Tag: 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Knife crime homicides fall to 35-year low [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 5 August 2026.

Knife-related homicides have dropped to their lowest level in 35 years as the government’s surrender drive takes more than 15,000 knives off Britain’s streets.

Knife-enabled homicides have fallen to 26% while knife crime overall has dropped by 11% under this government.

More than 14,500 knives and weapons including ninja swords, zombie-style knives, machetes, swords and kitchen knives have been taken out of circulation through Home Office funded surrender bins since July last year.

The bins managed by the charity Word 4 Weapons are located in London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. A further 783 knives and weapons were handed in at a mobile surrender van operated by FazAmnesty, which supported the Home Office’s dedicated surrender scheme last summer. Blades like those surrendered have been used in violent crimes and caused devastation to communities across the country.

Building on last year’s success, the government is now making it possible for more people to surrender their weapons by providing new bins across South and West Yorkshire.

The mobile surrender van operated by FazAmnesty will also visit a series of locations across the West Midlands before travelling to London – where it will stop off at 24 boroughs, providing another trusted route for people to anonymously surrender their weapons this month.

Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said:

Every dangerous weapon that has been surrendered so far is a weapon off our streets and a community made that little bit safer.

That’s why we’re going further and making it easier for more people in more places to do the right thing and hand over their knives.

Knife crime is down by 11% since the general election but we will not stop until we meet our commitment of halving knife crime in a decade.

The location of the 45 surrender bins, including the 8 new ones, and the stop off points for the mobile surrender van have been agreed with local violence reduction partnerships, policing and community safety partners. This helps ensure support is focused in areas most affected by knife crime and serious violence.

The surrender bins and van operate on a ‘no questions asked’ basis in order to encourage people who may otherwise be reluctant to hand over their weapons in fear of the consequences. The weapons, which must be wrapped and sealed in a box or bag, will be disposed of safely and securely.

Faron Paul, CEO of FazAmnesty, survived a knife attack in which he was stabbed 18 times. He has now turned his experience into a mission to prevent others suffering similar harm. Through FazAmnesty, he works with communities across the country to encourage people to safely surrender weapons and has become a leading voice on tackling knife crime and preventing violence.

Faron Paul, CEO of FazAmnesty and member of the Government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said:

We are proud to continue supporting the Home Office’s National Surrender Scheme and to play our part in removing dangerous weapons from our streets. Every weapon surrendered is one less weapon that could be used to seriously harm or take a life.

The introduction of our mobile surrender van has given direct surrender opportunities into some of the hardest-to-reach communities. By engaging with residents, we are helping to remove barriers that might otherwise prevent someone from surrendering a knife.

Seeing more than 15,000 weapons removed through the government’s surrender bins is a significant milestone and demonstrates what can be achieved when government, policing and community organisations work together with a shared purpose.

The surrender activity also builds on the wider action being delivered through Ronan’s Law, named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was killed in 2022 with a ninja sword bought online.

Following campaigning by his mother, Pooja Kanda, the government introduced tougher measures to restrict access to dangerous weapons and close loopholes in online sales.

Weapons surrenders have played an important role in supporting those changes.

Pooja Kanda OBE, founder of the Justice for Ronan Kanda campaign and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime said:

Every knife handed into a surrender bin is one less weapon that could end a life or devastate a family like mine. I lost my 16-year-old son, Ronan, in a mistaken identity knife attack. He paid the ultimate price because someone else chose to carry a knife. There are no winners in knife crime.

The removal of more than 15,000 knives from our communities is a significant achievement and demonstrates what can be accomplished when government, charities, police and communities work together.

As we mark one year since the introduction of Ronan’s Law, this surrender scheme is another important step in preventing dangerous weapons from causing further harm. It provides young people, and anyone else carrying a dangerous weapon, with a safe and anonymous opportunity to surrender it.

Sandra Campbell, CEO of Word4Weapons and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said:

We are proud to work in partnership with the Home Office and our wider coalition partners to help remove knives and other dangerous weapons from our streets and communities. Every weapon safely surrendered is one fewer weapon that could be used to destroy lives.

Everyone can choose safe disposal through our Home Office-funded surrender bins, alongside Word 4 Weapons’ established network of bins, which has quietly served communities since 2007.

The government continues to push forward with its mission to halve knife crime in the next decade. Knife crime hotspots will see a dramatic surge in police activity to catch knife criminals, including increased police patrols, new CCTV cameras, live facial recognition deployment and the installation of knife arches.

