Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : People smuggler who left 7 migrants screaming for help jailed [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 September 2024.

A people smuggler who left 7 migrants screaming for help after cramming them into a tiny concealment in the back of his van has been jailed for 10 years.

Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was sentenced today at Lewes Crown Court after ferry staff discovered 7 terrified migrants hidden in a 2 metre compartment of his lorry at Newhaven Ferry Port earlier this year.

Mustafa, who was travelling on a ferry from Dieppe, France to the UK, hid 7 people behind a fitted panel which was specially designed to hide the group in the rear of his van.

His victims, who were forced to stand due to the miniscule size of the gap, were left with no access to clean air, food or water for hours.

As of today, one of the victims, who suffered a stroke, has since developed a long-term memory issue as a result of the conditions they were placed in by Mustafa. One woman also suffered from acute kidney injuries. The rest all required urgent hospital treatment for heat exhaustion and dehydration.

On 29 August, the jury unanimously found the father of 2 guilty of facilitating the breach of UK immigration law.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said:

This evil criminal put 7 people’s lives at risk for cash. It is a miracle they are still alive after the conditions they were put in at the hands of Mr Mustafa.

We cannot let these criminal gangs continue to put lives on the line, which is why we are taking decisive action against those who undermine our border security. Our new Border Security Command brings together hundreds of specialist investigators who are dedicated to tackling the criminal gangs upstream before they get a chance to operate in the UK.

Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations regional lead, Chris Foster, said:

Today’s sentence is a clear message to the careless people smugglers who put profit over lives, we will continue to tirelessly pursue you and bring justice to those you exploit.

The victims are extremely lucky to be alive. This harrowing case shows the extraordinary lengths criminals go to to keep their business model going. My team are committed to staying one step ahead to make sure we stop them and protect lives.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Paul Corrigan appointed by the government to help shape health plans [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 September 2024.

Paul Corrigan brings extensive sector experience and will work on emerging policy to support the government on successfully delivering better health services.
- Paul Corrigan has accepted a direct ministerial appointment to the Department of Health and Social Care
- Paul will work closely with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to shape the government’s 10-year health plan and provide independent scrutiny of its structure and implementation
The government has committed to 3 strategic shifts in its mission for health: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention.

These ambitions have been long held in the health and care sector but have not, as yet, been successfully delivered.

With this in mind, Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, is bringing in additional experience to support the government to turn visions for better health services into successful delivery.

Paul has previously worked as a government adviser, and has undertaken several executive and non-executive roles across the health and care sector, including positions held at NHS London Strategic Health Authority, Care Quality Commission and Care City. He joins the department to work on emerging policy and delivery issues.

The appointment is a paid role, which began on 11 July 2024 and is for a 12-month period with the possibility of extension. It is not a Civil Service appointment.

Paul’s arrival reflects the scale and complexity of the challenges facing the health and care system. He brings a combination of intellect, experience managing organisational change, and a history of personal effectiveness in all his previous roles.
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK celebrates pride with India’s LGBT+ community [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 September 2024.

The British High Commission will host a reception today to mark the sixth anniversary of the landmark Section 377 judgement.

The judgement passed on 6 September 2018 by the Supreme Court of India decriminalised consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex.

The reception will see members of civil society, NGOs working on human rights, and diplomats of other international missions coming together to celebrate and advance the rights of the LGBT+ community.

Manvendra Singh Gohil, the crown prince of Rajpipla and founder-chairman of the Lakshaya Trust has been invited as the guest of honour.

Becks Buckingham, Minister Counsellor Political and Press, British High Commission, said:

LGBT+ rights are fundamental human rights, and the UK is committed to championing these rights internationally and supporting those who defend them. We recognise that there is still much to be done to ensure that all LGBT+ individuals feel safe and are treated equally and with respect. We take pride in continuing to work hand in hand with our partners to achieve this shared goal.

Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, Chairman, Lakshaya Trust, said:

LGBT+ rights are human rights, and it was on 6th September 2018 that the historic judgment was given by the Honourable Supreme Court. I am honoured to join the British High Commission today to celebrate the sixth anniversary with supporters of LGBT+ rights from all walks of life. I always believe that it’s our supporters who can help us mainstream our issues in the society.

