Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Knife Crime – Faron Paul’s story [September 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 September 2024.

Faron Paul is an anti-knife crime campaigner who has survived two knife attacks. On 9 September 2024, he attended the first annual Knife Crime Summit at Downing Street.

My motto is “if I can prevent one young person losing their life then it’s all worth it to me.”

I’ve been stabbed a total of 18 times on two separate occasions. One attack left me in a coma and I suffered severe nerve damage that required years of rehabilitation.

I had to rebuild my life physically, mentally and emotionally.

FazAmnesty, my organisation that helps young people hand in their knives with no questions asked, began with my mentoring work as well as doing online awareness videos on social media. Then one day a group of boys brought knives to my niece’s party and demanded entry.

I went down to the party and managed to take three knives from the boys in question.

It was then that I realised I had to find a way to make this an ongoing practice. Day by day, year by year FazAmnesty grew, and ever since then I’ve become inundated with requests for weapons collections and other services.

I remember one day in 2018 I got a phone call from a private number and it was Idris Elba’s PA. She told me that Idris was starting a campaign called ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ and he wanted me to be a part of it.

24 hours later I was in Enfield with Idris conducting a weapons collection and ever since then we’ve kept up this close connection, working on various projects together.

This week’s roundtable feels like a positive move in the right direction in the fight against knife crime. It felt like there was a positive energy in the room with all the people involved.

I feel the policies put forward are helping to target key areas that need to be addressed if we want to reduce the impacts of knife crime. So, I’m happy to see these discussions formulating and witnessing so many organisations from different parts of society coming together to put actions in place.

The highlight for me was the fact that this event and the new coalition being introduced has happened within a really short time of the government being in power.

It almost feels like the work that I’ve done through FazAmnesty has got me to a position where I can be part of conversations such as these and it makes me feel proud of the work I’ve done.

I am both appreciative of, and humbled by, the government and the Elba Hope Foundation. They’ve given me the opportunity to share my work and make me part of the process, enabling me to work more effectively and help more young people.

September 17, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Knife Crime – Serena Wiebe’s story [September 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 September 2024.

Serena Wiebe is a campaigner, and boxing coach and mentor at Empire Fighting Chance. On Monday 9 September, she attended the first annual Knife Crime Summit at Downing Street.

Knife crime has impacted me in ways I can’t explain. It’s forced me to grow up and deal with situations I shouldn’t have had to deal with at such a young age.

I’m 20 now, but I’ve been losing friends constantly since I was 17. When I hear someone has been stabbed, I think: oh my god, is it someone in my family? Is it one of my friends?

Imagine you losing your child or your friend to a knife, and how damaging that is. Imagine not being able to see them again because their life has been taken from them by someone else. That has become my reality, it’s what I am used to now.

I originally started working with Empire Fighting Chance because my brother took his own life. We’re a charity which uses non-contact boxing to inspire young people to reach their full potential, and my journey with them started because I wanted to help young people who were in the same situation as him, and me.

Over time, I began losing more and more people in my life to knife crime. But the trigger for me was losing Eddie, one of my best friends growing up.

Eddie King Muthemba Kinuthia and I had been friends since we were three years old. We were always together. We went to the same nursery and primary school. For a while we went to the same secondary school. As we got older, we drifted slightly, but the love was still there.

He was a really kind person; everyone in our community knew him, and they knew him for the right things. Ever since he died, so many people he knew have tried to honour him in some way, because he was such an important person to so many, and such a good role model.

To have to speak about him in the past tense is crazy. I still can’t believe that he’s gone.

We’re still seeking justice for Eddie, but after losing him I thought, okay I need to do something. This is getting out of hand. I don’t want to see another person I love die.

Since then, I have continued to work with Empire and deliver boxing lessons for free every week to young men who may be involved in knife crime, drug dealing, or any situation that could lead to those things happening.

I work with various organisations which enable me to speak with young people about their experiences with the system and crime and what they would like to change, and I am starting my own youth group, where we come together every fortnight and talk about what we want to change, which I hope can grow and develop over time.

I believe we’re not hearing from young people enough.

We need to be inviting young people to events like today, to places like Downing Street, so they know that their voices are heard. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have been given, but we need to give more young people the platform to share their views.

Attending events like the Knife Crime Summit will help – even being invited has probably changed my life. If I look back to five years ago, I could have gone down a very different path where I was involved in knife crime.

A lot of the young people I work with ask me: “How did you go from there to where you are today?”

Just inviting one young person like me here could have a domino effect on other young people.

