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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor appoints new Women in Finance Champion [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor appoints new Women in Finance Champion [December 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 December 2025.

    Over 440 firms now committed to improving female representation at the top of the industry.

    • Dame Amanda Blanc steps down as Women in Finance Champion after 5 years in the role, with senior female representation rising from 32% to 36% under her tenure 
    • Nationwide CEO Dame Debbie Crosbie appointed as new Women in Finance Champion, as Government pushes for more women in senior City roles.

    The Chancellor has appointed Nationwide Building Society CEO Dame Debbie Crosbie as the new Women in Finance champion, as ministers step up the pressure on the City to go further and faster on women’s progression to senior roles. 

    Dame Debbie succeeds Aviva CEO Dame Amanda Blanc, whose tenure saw senior female representation in key finance roles jump from 32% to 36% as well as leading the charge on strengthening the pipeline for women into financial services. 

    As Champion, Dame Debbie will continue to drive momentum behind the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, which covers more than 440 firms and aims to improve the representation of women in senior leadership to boost the productivity and growth of UK financial services.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    When I became Chancellor, I said my time in office would be a success if more young women and girls knew there should be no ceiling on their ambition and no limit to what they can achieve. 

    The Women in Finance Charter is a key tool to achieve that progress. I thank Amanda for her exceptional leadership over the past 5 years, and look forward to working with Debbie as she takes on the mantle.

    Dame Amanda Blanc said:  

    I am incredibly proud of the progress made during my time as Women in Finance Champion. 

    There is still plenty more to do to reach parity and I know that Debbie will be a powerful driving force in bringing about further progress and ensuring even more talented women are given the opportunities they deserve to thrive and lead.

    Dame Debbie Crosbie said: 

    When women succeed in business they inspire the next generation and ensure economic growth is sustainable and inclusive. The Charter is key to driving even more growth in financial services and harnessing all of the sector’s skills and talents.  I look forward to building on the excellent progress made by Amanda, and working with the Chancellor and across our industry to encourage even more growth and progress.

    Over the last 5 years, Dame Amanda has driven progress in the sector through developing a blueprint for change, advocating for women in underrepresented spaces such as tech, strengthening the talent pipeline through the Mirror Taskforce of talented mid-level women, and convening leaders – including the Women in Finance Climate Action Group for COP26 and Accountable Executive Taskforce – to focus on greater gender parity. 

    Dame Debbie Crosbie will take up the Women in Finance Champion role from 1 January 2026, serving in an unpaid, direct ministerial appointment reporting to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.  

    Dame Debbie joined Nationwide as its first-ever female CEO in June 2022 and was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in June 2025 for services to the financial sector.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of the Chair of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Non‑Executive Directors [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of the Chair of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Non‑Executive Directors [December 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 December 2025.

    David Roberts reappointed as Chair of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Dame Anne Glover and Diana Noble reappointed as Non‑Executive Directors.

    • David Roberts has been reappointed as Chair of the Court of the Bank of England by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP. 
    • Following his reappointment, he will serve a second four‑year term as Chair of Court, commencing on 24 October 2026. 
    • The Chancellor has also reappointed two Non‑Executive Directors on the Bank’s Court:
      • Dame Anne Glover has been reappointed as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2028; and 
      • Diana Noble has been reappointed as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2027.

    The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

    I am pleased to confirm the reappointment of David Roberts as Chair of the Bank of England’s Court, alongside the reappointments of Dame Anne Glover and Diana Noble as Non‑Executive Directors.

    Each of them brings exceptional experience and expertise from across financial services, investment and the wider economy. Their continued service will support the Bank to deliver its core missions of monetary and financial stability.

    Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, said: 

    I am delighted that David Roberts, Diana Noble and Anne Glover have been reappointed to serve on the Bank’s Court, and I welcome their continued contributions to the organisation

    About David Roberts 

    David Roberts is Chair of the Bank of England’s Court, leading the board in setting strategy, risk appetite and key organisational decisions. 