Further information
- the UK seeks a world where everyone is free and safe to play a full, active and equal part in society, without fear of violence, discrimination or stigma, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Our policy aims are:
  - ending violence, discrimination, and stigma
  - advancing human rights compliant laws and policies and defending against rollback of rights
  - enabling economic, cultural, and societal inclusion for all LGBT people to unlock potential and build our economies
  - supporting LGBT+ people in crisis and conflict
- the UK champions and supports grassroots LGBT+ organisations and human rights defenders globally through targeted programmes and direct engagement
- the UK has engaged in long-standing international collaboration on this topic. This includes our work we did as previous co-chairs of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) and European LGBTI Focal Points Network (EFPN) as well as being the current co-chairs of the ERC SDG group
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Schools urged to capitalise on Paralympic success [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 6 September 2024.

Government reminds schools to ensure all children have equal access to PE and school sport with support from the Inclusion 2024 programme.

Schools Minister, Catherine McKinnell, is calling on schools to enhance physical education (PE) and school sport opportunities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), in the spirit of the Paralympic Games.

The government’s Inclusion programme is available to all schools in the country, through both expert support and free resources, and can help schools enhance opportunities for young people with SEND to engage in PE and school sports, including some of the 22 sports featured in the Paralympics.

Now in its fourth year, the programme works with a network of 52 lead schools to support local counterparts, including mainstream schools, special schools, and alternative provision settings, providing advice and training to upskill the school workforce to make their PE and sport more inclusive.

The government recently launched a Curriculum and Assessment Review to drive high and rising standards for all pupils and tackle the barriers which hold them back, including pupils with SEND. The review will consider how best to open up access to subjects such as PE and sport, music, art, and drama.

School Standards Minister, Catherine McKinnell said:

Following a summer of major sporting events including the Olympics and Paralympics, the profound impact sports can have on young people has been clearer than ever – shaping their character and fostering a sense of belonging.

Every child, regardless of their circumstances, background and abilities should have access to, and benefit from, quality sporting opportunities both inside and outside of school.

It’s fantastic to see so many organisations coming together to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the quality and accessibility of PE and school sport provision for pupils with SEND.

Delivered by a consortium of the Youth Sport Trust, ParalympicsGB, Swim England, Activity Alliance and nasen, the programme offers a unique opportunity for young people to draw inspiration from the Paralympic spirit and be encouraged to participate in physical activities within their schools.

Over the last three years of the programme:
- Almost 15,000 young people have taken part, with over 3,000 trained as leaders.
- Over 4,000 schools have been given advice, training, and guidance.
- Almost 850 events for young people have been delivered.
The programme has achieved this by sharing best practice and creative thinking on how schools can adapt their PE and school sports delivery to meet the needs of all their pupils.

The Inclusion programme is not the only initiative supporting young people to get involved in sport. For example, School Games Organisers (SGOs) are essential in ensuring that all children have the opportunity to take part in local sport and physical activity competitions.

In the 2022/23 academic year, the country-wide network of 450 SGOs provided 2.2 million opportunities for school children to engage in local and inclusive sporting competitions across 40 different sports and activities.

Ali Oliver MBE, Chief Executive Officer at the Youth Sport Trust, said:

The Inclusion 2024 programme embeds the four core values of the Paralympic Movement – determination, equality, inspiration and courage – across PE and school sport. With the eyes of the world on the incredible athletes taking part in the Paralympic Games, now is the time to harness the nation’s love of para sport to leverage change, so every child can experience the joy and life changing benefits of play and sport at school.

Inclusion 2024 is led by schools and informed by a consortium of network partners with expertise in inclusion and creating opportunities. I’m proud to say over the last three years, Inclusion 2024 has supported the development of inclusive PE and sport in 5,000 schools through 55,000 interactions – including competitions, staff training, volunteer development and local events.

In our mission and with support from the Department for Education, we are united in our belief that every child should be able to participate in PE and school sport, and we are determined to work together to make this a reality.

David Clarke, Chief Executive of ParalympicsGB, said:

Physical education is fundamental to children’s happiness, allowing them to have fun whilst they develop motor skills, build confidence, and improve physical and mental health. This is particularly the case for pupils with SEND.

