Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Two men, Ayaani Ali Adan and Ayman Abasheikh, charged with double murder in Ilford [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Met Police on 14 November 2022.

Detectives investigating the fatal shooting of Saydi Abu Sheikh and Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed in Ilford have charged two men with murder.

[A] Ayaani Ali Adan, 19 (24.02.03), of East Street, Barking, and [B] Ayman Abasheikh, 18 (07.07.04), of Stratton Road, Romford, were arrested on Friday, 11 November and were each charged in the early hours of this morning (Monday, 14 November) with:

– Two counts of murder;
– One count of attempted murder;
– Possession with intent to supply a Class B drug;
– Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life;
– Possession of a knife in public;
– Possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.

Both men appeared at Bexley Magistrates’ Court this morning and were remanded to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 16 November.

Police were called at 00:16hrs on Tuesday, 25 October, by the London Ambulance Service to reports of a shooting inside a house in Henley Road.

Armed officers attended along with local officers and paramedics. Three men were found with gunshot injuries.

Saydi Abu Sheikh, aged 23 and Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed, 32, who were both from Ilford, died at the scene.

A 30-year-old man was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. He remains there in a serious but stable condition.

The families of all three men continue to be supported by specialist officers.

The investigation is ongoing and police remain keen to hear from anyone with information, video or images that could assist them.

Anyone that can help is asked to call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 99/25Oct.

To remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.

November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Samuel Cortez jailed for sexual assault of 11-yr-old girl in North Finchley [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Met Police on 14 November 2022.

A man who abducted a young girl from a bus stop and sexually assaulted her in a nearby park has been jailed.

Samuel Cortez, 38 (07.02.84) of Nether Street, N12 was jailed for nine years at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday, 10 November after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. He was also sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment for child abduction – the sentence will run concurrently.

During the sentencing, the Judge ordered Cortez to be on licence for five years on completion of his sentence – he will also be on the sex offenders register for life.

The incident happened at around 16:00hrs on 30 September 2021 as an 11-year-old girl was at a bus stop near Sussex Ring, N12. Cortez approached her and intimated he was in possession of a knife before grabbing her by the wrist and leading her to a nearby park.

He then sexually assaulted the girl before leaving the area.

An investigation was launched which included an extensive analysis of CCTV from around the area of the incident. An image of the suspect was identified and this was subsequently distributed publicly through a media appeal.

As a result of this appeal, police received two calls from members of the public identifying Cortez as the man in the image. He was arrested on 15 December 2021, taken into police custody and subsequently charged.

Detective Constable Chris Finnegan, of the North West Command Unit led the investigation, and said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the young girl but she, with the support of her family, has shown immense courage and strength in supporting our investigation. I hope it offers some reassurance that the man responsible is now behind bars.

“Identifying Cortez was a combination of diligent police work along with the support of the public. This is a great example of how policing should work and it has resulted in a vile individual being taken off the streets.”

November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Planned student loan interest rates cut again from due to market rates [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 November 2022.

Student loan borrowers will be further protected from rising inflation rates with additional cuts to planned interest rates from September for those on Plan 2 and Plan 3 loans.

Student loan interest rates will now be capped at 6.3% from September 2022. The government intervened in June to protect borrowers in response to the rise in the rate of RPI due to global economic pressures which meant student loan borrowers faced a 12% interest rate in September.

To provide reassurance for student loan borrowers on Plan 2 (undergraduate) and Plan 3 (Postgraduate) loans, the government used predicted market rates to bring forward a cap on interest rates to a maximum of 7.3%. The actual market rate is now 6.3%, so the cap has been reduced to this figure.

By setting an interest rate of 6.3% rather than the expected 12% this will bring down the student loan interest rates by the largest amount on record and will mean, for example, a borrower with a student loan balance of £45,000 would reduce their accumulating interest by around £210 per month compared to 12% interest rates. This is on the total value of the loan, as monthly repayments do not change.

The government is taking every opportunity to protect the public from the rising cost of living and global economic pressures.

Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Andrea Jenkyns said:

We understand that many people are worried about the impact of rising prices and we want to reassure people that we are stepping up to provide support where we can.

Back in June, we used predicted market rates to bring forward the announcement of a cap on student loan interest rates down from an expected 12% and we are now reducing the interest rate on student loans further to 6.3%, the rate applying today, to align with the most recent data on market rates.

For those starting higher education in September 2023 and any students considering that next step at the moment, we have cut future interest rates so that no new graduate will ever again have to pay back more than they have borrowed in real terms.

Monthly student loan repayments are calculated by income rather than interest rates or the amount borrowed. Unlike for commercials loans, repayments will stop for any borrowers who earn below the relevant repayment threshold.

