Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Appointments to the Consumer Council for Water Board [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 April 2026.

Three independent board members have been appointed to the Consumer Council for Water.

Alison Austin and Hilary Florek have begun three-year terms today (1 April 2026). Peter Judge’s three-year term will begin on 1 November 2026. These appointments have all been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

The Consumer Council for Water is the independent, statutory body that represents all water and sewerage consumers across England and Wales. It provides advice and information on water matters and investigates complaints. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Biographies

Alison Austin

Alison Austin has extensive experience as a public sector Non-Executive Director and runs an independent sustainability consultancy supporting businesses with environmental, social and governance strategy. She spent 25 years at Sainsbury’s in roles spanning marketing, food technical, and sustainability, developing a strong understanding of consumer needs in the food sector. Since leaving Sainsbury’s 16 years ago, she has remained active in areas linking consumer interests and sustainability across both corporate and public sector organisations. Her previous roles include Non-Executive Director of the Consumer Council for Water and Independent Board Member for Seafish, where she represented Northern Ireland for six years. She has also served as a Trustee of WRAP, focusing on food waste, packaging reduction and the circular economy, and has worked with SGS UK Ltd and the Soil Association on governance of auditors for certification and accreditation standards. Alison was appointed to the Food Standards Agency’s Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes in June 2021, a role in which she represented consumers’ interests. She resigned in November 2025 to join the Agency’s Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Hilary Florek

Hilary Florek is a strategic communications and marketing specialist with extensive experience in both the public, private and third sector. She was Chair of the Marine Management Organisation from February 2018 until December 2024. She is currently Chair of North East Access to Finance and a member of the Board of Advance Northumberland. She sits as a Member of Court at Newcastle University and is the Chair of Court Steering Committee. She is a member of the Board of the Durham County Cricket Foundation and a Trustee of Lawnmowers, a Theatre Group for young people with learning difficulties. Prior to this, she was Chairman of the Port of Tyne for three years having served previously as Deputy Chairman. She also served on the Board of the Glasshouse International Centre for Music. She began her career with the Vaux Group PLC and became PR and Communications Director, a position she held until 2000 when she established her own PR and Marketing consultancy.

Peter Judge

Peter Judge’s early career was as a corporate lawyer in private practice before moving in-house to be the Legal and Procurement Director and Group Company Secretary of the Regional Development Agency, One North East (2003-2012), where he developed a reputation for strong leadership, innovation and for improving efficiency, governance and stewardship of public resources. Peter chairs the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute and is Senior Independent Governor of Northumbria University, together with a number of other non-executive roles. Peter was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Marine Management Organisation in 2019. As Attorney General of the British Overseas Territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (2014-2017), Peter was responsible for both Governments’ legal functions including prosecution, regulation, fisheries enforcement and new legislation. He successfully sponsored an international agreement on closer cooperation between British Overseas Territories. Peter was awarded an MBE for services to Economic Development and the North East region in 2012 and named UK In-House Lawyer of the Year by The Lawyer Magazine in 2010.

April 1, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Cracking down on sex-based harassment in public [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 1 April 2026.

New law will target those who harass women and girls in public because of their sex.

Everyone will be safer to walk the streets freely without fear of public sexual harassment after the government brought in a powerful new law today.

For far too long, women and girls in particular have been expected to endure obscene comments, threats of sexual violence, and unnecessary, threatening invasions of their personal space to intimidate them in public.

These behaviours can force women and girls to change their routes, routines and behaviour just to feel safe. The perpetrators can all too often leave their victims feeling anxious, shattering their confidence, and forcing them to stay on high alert just to go about their lives freely. Too often, when this behaviour goes unchecked, we know that it can form part of a wider pattern of behaviour involving more serious crimes.

This government will not tolerate this. We have declared violence against women and girls a national emergency and are using the full power of the state to tackle these crimes with the seriousness they deserve, stepping in early to stop harassment escalating into more serious violence.

