Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Royal Engineers lead training effort to help Ukraine defend its critical national infrastructure [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 October 2023.

Ukrainian civilian engineers have received training in the UK to learn techniques to protect critical infrastructure from Russian drone and missile attacks.

British Army Royal Engineer specialists have delivered a new programme of training to help Ukraine strengthen its ability to protect its critical national infrastructure (CNI) from Russian attacks and save civilian lives this winter.

Damage and destruction of CNI by Russian missile and drone attacks represents one of the greatest threats to the lives and safety of Ukrainian civilians following Putin’s illegal invasion.

The training will improve Ukraine’s ability to plan the defence of its CNI from such attacks, with trainees instructed how to identify the most vulnerable elements of CNI, potential blast ranges and impacts of different weapons and explosives, and where best to locate physical and aerial barriers to help protect these sites from Russian attacks.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

It is essential that Ukraine receives the support it urgently needs throughout the winter, as its civilian population faces mortal danger on a daily basis from Putin’s forces and their indiscriminate campaign of bombardment against its critical infrastructure.

The Ukrainian people have demonstrated unwavering resilience in the face of this illegal invasion and this tailored package of training will help save lives during the bitterly cold winter months, where access to reliable energy is of vital importance.

The two-week training package was developed and delivered following a request from Ukraine to further improve the protection of its energy sector and has already progressed in complexity from earlier courses focused on basic protection measures, such as use of sand bags and entrenchment.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps recently announced a new package of support for Ukraine, procured through the International Fund for Ukraine, to provide £100m in capability to provide maintenance and manoeuvre support – including heavy duty plant vehicles to help shore up Ukraine’s defensive infrastructure. The UK also hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference this year, where new support was announced including a £45m funding boost for Ukraine’s energy recovery.

Bringing together Ukrainian professionals from across the energy, water, transport, and academic sectors for the CNI protection training meant they could share knowledge and past experiences which ultimately will increase the resilience of the CNI network.

Major Michael Suddaby, from 63 Works Group Royal Engineers, said:

There is no doubt this training will be implemented in Ukraine in the coming weeks and have a real-life impact on the quality of life of its civilians and the ability for Ukraine to resist Russian attacks throughout the winter.

The Ukrainian participants were extremely motivated and will be able to apply the specialist force protection measures and the infrastructure assessment methods delivered on this course to support their country.

The Royal Engineers have drawn on specialist reservists, who work within the UK CNI sector and have employed their professional experience and technical knowledge to deliver elements of the training at a UK gasworks, military airstrip, and a port facility.

This is built upon experience from deployments including to Bangladesh to assess flood damage and Nepal to assess earthquake damage. The course drew on several real-life scenarios to provide Ukrainian participants with opportunities to practice plan development and implementation of practical solutions to provide their CNI facilities with the most efficient protection.

October 30, 2023
James Cleverly – 2023 Statement at the Cairo Peace Summit

The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, in Cairo on 21 October 2023.

Thank you Mr President for convening this incredibly important meeting at this difficult time.

I am sure we all share the revulsion at Hamas’s murderous acts of terrorism, the targeting of civilians, the murdering of children, the desecration of dead bodies. And I’m sure we are all distressed by the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza whose lives have been made harder, more painful and more dangerous because of the brutal attacks by Hamas on the 7th of October. And we all mourn the dead, both Israeli and Palestinian.

This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities how divisive and polarising the current situation has become. So we have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region and claiming yet more lives. We must work together to prevent the tragic situation in Gaza becoming a regional conflict because that is exactly what Hamas wants.

We remind ourselves that just months ago the Negev summit was a moment of hope, hope for peaceful coexistence between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Hamas has long stood in direct opposition to that vision and we must therefore ensure that Hamas does not win. Rather, we must ensure the peaceful co-existence wins.

The UK notes the thoughtful and calm words of President Abbas on behalf of the Palestinian people, and we are grateful to the governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza. And we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid, which many of us have partially funded, reaches those Gazans who are deeply in need.

The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of those who were kidnapped on the 7th of October. And we are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and that their actions are in accordance with international law. I have spoken directly to the Israeli government about their duty to respect international law and the importance of preserving civilian lives in Gaza. Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the Israeli military.

The situation currently unfolding is probably the most challenging situation that I have had to deal with in my professional, personal or political life. And I suspect that I am not alone.

But I still believe in the power of diplomacy, and I still believe that we can work together to secure a future where Israelis and Palestinians live in peace.