    He also holds advisory roles at The Mentoring Foundation, Henley Business School, and Campion Willcocks. Previously, he chaired Beazley plc and Nationwide Building Society, was Vice Chair of NHS England, and Group Deputy Chair at Lloyds Banking Group. David spent 24 years at Barclays, becoming a Main Board Executive Director, and later served as Chair and CEO of Bawag PSK AG. 

    He holds an MBA and two honorary doctorates and has been recognised with a CBE and the Chartered Management Institute’s Gold Medal for Management. 

    About Dame Anne Glover 

    Dame Anne Glover is a Non‑Executive Director on the Bank of England’s Court of Directors and Chief Executive and Co‑Founder of Amadeus Capital Partners. With over 35 years’ experience as a venture capitalist, she has a strong background in science, engineering and business. 

    Anne was awarded a DBE in 2025 and a CBE in 2006 for her services to business and engineering. She holds honorary fellowships with the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Clare College, Cambridge. 

    Her career includes roles in manufacturing with Cummins Engine Company, consulting at Bain & Co, investing at Apax Partners, and operational leadership at Virtuality Group. She has chaired both the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and Invest Europe, and serves on investment committees for British International Investment and the Yale Endowment. 

    About Diana Noble 

    Diana Noble is Deputy Chair of the Bank of England’s Court and Chair of the Remuneration Committee. She also serves on the boards of Wellcome Trust and Brookfield Asset Management, and is a Trustee of The Children’s Society. 

    Diana was CEO of CDC (now British International Investment), the UK’s development finance institution, from 2011 to 2017, leading a period of significant transformation and growth. Her career spans private equity, venture capital and international development, including senior roles at Schroder Ventures (now Permira), founding two venture funds, and serving as Executive Vice President, Operations at the Clinton Foundation’s Health Access Initiative. 

    Diana holds a first‑class Law degree and was awarded a CBE in 2017. 

    About the Court of the Bank of England 

    The Court of the Bank of England acts as the Bank’s board. It is responsible for overseeing the Bank’s strategy, governance, budget and risk framework, and for ensuring the effective discharge of the Bank’s statutory functions. 

    The Court consists of the Chair and eight other Non‑Executive Directors, the Governor and four Deputy Governors. The Bank’s Chief Operating Officer also attends Court, although they are not technically a full member. Non‑Executive Directors bring independent judgement and a breadth of experience to the Court’s deliberations. 

    About the appointment process 

    Reappointments to the Court of the Bank of England are not automatic. Each case is considered on its own merits. 

    The reappointment of David Roberts for a second four‑year term as Chair of Court, commencing on 24 October 2026, and the reappointments of Dame Anne Glover as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2028 and Diana Noble as a Non‑Executive Director until 31 May 2027, have been made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury in line with the requirements of the Governance Code on Public Appointments. 

    David Roberts, Dame Anne Glover and Diana Noble have confirmed that they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Enhanced UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement negotiations update [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Enhanced UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement negotiations update [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2025.

    An update following the third round of negotiations on an Enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Turkey.

    The third round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey took place in Ankara during the week commencing 17 November 2025.

    The UK and Turkey have a strong economic relationship, with trade between the two totalling around £28 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2025, making Turkey the UK’s 17th largest trading partner. Trade with Turkey’s growing market of 86 million people directly supported around 57,100 jobs across the UK in 2020.    

    Economic growth is our first mission in government and FTAs have an important role to play in achieving this. A stronger trade relationship with Turkey will contribute to jobs and prosperity in the UK.

    Negotiations were productive, with positive progress being made in a number of areas including Financial Services, Professional and Business Services, Domestic Regulation and Entry and Temporary Stay.

    Discussions on Goods Market Access focused on unlocking commercially meaningful opportunities for UK exporters. Progress was also made on Customs and Trade Facilitation, as well as Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

    Further exchanges advanced work on Labour, Anti-Corruption, Environment, Good Regulatory Practice, Dispute Settlement and Intellectual Property enforcement, as well as approaches on Government Procurement, State Owned Enterprises, Subsidies and Trade Remedies, which were further refined to build common understanding.

