts. Discussions at the lunch will centre on creating pathways for under-represented groups and providing opportunities for young leaders to meet and share experiences.

Attendees at the lunch include renowned artist Alvaro Barrington and young people who collaborated with him on designing a community basketball court in Bethnal Green, that was then represented in his work Change the Game, Frieze (2022), recently acquired by the Government Art Collection.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay will also host a roundtable together with the Government Art Collection and Contemporary Art Society to highlight the Contemporary Art Society’s work with the Collections Fund at Frieze, acquiring major new works at Frieze London for regional collections in the UK. Recipients of the fund over the past seven years, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, will discuss the positive impact of the scheme on their collections and local communities.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

The UK is a world leader in the arts and it is vital that we continue to provide access to culture and creative opportunities for everyone – as our Creative Industries Sector Vision and our work on a new Cultural Education Plan will do.

I look forward to meeting cultural leaders from around the country to discuss the great work they are doing to develop collections around the UK, ensuring people have access to world-class culture on their doorstep no matter where they live.
October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement from Quint Leaders on Israel [October 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 October 2023.

Today, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America released the following joint statement following their call:

Today, we — President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States — express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.

We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.

Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.

All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.

Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region.

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Labour announces new ‘tough love’ youth programme to tackle knife crime, youth violence and address the crisis in young people’s mental health [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Labour Party on 10 October 2023.

In her speech at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will announce Young Futures, a new cross-government national programme aimed at giving Britain’s young people the best start in life, with a specific strand of activity targeted at those young people at most risk of being drawn into violent crime and delivering support for young people struggling with their mental health.

This will be a key part of achieving Labour’s mission to halve knife crime and youth violence in a decade.

The Shadow Home Secretary will set out how reforming services for young people will be the focus of a major cross-departmental initiative if Labour wins the next election.

Its intention is to bring together support for young people in a radical new, co-ordinated way to better address the new serious challenges facing teenagers and their families, from the rise in knife crime, youth violence and county lines exploitation through to growing mental health challenges and the longer-term impact of social media and the pandemic on young lives.

She will argue that, under the Tories, services supporting teenagers have become badly fragmented and neglected, with local partnerships stretched and struggling to coordinate activity. The Commission on Young Lives, Hidden in Plain Sight, described how: “the experience of parents [of at-risk children and teenagers] told a consistent tale of missed opportunities, unmet need, and a confused tangle of services. When there is contact with services, families say that they are too-often met with a conveyor belt of assessments, churn of professionals and early closure of cases.”

Cooper will point to a range of devastating statistics showing worsening outcomes for young people, including a record number of children and young people seeking mental health support from the NHS, analysis from the think tank Crest suggesting over 200,000 children are vulnerable to serious violence, a record number of children as victims of crime in 2021/2022, and last year seeing the highest number of people killed with a knife for over 70 years, with the biggest increase amongst young boys aged 16-17.

Labour’s new Young Futures programme will draw on up to £100 million a year, based on combining existing commitments to fund new youth mentors and mental health hubs in every community, youth workers in pupil referral units and A&E, and a programme of public sector reform to deliver:
- A targeted programme in every area to identify the young people most at risk of being drawn into violent crime and build a package of support that responds to the challenges they are facing. This will be achieved through bringing together services at a local level to better coordinate delivery of preventative interventions around the young person, rooted in a strong evidence base.
- Develop a national network of Young Futures hubs to bring local services together, deliver support for teenagers at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges and, where appropriate, deliver universal youth provision.
- Youth workers in A&E units, custody centres, pupil referral units and communities to target young people who are starting to be drawn into violence.
- Ensure existing enforcement measures are effectively utilised, including family interventions, the use of curfews, enforcement of penalties, drug and alcohol interventions, community work, and stronger action against the criminal gangs that are drawing young people into crime.
The programme will be a major reform to focus on prevention rather than just sticking plaster policies, and will mean government departments, schools and local services working together so that at local level services operate around young people and their families rather than in separate silos. Local partnerships will draw together mainstream services with the work of Violence Reduction Units and voluntary sector organisations and will help deliver Labour’s mission to halve knife crime in the country within the next ten years.