A spokesperson for the Student Loans Company said:

The change in interest rates is automatically applied so customers don’t need to take any action. We encourage customers to use SLC’s online repayment service to regularly check their loan balance and repayment information, as well as ensure their contact information is up-to-date.

For new students from August 2023, student finance will be put on a more sustainable footing. Student loan interest rates will be reduced so that they will not, in real terms, repay more than they borrow.

In response to the rising inflation, the government is providing Cost of living support: help for households to help those struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the basics. This includes providing 8 million of the most vulnerable households with £1,200 extra support this year, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400. In early July, the National insurance contribution threshold was raised, giving the typical worker a tax cut of up to £330 per year, and millions of low-income households have now received the first instalment of their Cost of living payment.

November 15, 2022
Caroline Nokes – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Biometric Residence Permits

The parliamentary question asked by Caroline Nokes, the Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

Caroline Nokes

What steps she is taking to tackle delays in the processing of biometric residence permits.

The Minister for Immigration (Robert Jenrick)

There are currently no material delays in the physical production or delivery of biometric residence permits. We aim to deliver a BRP within seven working days of the immigration decision. All BRPs are currently being produced within 48 hours of receipt of a production request at the secure printing facility. Our secure delivery partner, FedEx, is attempting to deliver 99% of BRPs within 48 hours of their production and is successfully delivering nearly 80% of them first time.

Caroline Nokes

I thank my right hon. Friend for those statistics, which appear to be somewhat at odds with the experience of my constituents: Oksana Vakaliuk, a refugee from Ukraine, has been waiting since 1 May for her BRP; Adnam Hameed was granted his tier 2 visa in May and was still waiting for his BRP last month; and Mohammed Poswall has been waiting since July for his wife to receive the spousal visa stamp in her passport. I really appreciate the work that my right hon. Friend is doing in this respect, but the challenge is that these individuals could be working in our economy, contributing to meeting our skills shortages and paying tax. Will he meet me to go through these and other cases to help understand what is causing the delays, which may be specific to my region?

Robert Jenrick

I would be happy to meet my right hon. Friend. As I said in answer to her initial question, the data suggests that the vast majority of customers are receiving their BRPs within seven days and the system is working in an acceptable fashion. But if cases are falling through the cracks, it is of course right that we aim to fix that, and I would be pleased to meet her.

November 15, 2022
Bob Blackman – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Knife Crime

The parliamentary question asked by Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, in the House of Commons on 14 November 2022.

Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)

What steps she is taking to tackle knife crime and serious violence.

The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp)

The Government have taken a dual approach to tackling serious violence, combining tough enforcement with programmes steering people away from crime. Since 2019, we have invested £170 million in the areas most affected by violence to boost the police response, and we have invested a further £170 million in developing violence reduction units to tackle the root causes of violent crime. These programmes together have been assessed as preventing 49,000 violent offences in their first two years.

Bob Blackman

Harrow is, generally speaking, a safe borough in which to live, but we have seen an 18% increase in knife crime this year. There were 41 major incidents last month, and only last week there was a major incident in which three people were stabbed and put into hospital. Does my right hon. Friend agree that what is needed is not just extra police officers, but apprehending people who carry knives, punishing them by taking them to court and imprisoning them so they cannot cause damage to other people?

Chris Philp

I agree with my hon. Friend that a robust police response is essential, as is the courts making robust use of the two-strikes rule requiring a mandatory prison sentence on a second conviction for possessing a bladed article. Those are very important, and I am happy to look with him at how they are working and whether they need to be pushed a bit further. I am sorry to hear about the knife crime statistics in Harrow. Nationwide, knife crime, or knife-enabled crime, is down about 9% compared with pre-pandemic levels. If my hon. Friend feels that more needs to be done in his area, I would be happy to discuss it with him.

November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Aberdeen call centre boss Liam Mccreadie hit with 4-year ban for £1million tax abuse [November 2022]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 November 2022.

Liam Mccreadie, 26, from Aberdeen, has been disqualified as a director for 4 years after failing to pay more than £1.1 million in taxes and not submitting tax returns for his two companies.

Mccreadie was the sole director of two companies that both traded as a call centre business.

Lakemere Global Holdings Ltd, was incorporated in October 2017 and traded as AGO Outsourcing in both East Kilbride and Newcastle until it went into liquidation in October 2019, owing more than £794,000.

His other company, EK Sales Ltd, was incorporated in September 2017 – just a month before Lakemere went into liquidation – and took over trading as AGO Outsourcing until it also went into liquidation in October 2020, with debts of more than £515,000.

The call centre sites had been billed by AGO Outsourcing managers as “state of the art” sales centres, but had reportedly become subject to disputes with staff over payment of wages by October 2019.

The liquidation of the two companies led to an investigation by the Insolvency Service which found that Lakemere Global Holdings Ltd had not submitted tax returns between May and October 2019 and owed business and employee-related tax of around £629,000.