    The UK will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors, including protections for the National Health Service.

    The fourth round of negotiations is expected to take place in early 2026. Ministers will update Parliament on the progress of discussions with Turkey as they continue to progress.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE Special Representative on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings – UK Statement [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE Special Representative on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings – UK Statement [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2025.

    The UK reaffirms our thanks to Special Representative Dr Kari Johnstone for the work of her Office.

    Thank you Chair and thank you, Special Representative, for your report. The UK recognises and welcomes the valuable contribution of your Office to anti-trafficking efforts across the OSCE region.

    It is critical that we continue to monitor emerging risks of trafficking and exploitation resulting from conflicts and humanitarian crises. Russia’s war against Ukraine leaves many vulnerable, particularly women and children. Russian authorities have forcibly deported over 19,500 Ukrainian children to Russia or the temporarily occupied territories. We must strengthen protection measures, and we commend your Office’s efforts in supporting states to do so. With that in mind what innovative approaches can you see frontline actors adopting to detect and prevent trafficking during humanitarian and conflict crises, and how can these practices be scaled across the OSCE region?

    In line with the UK’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7, we work with international partners, including the OSCE, to eradicate modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking. We face increasingly complex forms of exploitation, including a rise in trafficking for forced criminality. The UK is proud to support your Office’s work on forced criminality in online scamming operations. We must enhance prevention, early identification, and reintegration for victims and survivors across the OSCE region.

    We also welcome your Office’s efforts to include survivors and those with lived experience. Their voices and expertise are vital to tackling and preventing modern slavery. The UK is supporting UNDP to develop guidance for investors on engaging survivors in human rights due diligence and grievance mechanisms.

    Special Representative, thank you again for your report. It highlights the impressive contributions of your Office and reminds OSCE states of the need for greater cooperation on this agenda. We look forward to continued UK engagement with your Office to support its valuable work.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Major potato pest eradicated from UK [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major potato pest eradicated from UK [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 December 2025.

    The Colorado beetle, a major threat to potato crops, was found in Kent in 2023.

    A major potato pest has been eradicated from the UK, the government has outlined today (Thursday 11 December 2025), following extensive operational investigative work and surveillance.

    The Colorado beetle was discovered in Kent in July 2023 following laboratory diagnosis of samples, with one finding later that year. The beetle can completely strip the leaves from potato plants and several other crops, including tomatoes, aubergines and peppers, and can have a significant economic impact if left uncontrolled.

    No further beetles have been found in the space of two years, in a boost for farmers, gardeners and allotment holders who grow potatoes. This has meant eradication status has been reached.

    Colorado beetle, which does not pose a risk to human health, has previously been detected on imported plant products, such as leafy vegetables, salad leaves and fresh herbs. The beetle is highly distinctive: orange-yellow in colour with 10 characteristic black stripes on its body.

    The co-operation and vigilance of farmers, gardeners and allotment holders has played a key part in the eradication campaign along with effective biosecurity measures from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Defra.

    Farming Minister Angela Eagle said:

    “This is great news for British farmers. We will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to maintain UK biosecurity and protect British crops from future threats.”

    Defra Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said:

    “Colorado beetle can pose a significant threat to plants and the wider potato industry, and I’m grateful for the role of farmers, home gardeners and allotment holders in helping us take the action needed to protect our national crops.

    “This has been a huge team effort and is good news for the potato industry, but in order to prevent further outbreaks, it is vital the public continue to be vigilant and report suspected sightings to the Animal and Plant Health Agency with a photo and location details.”

    Animal and Plant Health Agency Chief Executive Richard Lewis said:

    “This is a significant achievement for APHA operational teams, working with Defra, the potato industry, farmers, home gardeners and allotment holders.”

    Surveillance activities included regular inspections of original outbreak fields and selected potato fields in Kent to rule out incursions resulting from blow over from mainland Europe. Periodic outbreaks of the pest between 1901 and the 1970s also saw it swiftly eradicated due to inspections and public vigilance.

