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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 58 – UK Statement at the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan [March 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 58 – UK Statement at the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan [March 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2025.

    UK Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO & UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you Mr Vice President.

    And thank you to the commission and the ASG for their poignant interventions today. Your ongoing work is vital to securing long-term peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.

    We also welcome the presence of the Honourable Justice Minister of South Sudan.

    Mr President, as this report makes clear, the human rights situation in South Sudan remains grave. Violence continues to escalate. Elections have been delayed. Media freedom is severely restricted. And journalists are being arbitrarily detained under the National Security Service Bill.

    We are particularly concerned by appalling reports of conflict-related sexual violence. Victims being left without access to essential medical care or recourse to justice. The Anti-Gender-Based Violence Bill, drafted five years ago, must be put into full and immediate action.

    What we’ve read and heard underlines why we need to maintain this Council’s attention on South Sudan, and why the work of the Commission must continue. It is essential to achieving the inclusive, democratic future promised to the people of South Sudan. The Commission’s robust scrutiny of South Sudan’s human rights situation must continue.

    Commissioners, what more can the international community do to help South Sudan end this devastating cycle of conflict-related sexual violence?

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 58 – Core Group Statement at the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 58 – Core Group Statement at the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2025.

    Core Group Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO & UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Item 2 core group for South Sudan – Albania, Norway, Ireland and the UK.

    We thank the Commissioners for their important report. We also welcome South Sudan’s continued cooperation with the Commission and the Minister of Justice’s presence today.

    The Commission’s report demonstrates the scale of ongoing human rights violations and abuses committed in South Sudan. Civic space and media freedom are severely restricted. Appalling acts of conflict-related sexual violence are being committed frequently, and with impunity, across the country.

    While the recent passing of legislation on transitional justice institutions represents some progress, only fully resourced and operational institutions can deliver justice and accountability for the South Sudanese people.

    During this extension period, the Revitalised Agreement must be fully implemented, including operationalising the Chapter Five transitional mechanisms and holding peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in 2026.

    We remain committed to continuing our support to the people of South Sudan and their path to peace, reconciliation and accountability.

    The Commission plays a vital role in supporting such efforts. Its mandate must therefore be extended in full in this Session, to ensure continued, robust scrutiny of the human rights situation.

    We will continue to engage with South Sudan in the hope that this extension can be agreed by consensus.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 58 – UK Statement at the Special Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 58 – UK Statement at the Special Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2025.

    UK Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President,

    Special Rapporteur,

    Thank you for your valiant efforts to shine a light on the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan. The UK Government fully supports your mandate.

    As you have said, the Taliban continues to oppress women and girls, in particular denying them employment, freedom of movement and expression, and education. The latest ban on women accessing medical education is appalling. Courses in nursing, midwifery and dentistry were some of the few educational avenues left open to women in Afghanistan – their removal violates their human rights. The Taliban must reverse these inhumane restrictions to ensure a brighter future for all Afghans.

    We, the international community, must maintain collective pressure and stay committed to the people of Afghanistan. The UK’s current £171 million aid programme provides lifesaving support, and access to assistance and services, to the most vulnerable. The UK will continue its unwavering commitment to Afghanistan and to promoting the human rights of all Afghans.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New powers for police to tackle neighbourhood crime [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New powers for police to tackle neighbourhood crime [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 February 2025.

    In one of the biggest legislative updates to policing for decades, a package of new laws will tackle antisocial behaviour, shop theft and street crime.

    The Crime and Policing Bill, which is central to the government’s Plan for Change and Safer Streets mission, will be introduced in Parliament today and begins its journey to becoming law.

    It will also include measures to address the highest-harm crimes impacting society, such as knife crime, violence against women and girls, cybercrime, child sexual abuse, and terrorism.

    In new measures announced today, police will be given enhanced powers against theft of mobile phones – no longer needing a warrant to search properties where stolen items have been electronically geolocated.