The Young Futures Programme will be developed with local government leaders, experts, and young people themselves, and local partnerships will be measured against a national outcomes framework to allow for local innovation in delivery. The initial focus of the programme will be knife crime but once the programme is demonstrating results Labour will look to expand the remit beyond youth violence and into other mission objectives such as educational attainment.

The programme also aims to increase access to universal provision of youth services to help all young people thrive and get ready for work and life. This element of the programme will initially be boosted by Labour’s plan for new youth hubs and staff, but in time could be supported by the outcomes of a review in government of funding for support for young people to ensure it is effective and evidence based.

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, will say:

“Young people have been totally let down by this Tory Government, who have failed to recognise the growing vulnerability of many teenagers – be it because of the rise of county lines gangs, impact of damaging content on social media or the pandemic.

“Whether it’s addressing knife crime, violence in teenage relationships, or the record number of young people seeking mental health support, this floundering government have never sought to grip the issue and support teenagers and families at a tough time in their lives.

“We need urgent interventions to stop young people getting drawn into crime or exploitation in the first place. For too long, teenagers have been pushed from pillar to post between local authorities, mental health services, the police and youth offending teams. That’s why we are setting up a cross-Government ‘tough love’ initiative, with new youth hubs and proper local plans to identify those most at risk and help them access the support they need.

“And for those who repeatedly cause trouble in their community or are found carrying knives, there also need to be stronger interventions and clear consequences to stop their behaviour escalating and to keep other young people safe.

“A Labour Government will give young people their future back.”
October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russian air strikes in Ukraine have killed at least 262 civilians in six months – UK statement at the UN Security Council [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 October 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Thank you, President. Thank you to USG DiCarlo for your briefing.

President, on Thursday, people in New York woke to news of yet another Russian attack against Ukraine. This time, Russia was responsible for the deaths of more than 50 people in the small village of Hroza when a missile struck a café, and we extend our condolences to the bereaved.

As my Prime Minister said, the attack demonstrates the depths of depravity Russian forces are willing to sink to. Then on Friday, Russia struck Kharkiv. A 10-year-old boy was killed and more than 20 people were injured. The Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights reported last week that Russian air strikes between February and August this year killed at least 262 civilians and injured 990, and inflicted further broad economic and social damage.

The same OHCHR report addressed the attack on 28 July 2022 that killed more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war at Olenivka. Contrary to Russian claims made many times in this Council, the OHCHR found the attack was launched from Russian-controlled territory, and that Russia was holding those prisoners in a manner that contravenes international humanitarian law.

Yet again, today our Russian colleagues will drag us into their world of disinformation, where facts are dismissed as lies, and lies presented as facts.

President, Russia’s words in this Council are worthless to those who want to understand Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its true cost.

Let’s remind ourselves of some facts.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is illegal, as is Russia’s control of Ukrainian territory inside Ukraine’s internationally-recognised borders.

The body of evidence of Russia’s breaches of international law and international humanitarian law in the course of its invasion continues to grow. Just as Russian claims about the attack at Olenivka have been disproved, the truth will catch up with Russia’s lies.

President, we praise and admire the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people in the face of this assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We thank the United Nations staff whose record of Russian human rights violations and abuses, as well as violations of international law, show the reality of Russia’s invasion, and support future efforts toward justice.

We will continue to support Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defence, and as it brings together Member States in support of our shared goal of a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter.

We call once more for Russia to end its illegal invasion, and withdraw from Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 54 – UK Statement on South Sudan [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 October 2023.

Interactive Dialogue with OHCHR on technical assistance and capacity building for South Sudan. Statement delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador Rita French.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President,

We commend the Office’s continued engagement in South Sudan, including through the provision of technical assistance and capacity building.

While we recognise that technical assistance and capacity building is a vital part of the wider international support needed, it is not the sole answer to addressing South Sudan’s human rights, humanitarian and security situation. It needs to be accompanied by strong human rights scrutiny and accountability.

The situation in South Sudan is dire. Attacks on civilians, sexual violence against women and girls, and restrictions to media freedom and civic space have become the norm. With approximately 2 million Internally Displaced Persons in South Sudan, we regret the government of South Sudan’s postponement of the visit by the Special Rapporteur on IDPs, which would have strengthened support from the UN and wider international community on this important issue.