    Additional information:

  • PRESS RELEASE : Derby fraudster, Temidola Ojelabi, jailed after using Covid loan funds on share dealing platforms [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Derby fraudster, Temidola Ojelabi, jailed after using Covid loan funds on share dealing platforms [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 11 December 2025.

    • Derby-based Temidola Ojelabi illegally obtained £80,000 in Covid support by making two separate Bounce Back Loan applications 
    • Funds were spent on share dealing platforms instead of supporting his business through the pandemic 
    • The 43-year-old has been jailed and banned as a company director following investigations by the Insolvency Service

    A Derby businessman who used Covid support scheme funds on online trading platforms has been jailed. 

    Temidola Ojelabi secured £80,000 across two Bounce Back Loan applications for Platinum Gates Limited in 2020 when businesses were only entitled to a single loan. 

    Money from the loans was then used on online trading platforms when it should have been spent supporting his business. 

    Ojelabi, 43, of Glossop Street, Derby, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday 10 December. 

    He was also disqualified as a company director for eight years. 

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Temidola Ojelabi exploited a scheme designed to support small and medium-sized businesses through the pandemic, securing two Bounce Back Loans when you were only allowed one. 

    Two different turnover figures were given on each application, and the funds were not used for the economic benefit of his business – a fundamental requirement of the scheme. Instead, money was spent on online trading platforms. 

    Ojelabi’s actions showed a complete disregard for taxpayer money and the rules designed to support legitimate businesses.

    Platinum Gates Limited was set up in October 2018 with Ojelabi as its sole director. Ojelabi said the company was an e-commerce venture and would buy and sell goods from various warehouse premises. 

    In May 2020, Ojelabi secured £35,000 in Bounce Back Loan funds for the company after declaring its turnover was £150,000. 

    Within one week, £34,000 of the funds were transferred to his personal bank account. 

    Later the same month, £29,800 was moved from his personal account to a share dealing service. 

    Ojelabi made a second Bounce Back Loan application in June 2020, this time applying for £45,000 and claiming his company’s turnover was £180,000. 

    All the money was transferred to Ojelabi’s personal account within eight days. 

    In interviews, Ojelabi accepted he took out the Bounce Back Loans but denied this was done fraudulently. 

    Platinum Gates Limited entered liquidation in May 2021, with both loans unpaid. 

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

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK government backs first project at Grangemouth site [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK government backs first project at Grangemouth site [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 11 December 2025.

    Grangemouth workers and the community will benefit from jobs and investment as UK government backs a new biotech project on the site.

    • Scottish biotech company MiAlgae backed with up to £1.5 million to develop an innovative new project on the Grangemouth site, using byproducts from whisky distillation
    • funding from UK government will help to support around 310 jobs over the next 5 years and help catalyse further investment into the site
    • Grangemouth Investment Taskforce is working to identify more projects to help secure Grangemouth’s long-term industrial future

    Grangemouth workers and the community will benefit from jobs and investment as the UK government backs a new biotech project with up to £1.5 million grant funding package.

    Scottish company MiAlgae makes fish-free Omega 3 out of algae by repurposing whisky byproducts, with Grangemouth’s position in the Central Belt providing an ideal location to source by-products from Scotland’s distilleries.  

    This environmentally friendly alternative to sourcing Omega 3 from fish oil is estimated to save 30 tonnes of fish for every tonne of algae produced. 

    The first investment allocation from the Grangemouth Investment Taskforce will start creating new jobs on the site from next year, supporting around 310 jobs over the next five years and delivering an additional £53 million into the Scottish economy. 

    As a condition of the grant funding, eligible Grangemouth workers will be given priority during recruitment, including a job interview guarantee. 

    The funding aims to support the company’s plans to construct its first commercial-scale manufacturing facility, accelerate production and support research and development. The grant funding will also help catalyse further investment into the site and demonstrate its long-term potential. 

    UK government Energy Minister Michael Shanks is expected to visit the site today (Thursday 11 December) as MiAlgae breaks ground on the new facility. 