October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Simpler recycling collections and tougher regulation to reform waste system [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 21 October 2023.

Reforms to household and business bin collections and a crackdown on unscrupulous waste carriers will boost recycling rates and protect the environment.

Reforms to household and business bin collections and a crackdown on unscrupulous waste carriers will boost recycling rates and protect the environment, the Government announced today.

A new, simpler common-sense approach to recycling means people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school, putting an end to confusion over what can and can’t be recycled in different parts of the country.

Weekly collections of food waste will also be introduced for most households across England by 2026 – ending the threat of smelly waste waiting weeks for collection and cutting food waste heading to landfill. This will also stop a trend towards three- or four-weekly bin collections seen in some local authorities across the UK, particularly in Wales.

The government is proposing new exemptions to make sure that waste collectors will be able to collect dry recyclables together, in the same bin or bag, and collect organic waste together, to reduce the number of bins required.

As previously confirmed by the Prime Minister, the new plans for simpler recycling will make sure that households will not need an excessive number of bins. The reforms will bring in a more convenient and practical system which prevents councils from being hit with extra complexity, while making sure all local authorities collect the required recyclable waste streams: glass; metal; plastic; paper and card; food waste; and garden waste.

This means manufacturers can design packaging and know it can be recycled across the nation, ensuring there is more recycled material in the products we buy and allowing the UK recycling industry to grow.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said:

Simpler recycling will help us all recycle more easily, doing our bit to help save the planet and make the best use of precious resources that we use every day.

Alongside weekly food waste collections, we are ending the postcode lottery of what you can put in your bin so that wherever you live in the country, you will be able to recycle the same products with confidence.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Our ambitious plans will help every household, business, school and hospital in the country to recycle more. We have listened to councils and come up with a system that will increase recycling in a way that does not clutter our pavements with numerous bins and smelly food waste collections for weeks, making recycling simpler and more effective.

This will help us to make the most of our finite and precious resources, while reducing carbon emissions and protecting our precious environment from harmful waste.”

The plans will help ensure that households benefit from frequent and comprehensive rubbish and recycling collections wherever they live across England, with the new weekly food waste collections and the proposal to include in guidance an expectation that residual rubbish is collected at least fortnightly, helping avoid long waits for smelly waste to be removed. Government will also work with local authorities to assess the collection of residual waste more frequently, especially in urban areas.

Paul Vanston, Chief Executive of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), said:

INCPEN’s recent citizens surveys show there is huge public support for the idea of clear, unambiguous recycling instructions on packaging that match-up with what can be put into household recycling bins wherever citizens live across the whole country.

Today’s announcements move us several steps closer to turbo boosting the country’s packaging recycling rates on metals, paper and card, glass, hard and soft plastics and cartons whilst enabling citizens to be super-confident when applying simpler recycling behaviours at home and at work in future.

Margaret Bates, Managing Director at On-Pack Recycling Label Ltd (OPRL), said:

This announcement is a prompt and clear message that will make planning and operations more efficient for local authorities, packaging producers, brands and waste managers.

Defra has clearly worked hard to clarify the detail of Simpler Recycling as quickly as possible and this statement should be a welcome assurance for local authorities and wider industry.

Claire Shrewsbury, Director of Insights and Innovation at WRAP, said:

We welcome Defra’s announcement on Simpler Recycling and the inclusion of the six key materials and universal food waste collections for England.

It’s encouraging that more than 2.2 million businesses will now be required to separate their waste for recycling.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said:

Simplifying recycling in this way will make it far easier for hospitality businesses to recycle even more and ensure we’re being as sustainable as possible.

Recycling rates across the sector are already strong, with the vast majority of single-use plastics having been eliminated and food waste consistently on its way down and we’re pleased to work with the Government to continually improve the recycling systems for businesses.

Gavin Graveson, Senior Executive Vice President Northern Europe Zone at Veolia, said:

Today’s simpler recycling announcement is a welcome step forward to improve the quantity and quality of material that we process.

We now need to quicken the pace of UK recycling rates by ensuring that packaging is designed to be reused, repaired or recycled.

The plans will apply to all homes in England, including flats. Similar measures will apply to non-household municipal premises, including businesses, hospitals, schools and universities.

In addition to these measures, the Government will continue to drive forward efforts to make waste collections simpler across the country by launching a four-week consultation on expanding the definition of non-household municipal premises – so that places of worship, prisons, charity shops and residential hostels could also be covered by the rules.

