Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 July 2024.

The UK is providing £30,000 (BDT 4.5 crores) of vital humanitarian assistance to support flood-affected communities in Sylhet, where over three million people have been impacted and 260,000 are displaced.

The current flooding in Bangladesh has so far affected over 14.8 million people in different parts of the country.

This UK contribution in Sylhet will be managed by Start Fund Bangladesh and implemented by Caritas Bangladesh. It will provide cash assistance, clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies, and complement the Government of Bangladesh’s ongoing response to the flooding.

The UK is also a significant contributor to the global humanitarian pooled funds, such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) and the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Both of these are providing a total of £5.9m (BDT 89.5 crores) to support people affected by flooding in northern Bangladesh with food, clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, shelter, health support, and cash assistance.

Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said:

The UK stands beside all of those affected by the current flooding in Bangladesh. I am pleased to announce the UK is providing humanitarian assistance to support those affected.

This includes £30,000 (BDT 4.5 crores) through START Fund Bangladesh to provide vital supplies to over 5,000 people in Sylhet, as well as contributions to pooled funds that are supporting those in the north of the country. This contribution complements the Government of Bangladesh’s response.

Further information

1. The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is a humanitarian fund established by the United Nations General Assembly to enable timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, and complex emergencies through rapid, effective, and efficient channelling of resources to humanitarian agencies.
2. IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) is a pooled fund which offers rapid financial support to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help them respond to small and medium-scale disasters or other emergencies that may not receive significant donor or media attention and therefore funding.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 16 July 2024.

Thousands of young people travelling to popular holiday destinations including Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca to work in bars and clubs have been given advice on the dangers of labour exploitation.

Border Force officers have been running Operation Karetu at 22 airports across the UK, targeting young people travelling to work in Mediterranean destinations who could be at risk of exploitation, criminality and illegal working.

The month-long operation has so far seen officers engage with over 1,000 young Brits, providing them with leaflets and guidance on how to avoid the risks involved as unofficial public relations (PR) reps – work that involves touting people into clubs and bars.

Young holidaymakers who travel abroad every year to work in the hospitality industry risk being forced to work long hours for low wages. Risks include working illegally due to a lack of knowledge about EU employment regulations or being exploited by serious organised criminal gangs.

Operation Karetu was initially launched in 2018 amid concerns over the welfare of young British nationals being exposed to different types of exploitation, particularly labour and sexual exploitation. The operation has had significant success and since 2022 there have been no cases of labour exploitation reported to the British Consular in the Balearics.

However, many cases of labour exploitation go undetected, and Border Force continue to run Operation Karetu every year as an important preventative operation to protect young people.

Home Office Minister, Seema Malhotra said:

Travelling abroad for a summer in the sun is an exciting prospect for thousands of young people across the country, but it’s important they’re able to do that safely.

Operation Karetu is just one example of Border Force’s work to protect the British public, ensuring young people are kept safe from unscrupulous employers.

This year’s operation was specifically targeting the Balearic Islands, which includes popular tourist destinations such as Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca.

The operation began on 17 June and is running until 19 July this year, and is carried out in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the modern slavery charity, Unseen, and British embassies abroad.

Border Force carries out Operation Karetu annually as part of its Prevent and Protect strategies, to end involvement in exploitation and strengthen safeguards by protecting individuals, organisations and systems.

Key advice from Border Force officers to people considering working abroad:

1. Working while a tourist in the EU is illegal. If you are not an EU national or legally resident in the EU, you need a job offer, work permit and visa. More information is available on travelling to the EU and Schengen area.
2. Check you have a visa and a contract before starting your job.
3. Ask about accommodation and find out the rent or costs. Do this before accepting accommodation as part of a job offer.
4. Keep hold of your passport at all times. If it is taken, report it to police. You can contact the local British Consulate for help and advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The Border Force operation is supported by modern slavery charity Unseen, who operate the Modern Slavery Helpline. Anyone feeling vulnerable about their work or finances can contact the Modern Slavery Helpline, in confidence, on 08000 121 700.

The operation is just one part of the work Border Force carries out to address modern slavery and trafficking. All front-line Border Force officers are trained to identify signs of modern slavery and make the necessary referrals.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 July 2024.

Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on multilateral cooperation.

The world of 2024 looks very different to the world of 1945, but the challenges we face are no less stark.

More countries globally are engaged in conflicts than at any time since the Second World War, we are facing a climate crisis and scientific and technological breakthroughs are raising new questions, which we need to answer.