Action is also being taken to stop young people from ever picking up a weapon in the first place and creating safer environments in which they can grow up. Through initiatives such as Young Futures hubs, mentoring and targeted support for at-risk children, alongside work with schools, youth services and local partners, the government is helping to create safer environments where young people can thrive and reach their full potential.

07/08/2026
Heidi Alexander – 2026 Statement on Gatwick Airport

The statement made by Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 4 August 2026.

This is a major milestone for Gatwick and for local communities, with expansion unlocking investment and creating thousands of new jobs.

Around 13 million more passengers and 100,000 more flights will give holidaymakers greater choice and strengthen global links to help make the UK one of the most attractive places in the world to invest.

We’ll back expansion that supports growth and our climate goals. To drive forward sustainable change, we’re also investing over £219 million for green fuel production to cut emissions from flying and secure the future of aviation.

07/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Rape, serious child sex and grooming offences barred from sentencing changes [August 2026]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 August 2026.

The Prime Minister has ordered that rape, serious child sex and other grooming offences will be barred from upcoming changes to prison sentences, protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.
- Prime Minister blocks cuts to sentences for rape, serious child sex and other grooming offences
- Prime Minister wanted to go even further, but can’t without the prison system collapsing, putting the public at greater risk
- Offenders will now face tougher community supervision and new GPS monitoring for rapists to restrict movements
- New package to give victims stronger, specialist support and better access to information
The Prime Minister has ordered that rape, serious child sex and other grooming offences will be barred from upcoming changes to prison sentences, protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.

This follows the Prime Minister halting planned changes to sentencing and demanding the policy be reconsidered within days of coming into office.

After listening to victims’ concerns, rape and serious child sex offences, including vile grooming gang offences, will now be blocked from the upcoming sentencing changes, meaning these dangerous criminals will see no change to their custodial sentence and stay locked up for longer.

The changes mean rape and child sexual offences will be added to the exclusions that were already in place for 18,000 offenders, including those who have been found by a court to be the most dangerous or anyone serving a life sentence.

The Prime Minister wanted to go even further, and he recognises that people will be worried about other offenders being released. The significant changes he is making go as far as possible without putting the prison system at risk of collapse, which would put the public at greater risk.

The Prime Minister has insisted that offenders face tough new surveillance after leaving prison. There will be a presumption that all offenders are tagged, tougher periods of supervision and robust new rules, including restriction zones for offenders. He has also been clear that victims must be placed at the heart of the justice system, announcing a new package of victim support – backed by £10 million – to provide better, trauma-informed contact. This is alongside a new national helpline and efforts to contact all affected victims to offer information and support.

A lack of investment in the prisons estate for over a decade has led to a situation where adult male prisons are now at 98% capacity. That’s why the Government will take decisive action to fix the broken prison system, with prison building moving at the fastest rate since the Victoria era, with 14,000 new prison places expected by 2031.

The Prime Minister has also asked the Justice Secretary to move rapidly on scoping and accelerating the next generation of prisons, providing a long-term shift in capacity to resolve this crisis. He has also asked the Justice Secretary to look at how we can remove foreign offenders from our prisoners faster and in greater numbers, review outdated Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences and free up space in the women’s prison estate.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

Keeping the public safe is my top priority. That’s why I asked for an urgent review of the prisoner release scheme. I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that’s been caused. I’ve heard that loud and clear. That’s why we’re making significant changes: offenders who have been sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be excluded from the changes.

I want to be honest – I wanted to go even further as I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened. But it’s not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk. That’s why we will also be introducing much tougher community measures. There will be a presumption that all offenders are tagged, longer periods of supervision and tough new rules, including restriction zones for offenders.

As a country, we haven’t invested in the prison estate when we should have, going back over a decade. This has created an unacceptable situation, with our adult male prisons now at 98 per cent capacity. For too long, the problems facing our prison system have been ignored – and it’s the victims who have been paying the price. That is not good enough. My government will deliver the fastest prison building programme since the Victorian era and do what’s necessary to fix the prison crisis.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris:

The Prime Minister and I have reviewed these reforms, listened to the concerns and gone further to protect victims.

These are decisions no Minister would ever want to take but it is right these sickening crimes are excluded from these reforms. Victims will also have access to better support and reassurance that offenders leaving prison face tougher supervision and punishment.

Ministers are also delaying wider releases from prison under the Sentencing Act from September to October, giving probation staff have time to plan for releases and that victims can have a say in the restrictions placed on offenders.