Mr Vice-President,
Five years since the Peace Agreement was signed, we call on the government of South Sudan to implement its roadmap, including by establishing justice and accountability mechanisms, and ensuring free, fair and safe elections for its people.

Mr Salazar,

Thank you for your update. How can the government of South Sudan ensure the establishment of Chapter V accountability mechanisms while delivering free and fair elections in 2024?

Thank you.

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 54 – UK Statement on DRC [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 October 2023.

Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of Congo. Statement delivered by the UK at the 54th United Nations Human Rights Council.

Thank you Mr Vice-President,

We thank the Minister from DRC and other speakers for their presentations at this important dialogue and the Team of Experts for their report.

The UK remains deeply concerned by ongoing human rights violations and abuses in the conflict affected areas of DRC. We are monitoring preparations for elections, which we hope will be peaceful, transparent and credible. However, continued restrictions on democratic space are worrying, including reports of intimidation, harassment and arbitrary arrests. We continue to urge the government of DRC to respect civic space, freedom of expression and media freedom, in accordance with Congolese law and the constitution.

We remain concerned by periodic violent protests against MONUSCO [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo], and while we acknowledge DRC’s request to accelerate MONUSCO’s withdrawal, this must be done in a way that ensures the protection of civilians. We are also deeply troubled by the appalling incident in Goma on 30 August, where according to official reports at least 57 civilians were killed.

We also call on the government of DRC for a swift, well-coordinated and comprehensive response to the increased levels of sexual violence and exploitation in eastern DRC, particularly the institutionalised brothels in IDP [internally displaced persons] camps. We also call for the full, safe, equal and meaningful participation of women in the decision-making processes to this response.

Mr Vice-President,

We would like to ask the speakers what more can the government of DRC do to address conflict-related sexual violence and exploitation, and how can the international community support this.

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Made With Care 2023 campaign to expand social care workforce [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 9 October 2023.

Next phase of domestic recruitment campaign ‘Made with Care’ launches today to encourage people with the right qualities to begin a career in adult social care.
- Campaign to reach millions of people via video on demand, radio and digital channels
- A range of free and easy-to-use resources will be provided to the adult social care sector to support employers filling in their vacancies
People looking to make a genuine difference to people’s lives are being encouraged to join the adult social care workforce through a government recruitment campaign launching today.

The ‘Made with Care’ campaign is returning for a third year, with advertising promoting the wide range of opportunities available to people across England to build a career in adult social care and help people live happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.

Minister for Care Helen Whately said:

Our care system depends on dedicated care workers who make a difference to the lives of so many people in need of support. This campaign helps build that vital workforce.

I encourage anyone considering the next step in their career, whether just starting out or thinking of their next move, to go online and explore the wide range of opportunities in the care sector.

Running until the end of March 2024, campaign advertising will appear to millions across video on demand platforms such as ITVX, Sky Go and Channel 4; radio and digital audio channels such as Spotify and social media and digital channels like Facebook and Instagram, to direct job seekers to www.adultsocialcare.co.uk.

This year’s campaign builds on the success of last year, which saw over 244,000 candidates search for a social care job on the website after seeing the campaign.

The campaign aims to show the amazing work that care workers do, celebrate the way they empower the people they care for and shine a light on the emotional rewards of the role, to inspire more people to consider a career in adult social care.

Many entry level roles don’t require any specific qualifications – training will be provided on the job, and there are a variety of roles available so those interested in care work can find a job that will fit around them.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP added:

From care assistants to support workers, there are vacancies across England with a variety of employers that could help jobseekers take their next step on the career ladder.

Anyone interested in a social care role should tap into the free resources available, including our Find a Job portal and their local Jobcentre.

Beverley Tarka, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said:

There aren’t many jobs where you can really make a difference to people’s lives, but social care gives you the opportunity to do that every day. From helping people to live independently, to taking part in their communities and doing the things that help them to enjoy life whatever challenges they might face.

I’ve worked in adult social care for more than 30 years and everyday it feels a real privilege to have such a positive impact for people in my community. There are currently 152,000 opportunities to improve people’s lives, and I hope this campaign will encourage people to think again about a job in social care.

Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, said:

The figures from our Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set show that, in 2022/23, the sector had around 152,000 vacancies on any given day, so we need to tell a really compelling story about how rewarding a career in social care can be. In particular, we need to try to attract more men and younger people, who are under-represented in the workforce.