    The funding forms part of the Chancellor’s announcement at Budget of £14.5 million in funding to help transform Grangemouth into a low-carbon tech hub and deliver the jobs of the future. The funding is in addition to £200 million already pledged by the Prime Minister from the National Wealth Fund to unlock Grangemouth’s huge potential. 

    Securing the first investment is a landmark moment as the Grangemouth Investment Taskforce works at pace to unlock more opportunities to bring a bright future to Grangemouth, with around 140 enquiries already received. This includes working closely with several other projects, with further announcements expected in the near future.    

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

    When we came into office there was no plan for Grangemouth. That’s why we quickly took action to secure the site’s long-term future, while supporting affected workers into new jobs.  

    Today we’re taking another step forward as we back the first new project at the site, creating hundreds of new, decent jobs and attracting further investment in the area. 

    This project, alongside the £200 million of funding pledged from the National Wealth Fund, is part of our clear strategy for Grangemouth’s industrial future. A strategy with workers, unions, businesses, and the wider community at its heart.

    Douglas Martin, Founder and CEO of MiAlgae, said:  

    Breaking ground at Grangemouth marks an exciting new chapter for MiAlgae. Our mission has always been to make a meaningful impact, tackling overfishing, reducing waste, and creating sustainable value from industrial by-products. This new facility is a huge step towards delivering that mission at scale, bringing new, high-quality green jobs to the local area, and helping Scotland lead the way in this exciting new biotech industry.

    Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

    This £1.5 million UK government investment will support MiAlgae’s innovative green technology and boost jobs and investment in Grangemouth.

    The UK government is backing Grangemouth’s future with real investment and a clear plan. We promised to secure the site’s long-term future and create good jobs, and that’s exactly what we’re doing – supporting new industries, creating opportunities, and ensuring this site remains a vital part of Scotland’s industrial heartland for generations to come.

    It is just one of many projects we are working to bring to the site. At the Budget the Chancellor announced £14.5 million for green industrial projects on the site.

    Meanwhile, the UK and Scottish governments’  training guarantee, is continuing to support Grangemouth workers into new high-skilled jobs – already 296 workers have received one-to-support and 269 are currently taking part in or have completed training.

    The UK and Scottish governments also signed the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal in November 2024, to support the community by investing in local projects to create new opportunities for growth. 

    Notes to editors 

    The project will create around 130 direct full-time jobs at Grangemouth over the next 5 years, alongside supporting an additional 180 roles across Scotland.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Stronger, faster trade defences for UK businesses [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Stronger, faster trade defences for UK businesses [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 11 December 2025.

    Government’s first steer to the Trade Remedies Authority to make trade defence system simpler and faster for UK producers and manufacturers.

    • Business Secretary sets new direction to make the UK’s trade defence system simpler, faster and more responsive to business needs, delivering on the Trade Strategy
    • UK producers and manufacturers, including SMEs, to benefit from streamlined investigations, and more support from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), and a new Import Monitoring Tool to help identify risks
    • New powers bring UK trade remedies into line with international peers, with greater discretion to impose higher duties under certain circumstances, and initiate cases under WTO rules

    UK producers and manufacturers will benefit from a simpler and faster system for tackling unfair trade practices, as the Government issues its first strategic steer to the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), delivering commitments set out in the Trade Strategy.

    These reforms mean UK producers – from industry giants in steel and ceramics to SMEs – will have clearer routes and more support to raise concerns with the TRA, the independent body that investigates unfair trade practices.

    By listening to industry needs, the steer will ensure faster decisions when unfair trade practices are identified and more support to access protections to safeguard jobs and investment.

    Producers still need to apply to the TRA and provide evidence, but the TRA is making this far easier. Through the new Advisory Service, launched in July, the TRA offers tailored guidance —helping firms navigate technical trade rules, horizon scanning for risks, and publishing trade data and research to support companies with faster, high-quality applications. These changes will ensure consistent support throughout a case and significantly reduce the administrative burden on businesses.