The new sex-based harassment offence introduced today gives police stronger powers to act decisively. It covers intentional harassment directed at someone because of their sex including where perpetrators target women and girls in public places, including streets, parks, public transport, taxis, shops and other everyday spaces.

Crucially, the law, which began as a Private Members’ Bill brought in by Greg Clark and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, sees perpetrators receiving tougher consequences, including up to 2 years behind bars.

The government will work closely with police, frontline organisations, and campaign groups to ensure the new law is enforced robustly.

Police will follow new statutory guidance published today so the law is applied consistently across England and Wales, ensuring offenders have nowhere to hide and face real consequences.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said:

The sad reality is that many women and girls have been cornered, leered at or shouted at in public, or have faced intimidating threats of violence.

Too often they’ve been made to feel like it’s their problem to manage. That is not good enough.

Instead of forcing women and girls to change their behaviour, we are going after those who choose to target and intimidate them.

These new laws put the focus on perpetrators. If you harass someone in public because of their sex, it will not be tolerated and you can face a criminal record and up to 2 years behind bars.

Rose Caldwell, the CEO at Plan International UK, said:

Everyone deserves to move through public spaces without fear. For too long, girls and young women have been left alone to navigate harassment that chips away at their confidence, dignity and freedom. Today marks a long-overdue shift that will make a genuine difference to their lives.

As the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act comes into force, we now have clear guidance that names these behaviours for what they are: illegal and unacceptable. Girls shouldn’t have to fear uninvited touching on public transport or accept that it’s ‘just the way things are’ when they get catcalled on the street.

This is a win for all those who campaigned for safer streets and really matters in a world where we are seeing women and girls’ rights increasingly under attack. We’ll keep advocating to ensure victims feel safe to report this crime and continue banging the drum that this must be paired with prevention. This includes tackling misogyny early in our schools. Without addressing root causes of sexual harassment, we won’t fix the system that holds us all back from a fairer world.

Georgia Theodoulou, Director of Advocacy at Our Streets Now, said:

As a grassroots organisation, we are extremely proud to have affected legal change in the UK, which is testament to the power of young campaigners and the MPs and lawyers who supported us over the years.

We know that whilst this sends a message that public sexual harassment will no longer be normalised for so many women and girls, the law alone will not change the problematic culture we still live in.

We will carry this success forward in our preventative education work with professionals and young people in the UK.

Michael Kill, CEO of Night Time Industries Association, said:

This is a significant and welcome step forward in tackling behaviour that has too often been normalised or dismissed. No one should feel unsafe or intimidated simply for going about their daily life, and it is right that the focus is now firmly on those who perpetrate this conduct rather than those who endure it.

From an industry perspective, particularly across the night-time economy, we recognise both the responsibility and the opportunity to support these measures. Venues, transport providers and security teams all play a vital role in creating safer public spaces, and clear legislation strengthens the framework we operate within.

However, legislation alone is not enough. Consistent enforcement, public awareness, and partnership between government, police and businesses will be key to making this meaningful in practice.

This must mark the beginning of a cultural shift where harassment is not tolerated anywhere, at any time.

Plan UK, Our Streets Now and organisations across the violence against women and girls sector have long called for stronger action on public sexual harassment, and today’s commencement delivers on what campaigners have been urging for years.

This legislation reflects the tireless work of VAWG charities, survivors and advocates who have consistently highlighted the harm caused by public sexual harassment and pushed for meaningful change.

The rollout of the law is a key delivery milestone from the government’s violence against women and girls strategy published in December, which focuses on prevention, early intervention and relentless action against offenders.

Other sweeping measures in the strategy include ensuring there are specialist rape and serious sexual offence teams in every police force to ensure rapists and serious sexual offenders are tracked down and brought to justice.

At the same time, the government is tackling violence before it starts, with new lessons to challenge misogyny and promote healthy relationships in schools, stronger guidance on teenage relationship abuse, and early intervention to challenge harmful attitudes among boys and young men.