Investigators also discovered that EK Sales Ltd had failed to submit tax returns between December 2019 and August 2020 and owed business and employee-related tax of around £513,000.

Across both companies, the repeat abuse of tax led to a debt to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of more than £1,143,000.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Liam Mccreadie, after he didn’t dispute that he had failed to ensure that both Lakemere Global Holdings Ltd and EK Sales Ltd submitted returns and payment to HMRC, and caused the companies to trade to the detriment of HMRC in respect of business and employee-related tax.

His disqualification starts on 7 November 2022 and lasts for 4 years. The ban prevents Mccreadie from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Steven McGinty, Investigation Manager at the Insolvency Service, said

“The Insolvency Service will rigorously pursue traders who seek an unfair advantage over their competitors by not paying tax to the Government.

“If you run a limited company, you have statutory protections as well as obligations. If you fail to comply with your obligations, The Insolvency Service will investigate you and you could lose the protection of limited liability.

“Mr McCreadie has paid the price for failing to do that, as he cannot now carry on in business other than at his own risk.”

November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership Launched at G20 [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 15 November 2022.
- The new Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) will mobilise $20 billion [£17bn] over the next three to five years to accelerate a just energy transition.
- The UK stands ready to support delivery of the partnership, including through a $1 billion World Bank guarantee.¹
- The Indonesia JETP launch builds on momentum of other JETP progress during the COP27 Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined other world leaders at the G20 today [15 November] to launch the Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) side event.

This country-led partnership will help Indonesia pursue an accelerated just energy transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources. The JETP includes an ambitious pathway to reduce power sector emissions, a strategy based on the expansion of renewable energy, and the phase down of coal. This transition will not only deliver enhanced climate action, but will help support economic growth, new skilled jobs, reduced pollution, and a resilient, prosperous future for Indonesians.

The agreement focuses on achieving this transition in a way that considers all workers, communities and societal groups affected directly or indirectly by an energy transition away from coal, and helps to ensure that they are supported through concrete commitments.

The JETP model was pioneered at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year, where South Africa and an International Partners Group (IPG) of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union announced a ground-breaking long-term $8.5bn JETP, setting a new precedent in the global just energy transition.

Indonesia is the second country to launch a JETP. Among the world’s ten largest greenhouse gas emitters, Indonesia is now accelerating its transition to clean energy through the JETP’s strengthened commitments to maximise the use of abundant renewable energy resources and a strong political commitment to phase down coal-fired power in the medium-term.

In support of these commitments and actions, the Indonesia JETP will mobilise $20 billion over the next three to five years. $10 billion of public money will be mobilised by the IPG members and at least $10bn of private finance will be mobilised and facilitated by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) Working Group.

The United Kingdom has been an instrumental member of the IPG helping to agree this ambitious new JETP with Indonesia. The UK stands ready to support delivery of the partnership, including through a $1 billion World Bank guarantee. This facility will allow the Government of Indonesia to extend their borrowing on affordable World Bank terms by up to $1 billion.

The partnership will be a long-term political agreement between the Government of Indonesia and an IPG comprising the United States of America and Japan as joint leads, along with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the European Union, Canada, Italy, Norway, and Denmark.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said:

“I am proud to launch a new Just Energy Transition Partnership with the Government of Indonesia. This will unlock billions in private finance for new green infrastructure.”

COP26 President, Alok Sharma said:

“Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) are an innovative finance model that I am proud to say came out of COP26 and embody the ambition we called for in Glasgow. They provide a means for partner countries to work with climate finance donors and private sector investors on a clean, just energy transition to create new jobs, economic growth, clean air and a resilient, prosperous future.

“This country-led partnership will support Indonesia to accelerate its transition away from coal as part of the country’s commitment to its 2060 net zero target”.

The Indonesia JETP launch builds on the momentum from the COP27 Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, which saw progress on implementing the South Africa JETP and commitment to launch a JETP with Viet Nam this year². It demonstrates progress on the UK-launched G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII). JETPs are a core delivery mechanism of PGII, which aims to narrow the infrastructure investment gap in developing countries³.

Just ahead of COP27, South Africa released their Just Energy Transition Investment Plan which outlines clear pathways for implementation. At COP27, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, along with the European Union, United States of America, Germany, and France to discuss the JETP. Following this key milestone, a 12 month update on progress in advancing the South Africa JETP was published which acknowledges the progress made and outlines the next steps in this long-term partnership.

At COP27, COP26 President Alok Sharma, met with Tran Hong Ha, Vietnam’s Minister for Natural Resources and Environment to discuss a potential JETP between the IPG and Vietnam. Minister Ha and Mr. Sharma recommitted to finalising the details of an ambitious political declaration and package of financial support for Viet Nam’s energy transition, with the intent to launch the agreement before the end of 2022.