A UN fit for the 21st century is vital to meet these challenges. I would like to make three points:

First, we need reinvigorated systems that are more inclusive and more responsive to deliver on important priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals and international financial architecture reform.

That is why the UK is committed to making a success of the Summit of the Future in September and realising its potential to set a new, ambitious course for the UN.

We also recognise that members sitting around this table need to be more representative of the world today and that is why we have long supported Security Council reform.

Second, we need to ensure that this Council delivers on its mandate to uphold international peace and security.

We regret that recent Council resolutions 2735 and 2736 calling for a ceasefire deal in Gaza and de-escalation in and around El Fasher in Sudan have yet to be fully implemented.

We call on all parties to do their utmost to see these resolutions implemented to prevent further human suffering.

We as Council members also have a responsibility to uphold our own commitments.

It is therefore vital that the Russian government stops sourcing weapons from DPRK in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and ceases its attempts to disrupt UN efforts in Africa, including by stopping Russian proxies targeted actions against MINUSCA.

Third, we must defend the UN Charter.

President, while you tell us how you believe the world order can become more just, democratic and sustainable, your military is systematically bombing civilians in Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression and in flagrant violation of the UN Charter.

What is just about trying to annex another country’s land? What is democratic about trying to subjugate another country’s people? What is sustainable about waging a war that has killed or injured over 500,000 of your own people?

The war in Ukraine is a stark reminder of what kind of world order Russia really wants – a world where might is right, and powerful countries can bully and invade other countries with impunity.

The UK does not accept such a world. We will continue to stand staunchly behind Ukraine. We will support its aspiration for a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter and international law, and its demand for accountability.

We will continue to be a tireless advocate for effective multilateralism and for the principles at the heart of the UN Charter.

I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 July 2024.

Ms Lisa Chesney MBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Uganda in succession to Ms Kate Airey OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Chesney will take up her appointment in October 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Lisa Jane Chesney

Year	Role
2021 to present	Freetown, British High Commissioner
2020 to 2021	Home Office, Gold Command, COVID-19 Recovery and Change, Public Safety Group and Head, Counter-Extremism Unit
2018 to 2020	Home Office, Head, Counter-Extremism Unit
2015 to 2018	FCO, Deputy Head, Security Policy Department
2015	Higher Command and Staff Course, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
2013 to 2014	Mogadishu, Deputy Head of Mission
2012 to 2013	Lashkar Gah, Head Politics and Strategic Communications, Provincial Reconstruction Team, Helmand Province
2012	Full-time language training (Pashto)
2010-2012	FCO, Head, Prevent Team, Counter-Terrorism Department
2008 to 2010	FCO, Corporate Services Centre (CSC) Change Programme Director, later Interim CSC Director, Finance Directorate
2005 to 2008	Coats Plc, European Category Director (based Germany)
2005	International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Lausanne
1995 to 2005	Coats Plc, Sales and Marketing, later Central Europe Marketing Manager (based Germany)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 July 2024.

The British High Commission hosted a screening of the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles finals on 13 July in Delhi to celebrate the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament and the power of sport to bring people together.

The evening’s gathering included tennis fans from all walks of life, sports personalities, business as well as representatives from the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), the organising body of the Wimbledon. India’s top seeded tennis player Ankita Raina also joined the screening.

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

Watching, playing, and celebrating sport is at the heart of British life, bringing together different genders, cultures, age groups and backgrounds around a shared passion. The UK is a melting pot of diverse cultures, and our sporting traditions reflects this. I’m particularly proud that we all came together to recognise and celebrate the achievements of amazing women athletes everywhere.

Further information

• The Wimbledon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament. The first Wimbledon championship took place in 1877 and the longest match was played in 2010 by John Isner (US) and Nicolas Mahut (France) lasting over 3 days.
• Each year 500,000 attendees flood through its gates over the two-week period, whilst the tournament is broadcast to more than 20 million tennis fans around the world in over 200 countries. In 2022, Wimbledon Smash App recorded 194,000 downloads, with 84% of these coming from India.
• Sport contributes £39 billion yearly to the UK economy and the UK sport industry employs more than half-a-million people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 July 2024.

British Ambassador Hamish Cowell hosted a Business and Trade reception to celebrate record-breaking bilateral trade figures between the UK and Lebanon.

In 2023, bilateral trade figures between the UK and Lebanon passed the £1bn mark for the first time ever, reaching a record high of £1.1 billion, an increase on over 45% on 2022. Export brands increased to £160 million. The top five goods exported by the UK to Lebanon throughout 2023 were mechanical power generators, cars, beverages, dairy products, medicinal and pharmaceutical products. Services accounted for over £600m.