April 1, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Police issue update after disorder in Clapham on Tuesday night

The press release issued by the Met Police on 1 April 2026.

Officers have urged those involved in recent disorder in Clapham – and their parents or guardians – to consider the consequences of their actions, as a ‘robust and visible’ policing plan is put in place for the area this afternoon.

More arrests will be made over the coming days, following the incidents yesterday and on Saturday, as officers trawl through a significant volume of CCTV and body worn video. Just because you have not yet been arrested does not mean you will not be. Specialist officers are also working to identify those who played a leading or organising role, so that ring leaders and others encouraging this behaviour can be held to account.

The Met has a strong policing plan in place to prevent and deal with any future disorder. This includes increasing police officer numbers in the area and the use of dispersal orders, as officers take a zero-tolerance approach.

Ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, the Met has also made clear that anyone involved in similar events or caught promoting them will be dealt with decisively. We also expect social media companies to play their part by taking responsibility for content on their platforms that promotes or incites disorder.

Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who leads policing in the area, said:

“We recognise the concern that this incident will have caused the community in Clapham.

“We have a clear plan in place should any further disorder take place in the coming days and are in close contact with our partners and businesses in the area.

“Our officers will continue to maintain a strong, visible presence around Clapham and we will respond robustly to any reports of disorder, thefts or planned meet-ups.

“I’d urge those young people who think this is just a bit of fun to carefully consider the consequences. Events like this, fuelled by online trends and viral content on platforms such as TikTok, can quickly escalate and lead to serious outcomes. If you join in or cause further disorder, you should expect to be arrested and risk a criminal record, which can have long-lasting consequences for your future, including employment opportunities and potentially your ability to travel.

“There is widespread CCTV coverage on streets and in businesses in the area and we’re already reviewing that footage, as well as officers’ body worn video cameras, to identify those who committed offences on Saturday and last night.

“The parents/ guardians of those involved in last night’s disorder also have a role to play. I’d appeal to them to take responsibility – to be proactive in knowing where their children are and who they’re with, and to take steps to make sure they’re not involved in this sort of unacceptable antisocial behaviour.”

From around 17:00hrs last night, officers responded to reports of anti-social behaviour involving a group of several hundred young people in Clapham High Street and Clapham Common.

Young people were reported to be attempting to access shops and a restaurant on Clapham High Street. They also lit fires and set off fireworks on Clapham Common. Contrary to some reports, we did not see looting or widespread criminal damage.

Similar behaviour had taken place in the same area on Saturday night, with videos shared widely on Monday.

Acting on information suggesting plans for a repeat last night, a dispersal order was authorised in advance and additional officers were deployed to ensure any antisocial behaviour could be dealt with quickly.

Around 100 officers were involved in responding to the anti-social behaviour over the course of Tuesday evening.

Five people were assaulted, including four police officers. One officer was taken to hospital as a precaution after suffering an injury to his arm while making an arrest.

Three girls, a 17-year-old and two aged 13, were arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. The 17-year-old has been charged and bailed to appear at court later this month. The two 13-year-olds have been granted bail.

Editor’s notes:

Three teenage girls were arrested on suspicion of theft and assault following anti-social behaviour involving a large group of young people in Clapham High Street on Saturday, 28 March.

A Section 35 dispersal order allows police to direct individuals to leave a specified area for up to 48 hours if their presence or behaviour is likely to contribute to harassment, alarm, distress, crime or disorder.

April 1, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Two years on, UK reiterates call for accountability for the World Central Kitchen strike in Gaza [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 April 2026.

Minister for the Middle East statement marking two years since seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike, including three British citizens.

Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:

It has been two years since an Israeli strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza killed seven aid workers delivering food to starving civilians. Among those killed were three British citizens.

For two years, the families of Armed Forces veterans John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby have sought answers. The UK government has pressed Israel at the highest level for answers. Israel has a responsibility to provide these.

I’ve heard first-hand the pain their families have endured. So today, I repeat the UK’s call for transparency and accountability for this appalling attack – we will continue to push for justice. No aid worker should be killed doing their job providing lifesaving care to civilians living in the most dire straits.