Work also continues between the IPG and the Government of India towards concluding a partnership on just energy transition in 2023 during India’s G20 Presidency. The IPG is also working closely with the Government of Senegal to explore a way forward for a JETP. Further details will be shared in due course.
November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Review of broadcast rules around major sporting events [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 15 November 2022.
- Changes would help ensure big moments such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon remain accessible on platforms such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and Channel 4’s on-demand service
- Comes as rising numbers of viewers tune in via digital platforms
Sports fans’ access to watch the biggest global events on digital platforms could be guaranteed as the government reviews the rules which provide broadcasters access to major sporting contests.

The Digital Rights Review, launched today, will look at whether the government’s free-to-air ‘listed events’ rules should be reformed so that public service broadcasters (PSBs) – including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – are guaranteed the opportunity to show certain major events such as the Olympics and World Cup on their digital platforms rather than just focusing on traditional TV broadcasting as is the case today.

The listed events regime helps ensure the British public are able to tune into the biggest sporting moments at no additional cost by giving PSBs the opportunity to bid for the broadcasting rights. This has meant that more than 40 million people watched Euro 2020 on the BBC and 36 million people watched the Tokyo Olympics last year.

As more people tune in via catch-up and streaming services to watch sport, the review will assess whether including digital rights can ensure as many people as possible can continue to access events including Wimbledon, the Paralympic Games and the Grand National.

Currently if, for example, the Olympic 100m final was broadcast live in the middle of the night on the BBC, but all streaming and catch-up rights were sold to a different broadcaster and kept behind a paywall, a wide audience may not be able to watch this important event.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

As we saw during the Women’s Euros and with the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, we know that enjoying blockbuster sporting events together means so much to many people. Everyone should be able to watch these incredible moments of national unity, no matter how they choose to tune in.

As viewing habits shift online, it is right that we review our rules and consider whether updates are needed to ensure our brilliant public service broadcasters can continue to bring major events to the public at no extra cost.

The Terms of Reference, which determine precisely what the review will cover, have been published today and marks the public launch of the review.

The Government believes that certain sporting events of national interest should be shown on free-to-air television so that they can be enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible.

However, it is also important that it is recognised that the current framework was decided in a different media landscape almost twenty years ago, when just four per cent of UK households had access to the internet.

As such, the review will take into consideration broader online distribution of sporting rights, including video sharing platforms and social media, which has increased exponentially since the current legal framework was established in 1996.

In doing so, the review will balance the desire from audiences to watch national sporting events at no additional cost with the ability for sporting organisations to generate revenues from sports rights to re-invest in their sports at all levels.
November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Conservative comment on health board interventions [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 14 November 2022.

Labour’s health minister has escalated the levels of government intervention in Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board.

In a written statement, Baroness Morgan decided to keep quality governance at targeted intervention levels, but escalate quality related to performance and long waiting times to targeted intervention, and raise planning and finance to enhanced monitoring.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said:

“It is a shame that after recent progress on de-escalating maternity services from special measures, it has become apparent that in chasing one result, the minister has taken her foot of the pedal and seen things get worse in other parts of Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board.

“Everyone should be concerned that the government are directly intervening because of quality performance and long waiting times because this has very real consequences for patient safety and staff well-being.

“Sadly, the issues facing the NHS are Wales-wide, with most health boards in some state of intervention, record-long waiting lists, the slowest ever ambulance response times, and Britain’s worst A&E waits.

“What we need more than just action is explanation for why this is the case – otherwise, Labour will never get a grip on the NHS and stop breaking all the wrong records.”

She also confirmed North Wales’ health board will remain at targeted intervention to incorporate Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, focusing on the vascular service and emergency department, stating “it is clear there are still a number of serious challenges the health board needs to overcome”.

November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Time for Labour to take responsibility for Wales’ education system [November 2022]

The press release issued by Welsh Conservatives on 14 November 2022.

Education Minister, Jeremy Miles has accepted the 5% uplift for teachers’ pay, recommended by the Welsh Pay Review Body. He complained, however, that the UK Government has not made additional funding available to pay teachers more.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Minister, Laura Anne Jones MS said:

“Jeremy Miles’ insistence on passing the buck at every turn when it comes to Wales’ education has grown tiresome. With education devolved for nearly 25 years and the levers of power firmly in Labour’s grasp, the Minister has no one to blame here but himself.

“Labour constantly complain of a lack of funds, but have proceeded to waste taxpayers’ money on their vanity projects. £100 million to expand the Senedd, almost £200 million on cancelled road projects and £20 million on their Universal Basic Income scheme to name a few.

“And let’s not forget for every pupil in Wales, there is actually a funding deficit of £1,000 as pupils should be receiving an additional 20% than their counterparts across the border.

“It is time Labour finally take responsibility, they have been running the education system for a quarter of a century.”

November 15, 2022