I believe it’s important for the right legislation to be in place – that change is good – but we need to focus on immediate action. It’s getting to the point where someone is dying every day.

In my opinion, it’s also about the little things we can do that don’t cost money. Around that table today there were so many role models – Idris Elba, the Prime Minister, loads of MPs – and it is so important to see them supporting organisations like mine, because it can inspire young people.

I was a young person who didn’t believe that I could do anything. Then I met Marvin Rees, who was Mayor of Bristol at the time, and Martin Bisp, the Chief Executive of Empire. They are the reason I am here today.

They showed me that I can come to places like this, I can speak about issues like this, and I can have that domino effect on other young people who feel they don’t have a voice.

September 17, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Nuclear safeguards – AUKUS statement to the IAEA Board of Governors [September 2024]

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

UK Ambassador to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell’s statement on behalf of Australia, the UK and the US to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors on IAEA safeguards and AUKUS

Chair,

I take the floor on behalf of the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States to respond to comments made regarding Australia’s acquisition of a naval nuclear propulsion capability through the AUKUS partnership. We are again compelled to invoke our Right of Reply to address remarks that purposefully mischaracterise AUKUS partners’ intentions and attempt to undermine the independence, integrity, and authority of the IAEA. Under this item, the Board has repeatedly heard unsubstantiated claims that ignore or misrepresent the information we have provided in good faith, and assertions that disregard the statements made by the Director General.

I reiterate that this matter has not been adopted as a standing agenda item by this Board and has never enjoyed consensus support. It is regrettable that this unnecessary item has been added to the agenda for nearly three years, at the insistence of one member state, when there are pressing non-proliferation concerns requiring the Board’s attention.

Director General Grossi has expressed his satisfaction with AUKUS partners’ engagement and transparency and reiterated that he will continue to update the Board on naval nuclear propulsion as appropriate. The AUKUS partners have continued to engage consistently, openly, and transparently with Member States and the Secretariat on genuine questions, including at the 2023 and 2024 NPT Preparatory Committees. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have provided updates on relevant progress at all Board meetings since the initial AUKUS announcement in September 2021. We will do so again at this meeting under Any Other Business, where it remains most appropriate.

Chair,

The Director General has already provided clear answers to questions raised today and in previous meetings, including in his reports on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program to the Board:

Naval nuclear propulsion was foreseen by the drafters of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Article 14 of the IAEA’s draft Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) is the specific provision to support the right of states to use nuclear material in a non-proscribed military activity, including for naval nuclear propulsion, within the safeguards framework.

The IAEA has the clear authority, under the IAEA Statute, as agreed by 178 Member States, to negotiate directly with Member States on the establishment, and application, of safeguards and verification arrangements – including those pertaining to naval nuclear propulsion. The NPT, IAEA Statute, Australia’s CSA, and Additional Protocol provide a firm legal basis for Australia to engage with the IAEA on the safeguards and verification approach for this program.

The Director General has clearly stated that the Agency has “the necessary experience to develop the arrangements related to the use of nuclear material for naval nuclear propulsion in accordance with the Statute and relevant safeguards agreements.” Despite these statements, it is concerning that some states persistently question the Director General’s ability to perform the functions vested in him by the Statute, by the relevant safeguards agreements, and by decisions of the Board.

It is untrue that the transfer of high enriched uranium from a nuclear-weapon State to a non-nuclear-weapon State runs counter to the spirit of the NPT. The transfer of nuclear material at any enrichment level to a non-nuclear-weapon State, is not prohibited by the NPT and indeed such transfers have regularly taken place with IAEA oversight.

Under the Article 14 arrangement, the IAEA will maintain oversight of nuclear material. Australia’s Article 14 arrangement will include a package of robust verification measures that will enable the IAEA to continue to meet its technical safeguards objectives throughout the submarines’ lifecycle. Once the Article 14 arrangement is developed, the Director General will transmit it to the Board for ‘appropriate action’ – as we have said many times before. To suggest that the Board will somehow be bypassed is categorically false.

We would also like to draw the Board’s attention to the recent signing and publication of the AUKUS Agreement for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Provision. Upon entry into force, this Agreement will reaffirm Australia’s obligations under the NPT and make Australia’s other key non-proliferation commitments legally binding conditions for AUKUS partners’ ongoing cooperation. Importantly, under the Agreement, Australia cannot receive any nuclear material from the UK or the US for use in naval nuclear propulsion prior to having an Article 14 Agreement in place.