    Today, the TRA is going further with publication of their import monitoring analysis tool, which highlights trade patterns of data that may warrant further investigation. The TRA will work hand in hand with businesses to assess the data and identify risks of negative impacts on UK producers.

    By equipping the TRA with the tools to act decisively, the Government is ensuring the UK’s trade remedies system supports growth, strengthens competitiveness, and helps businesses thrive in global markets.

    Business & Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

    “We are strengthening the UK’s system for tackling unfair trade to give our producers and manufacturers – especially SMEs who have less capacity and capability– the backing they need to grow and compete.

    “By streamlining processes and aligning our framework with international peers, we are ensuring UK industry has the tools to protect jobs, attract investment and thrive in a changing global economy.”

    The latest Finance Bill introduces changes to make the UK’s trade remedies system more flexible and aligned with international peers like the EU and Australia.

    These reforms will give the Government more options – within WTO rules – when setting duty levels or starting new cases. This means decisions can be made in a way that better supports UK businesses.

    The TRA’s Co-Chief Executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen Suarez said:

    “We welcome the government’s strategic steer, which marks a significant milestone in our shared goal to make the UK’s trade remedies regime more agile, accessible and assertive, as well as providing greater accountability. 

    “Further to our work to date, including the recently launched Trade Remedies Advisory Service and the Import Trends Monitor, we will continue to focus on delivering more efficiently and effectively on our mission to defend the UK economic interests against unfair international trade practices.”

    Industry voices across all sectors have welcomed the reforms as a vital step in making the trade remedies system faster and easier to navigate.

    Rob Flello, Ceramics UK said:

    “We are delighted that the Business Secretary has listened to us as the voice of UK ceramics manufacturers and made the system more responsive and easier to navigate.

    “At a time when the highest quality products made in Britain are under threat like never before from unfair dumping and other sharp practices by overseas competitors, this is very welcome news.”

    Notes to editors

    • Legislative changes announced in the Finance Bill will only take effect once approved by Parliament through the usual bill process and further secondary legislation. These reforms are separate from measures to improve speed and accessibility, and the new powers are expected to be used in limited circumstances.
    • The TRA is the independent UK government body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Endangered species seized in wildlife smuggling crackdown [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Endangered species seized in wildlife smuggling crackdown [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 December 2025.

    Border Force seizes over 250 endangered species and illegal wildlife products as part of an intensive international operation to target criminal networks.

    Live snakes, tarantulas and lovebirds have been found crammed into vehicles at the UK border following a global crackdown on wildlife smuggling gangs.

    In just one month, Border Force seized more than 250 endangered species and illegal wildlife products at airports, ports and mail depots across the country.

    The seizures this autumn were part of an annual international operation to combat illegal wildlife smuggling – representing a 73% increase on the previous year.

    They include 2 rainbow boa constrictors, which officers found hidden under blankets in a car in Dover. The driver had bought them at a German reptile show without a licence.

    Border Force also discovered over 100 endangered birds crammed into a car, including scarlet ibis, green-cheeked conures and lovebirds. Some had died and the rest were kept in filthy conditions, risking the spread of disease.

    There has also been a surge in spider-trafficking since 2023. In one instance, Border Force intercepted a car transporting over 2,000 live tarantulas from Europe – worth an estimated £70,000. The consignment included more than 300 protected species without the appropriate licences.

    Adult tarantulas can sell for between £50 to £500 depending on the species.

    Other items prevented from reaching the black market included an elephant hair ring from the United States, king cobra balm from Thailand and a blacktip shark jaw from Australia.

    Wildlife crime is worth up to £17 billion a year globally, making it the fourth largest international crime – behind firearms, drugs and human trafficking.

    The intercepted items are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which is currently marking its 50th year.

    Home Office Minister Mike Tapp said:

    Wildlife smuggling is serious organised crime. It fuels corruption, drives species to extinction, and undermines our border security.

    I congratulate Border Force on this year’s hugely successful operation, which has cut off a major source of funding for dangerous gangs.