    Under the new warrantless powers of entry, officers will be able to enter premises identified by electronic mapping if stolen items are believed to be there and it is not practicable to obtain a warrant from a court. This can be done through a ‘find my phone’ app, wifi access points, Bluetooth, mobile network technology or tracking devices attached to any other possession or vehicle.

    It will support the police to act swiftly in the ‘golden hour’ of investigations, which is particularly crucial for investigations into theft, helping to provide swifter seizures of stolen property and providing a better service to victims.

    Sitting at the heart of the government’s Safer Streets mission and Plan for Change, the new bill will help tackle the crimes that matter most to communities but have been ignored for too long. The new laws will be backed up by the recruitment of 13,000 extra neighbourhood policing roles, with a named officer in every community.

    On the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    This flagship Crime and Policing Bill is at the heart of our mission for safer streets and this government’s Plan for Change.

    For too long communities have had to put up with rising town centre and street crime, and persistent antisocial behaviour, while neighbourhood police have been cut. And for years too little has been done to tackle the most serious violence of all including knife crime and violence against women and children.

    That is why the new Crime and Policing Bill is about taking back our streets and town centres, restoring respect for law and order, and giving the police and local communities the support and tools they need to tackle local crime.

    On the new warrantless powers of entry, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    For the last few years, our towns and cities have seen street theft shoot up, as organised gangs have been targeting mobile phones.

    But it is extremely frustrating for victims when they can see exactly where their stolen phone has gone but nothing is done.

    That is why we are determined to give the police the powers they need to move fast to crack down on these crimes that are blighting our communities.

    It places significant focus on protecting high streets. The effective immunity for shop theft of goods below £200 will be scrapped and retail workers will be better protected from assault.

    There will also be increased powers to crack down on repeat antisocial behaviour offenders, with new respect orders banning those prolific offenders from our town centres.

    Police will be given the power to seize vehicles that cause havoc to communities, allowing them to deal with the scourge of off-road bikes in public parks and dangerous e-scooters on pavements.

    The bill will treat violence against women and girls (VAWG) as the national emergency it truly is, ensuring tougher enforcement action against perpetrators and better protection for victims. It will strengthen stalking protection orders, introduce a new criminal offence covering spiking and bar registered sex offenders from changing their name where they continue to pose a threat.

    Implementing a flagship recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the bill will create a new duty to report child sexual abuse, backed up by criminal sanctions for those who seek to cover up abuse.

    To help rebuild confidence in police, chief constables will be enabled to remove officers who are unfit to serve by allowing them the right to appeal the result of misconduct boards to the Police Appeals Tribunal.

    In the year ending September 2024, police recorded one million incidents of antisocial behaviour. In the same period, they recorded over 490,000 shop theft offences, an increase of 23 percent over the previous 12 month period. Instances of theft from a person increased by 22 percent, while there were also over 55,000 recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.

    Other measures that have already been announced by the government, such as the presumption of anonymity for firearms officers facing criminal proceedings relating to the use of lethal force in the line of duty, will be introduced later in the parliamentary process. This also includes Ronan’s Law clamping down on the online sales of knives, announced last week.

    Clare Sumner, Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer at the Premier League said:

    The Premier League welcomes the government’s commitment to making communities safer for all through the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill. The Premier League and our clubs – together with our partners across the game – are committed to using the power of football to provide positive opportunities for young people.

    Launched in 2006 with the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, Premier League Kicks is one of our flagship programmes delivered by 93 professional football club charities across the country to support young people in high-need areas. The programme provides free, weekly football sessions in safe environments offering mentoring, personal development opportunities and positive pathways for young people.

    Asda Chief Commercial Officer (Non-food and Retail), Liz Evans, said:

    The Crime and Policing Bill is a major step forward, which builds on the measures that this government has already introduced to deliver the Safer Streets mission. Recent interventions, like the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will help us to directly tackle 2 significant challenges that we are facing as a business – incidences of assault and shoplifting are daily challenges across our estate, which have a devastating impact on colleagues and customers.

    More police working in our communities will have a positive impact as we continue to mitigate those challenges. That is why we warmly welcome this bill and recognise it as a key milestone in combatting retail crime and antisocial behaviour. As I have said before, Asda is ready to work in partnership with our new neighbourhood officers to help reduce crime and improve safety in the areas we serve.

    Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said:

    We strongly welcome the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill, which we hope will send a clear message that shop theft and assaults on retailers will be taken seriously by both the police and the justice system.

    People running and working in shops deserve to be treated with respect, and we believe this bill takes important steps toward that goal.

    CEO of Neighbourhood Watch, John Hayward-Cripps, said:

    Neighbourhood Watch is delighted that the government is continuing to show its commitment to neighbourhood policing. The focus on addressing and reducing the epidemic of antisocial behaviour, theft, and shoplifting that we all witness in our town centres and communities will play an important role in increasing feelings of confidence in the police, and feeling safer in our local communities.

    The reduction in police funding over the last 15 years has been particularly felt in neighbourhood policing, resulting in low public confidence and crimes going unreported, due to the perception that the police do not have the resources to investigate.

    The Crime and Policing Bill combined with the additional resources being introduced will enable the police to do the job they want to do, rather than only focusing on their biggest priorities, and signals the government’s commitment to improving our communities and making us all feel safer and more connected.

    Dawn Dines, the CEO of Stamp Out Spiking welcomes the introduction of the Crime and Policing Bill with its clear indications that government policy is addressing violent crime, antisocial behaviour, and spiking, as a matter of priority.

    Increasing public confidence and the sense that people will be safer on our streets, without the fear of being attacked, together with enhanced police visibility, will go a long way to create community cohesion and confidence in Home Office strategies.

    Dawn said:

    The key to combatting predators of these spiking crimes, to enhance public protection and to reduce antisocial behaviour, is proactive education. A collaborative approach is essential to satisfy the needs of different communities, environments and changing trends. It is paramount for service providers to have the confidence of receiving current, concise information from key stakeholders, who deal with victims and security, in the day and nighttime economy.

    Clearly the detection and prevention of crime is not only a matter for the police. It is the duty of us all, as caring, compassionate citizens, not tolerating a culture of violence where these acts can be committed.

    This bill will create a positive impact on encouraging victims – especially of spiking – to come forward, to report, clearly indicating that offending is not acceptable and will have severe consequences.

    The full scope of legislation at introduction includes:

    Tackling antisocial behaviour by:

    • giving the police and others stronger powers to tackle antisocial behaviour by introducing respect orders
    • removing the need for police to issue a warning before seizing vehicles, such as off-road bikes being used antisocially
    • strengthening the use of existing antisocial behaviour powers – the bill also gives ministers the power to issue statutory guidance to councils in England on the enforcement of fly-tipping

    Tougher action on knife crime, including:

    • creating a power to seize, retain and destroy bladed articles found on private property
    • increasing the maximum penalty for sale of dangerous weapons to under-18s
    • creating a new criminal offence of possessing a bladed article with the intent to cause harm

    Protecting retail workers by:

    • introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, giving workers in shops up and down the country the protection they need
    • removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft will be taken seriously

    Protecting vulnerable children and adults by:

    • introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation, alongside a civil preventative order designed to stop the abhorrent exploitation of children by criminals
    • making cuckooing a specific offence, protecting the most vulnerable people whose homes are used by others to commit criminal activity
    • extending the current offence of exposure and creating a new child abduction offence

    Tackling child sexual abuse, including implementing recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse by:

    • banning artificial intelligence (AI) models optimised to produce child sexual abuse material, and extend existing law criminalising ‘paedophile manuals’ to include material instructing how to use AI to generate child sexual abuse material
    • criminalising moderators and administrators of websites that host child sexual abuse material
    • granting Border Force officers the power to search the digital devices of individuals arriving in the UK for child sexual abuse material
    • introducing a new duty in England for adults working in relevant activities to report instances of child sexual abuse
    • introducing a new statutory aggravating factor covering grooming behaviour.