These plans will be supported by a major new effort to clamp down on untrustworthy waste operators and ensure that our waste ends up where it’s supposed to be. This includes increasing background checks for firms who move or trade waste, to make it harder for rogue operators to find work and easier for regulators to act against criminals. Plans to overhaul the current system for tracking how waste is handled will also improve the way data is currently collected, strengthening regulators’ abilities to detect waste crime through a new system for digital waste tracking which will record information from the point it is produced to the point it is disposed of – giving them the evidence they need to hold criminals to account.

Steve Molyneux, Deputy Director of Waste Regulation at the Environment Agency, said:

Inappropriately managed waste can have a terrible impact on local communities and nature and undermines investment in the UK by responsible businesses. That’s why we are working to stop waste crime, which is estimated to cost the economy in England £1 billion per year.

Reforming the licensing system for carriers, brokers and dealers and introducing mandatory UK-wide digital waste tracking will support people to do the right thing by disposing of their waste correctly.

We are determined to keep one step ahead of the criminals – those acting without regard for the harm they cause – to shut them out of the system and move us towards an economy in which there is no space for waste crime.”

Today’s package builds on wider efforts to increase recycling and reduce waste. New restrictions on single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers came into force on 1 October in order to reduce plastic pollution and keep streets clean. We are also moving forward with the implementation of our Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers and our Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging to boost recycling and clamp down on plastic pollution and litter.

We have already introduced a ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, restrictions on the supply of single-use plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds, and our world-leading Plastic Packaging Tax last year.

Meanwhile, our single-use plastic carrier bag charge has successfully cut sales by over 97% in the main supermarkets.

October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : DSAME – Lebanon must not be dragged into regional conflict [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 October 2023.

Marshal Martin Sampson, ended a two-day visit to Lebanon to reassure and show support to the UK’s partners in the region including Lebanon.

The UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa (DSAME), Air Marshal Martin Sampson, ended a two-day visit to Lebanon 18-19 October 2023. This is part of his regional tour, including Egypt and Jordan – to reassure and show support to the UK’s partners in the region including Lebanon.

Air Marshal Sampson met with General Joseph Aoun, Chief of Defence for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Prime Minister Najib Mikati. In his messages he reiterated the UK’s unwavering support to the people of Lebanon and the LAF.

In a phone call with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Aroldo Lázaro, Air Marshal Sampson conveyed the UK’s support to UNIFIL and its important role in maintaining calm and stability.

At Hamat Air Base, Air Marshal Sampson was briefed on the many UK military training tasks in Lebanon, including the highly successful joint military exercise “Pegasus Cedar” which was the UK’s largest ever joint military exercise with the Lebanese Air Assault Regiment.

At the end of his visit, Air Marshal Sampson said:

An important time to visit Lebanon during the current regional instability. During my meetings I reiterated the UK’s position that Lebanon must not be dragged into a regional conflict.

The LAF continues to be at the forefront of safeguarding Lebanon’s security and stability which remains a priority for the UK.

October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2023.

Baroness Ruth Deech has been announced as the preferred candidate for the Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

Subject to pre-appointment scrutiny, Baroness Deech will commence the role in November 2023, following Lord Bew’s term coming to an end.

Baroness Deech has a background in law and taught at numerous institutions including Oxford University. She has written extensively about family law and was appointed an honorary King’s Counsel.

She was Principal of St Anne’s College Oxford and a Pro Vice-Chancellor.

In addition to her legal and academic background, Baroness Deech took on extensive regulatory roles including Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and Chair of the Bar Standards Board. She was also the first Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.

Baroness Deech was appointed DBE in 2003 and made a life peer in 2005. She sits on the crossbenches as an independent legislator and has chaired committees reporting on the retention of women doctors and on equality and disability.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, said:

Baroness Deech will make an excellent Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Her extensive legal, academic and regulatory experience will be a huge asset and ensure the Commission can continue its crucial, independent advisory work.

Baroness Deech said:

As a lawyer and an independent peer, the success of HOLAC is important to me. I want the public to have confidence that the Commission will ensure that nominees for appointment to the House of Lords are outstanding individuals who will make significant and effective contributions to the legislative and scrutiny work of the House.

It will also be my aim to work towards a membership representing all regions of the UK and from every walk of life. Maintaining public trust in the Commission’s independence and in the quality of new peers is vital for our constitution.