Chair,

Our three countries – along with the majority of this Board – continue to oppose any proposal for this item to be a standing agenda item or to establish any efforts that undermine and politicise the independent technical mandate of the IAEA. We encourage colleagues to continue to reject deliberate efforts to undermine the Agency’s independence and integrity.

We will continue to engage in good faith with Member States on genuine questions, consistent with our approach to maintaining open and transparent engagement, and welcome the Director General’s continued commitment to provide updates on naval nuclear propulsion, as he deems appropriate.

Thank you, Chair.

September 17, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : The Houthis must stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea – UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2024]

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

I’m grateful to the Special Envoy Grundberg and Acting USG Msuya for their briefings. And I also thank Ms Al Obahi for her vital insights that serve as a timely reminder of the importance of engagement with civil society and the Yemeni community, especially women, in order to achieve long-term stability and peace in Yemen.

I also welcome the participation of the permanent representative of Yemen in our meeting today.

Let me make three points.

First, I join the briefers in highlighting the plight of UN, NGO workers and staff and former staff of diplomatic missions who remain in Houthi captivity.

It is over three months since their detention; that’s three months of families being torn apart by the unprovoked and arbitrary act; and three months of reducing the humanitarian community’s capacity to be able to fully support Yemenis in need. There is no justification for this. We once again call on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release those detained.

Second, I join Ms Msuya in highlighting the severe constraints on humanitarian access in Yemen especially in Houthi-controlled areas. The reckless actions of the Houthis are further restricting an already complex and hostile operating environment, making it almost impossible to get aid to those who need it.

We must all be clear about the importance of safe and effective humanitarian access so that we can continue to deliver critical, lifesaving support to the Yemeni people.

Third, we once again reiterate this Council’s call for the Houthis to cease their dangerous and illegal attacks on maritime shipping.

The recent attack on the MV Sounion is a clear example of the Houthis’ disregard for the catastrophic environmental and economic consequences of their actions for both Yemen and the region.

We call for the immediate cessation of arms supplies to Houthis. The continued supply of advanced weapons which enables these attacks shows complete disregard for the UN Arms Embargo.

President, to conclude, the UK is grateful to Special Envoy Grundberg’s efforts to facilitate economic dialogue, de-escalate tensions and preserve space for a future peace process.

We are unwavering in our support to his efforts to secure an inclusive, sustainable peace in Yemen and we continue to call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and preserve space for negotiations under UN auspices.

Rather than pursuing reckless attacks and the detention of innocent civilians, we urge the Houthis to prioritise the needs of Yemenis by engaging with peace process negotiations.

September 17, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Planning permission granted for Kendal flood defence work [September 2024]

The press release issued by the the Environment Agency on 12 September 2024.

The improvements to New Road flood defence work in Kendal were made following feedback from the community and through consultation.

Planning permission has been granted for a revised design for flood defences at New Road in Kendal by Westmorland and Furness Planning Authority following the planning committee deferring the application in May.

Feedback from local residents and interest groups on the original plans approved in 2019 as well as comments through the common land consultation shaped further improvements made to the flood scheme design by the Environment Agency.

The new design includes changes to the open aspect and accessibility through the area for both the local community and visitors.

The approved design includes a safer common access arrangement for the fairground and for other activities at the location.

The New Road flood wall complements the stonework and finish of Gooseholme Bridge and the wider flood scheme throughout Kendal, creating and maintaining a safe community green space with access for all.

The planning decision means work can now start on this section of the Kendal and Upper Kent Catchment Flood Risk Management Scheme which will better protect more than 1,920 homes and 2,250 local businesses from the impact of flooding.

Changes made in response to feedback

Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, Richard Knight said:

These changes to the original design have been made in response to the feedback from the community and interested parties.

We listened, we duly considered local people’s requests, and we believe the new design will enhance the town whilst providing better protection to homes and businesses against the very real threat of flooding.

Being granted planning permission for the New Road area heralds the start of the next part of the flood risk management scheme for Kendal.

It is important to get the scheme built as quickly as possible to protect the homes and businesses in this area of Kendal.

September 17, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Royal Navy and RAF shadow Russian ships and intercept Russian aircraft to protect UK national security [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 September 2024.

HMS Iron Duke and HMS Tyne shadowed four Russian vessels in UK waters and RAF jets intercepted a Russian Bear aircraft approaching the UK area of interest.

Royal Navy warships have spent the past week closely shadowing the Russian Navy as four of its vessels sailed through the Channel and the North Sea, helping to protect UK national security.