    Tackling violence against women and girls by:

    • creating new offences criminalising the taking or recording of intimate images or videos without consent or a reasonable belief in consent
    • creating a new offence capturing spiking
    • empowering the police to release the identity online stalkers to victims, alongside strengthening the use of stalking protection orders whilst issuing guidance to agencies on combatting stalking

    New powers to tackle serious crime, including:

    • banning the possession or distribution of electronic devices used in vehicle theft
    • strengthening the ability to apply corporate criminal liability to the make-up of modern corporations

    Strengthening the supervision of offenders in the community by:

    • reforming the ability of the police to manage registered sex offenders, including restricting their ability to change their name where there is a risk of sexual harm
    • giving probation officers the power to polygraph test more serious offenders who have committed sexual or terrorism-motivated crimes

    Introducing new public order and safety powers, including:

    • banning the possession of fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics at protests
    • criminalising the climbing of specified war memorials, making it clear that such disrespectful behaviour is unacceptable
    • banning the use of face coverings to conceal a person’s identity at protests designated by the police

    Tackling fraud and economic crime by:

    • prohibiting possession and supply of ‘SIM farms’ with no legitimate purpose
    • reforming the confiscation powers used to strip convicted criminals of their proceeds of crime
    • introducing cost protections for law enforcement agencies to protect them from the risk of adverse costs when investigating kleptocrats and high-net worth individuals and corporations

    Giving police the powers they need, including:

    • creating a new targeted power for the police to enter premises to search for and seize electronically tracked stolen goods, ranging from mobile phones to stolen vehicles and agricultural machinery
    • expanding the lawful purposes by which law enforcement agencies can access the DVLA driver licence records

    Tougher action on drugs, including:

    • expanding police powers to drug test more suspects on arrest, helping direct more drug users into treatment and away from illegal drugs

    Enhancing public confidence in policing by:

    • reforming the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) investigative processes and giving chief officers of police the right to appeal the result of misconduct boards to the Police Appeals Tribunal
    • putting the IOPC’s victims’ right of review on a statutory footing

    Update counter-terrorism powers by:

    • implementing recommendations of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, such as introducing youth diversion orders to divert young people away from terrorism-related activity
  • PRESS RELEASE : Wild beavers – Nature’s engineers to return to English waterways [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Wild beavers – Nature’s engineers to return to English waterways [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 28 February 2025.

    Government to allow reintroduction of beavers into the wild after centuries of absence in a huge boost for nature conservation.

    • Brilliant beavers reduce flood risk, create new wetlands, and boost biodiversity
    • Reintroductions to be carefully managed under licence from Natural England

    Nature’s original master builder – the Eurasian beaver – is set to return to our waterways after centuries of absence, following a government decision to allow wild release.

    Beavers are prodigious ecosystem engineers and proven climate champions – creating natural flood defences that can reduce flood risks and building wetlands which are thriving havens for wildlife.

    Known as a keystone species because the habitats they create benefit myriad other species, they were once abundant in England but became extinct due to overhunting. In recent years, beavers have been returning to our waterways through a system of licensed releases into enclosures, and a limited trial of wild release in Devon.

    Now in a major boost for conservation, the government has today (Friday 28 February) set out a new approach which will allow beavers to live wild in England’s treasured landscapes.

    Ministers have set out how we will provide the certainty needed for conservationists, landowners and farmers in a new policy statement. It includes the detail of a new licensing system, support for landowners and farmers, and a commitment to produce a plan in consultation with these stakeholders for the long-term management of beavers in England.

    The return of beavers will be carefully managed to avoid impacts on farming, food production and infrastructure. New wild release projects will need to have a project plan in place covering a 10-year period to support the introduction of beavers into a landscape before Natural England would consider granting a licence.

    Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

    “Beavers are cherished creatures who bring so many benefits for people and our precious natural environment. They create wetlands which are havens for wildlife, reduce flood risk and improve the water quality of our rivers.

    “Reintroducing beavers to the wild is a critical milestone for this Government’s plan to protect and restore our natural world.”

    Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:

    “Beavers have been missing from our landscapes for about four hundred years and this careful approach for their planned return is a significant landmark for Nature recovery in England.