ParalympicsGB, as part of the launch of the Equal Play campaign, heard from many education experts that teachers often feel unprepared to deliver inclusive PE due to insufficient training and support. Initiatives like Inclusion 24 are essential to ensure teachers are equipped to support the inclusion of young disabled pupils. We need all schools to be supported to ensure that no disabled child is left on the sidelines.

Schools are supported with a free range of resources as part of the Inclusive Education Hub to help make their PE and sport more inclusive.

The Inclusion 2024 programme works to reimagine the role PE and school sport can play for pupils with SEND, with a focus on links to character education and extending positive impacts to broader school engagement, including attendance and behaviour.
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Jonathan Powell appointed as Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 September 2024.

Jonathan Powell has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago.

The Government has agreed to continue the talks, which began in 2022 under the previous government. Resolving this long-standing issue with a close Commonwealth partner is in the interest of both parties.

Mr Powell has extensive experience in negotiations affecting the UK’s national interests in sensitive domestic and international contexts, including playing a central role in securing the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and previously serving as Prime Minister David Cameron’s Special Envoy to Libya between 2014 and 2016.

He will begin his role immediately and his work will involve engaging the most senior Mauritian and US interlocutors and advising Ministers and HMG negotiators on how to conclude a robust agreement.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Negotiations with Mauritius over the BIOT/Chagos Archipelago are critical to the UK’s security. We are determined to protect the long-term, secure and effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.

Jonathan Powell’s experience working with governments of all colours in the most sensitive international negotiations makes him uniquely qualified to serve as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy.

I look forward to working with him as we endeavour to reach a settlement that protects UK interests and those of our partners.

The Chagos Archipelago includes the island of Diego Garcia, the location of an important UK-US military base which plays a vital role in regional and global security.

Working in close coordination with the United States, the UK Government will continue the previous government’s policy of aiming to reach an agreement that protects the UK’s security interests, respects Chagossian communities, enhances environmental cooperation and builds a long-term strategic relationship with Mauritius as a close Commonwealth partner.

The UK-Mauritius negotiations began in November 2022. To date, 12 rounds of talks have taken place.

September 12, 2024
David Lammy – 2024 Speech on 75 years of the Modern Commonwealth
The speech made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, on 4 September 2024.

Well your Excellencies, guests, friends,

It’s wonderful, really, really quite wonderful to host so many remarkable people here today. Together, you tell a wonderful, modern, diverse story about what is our Commonwealth.

A network which connects people around the world – athletes, artists, activists, authors. An organisation which I believe is vital to tackling the challenges before us today. And a family which I am very, very proud to call my own.

This is personally a very, very special moment for me as Foreign Secretary. As many of you will know, my parents came to Britain from Guyana, as part of the Windrush generation.

And I stand before you as Foreign Secretary, tracing my lineage back to Africa through of course the trans-Atlantic slave trade. So I feel the pain and anguish of that heritage, as did my parents.

But I share with them a keen awareness of my Commonwealth roots, a sense of belonging and solidarity with all members of the Commonwealth diaspora and the powerful optimism for what a multicultural society can be.

And this spirit drives me as Foreign Secretary, as I seek to reconnect Britain with the world. A task in which I believe a revived, reinvigorated Commonwealth has a significant role to play. This belief reflects the fact that the world has changed radically in 75 years since the Commonwealth was born.

You could argue there have been 3 phases to our organisation’s history:
- an imperial phase under His Majesty George VI
- a post-colonial phase under Her Majesty Elizabeth II
- and now, under His Majesty Charles III, we have entered a new multipolar phase
And this mirrors changes in the wider world. We are now well and truly in a multipolar age. And we face global challenges which can only be overcome if we all – all of us, the Global North and the Global South – focus on tackling them together.

The Commonwealth must show how we can contribute then to achieving that unity of purpose. In doing so, we benefit from an array of legacies.

Like that of my dear friend Baroness Scotland, who has overseen the establishment of the Climate Finance Hub and the Blue Charter, the growth in our membership, and ensured the Commonwealth’s voice is heard at the top tables of diplomacy across the world.

And that of the late, great Guyanese Secretary-General, Sir ‘Sonny’ Ramphal, Who embedded the Commonwealth’s reputation as a unique platform for taking action on global challenges, for giving a voice to small states, for helping to forge closer, more equitable, relations between the Global North and the Global South.