This announcement follows an open competition for the role.

The appointment will now undergo a pre-appointment hearing, where the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) will hear evidence from the preferred candidate and publish a report setting out their views on the candidate’s suitability for the post.

Notes to editors:

HOLAC was established in 2000. Its functions are to recommend individuals for appointment as non-party political life peers and to vet nominations for life peers, including those nominated by the UK political parties, to ensure the highest standards of propriety.

The Commission’s Chair is appointed for a non-renewable, five-year term of office. More information about the Commission can be found on the House of Lords Appointments Commission website.

October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government consults on safe and legal routes for refugees [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 October 2023.

Local authorities will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year, based on the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support people coming to the UK via safe and legal routes, as the government continues work to deliver its plan to stop the boats.

The UK-wide consultation will seek to better understand the capacity of local authorities to accommodate and support vulnerable and at-risk people coming to the UK via safe and legal routes – with a view to the UK taking only as many refugees as local communities can support.

Local authorities play an essential role in helping to resettle refugees and ensure they have the best start to rebuild their lives in the UK, from providing housing, help and access to education and job support. However, the UK’s ability to welcome people through safe and legal routes has been impacted by the unsustainable rise in illegal crossings which has put insurmountable pressure on local public services and housing. This has not only impacted communities but also the number of people the UK is able to provide protection to and the level of support offered to refugees.

With a clearer picture of the UK’s capacity to welcome refugees, through the cap, the government will be able to redouble efforts to help more people from all over the world to come through safe and legal routes and ensure that commitments made by councils can be met now and in the future. This will create a more sustainable and well-managed system that is fairer and prioritises both local communities and refugees.

The cap will include the main safe and legal routes used by vulnerable and at-risk people, including the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and the Community Sponsorship Scheme.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those who need it and offers some of the most generous safe and legal routes anywhere. Since 2015, a safe and legal route has been offered to over half a million men, women and children seeking safety.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

The unacceptable number of people making illegal, dangerous and wholly unnecessary small boat crossings is placing an immense strain on housing and services across the UK.

As part of the Illegal Migration Act to stop the boats, we will bring in a cap on our safe and legal routes informed by the capacity of local authorities. This will ensure that we do not take more refugees than our public services and communities can cope with and that the refugees we do decide to take can be properly supported and integrated.

The Illegal Migration Act 2023 included provisions for a cap on the maximum number of people to come to the UK each year via safe and legal routes. While the government’s consultation is open to local authorities, NGOs and charities who provide accommodation and support are encouraged to work with councils to help provide a clear picture of capacity in local areas.

The cap does not include the Ukraine visa schemes, the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), the Hong Kong British National (overseas) route or the Mandate Scheme. However, the government is also asking local authorities to consider the impact of these routes in their responses to ensure an accurate picture of their capacity.

The cap will be agreed in Parliament and will launch in January 2025.

Under the cap, the number of people who can come to the UK will be able to be changed each year, taking into consideration capacity in local areas, for example in response to a humanitarian crisis.

In addition to the consultation, through the Illegal Migration Act, in January 2024, a report will be laid before Parliament which will set out what is meant by safe and legal routes, detailing existing routes and any proposed additional ones, and how they can be accessed by those most in need.

October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New medical and welfare services for veterans living in Northern Ireland [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2023.

A new pilot will improve health and wellbeing services for veterans living in Northern Ireland, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has announced.
- Office for Veterans’ Affairs providing £500,000 pilot funding to level up medical and welfare service for veterans in Northern Ireland.
- The new service will provide timely support and guidance to veterans who require healthcare.
- Support will be provided in areas such as mental health, advice on musculoskeletal issues and linking with local services.
A new pilot will improve health and wellbeing services for veterans living in Northern Ireland, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has announced.

The service, backed by £500,000 of UK Government funding as part of the Health Innovation Fund, will run for 18 months, and will be led by Defence Medical Welfare Service, an independent charity.

The support on offer will include:
- Linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the support available.
- Providing advice on physical health issues such as musculoskeletal problems.
- Pain management and lifestyle.
- Mental health support including help with anxiety, depression, PTSD and bereavement.
The support will be provided by new staff embedded within the Defence Medical Welfare Service and the staff will work across Northern Ireland.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer said:

If we’re going to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran, we need to make sure that veterans can access the support they need in all four corners of the UK.

This new pilot service for veterans in Northern Ireland will provide important advice and support in areas such as mental and physical health, as well as where to access the right care.