    But we won’t stop until we’ve broken this business model. Anyone attempting to bring illegal wildlife products into the UK – by air, sea, or post – will be searched and prosecuted.

    DEFRA Minister Mary Creagh said:

    The illegal wildlife trade is vile and destroys the natural world.

    By tackling wildlife crime we’re sending a clear message to the criminal gangs that this government will strain every sinew to bring those involved to justice.

    The seizures took place between 13 September and 15 October as part of Operation Thunder – an annual crackdown led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization to dismantle criminal smuggling networks.

    Police supported this year’s operation, carrying out inspections across the country. Where sellers could not provide paperwork, officers seized items including shark and crocodile meat, ivory carvings and a tiger claw bottle.

    Border Force’s specialist CITES team at Heathrow is recognised as world leaders in detecting and seizing illegal wildlife products.

    More than ever before officers are taking an intelligence-led approach – working with international partners to share expertise and shut the trade down.

    Where possible, seized items will be rehomed or used for research.

    As part of the Plan for Change, the government is determined to strengthen border security and break the business model of organised crime.

    Anyone who suspects smuggling and trafficking of any kind can report it online using the report smuggling service

    Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy at wildlife charity Born Free said:

    The work of Border Force and the police during Operation Thunder in 2025 is highly commendable.

    However, the increase in seizures over the years in which Operation Thunder has been running reflects the ever-expanding scale of international wildlife trafficking, which is coordinated by organised criminal networks and is destroying the lives of animals and disrupting efforts to conserve threatened species. Far more needs to be done to tackle wildlife trafficking if we are to meet the internationally agreed goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, put nature back on a path to recovery, and ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, by 2030. The UK needs to treat all wildlife crime as serious, notifiable and recordable crime, ensure that penalties for perpetrators are truly deterrent, and put the necessary resources into tackling this scourge.

    Matt Collis, senior director of policy for IFAW said:

    Across the world, wild animals are increasingly being taken from their natural habitats and funneled into the pet trade, sold to buyers who can buy them with the click of a button. It’s easy to imagine these buyers as living in faraway places, but the truth is – this trade is thriving here in the UK.

    Organised criminal networks are quick to exploit these trends – putting wildlife in peril. Border Force’s success in intercepting smuggled animals is encouraging and should send a clear warning to traffickers. Yet behind the statistics lies a far darker reality. Many animals die long before reaching their destination, and those who survive often face a lifetime of suffering in captivity.

    We cannot treat nature as a pet shop. Wildlife belongs in the wild – not in our homes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New national Child Protection Authority announced [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New national Child Protection Authority announced [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 December 2025.

    Plans for a new Child Protection Authority unveiled as part of government strategy to protect children from predators and abuse.

    Reforms to protect children from abuse will be significantly strengthened through the creation of a new Child Protection Authority, tasked with identifying emerging threats and driving accountability across the system. 

    The proposals for a new public body will strengthen England’s child protection system by providing national oversight, ensuring that vulnerable children are not failed by the authorities who are supposed to protect them.  

    At present, intelligence on harms can be fragmented, data analysis patchy, and lessons from serious cases slow to translate into practice. The Child Protection Authority will address these issues head on by providing strong leadership to ensure good child protection practice is embedded consistently across local areas. 

    Safeguarding failures allowed grooming gangs to operate in many towns and cities and led to horrifying cases like that of Sara Sharif, and the Child Protection Authority will tackle these underlying systemic issues – delivering on a key recommendation from the Casey Audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

    It comes alongside a broad package of measures being introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will ensure that agencies responsible for looking after children are working together closely and sharing relevant information, to get frontline expertise to where it’s needed and ensure no child falls through the cracks.  

    It also sits alongside the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs announced by the Home Secretary this week. Chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, the inquiry will examine the actions of the police, councils, social services and other agencies, both locally and nationally, making sure any wrongdoing or cover-ups are brought to light and holding those responsible to account – backed by £65 million of funding.  

    The Child Protection Authority delivers on a key recommendation from IICSA’s report and problems identified by the Casey Audit into group-based child sexual exploitation.  

