Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s brutality towards Ukraine’s children – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 June 2023.

On International Children’s Day, Ambassador Neil Holland says that Ukraine’s children are paying the price of Russian aggression.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Let me start by condemning Russia’s continued large-scale missile and drone attacks against Ukraine. This includes strikes on Kyiv overnight, where a child has reportedly been killed and others injured. Over the past month, civilians have endured almost daily attacks, including 20 night-time air strikes. 1,120 air raid sirens have been recorded across the country in May alone. Thankfully, Ukrainian Air Defence continues to intercept most of Russia’s attacks. However, this does not alter the reality for Ukrainian families, who are forced to take nightly shelter in bunkers, and go to bed not knowing whether they will even wake up the next day.

Today is the International Day of the Protection of Children. So I will focus my statement on the Ukrainian children who continue to suffer from Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.

Since last February, Russia has unleashed a ruthless bombardment of missile attacks which have damaged and destroyed schools, hospitals and residential buildings. The United Nations Children’s Fund reports that Russia’s unrelenting brutality has claimed the lives of over 500 children. Just last week, Russia’s attack on a clinic in Dnipro killed four people and injured 32. This included two children under seven years old.

The children living in temporarily Russian controlled territories also continue to suffer under repressive regimes. I want to highlight the cases of two teenagers, Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov, in particular. Last week in Berdiansk, they were charged by the Russian Federation with allegedly planning to ‘sabotage’ the Melitopol Railway. Aged just 16 and 17 years old, these boys have faced about eight months of persecution. On 30 September 2022, Russian authorities forcefully took Tihran from his home. For five days, Tihran was interrogated brutally. He was beaten and tortured with electric shocks. All to induce a confession. For five days, his family did now know where he was.

Mykyta was subjected to similar mistreatment. Their lawyers, who the Russian authorities appointed to represent the boys, did not provide legal support to the boys. Last Wednesday, Tihran and Mykyta were ‘charged’ under Article 281 of the Russian Criminal Code. Both face between 10 to 20 years in prison. The UK calls on Russia to cease its persecution of Ukrainian children, including Tihran and Mykyta.

Mr Chair, we also continue to receive disturbing reports of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russian authorities. As the most recent Moscow Mechanism Report makes clear, these children are exposed to the deep trauma of being separated from their parents. They suffer violations and abuses of their rights, including being forced to relinquish their Ukrainian identity and participate in Russia-centric education. Russia’s forced deportation and attempted indoctrination of Ukrainian children is a despicable and systematic attempt to erase Ukraine’s future.

Each day that Russia chooses to press on with its illegal and unprovoked invasion, Ukrainian children suffer. Children who have their whole lives ahead of them. Children whose futures the Russian authorities seem determined to take away. The UK will continue to support Ukraine to ensure those responsible will face justice.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Law Officers tour unit dedicated to tackling drug related violence [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 1 June 2023.

A pioneering unit which aims to help tackle gang-related violence in the West Midlands is helping community safety as the Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC MP discovered visiting Birmingham this week.

The Attorney was joined by Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP as they met staff at CPS West Midlands, including those who run the Serious Violence, Organised Crime and Exploitation Unit.

The team, the first of its kind, was launched in the West Midlands in July 2021. The Unit brings together a team of prosecutors and paralegal staff who have extensive experience of prosecuting cases involving serious gang-related violence, serious drug dealing offences, including county lines, as well as modern slavery and exploitation.

Nearly two years on from its launch, the Law Officers heard from unit staff about their work helping to protect local communities.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC MP said:

The level of violence in the cases the unit deals with is appalling and there is no doubt it is a blight on the communities affected.

This is pioneering work and the expertise of the unit staff is clear. Two years after its opening, the Unit continues to secure strong conviction.

Since it launched, the unit has completed 43 cases, tried 140 defendants, and convicted 114. It currently has 134 charged matters involving 456 defendants.

The conviction rate stands at 79.7 per cent. Out of the 222 defendants prosecuted, 177 defendants resulted in successful convictions.

110 defendants have been prosecuted in total across different crime types, securing 92 convictions.