Backed by £500,000 from our Health Innovation Fund, I’m proud that this is the first Northern Ireland specific funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.

The new service will provide assistance in a variety of ways, including linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the help available; advice on physical health issues such as musculoskeletal problems, pain management and lifestyle.

Mental health support will also be readily available for veterans through the pilot, including help with anxiety, depression, PTSD and bereavement.

The pilot will also provide anonymised data insight into the health needs of veterans in Northern Ireland, and data on the effectiveness of a medical welfare support service.

This data will inform future policy making, and ensure any unmet needs are identified and most efficiently addressed.

The Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, Danny Kinahan, said:

The launch of the Defence Medical Welfare Service led NI Health Project, will go some way to helping fill the gaps that exist within our healthcare system in providing support for veterans, while they wait for, or undergo medical treatment for both physical and mental health. I am encouraged that this project will help provide the much needed healthcare and associated wellbeing support for veterans living in Northern Ireland, and ensure veterans living here feel more included and valued for their dedicated and selfless service.

CEO of The Defence Medical Welfare Service, Mr Paul Gaffney, said:

DMWS are proud to be working with the support of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to deliver a new service to veterans in Northern Ireland.

This independent project will support both the physical and mental health needs of veterans taking account of their specialist requirements. DMWS work collaboratively with existing statutory and third sector provision to build improved health and wellbeing outcomes for veterans.
October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with the Amir of Qatar [October 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 October 2023.

The Prime Minister met the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, this morning in Riyadh.

The leaders agreed that the loss of civilian life following Hamas’ attacks was shocking and tragic. They underlined the imperative of avoiding any escalation in the violence across the region and agreed that leaders had a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent it.

The Prime Minister thanked Qatar for their efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas two weeks ago, including British nationals. He said that the UK Government would use all the tools at our disposal to support these efforts and end the torment of the victims and their families. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact to continue these efforts.

The Prime Minister and the Amir welcomed progress on opening up humanitarian access to Gaza. They agreed on the urgent need to get food, water and medicine to civilians who are suffering.

The leaders looked forward to meeting again soon to deepen the bilateral relationship between our countries.

October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : County lines gangs smashed in national police blitz [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 October 2023.

Over 1,600 arrests during county lines crackdown in national police operation last week, with over 100kg cannabis and £1.2 million of Class A drugs seized.
Drug gangs across the UK were targeted in a national police operation last week, leading to 250 county lines being taken down and 1,613 arrests.

The County Lines Intensification Week, co-ordinated by the NPCC-led National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), also saw 103kg of cannabis seized, alongside 40kg of Class A drugs worth over £1.2 million, 33 firearms, 377 bladed weapons, and over £1.2 million in cash, as forces made large gains against these gangs and the products that finance their exploitative criminality.

710 vulnerable people, including 58 children were also referred by police to safeguarding services through the national operation. Exploitation, coercion, and violence are cornerstones of the county lines trade, and cannabis is used by gangs to trap young people into debt, forcing them to transport their drugs and sell to other children to continue the cycle. By rescuing these vulnerable people from the grip of these gangs and helping them into support services such as the Home Office-funded Catch 22, this cycle of violence and abuse is being broken.

In one operation attended by the Home Secretary during the National Police Chiefs’ Councils (NPCC) Intensification Week in the West Midlands, £850,000 worth of cannabis was seized from cannabis factories, with more than 850 plants and nearly 6kg of dried cannabis recovered.

Last week’s enforcement successes come as new Home Office statistics show that since April 2022, 1,700 lines have been taken down though the government’s County Lines Programme, alongside 3,300 arrests and 4,100 vulnerable people referred to support services, highlighting the success law enforcement, government and support services are having in bringing down this heinous criminality.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

Vile thugs running county lines drug gangs blight our communities and groom the most vulnerable in society for their personal gain.

Our police officers are working every day to break up these criminal networks pushing illegal drugs on our streets, and since April 2022 they have shut down over 1,700 county lines through the County Lines Programme.

My message is clear. We will not tolerate illegal drugs of any kind, and we must rid our communities of these criminals.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for County Lines, Commander Paul Brogden, said:

County Lines drug dealing destroys lives, and we are committed to tackling the supply of illegal drugs, and the exploitation and violence that is frequently associated with it.