    It will help protect children from harms including sexual exploitation and abuse, domestic violence, trafficking, organised crime, and other complex risks. 

    Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister said:  

    Every child deserves to grow up safe, and we owe it to victims and survivors to confront the problems that have allowed abuse and exploitation to go unchecked.  

    The creation of a Child Protection Authority is a key part of our response to the massive failings which have been exposed by the grooming gangs scandal and by horrifying child protection cases like that of Sara Sharif. 

    The government is taking broad action to build a more expert, decisive and focused child protection system, and this consultation is vital as we step up protections for children, and we want to hear from practitioners, experts, families and survivors to make sure we get this right.

    Alexis Jay, author of the IICSA report, said: 

    I am pleased to see the publication of this consultation on the establishment of the Child Protection Authority. 

    These proposals are a positive step in the implementation of the second recommendation in my final report and reflect detailed discussions with ministers and officials. I look forward to continuing to work with the department in the design of this new national body to help keep children safe. 

    I would encourage anyone with an interest in child protection to respond.  

    Sir David Holmes CBE, Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel chair, said:

    Every child deserves to grow up safe from harm, abuse, and neglect. The Panel’s work is driven by this principle. That’s why we support the Government’s decision to establish a Child Protection Authority in England — a significant step forward in creating a clearer, more unified child protection system.

    The Child Protection Authority will absorb and build on the foundations laid by our Panel, ensuring that national learning from serious incidents translates into practical improvements that frontline professionals can implement. This is an opportunity to deliver a system that is even more evidence-based, collaborative, and focused on outcomes for children. We will work closely with government, safeguarding partners, and practitioners to shape this new authority and ensure it reflects the voices of those who work tirelessly to protect children every day.

    We urge everyone who works with children to respond to the consultation so together we can build a system that puts children first.

    The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, said:

    We welcome the government’s progress in implementing IICSA’s recommendations and, if carefully designed and implemented, the new Child Protection Authority will play a key role in this, supported by specialist bodies such as the CSA Centre.

    The number of children supported through a child protection plan due to concerns of child sexual abuse has fallen from 25% to an all-time low of 3.5% in the last 30 years, so today’s publication of new, more detailed data, is a welcome first step in better understanding the reasons for that startling decline.

    Better data and analysis will also enhance the CSA Centre’s implementation of evidence-based resources into practice, including our Response Pathway, with initiatives such as our practice leads programme, so we can support professionals to better identify and respond to concerns of child sexual abuse.

    Catherine Worboyes, Interim Director of Children and Adult Social Care Pathfinders at Redbridge Local Authority, said:

    It has felt like a long time coming, but I’m really pleased that we’re putting one of the main IICSA recommendations into practice by setting up a Child Protection Authority (CPA). As a practice leader, I genuinely believe it is going to make a difference, bringing together the fantastic learning across the multi-agency partners and consistently embedding it across a national system.

    In the past learning has not always led to improvements, with a child protection system which has lacked national authority. The CPA is an opportunity to enhance accountability, authority and system development, through better understanding of child led data to prevent emerging risks.

    Alongside this, the government is also strengthening child protection through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.  

    This includes mandatory sharing of relevant information between public authorities and introducing laws to allow the creation of a Single Unique Identifier to help link data across safeguarding agencies.  

    Elsewhere, mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse was introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill on 25 February 2025, and the child safety duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 commenced in July 2025. 

    The consultation is proposing that the new body will have powers to hold organisations including safeguarding partners to account on child protection. This will involve working closely with inspectorates and partners such as healthcare professionals, social workers and the police to improve practice. Frontline enforcement in criminal cases will remain with the police.  

    The government is consulting on the powers the Child Protection Authority should have, as well its organisational model and governance structure, shaped by feedback from the sector. The Establishing a Child Protection Authority consultation will run for 12 weeks.

    The Department for Education is also publishing new analysis and data on child sexual abuse and exploitation in response to a recommendation in Baroness Casey’s Audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, recognising that transparency is essential in maintaining accountability.