We hope this new campaign will help to attract more people into vital care roles – and we’d encourage employers to use it to support their local recruitment efforts.

While the campaign will look to encourage the public to consider if a career in social care may be suitable for them, the Department of Health and Social Care is also calling for all care providers to list their vacancies on the Department of Work and Pension’s ‘Find a Job’ portal, to ensure job seekers visiting the campaign website (www.adultsocialcare.co.uk) can find roles in their local area.

Department for Work and Pensions is also working hard to boost hiring for the sector ahead of the Winter with an expected 100 multi-sector jobs fairs planned, where social care jobs will be on offer between October and Christmas. Jobseekers can speak directly with employers at these events.

At www.adultsocialcare.co.uk, people will be able to find everything they need to research a career in adult social care and, crucially, search and apply for adult social care jobs near them – with support to perfect their CV and advice on interviews.

The campaign is designed to encourage applications from the right personnel but also to make the recruitment process easier with free resources to help providers fill their vacancies.

These will include:
- Free printable and digital assets with flexible branding to use when advertising job opportunities
- The ability to advertise job roles for free on adultsocialcare.co.uk with an audience of thousands
The government is fully committed to the 10-year vision to reform adult social care. Our Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care plan sets out how we are spending £700 million over two years, including £250 million for the workforce to develop their skills and careers, on top of our £7.5 billion investment to help reduce adult social care waiting times and increase capacity.

This funding will ease pressure and build a stronger NHS to ensure the people of our country get the care they need and deserve.
October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Social housing tenants encouraged to ‘Make Things Right’ [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 9 October 2023.

£2 million advertising campaign empowering residents to report issues and make complaints as part of efforts to improve social housing conditions.
£2m advertising campaign will empower residents to report issues and make complaints as part of efforts to improve housing conditions.

Adverts will run on social media, radio, and online search to inform social housing tenants of their rights.

Builds on progress to improve conditions, including Awaab’s Law.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove is urging tenants in social housing to put pressure on failing landlords to improve their living conditions, with the government’s latest launch of the ‘Make Things Right’ campaign going live today (9 October 2023).

Social housing residents are being encouraged to report issues and make complaints to address hazards in their home in the next phase of the England-wide advertising campaign.

Residents should feel confident to challenge unacceptable conditions and notify their landlord when things go wrong. The government wants to inform tenants of their rights and ensure they escalate complaints to the Housing Ombudsman if concerns are not addressed swiftly or appropriately.

Building on the success of previous campaigns, the £2 million campaign will see adverts promoted across radio and social media.

Landlords have a responsibility to take action when complaints are made and support will also be available for them, to ensure they are supporting residents in the best possible way.

Given that 10% of social homes failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard last year, this is a serious wakeup call for landlords who must do better to provide decent and safe homes for their residents.

Housing Secretary, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP said:

Social landlords who fail their residents time and time again must be held to account.

The continued success of our Make Things Right campaign gives residents a greater voice to bring about real change – making sure they know their rights to stand up to bad landlords and go to the Ombudsman when issues remain unresolved.

Our Social Housing Act is now law and Awaab’s Law remains a firm reminder of the importance for all tenants to have the right to live in safe and decent homes while being treated with fairness and respect.

Social Housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa, said:

I have said from the very beginning, nobody should live in a home that’s falling apart or unsafe. If a landlord wouldn’t, neither should their tenants.

Report to your landlord, complain to your landlord and if they still refuse to take action report them straight to the Housing Ombudsman.

As part of the government’s mission to improve the quality of social housing, the Housing Secretary has been naming and shaming landlords who have not taken their responsibilities seriously.

Ground-breaking changes through the Social Housing Regulation Act, which has now received Royal Assent, will introduce new powers for unlimited fines and emergency repairs that landlords will have to pay for.

Following the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, it is more important than ever to hold landlords to account when they have clearly failed their tenants.

New reforms will mean residents can better understand their rights and strict time limits will be introduced to take swifter action in addressing hazards such as damp and mould.

A new consultation is now open for views to help deliver part one of Awaab’s Law, improving tenants’ access to information about their rights when the Housing Secretary issues a new direction to the Regulator. A further consultation to address hazards will follow in the coming months.