The Sentencing Act will restore order to the prison system and make sure we have cells available for dangerous criminals. This will put an end to the use of repeated early release schemes prior to July 2024, which were emergency, temporary measures forced upon successive governments because of repeated capacity crises.

The changes also introduce a new progression model which will end automatic release for badly behaved offenders. Those who break the rules or are violent behind bars face spending 100% of their sentence locked up.

Additional information:

Under tough new probation measures, a stricter punishment package in the community will create a prison outside prison for offenders, to better protect the public, including:
- Near real-time electronic monitoring data for probation staff to track offender movements.
- Alerts warning offenders if they risk breaching an exclusion zone.
- Random drug testing for 1,000 offenders every month.
- Moves to double the number of regions using chemical suppression to help manage the drivers of sexual offending.
- We are also giving probation the power to ban offenders from driving, pubs and events such as football matches.
To further boost victim protection, offenders convicted of rape or serious child sex offences who have served their full time in prison will now face stronger surveillance after leaving prison, including:
- GPS trail monitoring for 12 months, giving probation constant access to their location via GPS tag.
- Strengthened community supervision, keeping them in the highest probation supervision tiers, with close contact and oversight
- Mandatory consideration of referral to Approved Premises, probation’s most secure community accommodation.
- Offenders flagged as having links to organised child sexual exploitation, such as grooming gangs, will be subject to tougher management. They will now face stricter supervision, including elevated risk assessments, stronger multi-agency plans and robust licence conditions.
The stronger package of support for victims includes:
- Increased and improved contact to all affected victims, regardless of sentence length, offence or if they are in the Victim Contact Scheme. Previously just victims who opted in to the Scheme were able to be contacted.
- A £10m boost for victim support to fund extra local frontline services for victims to get trauma-focussed support.
- A pause in commencement to ensure more victims are informed and, where they can be reached, have a say on licence conditions, including exclusion zones and restrictions to make them feel safer.
- A dedicated victim helpline available by October for all those affected by the reforms to provide emotional support and practical guidance.
The Government has already announced £100m of additional funding so prison leavers are tagged on release, and are banned from attending public events, pubs and clubs. This is all part of a record £700m investment into probation and community punishment, with 1,300 extra probation officers.

The changes introduced in the Sentencing Act are part of a new framework which balances the need to keep the system in balance and protect the public.

The Progression Model, a measure introduced in the Sentencing Act, is now due to come into force on 1 October 2026, and will bring forward the following changes:  
- Offenders serving standard determinate sentences with an automatic release of forty or fifty percent, the earliest release point will now be one third.   
- For those serving standard determinate sentences with an automatic release point of two thirds, their earliest possible release will now be one half. Until 2020 release at two-thirds for these offenders was not possible and the release point for all standard determinate sentences was halfway.
- Rape and child sexual offences will be excluded. 
- Offenders found by the court to be the most dangerous – those on indeterminate sentences like life or Extended Determinate Sentences – are excluded.  
- They will not be released any earlier than they are now and will remain subject to Parole Board review.     
- Over 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences will not be released early. 
- For others, the earlier release point is theirs to lose: if they break the rules and behave badly, they will stay locked up for longer and potentially for 100% of their sentence. 
- The number of individuals released in each tranche will depend on the makeup of the prison population, which will continue to evolve between now and implementation.
06/08/2026

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe: Gill Lever [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 August 2026.

Mrs Gill Lever OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe in succession to Mr Peter Vowles.

Mrs Gill Lever OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe in succession to Mr Peter Vowles, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Lever will take up her appointment during September 2026.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Gill Joanna Lever

Dates	Role
2023 to 2026	Abuja, Deputy High Commissioner
2022 to 2023	Juba, Deputy Head of Mission
2018 to 2022	FCDO, Head of Overseas Health and Welfare
2014 to 2018	Vietnam, President of Hanoi International Women’s Club and Hue Help Drowning Prevention Programme Manager
2011 to 2013	Special Unpaid Leave (SUPL) accompanying FCO husband on overseas posting
2009 to 2011	FCO, Deputy Head of South-East Asia Department
2006 to 2009	FCO, HR Business Partner for Africa, Asia, Europe and Global Issues
2001 to 2006	Tokyo, First Secretary Management
1997 to 2001	FCO, UN Department, Africa Peacekeeping Team
1994 to 1997	Mumbai, Entry Clearance Officer
1991 to 1994	Bucharest, Third Secretary Political
1990 to 1991	FCO, Hong Kong Department, Administration Section
1989 to 1990	FCO, Research and Analysis Department, Asia Pacific Section
1989	Joined FCO

06/08/2026

PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of UK jobs supported with million-pound contract to secure Royal Navy torpedo weapons [August 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 4 August 2026.