County Lines remains a top priority for policing and our latest intensification week figures show significant inroads policing has made into these criminal networks with 250 county lines closed during the week. Not only that, but we have continued to go after the line holders and arrested over 1,600 criminals involved in county lines and taken extremely dangerous weapons, including 33 firearms off the street.

Our message is clear to anyone running county lines across the country: we will be relentless in our pursuit of you, we will shut down your county lines, we will take drugs off our streets and we will rescue those who are being exploited by you.

The intensification week, which ran from Monday 9 October to Sunday 15 October, saw:

250 county lines taken down

1,613 people arrested

458 weapons seized, including 33 firearms, 377 bladed weapons, 3 crossbows, 21 batons and 28 knuckle dusters

over £1.2 million worth of Class A and Class B drugs seized

£437,000 worth of crack cocaine, £100,000 worth of heroin, 40kg of cocaine and 103kg of cannabis seized

£1,284,729.88 in cash seized

The government established the County Lines Programme in 2019 to tackle the abusive and violent county lines trade, providing forces and victim support services a clear strategy to end the terror these gangs inflict on our streets. Adopted by the 4 forces that face the majority of county lines criminality – Metropolitan Police, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and West Midlands Police – the County Lines Programme closed over 1,700 lines between April 2022 and June 2023, achieving in just over a year 85% of the 3-year target set in the 2021 Drug Strategy.

Key to the programme is victim support, and the government has put up to £5 million into services such as Catch 22 and Missing People’s SafeCall service to help young people and their families as they escape these gangs. To continue to help these victim support services and front-line workers, updated guidance has also been published by the Home Office today that will aid the identification of potential victims and appropriate safeguarding referral routes, and ensure those who are in need receive help.

James Simmonds-Read, National Programme Manager at the Children’s Society, said:

Criminals groom young people in person or online and use terrifying threats and violence to force them into crimes such as carrying drugs and fraud or exploiting them sexually.

This Awareness Week we want to highlight how exploitation can happen to any young person, anywhere, and as the nights draw in, we especially urge people to spot the signs of exploitation in public places after dark.

Young people can be targeted at fast food outlets, forced to travel on trains and in taxis late at night, and are abused behind closed doors, in hotels and holiday lets.

Whether you are on a night out, commuting home, staying overnight for a business trip, or working as a driver or in customer service, you could be the one that gets help.

Call the police on 101 or 999 if there is an immediate risk. If on a train text British Transport Police on 61016. Alternatively, you can contact the NSPCC for advice on 0808 800 5000.
October 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK-Tunisia Association Council 2023 – joint communique [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 October 2023.

The second ministerial meeting of the UK-Tunisia Association Council took place in London on 12 October 2023.

The British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Right Honourable James Cleverly, and Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, welcomed His Excellency Nabil Ammar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad of the Republic of Tunisia, for wide-ranging talks on the bilateral partnership.

The talks covered the positive shared history between the 2 countries and peoples, reaffirming the vision of a comprehensive partnership to deepen trade and investment, an education partnership, security cooperation and deeper engagement on the shared challenge of irregular migration. Talks also covered the political situation, the importance of political participation, democratic freedoms and human rights in both countries, as well as regional and international political developments.

On trade, the Association Council meeting:
- agreed to advance initiatives to deepen bilateral trade and mutually beneficial investments
- highlighted their aspiration to develop their economic relations by encouraging UK companies to explore opportunities to invest in Tunisia across a variety of sectors. The 2 countries looked forward to the completion of a number of investment projects, and to work closely on renewable energy under the framework of the UK-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding
- reaffirmed the Association Agreement as an effective mechanism for closer economic ties. A sub-committee was established to support an increase in bilateral trade and investment, and to tackle barriers faced by British and Tunisia companies when accessing each other’s markets
In addition to trade and investment, the 2 sides discussed:
- irregular migration: recognising that significant increases in irregular migration flows into North Africa this year, across the Mediterranean and beyond, can only be tackled by close international cooperation. Both countries recognised the exploitative role that organised criminal groups are playing, the real need to disrupt these human trafficking networks, and to invest in encouraging migrants to stay and invest in their home countries
- security: both sides committing to deeper partnership in tackling terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms, and reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The 2 parties expressed deep concern regarding the evolution of the terrorist threat in Africa, particularly in the Sahel
- education: reaffirming a commitment to capitalise on the growing Tunisian interest in British education and the English language, especially among youth, and closer collaboration between British and Tunisian higher education and scientific research institutions
October 30, 2023