Since last year, it has been quicker and easier for residents to raise complaints directly with the Ombudsman, removing requirements to write to an MP or local councillor first and wait 8 weeks after completing the landlord’s process.

Referrals to the Ombudsman have spiked in demand with a 78% increase in March compared to the same month a year before.

Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, said:

Effective complaint handling is vital to ensure issues are resolved at the earliest opportunity.

A landlord’s complaint process should be accessible for any resident that wishes to make a complaint. The process gives landlords a fair opportunity to put things right for residents when things have gone wrong, whether that be through a repair, apology or offer of compensation.

If residents are still unhappy after the landlord’s final complaint response, they can bring their complaint to us at the Housing Ombudsman. We’re free, independent and impartial in order to help residents and landlords find a resolution to their complaint.

Further information

The campaign will run across England from today to 31 March on social media and online search. There will be two phases of more intense advertising with adverts on commercial radio, digital audio, and community radio in non-English languages; the first until November and second from February 2024.

Adverts will give tenants key information about their rights, the responsibilities of their landlord, and give step-by-step advice about how to make a complaint via the Make Things Right campaign website.

Social media advertisements – in image and animation formats – will target social housing residents on Facebook, Reddit, Instagram and NextDoor.

Radio advertisements will run across commercial radio stations (including Capital, Gold, Heart, Hits Radio, Kiss, Magic, Smooth and more). The adverts will also run on community radio broadcasting across regional and national stations in English and also translated in Arabic, Polish, Romanian, Urdu, Punjabi, and Bengali.

Advertisements will also run on digital audio streaming platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud, as well as on podcasts across the platforms.

Paid search advertising via search engines such as Google and Bing will be leveraged to drive users to the campaign website, which gives advice on how to complain.

A communications toolkit for landlords and partners (like advice organisations, charities, and community groups) have been made with printable posters and leaflets, as well as social media posts.
October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Preparing the way for self-driving mass transit services in remote, rural, and urban areas [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 9 October 2023.
Local Authorities and regional transport operators will study how self-driving vehicle technology can improve local transport in remote, rural, and urban areas, as they are awarded a share of £1.3 million in joint UK government and industry funding to study the feasibility of self-driving mass transit solutions across the UK.

Northumberland, Solihull, Inverness and the Isle of Skye are some of the rural areas that will benefit from £1.3 million in funding for six projects.

Studies will look into how self-driving vehicle technology could be cheaper, emit less carbon, and increase transport safety and security.

The grants, part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility programme, will help local places to build evidence on utilising emerging transport technologies to connect underserved communities to employment centres, education opportunities, and healthcare services.

The projects add to nearly £850,000 of previous joint government and industry funding awarded to four feasibility studies looking into potential routes where automated vehicles could operate exclusively from other traffic, to relieve congestion on the A414 through Hertfordshire and Essex, parts of Eastern Cambridge, Birmingham and Solihull, and Milton Keynes.

Self-driving vehicles could revolutionise public transport and passenger travel, especially for those who don’t drive, better connect rural communities and reduce road collisions caused by human error.

The joint government and industry funding winners are:

Autonomous Healthlink (Northumberland)

The project will study the feasibility of a zero emission self-driving system on a segregated route between Seaton Delaval Station to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington. The study will aim to increase accessibility to the hospital to support the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s plan to develop the site and increase patient services.

Partners: Milestone Transport Planning Limited (Lead), Dromos Mobility Limited, Pegasus Planning Group Limited, Newcastle University

Grant Awarded: £155,911

Blythe Rural Automated Vehicle Operations (West Midlands)

The project will study the feasibility of a shuttle service utilising two different self-driving vehicle technologies on a short hop of the Strategic Road Network on the M42, and within the Midlands Future Mobility initiative . The route will connect Blythe Valley Business Park to the UK Central Hub (Arden Cross HS2 interchange, Birmingham International Airport and Railway station). The outcomes from the study could inform self-driving mobility challenges nationwide.