The Unit brings together a team of eight prosecutors and legal staff who have extensive experience of cases involving gang-related violence and street-level offending to share their expertise.

Douglas Mackay, CPS West Midlands Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said:

During the last year we have continued to prosecute some of the most devastating cases of serious violence that have impacted our communities.

The experienced prosecutors in this unit continue to build strong cases to help crack down on county lines gangs, those who carry dangerous weapons on our streets and gang-related homicides.

“We hope in the coming year to continue our pioneering work to tackle serious violence across the country.”

Analysis shows that in serious violence cases involving gangs or organised criminality, drug dealing is frequently a root cause. This can often be disputes arising from county lines networks or forced labour in cannabis ‘factories’.

The Birmingham visit was part the Law Officers’ Law Tour. The Law Officers’ this week visited the Midlands, North and Wales, focusing on support for victims and local communities.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Over one million NHS staff to receive pay rises from today [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 June 2023.

Eligible workers on the Agenda for Change contract, which includes nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers, will receive the pay rise, backdated to April.
- More than one million NHS staff in England, including nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers, will receive a pay rise, backdated to April
- A newly qualified nurse will see their salary go up by more than £2,750 over 2 years
- Staff will also receive a one-off ‘NHS backlog bonus’ worth at least £1,250
From today (1 June 2023), more than one million NHS workers will start to receive a pay rise following an agreement between the government and unions.

As part of the deal, eligible workers on the Agenda for Change contract, which includes nurses, paramedics, 999 call handlers, midwives, security guards and cleaners, will receive the pay rise, backdated to April.

As a result of this package, a newly qualified nurse will see their salary go up by more than £2,750 over 2 years from 2021 to 2022 to 2023 to 2024. They will also receive over £1,890 in one-off payments this year.

In addition, they will receive a one-off ‘NHS backlog bonus’ which recognises the sustained pressure facing the NHS following the pandemic and the extraordinary effort staff have been making to meet the Prime Minister’s promise to cut waiting lists.

The backlog bonus will be worth at least £1,250 per person, but will be determined based on how much experience staff have and based on an individual’s pay band. The average nurse in pay band 5, for example, will receive £1,350.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

More than one million of our hard-working NHS staff will begin to receive more money in their pay packet from today, including a backlog bonus for all their efforts during the pandemic.

We’re giving nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and other eligible staff a fair pay rise, which will see, for example, band 6 staff getting an extra £5,000 over 2 years.

We hugely value the work of NHS staff and the vital role they’re playing to cut waiting lists, which is one of the government’s 5 priorities, and recognise the work they put in day in and day out.

Under the deal, eligible Agenda for Change staff will receive a non-consolidated award of 2% of an individual’s salary for 2022 to 2023. This is on top of the pay increase of at least £1,400 (pro-rated for staff working part-time) staff received for 2022 to 2023, as recommended by the independent pay review body process. This meant a newly qualified nurse received a 5.5% increase, and those on the lowest salaries received a pay rise of 9.3%.

For 2023 to 2024, the government has given Agenda for Change staff a 5% consolidated increase in pay, worth at least £1,065.

The deal will also provide a higher pay uplift for the lowest paid NHS staff, with all those in bands 1 and 2 having their pay raised to the same level.

The pay increase was reached following constructive talks with unions and organisations including UNISON, GMB, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the British Dietetic Association.
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Three new Board Members appointed to the Charity Commission for England and Wales [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 June 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed Rory Brooks CBE, Shrenik Davda, and Mark Simms for three year terms commencing 27 March 2023.
Rory Brooks CBE

Appointed for a three year term commencing 27 March 2023.

Rory was the first member of his family to attend university. He graduated from Manchester University in Management Sciences in 1975. He joined the Bank of Boston in London and spent thirteen years there including nine years in the US (Boston and New York).

Upon returning to London Rory founded in 1988 what is now MML Capital (mmlcapital.com), a leading European mid-market growth capital provider. He stepped down as Chair in 2023. MML has offices in London, Paris, Dublin and New York and has cEUR 2.0bn under management.