The reception was attended by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Firas Abiad and a wide range of Lebanese businesspeople and entrepreneurs investing in Lebanon and the UK. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan at the UK Department for Business and Trade, Oliver Christian delivered a recorded video message to the guests.

During the reception, Ambassador Cowell said:

Given the many local and regional challenges, it is great to be able to celebrate these record-breaking figures which are testament to the strength of the UK/Lebanon partnership. They demonstrate the opportunities our businesses are finding in both countries. We are very keen to see more UK brands come to Lebanon. We are also supporting Lebanese investments in the UK across various sectors.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner Oliver Christian’s video message:

We’re here to celebrate the strength of our UK-Lebanon relationship, evidenced by our bilateral trade figures which reached a record high in 2023. This achievement is remarkable in and of itself, but even more so in the context of the challenges that face Lebanon today.

British brands are widening their footprint in the Lebanese market. Just last month The Entertainer Toy Shop opened its first branch in Lebanon. Baylis and Harding are now present in the market, and we expect more brands like E L and N café to follow later this summer.

We’ve seen great success on our investment side as well, with brilliant Lebanese brands like Swiss Butter, Meat the Fish and Nada Ghazal Jewellery now establishing in the UK.

I hope to visit soon to hear directly from you about the incredible country which has so much to offer.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 July 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy visits Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to progress diplomatic efforts for long-term peace and security in the region.

• Foreign Secretary to call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a rapid increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza on first Middle East visit
• in meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, David Lammy will make the urgent case for a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution
• the Foreign Secretary announces £5.5 million to UK-Med to support their ongoing work to provide humanitarian assistance and medical treatment to those in Gaza

David Lammy is visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories today [Sunday 14 July] on his first trip to the Middle East since becoming Foreign Secretary.

He will focus on the UK’s diplomatic role in helping to bring the conflict in Gaza to an end and making progress towards long-term peace and security in the Middle East.

He will raise the urgent need for a ceasefire agreed by both sides, which includes the release of all hostages and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary will also announce that the UK will provide another £5.5 million this year to UK-Med to fund their life-saving work in Gaza. UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity who send experienced humanitarian medics, including those working in the NHS, to crisis-hit regions to deliver life and limb-saving health care.

This funding will be used to support the ongoing work of their field hospitals and the emergency department at Nasser Hospital. It will allow medics, including those from the UK, to continue carrying out vital work to treat thousands more patients suffering from acute respiratory illnesses, infections, and explosive fragmentation trauma cases.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable. This war must end now, with an immediate ceasefire, complied with by both sides. The fighting has got to stop, the hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas terrorists need to be released immediately and aid must be allowed in to reach the people of Gaza without restrictions.

I am meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to stress the UK’s ambition and commitment to play its full diplomatic role in securing a ceasefire deal and creating the space for a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. The world needs a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.

Central to this is to see an end to expanding illegal Israeli settlements and rising settler violence in the West Bank. Here, in what should be a crucial part of a Palestinian state, alongside Gaza and East Jerusalem, we need to see a reformed and empowered Palestinian Authority.

In Israel, the Foreign Secretary will hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog to reiterate the need to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. He will meet with hostage families with links to the UK whose loved ones have been murdered or taken by Hamas.

Highlighting more than 680 tonnes of UK aid in the region and waiting to enter Gaza, including medicines, shelters and hygiene kits, the Foreign Secretary will push the desperate need to rapidly increase aid into Gaza.

In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Foreign Secretary will welcome the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to delivering reform and reiterate the UK’s support to Prime Minister Mustafa and his government.

The UK has provided £10 million in aid to support the Palestinian Authority this financial year through the World Bank. The funding will provide vital support for key services, for example through the payment of salaries for 8,200 doctors, nurses and other health workers over 2 months.

In meetings with President Abbas and Prime Minister Mustafa, he will highlight his commitment to recognising a Palestinian state as an undeniable right of the Palestinian people, and as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. He will also call out settlements in the West Bank as illegal and harmful to a two-state solution on visit to a Palestinian community.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2024.

Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UNRWA Pledging Conference 2024.