    “Beavers are environmental engineers. The dams, ponds and canals they build not only create amazingly rich habitats for many other species, but can also help reduce flood risk, purify water and catch carbon.

    “Under licence from Natural England, the release of wild beavers will be managed to secure the long-term environmental benefits while seeking to minimise and avoid unwanted impacts.”

    All existing beaver populations will be allowed to remain and expand naturally and will ensure that appropriate management measures are put in place. Existing populations of wild beavers will continue to be proactively managed by their local beaver management group.

    Through this carefully planned reintroduction programme which is defined by a 5 step management approach, we will support farmers and communities to live alongside beavers, ensuring these natural problem-solvers benefit everyone.

    The government will also now begin work on developing a long-term beaver management plan in England. This will build on the approach announced today and be developed with input from key stakeholders, to ensure we meet the challenges and opportunities posed by an expanding beaver population well into the future.

    It is expected that the first release of wild beavers will happen at Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve soon with a licence issued to the National Trust.

    Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust said:

    “This is fantastic news for nature recovery and people’s livelihoods. Beavers are unparalleled in their ability to restore landscapes, create wetlands that manage flood risk, improve our water quality, and bring back wildlife.

    “Since 2020, we’ve introduced beavers at three National Trust sites through licensed, enclosed releases. We’ve seen first-hand the amazing benefits these fascinating mammals provide, and we’re thrilled to receive a licence for the first wild beaver release in England.

    “It’s important to us, and the communities we work in, that beaver releases across wider landscapes happen in a responsible, carefully managed way. This licensing process is in everyone’s best interests. It will lead to well-chosen sites, minimise disruption to other landowners, and ensure local communities are fully consulted and involved enabling both people and nature thrive.”

    Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency said:

    “As part of our work to reduce flood risk and restore rivers to good health, the return of wild beavers will improve water quality, boost biodiversity and build resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions.

    “Beavers help reduce flooding in nearby towns, remove pollutants from our precious waterways and help to create clean water. Working alongside our partners, the Environment Agency will continue to support the careful management of wild beavers”.

    Applications for further wild release licences will first need to submit an ‘expression of interest’ to Natural England. The deadline for the first round of applications is 2 May 2025, with further application windows due to open in due course.

    Additional information:

    Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer of Beaver Trust said:

    “This landmark moment in England’s beaver story could be a significant step toward helping to address some of the key environmental challenges we face. We welcome Government recognition of beavers’ potential and hope they now demonstrate their commitment through widespread license granting and proactive restoration of this species across England.

    “We are generations behind the rest of Europe in bringing this species back, we have high levels of public support for their return, so we now need a government-led national strategy and effective mitigation framework in order to facilitate population expansion and to realise the valuable societal benefits beavers can bring.

    “We look forward to seeing details of the government’s announcement and hope that it will support measures that encourage people to live alongside beavers and form a productive step toward normalising this native species.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Devon taxi driver, Murat Dogantekin, jailed after overstating annual income by more than £350,000 to fraudulently secure two Covid loans [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Devon taxi driver, Murat Dogantekin, jailed after overstating annual income by more than £350,000 to fraudulently secure two Covid loans [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 28 February 2025.

    Bounce Back Loan fraudster transferred the funds to an offshore bank account and a family member.

    • Taxi driver Murat Dogantekin secured two £50,000 Bounce Back Loans in 2020 which he was not entitled to
    • Dogantekin overstated his turnover by hundreds of thousands of pounds, fraudulently applied for two loans when businesses were only allowed one, used the funds for personal expenses and failed to make any repayments
    • The 50-year-old was jailed for two years and seven months

    A Devon taxi driver who fraudulently claimed two maximum-value Covid loans by overstating his annual turnover by more than £350,000 has been jailed.

    Murat Dogantekin secured the Bounce Back Loans worth a combined £100,000 from two separate banks just months into the pandemic, when he was only actually entitled to just over £4,000 under the scheme.

    He then transferred the funds to a close family member and offshore bank account.