I pay tribute to the bravery of the World Central Kitchen staff, it is vital that we do everything we can to ensure humanitarian staff can carry out their work without fear. More than 500 aid workers have lost their lives in Gaza since October 2023. Before the ceasefire, it was the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker.

I urge Israel to swiftly conclude and publish their findings into this attack. The families of those killed must know why this happened. Lessons must be learnt. A tragedy like this must never happen again.

April 1, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Lebanon – foreign ministers’ joint statement [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 April 2026.

Statement on Lebanon by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK and the High Representative of the European Union.

We, Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union, express our full support to the Government and people of Lebanon, who are once again suffering the dramatic consequences of a war that is not theirs. We express our condolences to the family of the victims and our solidarity to the civilian population impacted by this war both in Lebanon and Israel.

The responsibility for this situation lies with Hezbollah. We strongly condemn Hezbollah’s attacks in support of Iran against Israel, which must cease immediately. The priority is to avoid a further escalation of the regional conflict with Iran.

We support the historic and courageous decisions taken by the Lebanese Government. There is no other way to preserve Lebanon from foreign interference than by strengthening its State, its institutions and sovereignty. In that regard, we call for direct political negotiation between Lebanon and Israel, that can contribute to putting a durable end to this conflict and set the conditions for peaceful regional coexistence.

The Lebanese executive has our full support in its approach and we encourage it to continue on this path through the implementation of concrete and irreversible measures, at all levels, to restore its sovereignty over the whole Lebanese territory, including the State’s monopoly on arms. In this context, we are committed to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and Lebanese Security Forces, by participating actively in the international support conference to be held as soon as conditions allow. With a view to enabling the Lebanese security forces to become the sole independent guarantors of Lebanon’s sovereignty in the long term, we also call on the Lebanese authorities to continue to adopt the necessary financial and economic reforms, in line with IMF requirements.

We call on all parties to immediately deescalate and to revert to the cessation of hostilities agreement and UN Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). We call for the protection of the civilian population, humanitarian personnel, peacekeepers, and civilian infrastructure, including airport, ports and bridges across the country, in line with international humanitarian law. We reaffirm our concern regarding the forced displacement of over 1m people in Lebanon. We call on Israel to avoid a further widening of the conflict including through a ground operation on Lebanese territory. We strongly reaffirm that the territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected.

We stand determined to continue to support the Lebanese government in providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict including the more than 1 million people displaced and to preserve Lebanon’s internal cohesion, building on the emergency measures already taken by our respective countries. We call on the entire international community to participate in this vital humanitarian effort to ensure dignified living conditions for the many victims of this conflict.

Finally, we reaffirm our strong support for the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in South Lebanon and call to ensure deconfliction channels remain open. We strongly condemn all recent attacks on UNIFIL contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among peacekeepers in recent days. We urge all parties, under all circumstances, to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises, in accordance with international law. We commend its remarkable work in these difficult conditions.

April 1, 2026

PRESS RELEASE : National Living Wage increases to £12.71 per hour [April 2026]

The press release issued by the Low Pay Commission on 1 April 2026.

Increased rates of the National Minimum Wage, including the National Living wage came into force from 1 April 2026. These rates bring into effect recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission last autumn.

The new rates are set out in the table below.

	NMW Rate from April 2026	Annual increase (£)	Annual increase (per cent)
National Living Wage (21 and over)	£12.71	£0.50	4.1
18-20 Year Old Rate	£10.85	£0.85	8.5
16-17 Year Old Rate	£8.00	£0.45	6.0
Apprentice Rate	£8.00	£0.45	6.0
Accommodation Offset	£11.10	£0.44	4.1

Baroness Philippa Stroud, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, said:

The recommendations we made last autumn sought to balance the need to protect the economy and labour market, whilst providing a real-terms increase for the lowest-paid members of society.