The devastating violence in Gaza has gone on for far too long. And I pay tribute to the work of UNRWA in unprecedentedly challenging circumstances and to the leadership of Commissioner General Lazzarini. In one of his first acts as UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer set out the clear and urgent need for an immediate ceasefire that leads to a sustainable peace with security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We are calling for the release of all the hostages, the upholding of international humanitarian law, and a rapid increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

President, Palestinians in Gaza are facing a humanitarian catastrophe and the very real risk of famine. For months they have suffered unbearable hardship without the food and protection from harm that they need. Too many Palestinian civilians are being killed, and much of civilian infrastructure essential to life has been destroyed. The UK is committed to working with our international partners to alleviate this suffering and get more aid to the civilians who need it most.

We welcome the UN’s leadership role in coordinating and delivering the humanitarian response. We recognise that UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. It is playing a critically important role in getting aid to those who need it in Gaza and providing essential services, including healthcare and education, to Palestinian refugees across the region.

So I want to take the opportunity again today to pay tribute to those brave and selfless UNRWA staff who face danger every day as they work to get aid to those in desperate need. Today the UK stands with 117 Member States, led by Jordan, Slovenia and Kuwait, in making clear our shared commitment to UNWRA and to make clear our support for the vital role it plays in saving lives and promoting regional stability – a fundamental building block for lasting peace.

President, we were appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel. The Secretary-General and the Commissioner General of UNRWA took these allegations seriously and acted decisively. And we are confident that UNRWA is taking robust action in response Catherine Colonna’s independent review, to ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality, transparency and accountability.

The UK recognises the importance of UNRWA’s mandate and the need for UNRWA to operate on a sustainable financial footing. Following last week’s elections in the United Kingdom, the new Foreign Secretary is closely considering resuming UK funding to UNRWA.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 July 2024.

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on West Africa and the Sahel.

I would like to start by welcoming the agreement of this Council of a Presidential Statement on UNOWAS. During what is a challenging period for the region, that was an important signal of the Council’s full support for the region’s peace and security. We commend the penholders Sierra Leone and Switzerland for their excellent work to get it agreed.

We wish to make four points today.

First, the UK congratulates Mauritania and Senegal for their peaceful transfers of power. But democracy and civic space are under pressure in the region. We note that timelines for restoration of constitutional governments in Mali and Burkina Faso have been extended, and we reiterate the Council’s call, in its recent Presidential Statement, for the restoration of constitutional order. Guinea’s transition timeline has also slipped, but we welcome ECOWAS’ assessment that some progress has been achieved in Guinea, including a planned referendum on the constitution in 2024.

Second, security across the Sahel is deteriorating. The threat of terrorism is growing, and requires a serious cross-regional response. Foreign mercenaries and proxies are not the answer. They have a track record in the region of worsening existing conflicts and undermining long-term development, and the way they operate often poses grave threats to the protection of civilians, as we saw at Moura in Mali. The UK remains concerned about the security situation in Mali, especially after the withdrawal of MINUSMA. We encourage UNOWAS to help bring all parties back to the negotiating table.

We also note the recent ECOWAS and Alliance of Sahel States summits. We urge all states in the region to seek collective solutions to the growing shared security challenge. As we heard in the Arria meeting called by Sierra Leone on 19 June, effective counter-terror efforts require regional collaboration.

Third, the humanitarian situation in the region continues to get worse. Food insecurity, fueled by violence and displacement, is reaching record levels in the Central Sahel and Nigeria. Climate change is compounding these problems.

Since 2019, UK aid has supported over 15 million people in the Sahel with life-saving assistance, and 3 million in Nigeria since 2017. But access is increasingly restricted, and needs are still going unmet. We call on all actors to ensure safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.

Fourth, we welcome the IMF’s improved economic forecast, which demonstrates the enormous opportunity for growth across the region despite today’s many challenges.  The UK looks forward to deepening our partnerships in the region, working collaboratively to ensure that we drive forward both growth and security.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 12 July 2024.

Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood has set out how the government will stop the impending collapse of the criminal justice system.

“Our prisons are on the point of collapse”, new Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said today (Friday 12 July) as she set out how the government will stop the impending collapse of the criminal justice system.

The Lord Chancellor explained that if prisons were to run out of places, courts would be forced to delay sending offenders to jail and police unable to arrest dangerous criminals – a crisis which would leave the public at risk from unchecked criminality.

During her first visits as Lord Chancellor, she met hard-working frontline probation staff before a tour of HMP Bedford and HMP Five Wells, and delivered a speech to highlight the dire state of prisons.

In a speech at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said:

When prisons are full, violence rises – putting prison officers on the front line at risk. When no cells are available, suspects cannot be held in custody. This means vanloads of dangerous people circling the country, with nowhere to go.