    The 50-year-old, of Mulligan Drive, Exeter, was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday 27 February.

    Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Bounce Back Loans were created to support small and medium-sized businesses through the pandemic. They were not designed to be accessed by fraudsters and used as additional personal income paid for at the expense of taxpayers.

    Murat Dogantekin completely disregarded almost all the rules of the scheme. He significantly overstated his turnover, subsequently receiving far more support than he should have done. He fraudulently obtained two loans when businesses were only entitled to a single loan.

    To make matters worse, Dogantekin failed to use the money for the benefit of his business, concealing the true nature of his bank transactions with false references. He also did not pay a single penny back before he was declared bankrupt and failed to engage with our investigations.

    Such a blatant and deliberate misuse of public funds will not be tolerated by the Insolvency Service and we will continue to take action against those who stole from the taxpayer during a national emergency.

    Dogantekin secured two Bounce Back Loans worth £50,000 each from separate banks in May and June 2020.

    In his applications, Dogantekin stated that his annual turnover was £200,000 and £205,000 for two separate self-employed taxi businesses, both in his own name, although he said the second traded as Ola Taxis.

    He provided no evidence to support these claims and Insolvency Service investigators discovered that the second business was actually named after one of his clients. This was done in an attempt to distinguish it from his first business and make it appear that he was eligible for a second loan when he was not.

    Dogantekin had declared earnings of just £16,500 for the tax year ending in April 2020, meaning he overstated his turnover by £388,500 in the combined applications.

    Had he been honest about his income, he may have been entitled to one loan of just £4,125.

    His dishonesty meant he received an additional £95,875 he did not deserve.

    Within four days of receiving the first loan, Dogantekin transferred £49,500 of the £50,000 to a separate bank account. The transactions were marked as “shop purchase”.

    The following day, £48,000 of that money was moved to an offshore bank account.

    Dogantekin’s second loan remained in his business account for more than a month before the funds were paid out to a family member and his own personal account within a six-day period.

    No repayments to the loans were made before Dogantekin was declared bankrupt in November 2021.

    Dogantekin was interviewed by the Official Receiver Services at the Insolvency Service later that month and provided some limited documentation.

    He then ignored 11 attempts to contact him and secure specific records during a six-month period.

    Dogantekin also failed to attend an interview under caution.

    The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

    Further information

    • Murat Dogantekin is of Mulligan Drive, Exeter. His date of birth is 20 May 1974
    • Sentenced for: Fraud by false representation, contrary to section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006 and concealment of books and papers, contrary to section 355 of the Insolvency Act 1986
  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Bishop of Wigan and Interim Bishop of Liverpool [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Bishop of Wigan and Interim Bishop of Liverpool [February 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 February 2025.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Ruth Elizabeth Worsley, Suffragan Bishop of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, to the See of Wigan, to be known as the Interim Bishop of Liverpool.

    Background

    Ruth was educated at the University of Manchester and prepared for ordination at St John’s College, Nottingham. Ordained in 1996 to a title in Hyson Green, in the Diocese of Southwell she had various other parish responsibilities in that diocese as well as service as Area Dean of Nottingham North.

    Ruth served as Dean of Women’s Ministry and as an Honorary Chaplain to Her late Majesty The Queen. She was subsequently Parish Development Officer in the Diocese of Southwark and then Archdeacon of Wiltshire in the Diocese of Salisbury.  She was appointed Bishop of Taunton in 2015.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK chief finance minister builds on commitment to support mutual growth in South Africa at G20 [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK chief finance minister builds on commitment to support mutual growth in South Africa at G20 [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2025.

    The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP shared the UK’s growth mission with key stakeholders and her G20 counterparts in South Africa this week.

    Over the past two days in Cape Town, the UK’s chief finance minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, spent time in and around the G20 finance ministerial meetings emphasising that the UK’s relationship with South Africa is key to the delivery of the UK’s Growth Mission for the mutual benefit of both our countries.

    The Chancellor emphasised the significance of South Africa to her counterparts at the G20, highlighting that the UK is the largest investor in the country, with UK companies having invested over R500 billion.