Rory and his wife Elizabeth established their family philanthropic foundation in 2005 with a focus on social disadvantage, education, and arts. Rory was chair of the philanthropic board of Manchester University for ten years (honorary doctorate 2010), hosted poverty summits in S Africa and has served as trustee and/or chair of The Centre for Social Justice, IntoUniversity and Quintessentially Foundation. Among other government appointments he was the donor member of the Pearce Review into philanthropy in HE (2012). He has consistently promoted philanthropy and was awarded the CBE in 2015.

Rory is married, has two adult children and lives in West London.

Shrenik Davda

Appointed for a three year term commencing 27 March 2023.

Shrenik has almost 40 years of banking experience in the CEEMEA (Central Eastern Europe Middle East Africa) region, helping to build market-leading franchises for prominent global financial institutions such as JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank. He has also established and or run several regulated financial advisory boutiques and notably co-founded New Europe Capital Partners Ltd, which was acquired by Deutsche Bank. He started his career with Gulf International Bank in Bahrain and received his formal credit training at Citibank.

In addition to the foregoing executive banking roles, he has served as Trustee for 3 charities focussed on: Orphan Support in East Africa; Humanitarian Aid for Refugees in the Middle East and Girls Education in Kenya.

He is currently an independent member of the Supervisory Board of Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d. a market leading universal bank active in South Eastern Europe and also serves on the Supervisory Board of Ukrgasbank, a leading Ukrainian bank. In 2022 he was appointed as Lay Member of the Board of IPSO, the independent regulator of the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK.

Shrenik read Law at the London School of Economics and received his MBA from INSEAD.

Mark Simms

Appointed for a three year term commencing 27 March 2023.

Mark is proud to be the Chief Executive of P3; he has more than 25 years’ experience in the Charity sector. Under his leadership, P3 Charity has expanded its services to reach more people in need, providing them with shelter, support, and resources to help them rebuild their lives.

Born in Nottinghamshire, Mark grew up in a family that was actively involved in community work and at an early stage found that they needed the support of homelessness organisations. This early exposure to social issues motivated him to pursue a career in mental health nursing. After graduation, he worked in various roles within the charity sector, including fundraising, project management, and advocacy.

A passionate advocate for social justice and human rights, he is deeply committed to creating a more equitable and just society.

Mark has served for much of his career as a Non-Executive Director or Trustee of many independent charities, large and small. His current portfolio includes:

Trustee of Homeless Link,

Non-Executive Director of New Leaf, a social enterprise run for and by people who have been in prison

Non-Executive Director of The Big Issue Invest

Advisor to the CEO of Big Society Capital

In recognition of his contributions to P3 and the charity sector, Mark has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Board Members of the Charity Commission are remunerated £350 per day for approximately 24 days per year. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Shrenik Davda and Mark Simms have not declared any significant political activity. Rory Brooks has declared financial donations to the Conservative and Unionist Party, recorded on the Electoral Commission.
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : University Freedom of Speech Bill becomes law [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 1 June 2023.

Landmark legislation will ensure universities protect and promote freedom of speech on campus, fulfilling a manifesto promise to bolster academic freedom.

A huge step forward was taken for protecting free speech in our universities as Professor Arif Ahmed has been appointed as the new Director overseeing free speech at the Office for Students.

While there are already statutory duties on universities to protect free speech – our newly passed Freedom of Speech Act will ensure that universities promote this fundamental value.

The appointment of Professor Ahmed as the new Director follows the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill successfully becoming law on 11 May. The historic legislation will establish a new free speech complaints system, while also strengthening the legal duties on higher education providers in England to protect and promote freedom of speech on campuses up and down the country, for students, staff and visiting speakers.

Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing Claire Coutinho said:

We’re making history with the Freedom of Speech Act, ensuring that fear does not undermine the rights of students and academics to debate controversial ideas and securing the right to an open exchange of ideas in universities.

The new Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom will sit on the board of the Office for Students, with responsibility for investigations of breaches of the new freedom of speech duties, including a new complaints scheme for students, staff and visiting speakers who have suffered loss due to a breach.

Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom Professor Ahmed said:

Free speech and academic freedom are vital to the core purpose of universities and colleges. They are not partisan values. They are also fundamental to our civilization.