Next month, we will select our new Secretary-General. Africa is central to the world’s future – demographically, economically, and of course geopolitically. So I am excited that our next Secretary-General will hail from one of our African members. And I look forward to working with them to build on their predecessors’ efforts.

Of course, we are also building on the enormous legacy of Her late Majesty The Queen. Two years since her passing, we treasure her role in cementing ties between us. The warmth and affection in which she is held across the Commonwealth testifies, both to her skills as a diplomat – she was, quite simply, the greatest diplomat of our time and to her vision for how to do diplomacy – a vision, frankly, far ahead of its time.

A vision of leaders in the Global North and Global South working together, in a spirit of partnership. A vision that the Commonwealth exemplifies, as a forum in which voices from all corners of the globe – one third of the world’s population – are heard and respected.

His Majesty the King, as Head of the Commonwealth, has been clear that he shares the vision of a family of nations in tackling the challenges of our time, strengthened by sharing diverse perspectives and experiences. And it is a vision embraced by the new British Government as well.

This government will only succeed in reconnecting Britain with the world on the basis of mutual respect. And so it is natural for us to want to seize the opportunities the Commonwealth offers, particularly with leaders gathering in Samoa in October.

Friends, at that meeting, I believe passionately that leaders should come together, listen to one another, engage in a spirit of respect.

But it is also vital that we:
- focus on the existential challenges we share
- focus on the actions which can make the biggest difference
- focus on how we maximise the Commonwealth’s enormous, enormous potential
And I set just 3 priority areas that we could look at.

The first of these is supporting economic growth. The Commonwealth’s combined GDP is expected to reach nineteen-and-a-half trillion dollars by the end of 2027 – nearly double what it was ten years before. We should take advantage of that, focusing more on increasing investment flows.

In Samoa, with other members, I will launch a comprehensive plan of action to pool our shared expertise, boost investment opportunities, and harness new technologies for all over the next 2 years. Growth must be shared. Growth must be sustainable. And we must deliver it together.

The next area, of course, is tackling the climate emergency. There is no long-term geopolitical stability without climate stability. And there can be no climate stability without a common sense of purpose coordinated action in the Global North and Global South. I therefore want the Commonwealth to play a clearer, more powerful role in building a green and sustainable future.

In Samoa, we must further raise our ambitions for the Climate Finance Access Hub commit to stronger support for Small Island Developing States and step-up action to protect nature and the ocean. Climate action is essential for passing a liveable planet to future generations. And we must deliver it together.

And the final area that we could focus on is education of course and the skills of wonderful, beautiful young people. As Member of Parliament representing an inner city constituency here in London, I know what it does to young people to be told that they have no future.

And as someone who was fortunate enough because of that hard work of my parents, that great Windrush generation I was fortunate enough to have the chance to study at Harvard University, I know how educational opportunities can set you on a completely different path.

In Samoa, we must support even more scholarships, places and learning via our various excellent education programmes. Sixty percent of Commonwealth citizens are not yet 30 years old. They deserve the chance to benefit from greater opportunities in life. And we must deliver this together.

Delivering together – I have tried to give a small flavour of how we can do this in Samoa. I am very grateful to the Government and people of Samoa for preparing so effectively for CHOGM and our gathering – and welcome the first such meeting in a Pacific Island Country.

In his final address as Secretary-General, Sir ‘Sonny’ Ramphal reflected on how such gatherings feel like a bit of a club. Members share a special relationship, an intimacy, with one another. And this creates a particular chemistry.

In Samoa, leaders with different points of view, facing different circumstances, will nevertheless come together, understand each other’s point of view and perspective, and agree to deliver things together.

That is what makes the Commonwealth unique. That is the vision of Her Late Majesty The Queen. The vision she championed. And that is the spirit which I engage with the Commonwealth, in Samoa and beyond.

Thank you so much for the privilege to serve.
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary sets out ‘moral imperative’ to stop smuggling gangs [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 September 2024.

The Home Secretary convenes ministers and law enforcement partners to destroy the gangs that undermine border security and risk lives on small boats.

The Home Secretary will convene a landmark operational summit of cabinet ministers and law enforcement partners today (Friday 6 September), as she sets out the moral imperative to destroy the criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings.

Her comments come after the horrific tragedy in the Channel this week that saw the deaths of at least 12 people, with others reported to be still in a critical condition.