    Building on UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s recent agreement to develop a UK-South Africa Growth Partnership with Minister Lamola, she reiterated that free trade is the best way to achieve economic growth internationally and demonstrated how the UK is meeting the ambition to drive job creation in our two economies.

    Infrastructure was a major theme at the G20 meetings the Chancellor attended, given the need to ensure that people can do their jobs and get around with improved railways and roads to facilitate economic growth. Which is why she said the UK is helping to accelerate projects in South Africa, including promoting the involvement of UK companies and sharing government expertise.

    The Chancellor announced the next stage of the UK programme boosting urban economic development in South Africa, unlocking opportunities through improved urban planning and infrastructure in disadvantaged areas of the country’s municipalities. The intention is to strengthen UK cooperation with local governments in South Africa, to build their financial and technical capabilities.

    A highlight of her time in SA was a visit was to the V&A Waterfront, where the Chancellor witnessed the unveiling of the design for the R25 billion expansion project, which has been produced by UK architects Heatherwick Studio. She also welcomed the news that British engineering firm Arup had won key contracts to support South Africa’s ambitions to boost green and sustainable growth across the country, not only contributing to the design of more resilient infrastructure but also working with public and private sector clients to improve the energy efficiency of buildings here in Cape Town and across South Africa.

    The Chancellor also attended a reception at the High Commissioner’s official residence for prominent South African investors and businesses to further deepen the close economic ties between the UK and South Africa.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK’s global science and tech ambitions refreshed under new banner [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK’s global science and tech ambitions refreshed under new banner [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 28 February 2025.

    Worldwide team championing UK science and tech partnership as a force for good, to be re-launched as the Science and Technology Network.

    • Network already has over 130 staff in 65 locations globally, building partnerships around the science and tech innovations set to make us collectively healthier, wealthier, more resilient and secure in support of the Plan for Change
    • Science Minister welcomes Network’s re-launch alongside leaders from across research, academia and business

    The UK’s global team for forging the international collaboration and championing the power of British science and tech expertise to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems– from clean energy to health – will be refreshed under a new banner, as officially unveiled by the Science Minister in Whitehall on Thursday 27 February.

    The Science and Technology Network (STN) will be the new name for the former Science and Innovation Network: a 130-strong team based in 65 locations worldwide, with a mission to forge deeper international partnerships on science and technology, and seek new opportunities for British sci-tech pioneers in support of the Plan for Change.

    The network’s new name reflects the circumstances we now live in, where breakthrough technologies like AI, quantum, and engineering biology hold enormous potential for tackling environmental and social challenges and unlocking economic growth. In a fast-changing global landscape, now more than ever we need to pool the bright talent and big ideas that are needed to harness these emerging technologies for good, at home and abroad.

    Recent announcements like the AI Opportunities Action Plan clearly show the government’s domestic ambitions for harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives, but these aspirations are not solely inward-facing. The UK wants to work with international partners to share expertise, unlock investment, and deliver transformational benefits for communities in the UK and around the world.

    UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    Britain is stronger when it works together with others and nowhere is that more true than when it comes to science and technology. Genius is not bound by geography, and by building international ties, we stand the best chance of developing new ideas and breakthroughs to solve the toughest challenges that all societies face.

    The UK has a long track record as a global leader, when it comes to research and innovation. We are uniquely placed to convene international work that brings scientific expertise to bear on improving health, adoption clean sources of energy, and more. It is only right that we put the critically important role of technology, at the centre of those efforts.

    Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister Catherine West said:

    The UK harnesses cutting-edge technology to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, from the climate crisis to the threat of pandemics.

    With staff based in 65 locations, the newly-named Science and Technology Network will help us forge global partnerships and galvanise scientific expertise, to enhance security and growth around the world.

    Lord Vallance will speak to an audience of researchers, academics and business leaders at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, this evening – which also marks the Network’s 25th anniversary. He will be joined by FCDO’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Charlotte Watts, as they welcome the Network’s new name and to emphasise the importance of its ongoing work.