As Director, I will defend them using all means available. I feel tremendously honoured and fortunate to have been appointed.

The Prime Minister recently stressed the importance of Freedom of Speech on campuses saying:

A free society requires free debate. We should all be encouraged to engage respectfully with the ideas of others.

University should be an environment where debate is supported, not stifled.

A tolerant society is one which allows us to understand those we disagree with, and nowhere is that more important than within our great universities.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 delivers on the Government’s commitment to strengthen academic freedom and free speech in higher education, helping to protect the reputation of our universities as centres of academic freedom.

Registered higher education providers in England will have extended legal duties not only to take steps to secure freedom of speech and academic freedom, but also to promote these important values. Students’ unions will also be held to the same legal responsibilities as universities and their colleges to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure lawful freedom of speech. Higher education providers and students’ unions that fail to comply may face sanctions, including fines.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Helping kids and families living with alcohol-dependent parents [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 June 2023.

Independent evaluation finds scheme helped improve wellbeing, relationships and life satisfaction of children affected by parental alcohol use and conflict.
Hundreds of thousands of children and families could benefit from fresh approach, with government continuing to take serious action to support those most at risk

Local authorities encouraged to invest in interventions focused on the whole family through £532 million Drug Strategy Fund

A government-backed programme has delivered improved quality of life for families affected by alcohol misuse, with children better able to access support and alcohol dependent parents encouraged to seek treatment, according to an independent evaluation published today.

The Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents (CADeP) Programme Innovation Fund provided £5.7 million over four years, ending March 2022, to nine areas across England. Used to create better and more innovative systems to identify and support children of alcohol dependent parents and their families, it also aimed to increase awareness of parental conflict and explore ways of addressing it.

The report highlighted that children have benefitted from a range of interventions including activities to help them explore their own feelings, understand their parents’ drinking, making a safety plan, and identifying someone to rely on. It also showed that providing support focused on the whole family unit has a positive impact on parents accessing treatment as well as their children.

Parents also said the support helped them address conflict and relationship issues and provided a boost to their general wellbeing.

Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

“Alcohol misuse can ruin lives and destroy families, and can have a particularly devastating impact on children. The toll it can take on their mental health and wellbeing can last throughout their lives.

“We owe it to these children to make sure support is available. This scheme has equipped local authorities with the tools they need to get people into treatment and on the road to recovery and this independent review clearly demonstrates the success of the scheme.

“I’d encourage local authorities right across England to use the funding we’ve provided to adopt similar approaches and to get more people into treatment.”

The government is providing £532 million for local authorities to improve drug and alcohol addiction treatment and recovery services through the Drug Strategy Fund. Local authorities can, and are encouraged, to invest this funding to develop programmes which provide tailored support to families affected by alcohol and drug misuse with this funding, using the reports finding.

According to the evaluation, local authorities also improved their workforce through better training and recruitment as well as by integrating adult and children’s services. It also successfully trained staff of frontline family services to support parents experiencing relationship distress, whether they are together or separated, to protect their children’s mental health.

The scheme was run by the Department of Health and Social Care in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions, given parental alcohol misuse often coexists with parental conflict, with a clear need to create a joined-up approach to address this complex issue.

DWP Minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said:

“Through our Reducing Parental Conflict programme we are acutely aware that parental alcohol dependency often co-exists with relationship problems and negatively affects children’s wellbeing.

“Every child deserves a good start in life, which is why we dedicated funding to this excellent scheme, ensuring local services can support families in this complex situation.

“To learn that parents reported improved wellbeing, increased life satisfaction and better relationships because of our interventions is very encouraging news indeed. The results of this work will provide an important evidence-base to help thousands more families lead happier, more fulfilling lives.”

Each local authority implemented the scheme in a different way, depending on local needs and to ensure a variety of support options. Programmes included improving early identification referral pathways during pregnancy and early childhood, recruitment to specific roles such as an early intervention co-ordinator, and the development of parenting programmes in schools.

The findings, published by the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, can be used by local authorities to roll-out tried and tested methods tailored to meet local needs. It evaluated the programme across nine local areas, spanning 13 local authorities in England.