Britain will be better protected from undersea threats and hundreds of jobs will be secured through a new £135 million contract to maintain and repair Royal Navy torpedo weapons.
- Around 315 jobs across the UK, including highly skilled engineering roles, sustained by new £135 million contract.
- BAE Systems will maintain and repair the Royal Navy’s Spearfish and Sting Ray torpedoes, keeping Britain’s underwater defences combat-ready.
- Part of Government’s commitment to use defence spending to deliver jobs and opportunities for local communities across the UK.
Britain will be better protected from undersea threats and hundreds of jobs will be secured through a new £135 million contract to maintain and repair Royal Navy torpedo weapons.

Torpedoes are one of the Royal Navy’s most important tools for keeping the UK safe at sea. Without them, Britain’s ability to defend its waters, protect trade routes and maintain its nuclear deterrent would be at risk. The contract will ensure sailors and submariners always have reliable, battle-ready equipment when they need it.

Awarded to BAE Systems, the Torpedo Repair and Maintenance (TRAM) contract directly supports 150 highly skilled engineering and technician jobs at the company. This includes 100 in Portsmouth and 50 more across Edinburgh, Chelmsford and near Glasgow, while a further 165 jobs are supported through BAE’s UK supply chain.

The investment – part of the £298 billion over four years announced under the Defence Investment Plan – furthers the government’s commitment to using defence spending to drive economic growth in every postcode, creating well-paid, long-term jobs in advanced manufacturing and engineering across the UK.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:

This is defence spending doing exactly what it should – keeping our country safe while securing 315 skilled jobs and creating new opportunities across our country.

We are proud to be backing British jobs, British skills and British industry.

The three-year contract runs from July 2026 to June 2029. It covers the Spearfish and Sting Ray torpedoes used by submarines, surface warships and maritime patrol aircraft to protect UK waters.

The contract bridges to a longer-term programme, WHITEHEAD2, which will deliver a modernised torpedo support solution from 2029 onwards, keeping the Royal Navy ahead of future threats.

Rear Admiral Matt Stratton, Royal Navy Director Naval Acquisition, said:

This contract extension ensures the Royal Navy retains a safe, reliable and continuous torpedo support capability.

It is a critical enabler of our operational readiness and directly supports the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent.

Richard Murray, Director Lethality and Protect, at the National Armaments Director Group – Materiel, said:

This contract extension secures continued, reliable support to the UK’s torpedo capability.

Bringing together the Navy, National Armaments Director Group and industry as a single team has delivered real, tangible results for UK defence.

Scott Jamieson, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land Defence Solutions, said:

Since 2019 we have delivered consistently high levels of torpedo availability for the UK Armed Forces, supporting both the successful entry into service of Spearfish and the ongoing operational readiness of Sting Ray.

As a trusted partner to UK Defence, we are proud to underpin the nation’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent and anti-submarine warfare capability through exceptional reliability, availability and performance.
06/08/2026

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to South Sudan – Rebecca Fabrizi [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 August 2026.

Ms Rebecca Fabrizi has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan in succession to Mr David Ashley. Ms Fabrizi will take up her appointment during October 2026.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Rebecca Jane Fabrizi

Dates	Role
2025 to present	FCDO, Deputy Director, Africa Directorate
2025	Lilongwe, Acting British High Commissioner
2022 to 2025	FCDO, Special Envoy for Small Island Developing States and Head of Caribbean and SIDS Department
2021	FCDO, Head of Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit
2019 to 2021	Belgrade, Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul General
2018 to 2019	Pre-posting training, including Serbian language Training
2014 to 2017	Canberra, Associate Director of the Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University
2012 to 2014	Brussels, Head of the China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia Division, European Union External Action Service
2011 to 2012	FCO, China Department
2010 to 2011	FCO, European Union Department (External)
2005 to 2009	Rome, Political Counsellor
2002 to 2005	Geneva, First Secretary (Trade and Development)
1997 to 2002	Beijing, Second Secretary (Commercial) then First Secretary (Political)
1995 to 1997	London then Beijing, Mandarin language training
1994 to 1995	FCO, Africa Department (Equatorial)
1994	Joined FCO

05/08/2026

Yvette Cooper – 2026 Comments on Cradle to the Grave

The comments made by Yvette Cooper, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in an interview with the Guardian on 5 August 2026.