Alongside this, two RAF Typhoons scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth yesterday (11/09), supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, to intercept two Russian Bear-F aircraft operating near the UK.

The RAF jets were launched under NATO command and worked closely with our partners to monitor the aircraft as they passed through international airspace. Our Typhoon fighters escorted the aircraft out of the UK’s Flight Information Region and at no time did the Russian aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace.

Typhoons are part of the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert, which sees aircraft in Scotland and England at high-readiness 24/7, 365 days a year ready to defend and protect UK airspace.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

This government is committed to making the UK secure at home and strong abroad. Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security.

I’d like to thank those members of our armed forces who took part in this operation, their professionalism and skill was on full display while working seamlessly with our NATO allies to uphold international standards.

In a six-day operation hand-in-hand with NATO allies, the Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke shadowed the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its supporting tug Evgeny Churov through the Dover Strait and into the Atlantic.

The carefully-choreographed operation started at the beginning of September when Canadian warship HMCS Shawinigan escorted the diesel-powered submarine and her support vessel as they sailed from the Baltic and headed across the North Sea. The Canadian patrol ship handed over monitoring duties to the Royal Navy as the Russian vessels approached the busy Dover Strait.

From there HMS Iron Duke ensured constant watch on the two vessels, using her many sensors including her Wildcat helicopter, from 815 Naval Air Squadron, in the air. The submarine remained on the surface throughout the operation.

Once the Russian vessels had passed UK waters, HMS Iron Duke handed over shadowing duties to the Marine Nationale off the northwest coast of France, where the frigate FS Auvergne took up the mission.

The ship then returned immediately to the North Sea for a near carbon copy operation – this time with Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoiky and tanker MT Yaz as it approached Dover, picking up shadowing duties from the Belgian Navy, whose patrol vessel BNS Castor had kept watch up to that point.

HMS Iron Duke then handed over monitoring duties to patrol ship HMS Tyne off north western France.

Throughout both journeys past the UK – permitted under international law in accordance with the right of innocent passage– the Russian warships and their support vessels were closely monitored by UK forces to ensure they acted in a safe and non-threatening manner.

Commanding Officer of HMS Iron Duke Commander David Armstrong said:

These were the fourth and fifth such operations for HMS Iron Duke since we emerged from a period of intense training in July, and I am extremely proud of the professionalism and selfless dedication that my ship’s company consistently display as they perform their duty.

Maritime security operations of this nature are a fundamental capability of the Royal Navy, with the protection of our sovereign waters and critical national infrastructure a key focus.

September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile launches on 12 September 2024 – FCDO statement [September 2024]

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

Following North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 12 September, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson gave a statement.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 12 September are another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges North Korea to stop such provocations, to engage in meaningful diplomacy and accept offers of dialogue.

September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Sir Michael Barber appointed as adviser to the Prime Minister [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 September 2024.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has announced the appointment of Sir Michael Barber KB as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Effective Delivery.

Sir Michael will support the Prime Minister in driving forward the delivery of the five national missions. This will include coordinating ambitious, measurable, long-term objectives that deliver change across the UK.

The part-time role is a Direct Ministerial appointment and will be unpaid. Sir Michael will take up the role for an initial 12-month period, starting in September 2024.

Sir Michael has extensive experience in implementing large-scale system change, working with many governments internationally to drive delivery.

He has worked closely with several recent Prime Ministers and senior Ministers in different administrations, most recently as an adviser on skills delivery to the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Education from 2022 to 2023.

He has also served as Chief Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education on school standards (1997 to 2001), Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (2001 to 2005) and Chair of the Office for Students (2017 to 2021).

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

By changing the way we govern this country – through setting long term goals on the economy, energy, safer streets, breaking down barriers of opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future – we can rebuild the public’s trust in our politics and deliver the change Britain needs.

I’m delighted Sir Michael will be supporting us to change lives for the better as we fix the foundations and deliver our five national missions.

Sir Michael Barber KB said:

It is an honour to be asked to take on this role. The five missions are vital to the future of the country and I look forward to assisting the Prime Minister with their delivery.

ENDS

Notes to editors
- As part of the appointment process, Sir Michael has declared all potential conflicts of interest.
- He has stepped down as Chair of the company he founded, Delivery Associates, and will not undertake any work of any kind for Delivery Associates with the UK government.
- Sir Michael’s letter of appointment makes clear that as a result of this appointment, Delivery Associates should not gain any advantage in relation to any potential future work with the UK government or be disadvantaged. This stated government position is the same as that applied to Sir Michael’s role in the previous administration.
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New taskforce launched to turbocharge flood preparedness and delivery of flood defences [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 September 2024.