The Home Secretary will be joined at the NCA headquarters in London by ministers including the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Attorney General Lord Hermer, as well as representatives from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Border Force and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) is deploying formidable covert capability to support the NCA to penetrate and dismantle the gangs at every level of operation – from facilitators to financiers.

UKIC will also attend this landmark meeting, which will set out the progress being made on intensifying the enforcement activity aimed at disrupting, intercepting and destroying the criminal network moving people, boats and engines into Europe and across the continent to the French coastline.

Ministers and law enforcement partners will examine the findings from the analysis commissioned by the Home Secretary on the operational capabilities of the criminal smuggling gangs. Discussion will also be focused on collaboration with European enforcement agencies, including Europol, and plans will be put forward to rapidly enhance this through the government’s new Border Security Command in the coming months.

NCA Director General Graeme Biggar will highlight how close co-operation with the Bulgarian authorities and an established NCA presence in that critical transit country has led to more than 40 small boats and engines being intercepted in recent weeks. This material, now removed from the smuggling supply chain, could have enabled up to 2,400 people to attempt the deadly crossing.

He will also set details of around 70 further live investigations, including:
- working with the Libyan police to target gangs trafficking migrants through Libya, with raids on warehouses where migrants are housed, often in appalling conditions, before making their onward journey to Europe
- collaboration with French authorities to investigate the death of a woman killed in an overloaded boat on 28 July
This meeting led by the Home Secretary comes as she spoke to her French counterpart, Gérald Darmanin, this week to discuss increased co-operation to dismantle the gangs.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:

Exploiting vulnerable people is at the heart of the business model of these despicable criminal smuggling gangs. Women and children were packed into an unsafe boat which literally collapsed in the water this week. At least 12 people were killed as part of this evil trade. We will not rest until these networks have been dismantled and brought to justice.

The last two months has seen encouraging progress, with significant seizures of boats and equipment in Europe. But there is work to do, and the Border Security Command will bring all the relevant bodies together to investigate, arrest and prosecute these networks, as well as deepen our ties with key international partners.

At the same time, we are swiftly removing those with no right to be in the UK, which will ensure we have a fair, firm and functioning asylum system where the rules are respected and enforced.

NCA Director General Graeme Biggar said:

People smuggling puts lives in mortal danger.

As well as arresting suspects and seeing our investigations lead to convictions and sentences, we’re operating around the world to disrupt the perpetrators. This includes helping seize more than 410 small boats and engines since last spring, preventing thousands of crossings.

Tackling the callous criminals behind organised immigration crime is one of the NCA’s highest priorities. We continue to expand our activity to deliver ever greater impact against the threat.

In recent weeks, the Prime Minister has led a reset in the relationship with Europe, with work to increase security co-operation and tackle illegal migration at the heart. This has already led to a 50 per cent uplift in the number of NCA officers stationed in Europol, working on organised immigration crime.

Last week, the Home Secretary announced an additional 100 specialist investigators to disrupt people smuggling globally. In addition to the Europol presence, the NCA has enhanced its international liaison officer network, responsible for cracking down on criminal networks in specific areas.

A new post is open in Austria and officers are being permanently deployed to Romania. Headcount is also increasing in South East Asia, in key countries where gangs are advertising Channel crossings. These are just the first steps of an intensification of the UK’s international law enforcement and bilateral partnership arrangements and serves as a platform for Border Security Command operations.

The tragedy off the French coast on Tuesday 3 September highlights the increasingly extreme measures the gangs are willing to contemplate, as more people are crammed into less seaworthy vessels. It has been reported that most of those who died were women and children.

Intelligence reveals smugglers have also increased the price they charge for migrants to cross the Channel, including charging for children to get into boats, as the business model comes under pressure from UK and partner law enforcement.
September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to extend training programme for Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel throughout 2025 [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 September 2024.

The UK has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits since Putin began his illegal full-scale invasion in 2022.

The UK will train further cohorts of Ukrainian men and women to become soldiers on British soil, as part of this new government’s commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The training operation, which continues to evolve to incorporate lessons identified from Ukraine’s frontline, was due to come to an end this year but the scheme will now continue until at least the end of 2025.

The trainees will join the more than 45,000 Ukrainian personnel who have been trained under Operation Interflex since Russia’s illegal invasion in 2022.

The Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, announced the extension at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany, which was also attended by President Zelenskyy and more than 50 other nations.

The extension highlights that the UK remains ironclad in its commitment to supporting Ukraine fight Russian aggression.

The Defence Secretary discussed the training programme with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, in London earlier this week, the meeting also focused on how the UK will continue to ramp-up support over the coming months, confirming that £300 million worth of artillery ammunition will start to be delivered by the end of this year.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

Operation Interflex has provided the brave men and women of Ukraine the vital skills they need to defend their nation in the face of Putin’s illegal invasion.

The extension of this training, which is vital for Ukraine’s defence, is another example of the UK’s ironclad commitment to Ukraine.

As I told our allies and partners today in Germany, the UK will continue to step up our support. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Delivered in locations throughout the UK, the programme takes volunteer recruits who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine with little to no previous military experience and teaches them the skills required for frontline combat. The training allows Ukraine’s forces to accelerate their deployments, rebuild their forces, and scale-up their resistance as they continue to defend their nation against Russian invaders.

Over a minimum of five weeks, recruits will learn weapons handling, battlefield first aid, Law of Armed Conflict training, patrol tactics and receive rural environment training. With support from experienced British instructors, the brave men and women of Ukraine are supported as they become combat-ready soldiers.

This follows on from the UK announcing a £162m package of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to Ukraine at the UDCG meeting today, highlighting our commitment to ramping up and speeding up deliveries of vital equipment to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia.

Following Russia’s barbaric attacks on Poltava and Lviv this week, the UK is ensuring that this support arrives to the front line as fast as it can.

From artillery ammunition to drones, the UK, thanks to a pledge to provide £3bn of military support each year, will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Operation Interflex is an example of the UK working with international partners to support Ukraine, with a number of international partner forces now members of the programme, providing vital experience, training and insight into frontline combat. These countries include Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Australia and Romania.

The vital training offered by the UK armed forces extends far beyond just basic infantry training, over the last two and half years we have supported training on UK supplied equipment, teaching Ukrainian medics life-saving battlefield medicine and running a two week training course for Ukrainian military chaplains as they offer vital spiritual and pastoral support to those on the front-line.

Alongside training for the Ukrainian Army, British Royal Air Force instructors have been training Ukrainian pilots on their journey to learning to fly F16 fighter jets. Pilots received basic flying training, including aircraft handling and navigation, alongside English language training to assist their further instruction on F16s with other NATO countries.

This latest announcement will continue to support the development of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. From learning basic combat tactics, to being trained how to operate British Challenger II tanks and flying F16s, the UK is committed to teaching Ukrainian recruits vital skills that are making a difference on the battlefield.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to provide £162 million package of air defence missiles for Ukraine as Defence Secretary meets international partners [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 September 2024.

The UK will supply 650 Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems to Ukraine to boost the country’s air defence capabilities, as part of the new government’s commitment to Ukraine.

The air defence package will be announced by Defence Secretary John Healey MP today at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting at US Air Force Base in Ramstein – his first as Defence Secretary. At the 24th meeting of the group, the Defence Secretary will set out the UK’s ironclad commitment to Ukraine and urge allies to continue to supply Ukraine with vital equipment.

It comes following a bilateral meeting between John Healey and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in London earlier this week, where the pair discussed how the UK will continue to ramp-up support over the coming months. At that meeting, the Defence Secretary confirmed that £300 million worth of artillery ammunition, procured by the IFU, will start to be delivered by the end of this year to support Ukraine’s war effort.

In keeping with the new government’s commitment to speed up deliveries of aid, the first batch of LMM missiles announced today are also expected to be delivered by the end of this year.

Today’s package is part of the UK’s work to help step up UK and European defence production – with today’s £162 million order helping to energise the supply chain for the future. Built by Thales at their Belfast factory, the missiles are highly versatile and can be fired from a variety of platforms on land, sea, and air.

The package is primarily funded through the UK’s £3 billion a year financial package for Ukraine, and contributions from Norway through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) and follows the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary’s commitment to stand by Ukraine will continue for as long as it takes.