The police would have to use their cells as a prison overflow, keeping officers off the streets. Soon, the courts would grind to a halt, unable to hold trials.

With officers unable to act, criminals could do whatever they want, without consequence. We could see looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight.

In short, if we fail to act now, we face the collapse of the criminal justice system. And a total breakdown of law and order.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, said:

It is pleasing to see the new government has taken action on this pressing issue so quickly.

We are supporting the Ministry of Justice and other partners in the criminal justice system to manage the impact of these changes, particularly around supporting victims, families and others who will be affected.

With only hundreds of places left in the adult male estate, prisons have been routinely operating at over 99 percent capacity since the start of 2023. Prison cells are now expected to run out within weeks. The Lord Chancellor outlined the challenging but necessary steps the Government has been forced to make to prevent their imminent collapse and keep people safe. The Lord Chancellor made clear that the Government must act now to stop this situation from playing out.

Ahead of setting out the next steps to tackle this impending crisis, the Lord Chancellor confirmed that the dysfunctional and unmanageable End of Custody Supervised Licence scheme will come to an end.

Originally launched in October 2023, this early release scheme was brought in to address capacity pressures on the prison estate. Prisoners were initially released 18 days early, but the measure has been repeatedly expanded over the last six months.

Over the course of the scheme, over 10,000 offenders were released.

Instead, the government will temporarily reduce the proportion of certain custodial sentences served in prison from 50% to 40%, with important safeguards and exemptions to keep the public safe and clear release plans to manage them safely in the community.

Sentences for serious violent offences of four years or more, as well as sex offences will be automatically excluded, and, in an important distinction from End of Custody Supervised Licence scheme, the early release of offenders in prison for domestic abuse connected crimes will also be excluded. This will include:

• stalking offences
• controlling or coercive behaviours in an intimate or family relationship
• non-fatal strangulation and suffocation
• breach of restraining order, non-molestation order, and domestic abuse protection order

Anyone released will be strictly monitored on licence by the Probation Service through measures which can include electronic tagging and curfews. They face being recalled to prison if they breach their licence conditions.

The new rules will also not apply to most serious offenders, who already either spend two-thirds of their sentence behind bars or have their release determined by the Parole Board.

The Lord Chancellor will set out that the government had no choice but to take this decision.

Shabana Mahmood said:

There is now only one way to avert disaster. I do not choose to do this because I want to…. but we are taking every protection that is available to us… let me be clear, this is an emergency measure. This is not a permanent change. I am unapologetic in my belief that criminals must be punished.

The changes announced today will come into force in September, giving the Prison and Probation Service time to plan for offenders’ release.

The Lord Chancellor also outlined the government’s promise of transparency with a commitment to providing detailed and regular publications of releases under the changes to standard determinate sentences.

In an acknowledgement of the impact on the Probation Service, Ms Mahmood’s first visit as Lord Chancellor was to Bedford Probation Office where she spoke with frontline staff to hear about the challenges they were facing.

Acknowledging these challenges, the Lord Chancellor has also set out plans to recruit over 1,000 additional trainee probation officers by March 2025, allowing for greater oversight and management of offenders once they leave prisons.

During her speech, the Lord Chancellor reiterated her commitment to tackling the prison crisis for the long term. This included clear plans on how prisons can be built quicker by unblocking the planning system and enacting wider system reform and a 10-year capacity strategy will also be published in the Autumn, in line with the Spending Review timeline.

An Annual Statement on prison capacity will also be published every year, making sure the government is being held to account and must always have the prison places to keep dangerous offenders off the streets. This will make sure the public will never face the situation it is in today again.

Shabana Mahmood concluded in her speech:

The measures I have set out are not a silver bullet but they will give us the time we need to address the prisons crisis, not just today but for years to come.

That means continuing the prison building programme. And only by driving down reoffending will we ever find a sustainable solution to the prisons crisis.

Background information

• The changes to the release point for offenders on standard determinate sentences will require secondary legislation to be voted on by Parliament and could come into force in September.
• It will apply to those already in prison and past the 40% point in their sentence when this comes into force, with the first releases happening in September.
• The majority of prisoners serve Standard Determinate Sentences (SDS) which involves automatic release at a given point. These sentences are available for most crimes.
• Other types of custodial sentence, such as life sentences or extended sentences are used for dangerous offenders where their release before the end of their sentence must be approved by the Parole Board following a detailed risk assessment.