Key findings of the report showed:

Better leadership that allowed for collaboration across services, along with workforce development of children services and substance misuse practitioners led to timely identification of parents and families impacted by alcohol dependency.

Expanding staff and service capacity to specifically target children and young people, integrating parental conflict work into the support provided, and making time for whole family interventions delivered improvements in supporting parents and families.

In the eight areas, adult treatment participation increased the course of the programme. Parents and their children also had more positive impacts from the approaches taken.

Existing evidence suggests that children affected by both parental substance misuse and conflict have complex needs, especially regarding mental health and wellbeing. Tackling both alcohol misuse and parental conflict together can also be beneficial for the children involved.

The full evaluation is available online

The nine project areas comprised:

Brighton and Hove City Council

Haringey Council

Knowsley Council

North Tyneside Local Authority

Portsmouth City Council

Rochdale MBC (including also Bolton, Bury, Salford, and Trafford)

St Helens Council

Swindon Borough Council

West Sussex County Council
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 June 2023.

A joint statement by diplomatic missions in Ukraine on International Day for Protection of Children about forced deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia.
Today, on International Day for the Protection of Children in Ukraine and across the region, we, the Embassies associated with this statement, call on the Russian Federation to return Ukraine’s children to Ukraine. We are appalled by Russia’s large-scale forced transfer and deportation of children to Russia or Russian-controlled territory within Ukraine and note in this regard the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.

The Ukrainian government has identified over 19,000 children unlawfully deported or otherwise separated from their parents or guardians. This number continues to grow with recent transfers from the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia has seized children from their schools, and their homes – including those living in institutions, while others have been separated from their families during Russia’s so-called ‘filtration’ process. Very few have been returned. This trauma will affect these children and their families for the rest of their lives.

While the Russian Federation claims these are “evacuations”, we note that the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that none of the cases examined were justified by safety or medical reasons, nor did they satisfy the requirements set forth by international humanitarian law. The obstacles Russia puts in place to prevent Ukrainian children from reuniting with their families and caregivers undermine Russia’s narrative. Direct relatives or legal guardians must undertake a dangerous and costly journey to collect their children. During this journey, they face a high risk of arrest and interrogation – as do those who help them. In some cases, parents arrive in Russia only to learn authorities have hidden their child in a foster home.

Unlawfully deported children face abusive indoctrination processes designed to systematically undermine and erase their Ukrainian identity, through “re-education” programmes as part of intense militarised schooling practices. Ukrainian children are confronted by Russian disinformation, while their access to alternative voices and education in Ukrainian is denied. Their new environments are linguistically and culturally entirely Russian. This practice violates or abuses a multitude of children’s rights under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including their rights to family, to identity and to education. Children in temporarily Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine are also exposed to this indoctrination, as the Russian Federation imposes its curriculum on local schools, in which children meet Russian soldiers and learn how to use weapons. Parents face threats they will lose custody of their child if they refuse to enrol them.

We remind the Russian Federation of its obligations under international law to end its illegal war of aggression and to ensure the lives of all children are protected. We call on Russia to ensure respect for children’s cultural identity and cease the forcible transfer of children to the Russian Federation, and its efforts to indoctrinate Ukrainian children and force them to become Russian. Finally, in cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities, we call on the Russian Federation to return Ukraine’s children where they belong: Ukraine.

The international community stands with Ukraine in protecting its future generations. We will hold the Russian Federation to account for its illegal and barbaric actions in Ukraine.

British Embassy in Ukraine

Australian Embassy in Ukraine

Austrian Embassy in Ukraine

Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine

Dutch Embassy in Ukraine

Embassy of Canada in Ukraine

Embassy of Denmark in Ukraine

Embassy of Estonia in Ukraine

Embassy of Greece in Ukraine

Embassy of Latvia in Ukraine

Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine

Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine

Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Ukraine

Finnish Embassy in Ukraine

French Embassy in Ukraine

German Embassy in Ukraine

Italian Embassy in Ukraine

New Zealand Embassy in Ukraine

Norwegian Embassy in Ukraine

Romanian Embassy in Ukraine

Spanish Embassy in Ukraine

Swedish Embassy in Ukraine

Embassy of Lithuania in Ukraine
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Active Travel England to be consulted on all large planning applications [June 2023]

The press release issued by Active Travel England on 1 June 2023.