A lot has changed since we gave our advice to the Government last autumn, and we are now beginning to gather evidence for recommendations later this year. The current economic uncertainty makes it essential that the Commission hears from those affected by the minimum wage and builds consensus for evidence-based recommendations.

To mark the uprating, the Low Pay Commission has published a report looking at the immediate impacts of the new rates. It has also published a consultation to inform its recommendations on future minimum wage rates.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The LPC’s recommendations were submitted to the Government on 27 October 2025. The Government announced acceptance of those recommendations at the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 26 November.
The Government’s remit to the LPC, which determines the Commission’s work through the year, was published on 16 March and is available here.
The National Living Wage (NLW) is currently the statutory minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over. This age threshold came down from 25 to 23 in April 2021 and from 23 to 21 in April 2024.
The Low Pay Commission is an independent body made up of employers, trade unions and experts whose role is to advise the Government on the minimum wage. The rate recommendations introduced today were agreed unanimously by the Commission. The current Low Pay Commissioners are: Baroness Philippa Stroud (Chair), Nigel Cotgrove, Matthew Fell, Andrew Goodacre, Louise Fisher, Professor Patricia Rice, Simon Sapper, Professor Jonathan Wadsworth and Janet Williamson.
Baroness Philippa Stroud can be contacted via the Low Pay Commission’s press office (07341 098734).

April 1, 2026

PRESS RELEASE : New measures coming in to ease cost of living pressure [April 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 April 2026.

A raft of new measures – coming into force today (1 April 2026) – will see wages go up, bills come down, and more support for those who need it most.

In an uncertain and volatile world, the Prime Minister is continuing to work with allies to push for de-escalation in the Middle East – which is the surest and quickest way to bring down pressures on prices.

On Monday, he hosted a roundtable with energy, insurance, and shipping companies and on Tuesday he chaired a COBR(M) meeting to assess the situation with Cabinet colleagues.

Measures coming into force today include:

–       Increasing the National Living wage to £12.71 – a £900 boost for 2.4 million workers

–       Increasing the National Minimum Wage to £10.85 – a £1,500 boost for over 200,000 young workers

–       Cutting energy bills by an average £117 a year for millions across the UK – locked in until end of June

–       The Crisis & Resilience Fund starts running – enabled by £1bn of funding – which helps vulnerable households with things like heating oil

–       A freeze on prescription prices – so people aren’t spending more than a tenner on their medicines

This follows an update to the public on 16th March where the Prime Minister set out five steps that were already in place on the cost of living. These were:

1)    Cutting the energy price cap until the end of June – thanks to last year’s Budget

2)    The Chancellor’s decision to extend the cut in fuel duty until this September

3)    £53 million for households that are most exposed to heating oil rises

4)    Building Britain’s energy security and independence

5)    Ongoing work towards a swift resolution of the situation in the Middle East

The cut to the energy price cap comes on top of the £150 Warm Home Discount that around 6 million families will have received this winter, following its expansion last year – and eligible billpayers will continue to receive this support every winter for the rest of the decade.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“In an uncertain and volatile world, it is my government’s duty to protect the British people at home and abroad.

“I know the public are concerned about the conflict in Iran and what it means for them and their families.

“I want to reassure them that they have a government on their side, working with allies on de-escalation and bearing down on the cost of living.

“Today, millions of people up and down the country will see energy bills go down by £117, wages go up for the lowest paid, and more support will be available for people who need it most – because of the decisions this government has taken.

“But we must go further to bear down on costs, and that means pushing for de-escalation in the Middle East and a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. That is the best way we can bring down the cost of living for families and that is my focus.”

April 1, 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Iceland – Jane Stevens [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 March 2026.