It comes after the Defence Secretary signed a new Defence Export Support Treaty with his counterpart Umerov in July, during President Zelesnkyy’s visit to Downing Street. The agreement will fire up both the UK’s and Ukraine’s defence industrial bases and increase military hardware and weaponry production. The treaty will enable Ukraine to draw on £3.5 billion of export finance to support its war effort.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

This new commitment will give an important boost to Ukraine’s air defences and demonstrates our new government’s commitment to stepping up support for Ukraine.

In recent days we have seen the tragic cost of Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on Poltava and Lviv. These new UK-made missiles will support Ukraine to defend its people, infrastructure, and territory from Putin’s brutal attacks.

With our international partners today, we will show that we are united for Ukraine. And we will discuss how best we can work together to improve support. Because the security of the UK and Europe starts in Ukraine.

Ahead of the meeting with international partners, the Defence Secretary visited the Joint Intelligence Coordination Centre (JICC) at the Ramstein Air Base. UK Armed Forces personnel deployed at the JICC work alongside allies to analyse intelligence.

Since Russia’s illegal invasion, the UK has provided hundreds of LMM missiles to Ukraine for air defence, destroying hundreds of Russian drones and other air threats.

Travelling at Mach 1.5 with a range of more than 6km, the LMM is highly versatile against a wide range of threats, including Armoured Personnel Carriers, fast in-shore attack craft and Unmanned drones.

This contract with Thales in the UK will further prime the world leading British defence industry to increase production rates, enabling future production to be ramped up.

Addressing allies at the UCDG, the Defence Secretary will reiterate the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and ramping up the production and delivery of vital equipment.

A Thales spokesperson said:

As a strategic partner of UK Government, Thales is proud to be working with MoD to support defending democracy in Ukraine through the provision of our Lightweight Multi-role Missile, delivered from our Belfast site.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, UK MoD and Thales have worked in close collaboration to support the Ukrainian effort by delivering key air defence systems at pace. We are pleased that this contract is the first to be signed under Task Force Hirst, which has been established to deliver a deeper defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine.

Earlier this week, the Government confirmed a milestone moment in international support for Ukraine, with eight countries from across the world having now joined the UK to provide more than £1 billion to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), in a significant show of unity from Ukraine’s allies.

The IFU was first launched by the UK and Denmark in 2022 to provide an efficient way for countries to pool resources to buy equipment and weapons to support Ukraine’s most urgent capability needs. The UK has donated £500 million to the Fund to date.

This is also the first contract approved under Task Force Hirst, a MOD initiative created to ramp up defence industrial capacity and capability, laying the foundation for larger sustained supply of missiles and other key capabilities to Ukraine and, in the longer term, enable industrial cooperation between our two countries.

September 12, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : People smuggler jailed for stashing migrants inside motorhome [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 September 2024.

A British national who attempted to smuggle 5 migrants, including a 5-year-old child, has been sentenced following a Home Office investigation.

Joshua Bynoe (29) has been jailed for 3 years after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

The court heard how on Monday 24 January 2019, Border Force officers conducted a search of a motorhome, driven by Bynoe, bound for the UK in Coquelles, France.

Upon searching the cabin, officers discovered 5 Afghan nationals, including a 5-year-old child, concealed inside storage benches in cramped claustrophobic conditions.

Bynoe was arrested at the scene and taken into custody by Border Force staff and Kent Police.

The court heard how Bynoe had links to a criminal smuggling gang and had concocted a scheme to smuggle the migrants in the storage compartments from Europe into the UK.

Today (Friday 6 September 2024), at Canterbury Crown Court, Bynoe was sentenced to 3 years in prison for assisting unlawful immigration after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.

This sentencing is the latest development in an extensive investigation launched by Home Office Criminal and Financial investigators into people smuggling routes into the UK.

Home Office Head Of South East Region Criminal & Financial Investigations – Steve Blackwell said:

Today’s sentencing shows that perpetrators of immigration crimes will be dealt with and prosecuted regardless of where they are located.

Bynoe recklessly put the lives of 5 people, including a child, in danger by cramming them into a vehicle for hours. His only concern was making money, working with a smuggling gang with no thought for the vulnerable people they were exploiting. He was stopped in his tracks and will now face justice for his criminal actions.

I’d like to thank my investigation team, particularly the OIC – Stacey Crockford, for their hard work on this case. We will continue pursue people smugglers who try to undermine our border security and put lives at risk for profit.

September 12, 2024