    Some examples of STN wins include UK-Danish work in the Arctic that could be crucial to our understanding of climate change, the establishment of the UK-Japan Semiconductors Partnership, and a UK-USA partnership that is bringing the massive potential of quantum technologies to bear in health and life sciences.

    The Network has also supported the delivery of potentially lifesaving research as overseas aid, ranging from work tackling the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, to a project trying to better forecast devastating typhoons in South-East Asia.

    The Science and Technology Network has 3 objectives:

    • promoting UK science, technology and innovation excellence and leadership globally
    • actively building and facilitating science, technology and innovation collaborations
    • providing insight on science and technology trends and opportunities

    Through its work, the Network aims to build international partnerships that can help seize the opportunities and mitigate the risks arising from critical and emerging technologies, as well as tackling the climate crisis and improving health.

    Sir Mark Walport, Vice President and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, said:

    Maintaining the position of the UK as a global leader in science, engineering and technology is essential for the UK’s long-term prosperity and international standing. Furthermore, diplomacy in support of science is at the heart of the development of international policies and collaboration to address issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, pandemics and food security. The Science and Technology Network’s team of diplomats and civil servants will play an extremely important role in support of these aims.

    Professor Christopher Smith, UK Research and Innovation’s International Champion, said:

    The rebrand of The Science and Technology Network is a reflection of its evolving role in fostering global research and innovation partnerships.

    The network has been instrumental in strengthening the UK’s position as a world leader in science, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to drive international research excellence, support innovation-led growth, and tackle global challenges together across all disciplines and sectors.

    Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education, British Council, said:

    International collaboration in science and technology is critical if we are to overcome global challenges. The UK, which is ranked 3rd in the world for producing highly cited research outputs, must be part of the global effort. Playing our full part will also reinforce and further expand the UK’s reputation both for excellence in science and as a force for good in the global community. The Science & Technology Network is an important enabler of UK activity on the global stage, supporting the UK’s scientific community to develop stable and lasting partnerships with peers around the world.

    Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International, said:

    UK universities have a long-standing relationship with the Network, and our members get immense value from their in-country expertise, insight, and intelligence. This rebranding reflects the dynamic and evolving landscape of science and technology, and we believe it will further enhance the network’s ability to drive international collaboration and deliver on global and technological challenges.

    Universities UK International is committed to fostering a globally collaborative higher education environment where research, science, and technology can thrive. We look forward to continuing to work with the Science and Technology Network to advance these shared goals.

    Beth Thompson, Executive Director Policy and Partnerships, Wellcome, said:

    Science and technology are pillars of the UK’s diplomatic work. We welcome the government’s recognition of the Science and Technology Network’s (STN) newly invigorated and invaluable role, fostering global partnerships that tackle shared challenges, and unlock new opportunities for collaboration.

    The UK has a world-class research sector, but progress is not achieved in isolation – it thrives on international cooperation. We have seen first-hand the value of the Network in helping us build relationships across the globe that are critical to advancing research. The refreshed STN will be instrumental in strengthening these international partnerships, ensuring science and technology continue to deliver a healthier, more prosperous future for the UK and the world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with President Trump [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with President Trump [February 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 February 2025.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President of the United States Donald Trump met today in the White House.

    The leaders discussed the depth of the special relationship between their two nations and their commitment to shared security and prosperity.

    They spoke about the fair, balanced and reciprocal economic relationship that the two countries enjoy. They agreed their teams should work together to deepen this relationship, and to work together to agree a trade deal focused on tech.

    On defence and security, they agreed that the strength of the UK and US’s intelligence and defence relationship is unrivalled. The Prime Minister underlined the announcement he made this week to increase defence spending to 2.5%

    The leaders agreed that on Ukraine, talks must work towards a lasting peace. The Prime Minister said the UK is ready to play a leadership role on supporting Ukraine’s future security. They discussed their shared commitment to a ‘peace through strength’ approach and that their teams should collaborate on this.

    The President accepted an invitation on behalf of His Majesty The King for an unprecedented second State Visit to the United Kingdom.