Mrs Jane Stevens has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland in succession to Dr Bryony Mathew. Mrs Stevens will take up her appointment during September 2026.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Jane Elizabeth Stevens

Year	Role
2025 to present	Full time language training (Icelandic)
2024 to 2025	FCDO, temporary assignments in MENAD, EECAD and Analysis Directorate
2022 to 2023	FCDO, Deputy Director, Ukraine Campaign Unit
2018 to 2022	FCDO, Europe Directorate (Deputy Head EU Exit, then Europe Strategy)
2013 to 2018	FCO, Team Leader then Deputy Head, Projects Task Force
2010 to 2013	FCO, Olympics Directorate (London 2012)
2004 to 2010	Maternity/special unpaid leave
2003 to 2004	FCO, Press Officer to the Permanent Under Secretary, then Chief Press Officer
2001 to 2003	FCO, Communication Directorate (Islamic Media)
1998 to 2001	FCO, Middle East and North Africa Directorate (Iraq)

April 1, 2026

PRESS RELEASE : Truth for victims and families as Orgreave Inquiry launchesTruth for victims and families as Orgreave Inquiry launches [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 26 March 2026.

Miners and campaigners will finally get the answers they deserve as the government launches an inquiry into the violent events at Orgreave in 1984.

From today (26 March), the inquiry will begin investigating the violence that arose between police and picketing miners at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984, resulting in 95 arrests and scores of injuries. Those arrested were charged with riot and unlawful assembly, but all charges were later dropped after police evidence was discredited.

The terms of reference, which have been published today, were developed in consultation with the Chair, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, informed by his engagement with campaigners, policing bodies, and local representatives.

The inquiry will focus on securing and disclosing historical material so that the full picture can finally be understood. Using its statutory powers where necessary, it will have access to relevant records including those held by police, central and local government, trade unions, media organisations, and other public and private bodies.

The inquiry will seek to establish what happened at Orgreave by examining:

Planning undertaken by the police and government for the policing of the demonstration at Orgreave on 18 June 1984: This includes relevant decision-making in the leadup to the day.

What happened on the day and afterwards: The inquiry will examine the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, the immediate aftermath, and the lasting impact on individuals and communities, as well as the public narrative.

What happened to those arrested: This includes the charging decisions and prosecutions, all of which collapsed after police evidence was discredited.

The inquiry will also establish a publicly accessible digital archive of disclosed material. This approach reflects the strong views of campaigners that transparency must sit at the heart of the inquiry.

Minister of State for Policing and Crime, Sarah Jones MP, said:

For more than four decades miners, their families and their communities have lived with unanswered questions about what happened at Orgreave. Today we have delivered on our promise to these tireless campaigners to ensure the facts finally come to light.

The terms of the inquiry have been shaped by the Chair’s close engagement with campaigners, and they place transparency at the very heart of the panel’s work.

I am confident that they will bring the independence, expertise and balance needed to uncover the truth of what happened — however difficult that truth may be.

The Right Reverend Dr Pete Wilcox, Chair of the Inquiry said:

I am very pleased the Orgreave Inquiry, announced by the UK government in July 2025, is now live.

In reaching this point, the government has approved the Terms of Reference and confirmed the Panel to support me as Chair; and I am fully satisfied with both.

These foundations allow us to begin the inquiry’s work with confidence, and engagement with stakeholders will begin immediately.

I am acutely aware of the weight of expectation placed on this inquiry. It is my ambition, with the panel, to deliver an outstanding inquiry as swiftly as thoroughness will allow.

The Orgreave inquiry was a government manifesto commitment to ensure the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light. The inquiry will be carried out independently by the Chair and its carefully selected panel.

The 4 panel members who will support the Bishop in delivering the inquiry have been confirmed today as:

Wendy Williams CBE, a former chief prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service and, between 2015 – 2024, an Inspector in His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. She published the report of her independent Windrush Lessons Learned Review in March 2020, and her update report on the Home Office’s response in March 2022. Ms Williams will provide independent insight on police governance, and the decision-making and effectiveness of police forces.

Baroness Mary Bousted, a former senior trade union leader representing teachers, leaders, and support staff and workers. She led the panel which, in April 2025, published the report of its independent review of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Baroness Bousted will provide relevant knowledge and insight concerning the strategic and operational leadership and management of trades unions.