As a statutory consultee, Active Travel England will help planning authorities implement good walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure.

Active Travel England (ATE) will now help deliver walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure on all future large developments, enabling more people to make healthier, greener and cheaper travel choices.

As of today (1 June 2023), ATE is officially a statutory consultee on all planning applications for developments equal to or exceeding 150 housing units, 7,500 m² of floorspace or an area of 5 hectares.

This will see ATE reviewing around 3,100 applications a year, equating to 60% of new homes.

The new role will enable ATE to help planning authorities in their work to implement good active travel design – for example, by ensuring developments include walking, wheeling and cycling connectivity to schools and local amenities. This will help improve public health, save people money and reduce harmful emissions.

Building in active travel at design stage will also help to avoid big increases in vehicle traffic and reduce the need for costly upgrades to major road junctions or other corrective action in the future.

Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:

Active travel is essential to improving public health, reducing emissions and tackling the cost of living crisis. That’s why we’re working to ensure millions more people have the opportunity to walk, wheel or cycle from their doorstep to where they need to be.

Designing activity back into our neighbourhoods and creating places where children have transport independence is achievable – it just needs smart planning.

As a statutory consultee ATE will work with planning authorities and developers to help them ensure new estates give people what they need to get fresh air and exercise, save money on petrol and help fight climate change.

The establishment of ATE’s statutory consultee status follows a pilot project, which saw ATE work with 30 local authorities to assess more than 60 developments over the 9 months up until November 2022.

Feedback from a survey at the start of the pilot saw 80% of respondents agree ATE should have a role in the planning system.

While ATE will be consulted on developments at and above its thresholds, it will not have any statutory powers to direct the outcome of planning applications. Active Travel England has been working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure its thresholds as a statutory consultee are set at an appropriate level.

In addition to carrying out this new role, ATE continues to invest to help councils deliver walking, wheeling and cycling schemes across the country and recently announced the 65 local authorities receiving a share of the latest Active Travel Fund (ATF4).

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister – the security of our borders must be Europe’s top priority [May 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 May 2023.

Stopping illegal migration and securing our borders should be at the top of the agenda for European leaders, the Prime Minister will tell a gathering of the European Political Community (EPC) in Chișinău, Moldova.
PM will put tackling illegal migration firmly on the international agenda at 2nd ever meeting of the European Political Community in Moldova today

As the UK prepares to host the EPC next year, PM will build on migration agreements struck with France, Albania and the EU in recent weeks

PM will also announce new support for Moldova in the face of Russian aggression and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine

Stopping illegal migration and securing our borders should be at the top of the agenda for European leaders, the Prime Minister will tell a gathering of the European Political Community (EPC) in Chișinău, Moldova today (1 June 2023).

The EPC was established last year as a forum for leaders from across Europe to come together and address some of the biggest trans-national challenges. Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister will point to the devastating humanitarian impact of illegal migration which is rising across the continent. He will emphasise the need for all countries to grip this problem with a lawful and compassionate approach.

Migrant crossings into the EU increased by 64 per cent last year and organised criminal gangs are using networks across Europe to commit cross-border crime and profit from human misery.

In recent weeks, the PM has agreed an unprecedented package of measures to stop illegal Channel crossings with France and new returns agreements with Albania. Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister also agreed with EU President Von der Leyen to develop a new working arrangement between UK agencies and Frontex – the EU’s border agency. This will include Frontex and UK agencies working together on critical operational and strategic challenges, including in the Channel.

Today, the Prime Minister will announce the start of negotiations on a new returns agreement with Moldova and confirm that a similar deal struck with Georgia has entered into force. These returns agreements allow us to return foreign nationals found to be in violation of immigration laws in the UK – reducing the incentive for people to come here illegally.

The Prime Minister will also announce a new partnership with Bulgaria to help them destroy the business model of organised criminal gangs who are deeply involved in illegal migration.