We’ve always said the NHS is about the cradle to the grave. I want to make it a personal crusade to put the cradle back at the heart of the NHS, and to have much more focus around maternity and child health, the very beginning of a family’s life, making that much more central to the priorities of the NHS, giving it the priority that it really deserves.

05/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Robot revolution hits the fields as £20 million funding announced [August 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 August 2026.

New funding will help develop robots and innovative technologies that can plant, tend and harvest crops, giving farmers a helping hand at busy times of year, Farming Minister Stephen Morgan announced today (Monday 3 August).

Innovative agri-tech businesses can now bid for a share of £20 million to collaborate with researchers and farmers to develop the next generation of farm automation and robots.

The cash boost will fast-track the development of automated technology that can do everything from planting seeds to picking fruit, easing the pressure on farms that struggle to find enough seasonal workers at harvest time.

The latest cash injection from the government’s Farming Innovation Programme forms part of a recent £53 million boost and takes total funding available this year to £123 million for cutting-edge farming research and technology.

Companies such as Fieldwork Robotics are already developing robots that are transforming English farming. The firm has built a raspberry-picking robot and is now using government funding to make it tougher and more reliable so it can be rolled out commercially.

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan said:

Farmers work incredibly hard to put food on our tables, often battling to find enough seasonal workers when the pressure is on.

This funding will help put cutting-edge robots and technology into their hands, easing that burden while boosting yields and profits.

It’s a vote of confidence in British ingenuity, and a big step towards the kind of modern, resilient farming we set out in our Farming Roadmap.

Chris Danks, Head of Agrifood at Innovate UK, said:

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools to help farmers improve productivity and build more resilient businesses.

Working in partnership with Defra, we’re supporting businesses, researchers and farmers to work together to develop technologies that address real-world challenges across agriculture.

This competition will help accelerate innovations from concept to on-farm application, supporting solutions that can improve productivity, sustainability and resilience across the sector.

This round is open to livestock applications too, building on work such as Roboscientific’s DETECT project to develop technology that can sniff out illness in dairy cows before it takes hold. Using breath analysis, the system aims to catch bovine respiratory disease early, an illness that costs farmers dearly in lost animals, vet bills and extra work.

It also casts the net wider than the previous automation round which ran in 2023, welcoming applications from ornamental plant propagation, growing and monitoring, where the technology could equally be put to work in food-producing horticulture, as well as forestry projects covering tree nursery and planting operations and woodland monitoring and management systems.

Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the government’s Farming Innovation Programme backs bright ideas that solve real problems on English farms. The programme is part of a government pledge to invest at least £200 million in farming innovation by 2030.

05/08/2026
Luciana Berger – 2026 Statement on Joshua Bonehill-Paine

The statement made by Luciana Berger, the former Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, on 5 August 2026.

For the avoidance of doubt I don’t believe this man should have *any* role in public life – because of both his racism and his view of women.

Kemi Badenoch – you’ve got this very, very wrong.

05/08/2026
Greg Hands – 2026 Statement Confirming Not Standing at Next Election

The comments made by Greg Hands, the former Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham on 5 August 2026.

I have decided not to put myself forward for selection in the Chelsea & Fulham constituency, or any other constituency, at the next General Election.

This has come after considerable reflection, but I have decided to hand over the reins to somebody else to fly the Conservative flag.

I believe strongly that the Conservatives are well placed to regain Chelsea & Fulham, having lost by only 152 votes in 2024.

Under Kemi Badenoch’s strong leadership, a Conservative gain ought to be within reach, if the hard work is put in.

I was the MP for nineteen years, and a Government Minister for 12 years (only Michael Gove served longer in the 2010-24 governments), and it is time for me to face new challenges and for a successor Conservative candidate to win back the seat from Labour, as I did in 2005.

Since last year I have been working for the EP Group and owner Daniel Kretinsky, and chairing GRID-UK, among other private sector roles.

I remain active in UK politics and political commentary and have long been a strong supporter of Kemi Badenoch, who is Britain’s best hope for the future.

I would like to thank the Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham Conservatives for selecting and supporting me, and the people of Chelsea & Fulham (and previously Hammersmith) who elected me 5 times to be their MP. It was, throughout, an honour and a privilege. I wish my successor well.

05/08/2026