The Taskforce will co-ordinate flooding preparation and provide long-term, strategic thinking to better protect communities.

A new Floods Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather has convened for the first time, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced today (Thursday 12 September).

The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Floods Minister Emma Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Offices, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union, among others.

The expert group discussed how they will speed up and co-ordinate flooding preparation and resilience between central government, local authorities and community responders, and emergency services.

The group will also use their collective experience and knowledge to identify and protect vulnerable areas, including championing the delivery of drainage systems, flood defences and natural flood management schemes in communities.

This comes as the current Met Office outlook suggests autumn is likely to be wetter than usual.

The Taskforce also outlined its plans to take a long-term, strategic approach to the challenges of flooding. This will support better protection for families across the country, as well as underpinning the resilience of the economy to the growing threat of climate change. These challenges include ensuring that funding for national infrastructure remains sustainable into the future.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

Flooding devastates communities and businesses across the country. For far too long the delivery of flood schemes has been too slow and left communities underwater.

That is why the new Government is acting now to speed up the building of flood defences and bolster our emergency response.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

The climate crisis is the greatest global challenge we currently face, and as an eyewitness to extreme flooding myself, I know the devastating impact these events can have on our livelihoods.

As chair of the Floods Resilience Taskforce, I will work closely with our partners to ensure projects remain on track and not only protect homes but create more green jobs and drive investment in our towns.

The Environment Agency is the government’s primary delivery partner for flood defences and continues to support the construction of hundreds of projects across the country.

Recognising the scale of the challenge, Environment Agency teams have been prioritising the construction, maintenance, and repair of key flood defences – including the Cockett Wick seawall in Essex, which will ensure 3,000 homes and businesses are protected better after a £12 million investment.

Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said:

Protecting people and communities is our top priority, which will only become more pressing as climate change brings more extreme weather and rising sea levels.

This new Taskforce will look at the range of resilience measures available to provide options to reduce flood risks in more communities – and we will play our part to ensure essential projects are delivered across the country.

5.5 million properties in England are at risk from flooding and the country has just experienced the wettest 18 months on record (to February 2024) following extreme weather including Storms Babet and Ciarán.

The next meeting of the Taskforce will take place in early 2025 and will discuss longer-term oversight of wider flood resilience strategy and investment, as well as any rapid learning on the response to major flooding.

Last week, Floods Minister Emma Hardy also met with representatives from the insurance industry to discuss the role they can play in building a resilient nation. The meeting explored the support insurers can provide to their customers, which includes raising more awareness and take up of Build Back Better, which can provide for up to £10,000 in addition to like for like flood repairs to enable future resilience of a property.

In August, the government also launched the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure, which is backed by £40 million and will be the first UK-wide network looking to understand the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country, identifying where incidents are likely to occur and planning to limit their impact.

September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Attorney General visits Ukraine to drive accountability [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 12 September 2024.

The Attorney General Lord Hermer KC visited Kyiv, Bucha and Irpin to drive forward accountability for Ukraine.

Speaking alongside President Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, the Attorney General opened the United for Justice Conference.

The Attorney General said:

The UK supports Ukraine’s fight for freedom and its fight for justice. Russia must be accountable both for specific atrocities and its act of aggression. From the battlefield to the courtroom, the UK stands with Ukraine.

The conference was held in an underground car park in central Kyiv for safety, a daily reminder of the toll of war.

At Bucha’s cathedral, the Attorney General heard of the brutal murders and executions of ordinary people as they cycled to work, walked to the shop or sought to flee Russia’s occupation in March 2022.

Bucha was a place of terror two and a half years ago. Though homes have been rapidly reconstructed, wounds remain. Father Andriy, the Archpriest of the Cathedral, told from his experience of the importance of international rule of law and accountability, to provide justice for the people of Bucha and prevent further atrocities.

The Attorney General also stopped at the Romanivika Bridge, Irpin, blown up in 2022 to stop the Russian advance to Kyiv, but now a commuter route from the city to its suburbs.

There he heard about the part-UK funded Mobile Justice Units which support victims, including of conflict related sexual violence, across Ukraine.

The Attorney General also held detailed discussions with Prosecutor General Kostin on the work of his Office to prosecute the 135,000 incidents of alleged war crimes in real-time, as well as training and other support the UK is providing to help prosecutors.

September 13, 2024