Bulgaria sits at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans migration routes – both of which have seen around a 40 per cent increase in illegal migration since 2021. The country is also becoming a key point of entry for the small boats and engines which are used by criminal gangs in illegal Channel crossings.

The UK will increase bilateral intelligence sharing with Bulgaria and work with them to increase their ability to detect and disrupt criminal gangs, building on previous work to disrupt the flow of illicit finance through organised crime networks.

The Prime Minister said:

Europe is facing unprecedented threats at our borders. From Putin’s utter contempt of other countries’ sovereignty to the rise in organised immigration crime across our continent.

We cannot address these problems without Europe’s governments and institutions working closely together. In every meeting, every summit, every international gathering like this, the security of our borders must be top of the agenda.

The UK will be at the heart of this international effort to stop the boats and defend our national security.

The UK will host the European Political Community in 2024 following the next summit, hosted by Spain in October. In Moldova today the Prime Minister will meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to discuss how the UK and Spain can keep up the momentum of international action on illegal migration at our respective EPC Summits.

The Prime Minister will also convene a roundtable discussion on security, alongside the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, where he will stress the need to deal with organised immigration crime and support countries like Ukraine and Moldova who are on the front line of Russian aggression.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was already one of the poorest countries in Europe. It now hosts the largest per capita refugee population, having accepted thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war. Moldova is the subject of constant Russian hostility, from Russian troops illegally stationed in Transnistria to a Russian plot, uncovered earlier this year, to stage a coup in Moldova.

In March, the UK announced an extra £10 million to support reforms, including to Moldova’s energy sector, which will help them defend against the kind of economic and political manipulation we know Russia is capable of.

We have also provided £12.5 million to UN agencies to help support Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, and today the Prime Minister will announce a further £10.5 million to continue these efforts – particularly helping those women and children who have experienced the most horrific things imaginable over the last year.

Given the impact of Putin’s aggression beyond Ukraine, this work is integral to keeping our people safe and stopping the manipulation of our economy.
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : First class support for Manchester rape survivors is key stop on Law Officers tour [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 31 May 2023.

THE support offered to Manchester’s survivors of rape and serious sexual offences was the topic for the Attorney General this week as she visited the new-world class facilities the city has to offer.

The Law Officers – Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC and Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC – met staff at The St Mary’s Centre, a sexual assault referral scheme.

The centre, currently based on Oxford Road, is one of the leading centres in the country for its work supporting victims of sexual crime. It offers aftercare services, both forensic and counselling based to those affected, and dedicated Independent Sexual Violence Advisors are on hand to support victims through the justice process.

Later this year, the centre will be moving to new premises in Peter Mount and The Law Officers were able to visit the centre as it takes shape.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC said:

We know St Mary’s is one of the country’s leading centres for supporting victims of these abhorrent crimes. The new facilities are world-class, and we hope they will continue to be a haven for those who enter its doors.

It is easy to underestimate the bravery needed to report a sexual assault and to persevere through report to court. Having this one-stop centre for victims both male and female is a massive benefit for the people of Manchester. It has been fascinating to visit at this important part of the centre’s history.

The staff at the centre work closely with colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service’s North West offices to make sure the support afforded to victims continues throughout their journey through the criminal justice system and CPS staff were on hand to meet the Law Officers too.

Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC added:

The court process can clearly add so much anxiety for victim who have already endured such a terrible ordeal.

The support they receive can be instrumental in helping them stay engaged with the justice process, especially in measures like being able to give evidence to court via live video link from the centre in a place where they feel safe and supported.

The Manchester visit was part of a three-day tour to the North West and Midlands by the Law Officers to look at victim support measures and to explore how law is supporting loal communities.

Dr. Michelle Carroll, Joint Clinical Director of St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) said:

We welcome the visit of the Attorney General, Solicitor General and our colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West, to showcase our work and view our new home – which will provide first class facilities to our service users.

Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre is proud to have pioneered the way for victims of rape and sexual assault, and this visit is a chance to recognise the tireless work of our teams who help put people’s lives back together, enabling them to move forward in a positive way and to prevent these horrendous experiences of abuse to define their future.

June 12, 2023