Partners: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (Lead), Aurrigo, Syselek (UK) Ltd, Liftango Ltd, ZF Services UK Limited, West Midlands Combined Authority, National Highways, WMG

Grant awarded: £197,664

Commercialising Connected and Automated Vehicle Services in the Scottish Highlands and Islands (Inverness and Isle of Skye)

The project will study the commercial potential of a self-driving vehicle service in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The service will link Inverness College University of the Highlands and Islands Campus to key locations in Inverness and connect ferry passengers to public transport at Uig Pier on the Isle of Skye.

Partners: University of Glasgow (Lead), Aurrigo, The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Darwin Innovation Group Ltd, Highland Country Buses Ltd.

Grant awarded: £160,443

Dromos Connected and Automated System (Bolton)

This project will study the feasibility of an on-demand, 24/7 self-driving system running on a decommissioned railway corridor connecting the Bolton Transport Interchange to the Royal Bolton Hospital. It will consider the potential to expand and integrate the service through infrastructure and mobility projects.

Partners: Dromos Mobility Limited (Lead), Transport for Greater Manchester Limited, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.

Grant awarded: £199,760

HertsLynx Connected and Automated Mobility On-Demand (Hertfordshire)

This project will study a self-driving service using on demand responsive transport technology serving passengers in the Maylands Business Park region, containing market leaders in logistics and distribution with more than 650 businesses that employ over 20,000 people. The routes will connect Maylands to Harpenden Station and St Albans.

Partners: Sustainicity Ltd (Lead), Siemens Mobility, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council

Grant awarded: £115,748

Integrated Mixed Traffic Mobility for Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (Hertfordshire)

This project extends a study examining the feasibility of Dedicated Driverless Spaces for articulated buses running on segregated routes and public roads of the Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit network. The route will link Watford and St Albans town centres.

Partners: City Science Corporation Limited (Lead), StreetDrone, Hertfordshire County Council, England’s Economic Heartland.

Grant awarded: £134,984
October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Starmer launches community policing guarantee to get “more police in your town, fighting antisocial behaviour, taking back our streets” [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 10 October 2023.

Keir Starmer will today launch Labour’s Community Policing Guarantee to make streets safe again.

Announcing the five-point plan in his speech to Labour Party Conference, the Labour leader will pledge guaranteed town centre patrols through 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs on the streets.

The Community Policing Guarantee also includes new commitments to ensure local people are involved in setting local policing priorities, tough new sentencing for assaults on retail workers, tougher police action on shoplifting and stronger powers for local councils, police and courts to introduce zero tolerance zones in town centres to stop antisocial behaviour.

In his speech, Keir Starmer is expected to “call time on wasteful police procurement” which funds Labour’s plan for new officers and say that Labour’s community policing guarantee will deliver “more police in your town, fighting anti-social behaviour, taking back our streets.”

This comes as research shows 50 per cent of the public say they never see an officer on the beat – up from 27 per cent when Labour left office in 2010. Criminal damage affecting town centres is up nearly 20 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, and more than 20 million people have personally experienced or witnessed ASB in the last 12 months.

Labour’s Community Policing Guarantee

Labour will put police back in your town centres and neighbourhoods to make streets safe again, with increased patrols and 13,000 more neighbourhood police & PCSOs on the streets.

1. Police on the beat again

We’ll bring back proper neighbourhood policing by ensuring every part of the country has more local officers and PCSOs, and guaranteed town centre patrols with tougher powers. We’ll give every community a named officer they can get in touch with, so policing gets back to what it’s supposed to do.

2. Zero tolerance of antisocial behaviour

Getting tough with those who blight our towns, with new powers to ban repeat offenders from town centres and stamp out public drinking and drug use. Every local area will have a dedicated lead focused specifically on tackling anti-social behaviour.

3. A crackdown on shoplifting and violence
We’ll reverse the Tories’ decision to downgrade the response to shoplifting under £200, making it easier to take action against repeat offenders and ending the farce of offending impunity, and creating a new specific offence of assault against retail workers.

4. Put communities back at the heart of policing

We will give local people and businesses a say in how their local area and town centre is policed, ensuring the police work with them on deciding priorities.

5. Make community policing something to be proud of

We will ensure that the path to career progression in policing is through getting to know your community – and ensure all neighbourhood officers are properly trained to be problem-solvers, not just recorders of crime. We will also work with the College of Policing and police chiefs to ensure neighbourhood policing has access to cutting edge technology and methods, including data analytics and hotspot policing.

October 10, 2023