Doctor Joanna Gilmore, Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of York, whose research expertise includes public order law, human rights and policing policy. Drawing on her socio-legal and historical research into the 1984-85 miners’ strike, Dr Gilmore will contribute analysis of the broader societal, legal and political issues arising from the events at Orgreave.

Doctor Angie Sutton-Vane, a historian with extensive experience in evidence-based research, historical accountability and the archiving, preservation of and access to police force records. Dr Sutton-Vane will provide expertise on the interpretation of historical records, particularly those of the police.

This panel has been carefully selected to ensure the inquiry is independent, fair, and equipped with the necessary expertise.

Chris Kitchen, General Secretary, National Union of Mineworkers said:

The National Union of Mineworkers welcomes the government’s announcement today launching the inquiry into the battle of Orgreave, delivering on a long-standing manifesto commitment.

We have full confidence that the Chair, Rt Reverend Dr. Pete Wilcox, and the panel members, have the knowledge required to get to the truth about what happened, why it happened, who orchestrated the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, and why no one was held accountable. The NUM are fully committed to assisting the inquiry in its work.

Our hope is that once the truth has been brought to light, those directly and indirectly affected can finally start to move on.

March 29, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : New boost to defence victim support and prevention to raise standards across the Armed Forces [March 2026]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 26 March 2026.

More than half a million pounds is being committed to expand the Victim Witness Care Unit to support around 100 additional cases each year and specialist Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) teams set to be deployed to Catterick Garrison and HM Naval Base Devonport.

Specialist teams are being established to prevent unacceptable behaviour and sexual violence in the Armed Forces, alongside a significant uplift to victim support.

An investment of more than £500,000 will create five permanent new posts within the Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU) at the Ministry of Defence, increasing its capacity to support around 100 additional cases each year.

The VWCU provides independent, trauma-informed support to victims and witnesses of serious crime, operating independently from military chains of command.

The new roles – including victim liaison officers – will enable the unit to provide sustained support for complex cases, and enhanced coordination with investigators and prosecutors throughout the Service Justice System.

This expansion also ensures the unit can continue to deliver dedicated support to victim-survivors of serious crime as wider work aims to increase awareness of the support available and strengthen confidence in accessing it.

Specialist VAWG Taskforce teams are deploying to Catterick Garrison and HM Naval Base Devonport, embedding expertise directly within military settings to identify and address the cultural and behavioural drivers of sexual violence at source.

With reach also across Yorkshire and the Humber and the South West respectively, these 12-month deployments will see civilian experts working alongside service personnel, assessing root causes and organisational factors contributing to sexual violence.

The teams will design targeted, evidence-led interventions – from training and scenario-based workshops to bystander-focused activity and unit-specific tools. This approach reflects a deliberate shift from reacting to incidents after they occur towards preventing harm before it starts. Expansion to further sites – including RAF Halton and the UK’s sovereign bases in Cyprus – is planned subject to evidence of impact.

Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:

Those who serve deserve to work in an environment where they are safe, supported and valued. This investment strengthens the support available to victim-survivors of serious crime and puts specialist prevention teams in place to tackle unacceptable behaviour before it causes harm.

With awareness increasing, more people having boosted confidence in reporting mechanisms, we’re taking practical, targeted action to ensure Defence is a place where people are proud to serve.

The VWCU expansion and Taskforce deployments are the latest in Defence’s Raising our Standards interventions to embed consistently high standards, build trust in leadership and create a culture where personnel thrive, unacceptable behaviour is challenged, and every case is acted upon.

This includes the forthcoming Independent Legal Advocacy pilot, which will provide free, independent legal advice to complainants of sexual offences within the Service Justice System.

This complements newly-introduced measures in the Armed Forces Bill to deliver stronger support to victims of serious and sexual offences within the Service Justice System, from new protective orders to take action against those responsible for sexual harm and strengthened guidance to inform victims’ views to prosecutors on whether they want their case tried in civilian courts or the military system.

March 29, 2026