Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Phillip Bowen and Duwayne Brooks appointed as members of the Youth Justice Board [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 February 2023.

The Secretary of State for Justice has announced the appointments of Duwayne Brooks OBE and Phillip Bowen as members of the Youth Justice Board.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon. Dominic Raab MP, has announced the appointment of Phillip Bowen and Duwayne Brooks as members of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for a tenure of 3 years. Their appointments will commence on 1 March 2023 and run until 28 February 2026.

YJB is a non-departmental public body, responsible for overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales. As a non-departmental public body, its primary function is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and the provision of youth justice services.

Appointments and reappointments to YJB are made by the Secretary of State for Justice and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These appointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Phillip Bowen

Phil Bowen is Director of the Centre for Justice Innovation, leading the organisation and overseeing the implementation of its overarching strategy since 2012. During that time, he has been a policy fellow to 2 Lord Chancellors. Prior to running the Centre, Phil spent the majority of his career in the British civil service, working for the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and as an adviser on criminal justice reform in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit.

Duwayne Brooks OBE

Duwayne is currently the Chair of Trustees at Juvenis, A charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people, diverting those who may be vulnerable to crime, exclusion from school and exploitation. Duwayne has been instrumental in youth engagement within policing for over a decade and was an associate at the College of Policing, working on improving youth engagement within policing at a local level across England and Wales. He has also held roles including member of the Metropolitan Police Stop and Search Strategy, Firearms & Taser Reference Groups as well as a Critical friend on Stop and Search at London Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime. Duwayne has also served as an elected Councillor on Lewisham Council and spent 4 years as the lead member on the Safer Communities Board at the Local Government Association, leading on policy projects like VAWG, Prevent, Probation, Hate Crime and ASB.

February 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The Prime Minister, with the approval of His Majesty The King, has today created four new departments [February 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 February 2023.

To ensure the whole of government is geared up to deliver for the British people, the Prime Minister, with the approval of His Majesty The King, has today created four new departments.

The changes will ensure the right skills and teams are focussed on the Prime Minister’s five promises: to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats.

A new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, has been tasked with securing our long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and halving inflation. The move recognises the significant impact rising prices have had on households across the country as a result of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, and the need to secure more energy from domestic nuclear and renewable sources as we seize the opportunities of net zero.

A dedicated Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will drive the innovation that will deliver improved public services, create new and better-paid jobs and grow the economy. Having a single department focussed on turning scientific and technical innovations into practical, appliable solutions to the challenges we face will help make sure the UK is the most innovative economy in the world.

A combined Department for Business and Trade will support growth by backing British businesses at home and abroad, promoting investment and championing free trade.

Finally, a re-focused Department for Culture, Media and Sport will recognise the importance of these industries to our economy and build on the UK’s position as a global leader in the creative arts.

February 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Improvements made to the Tree Health Pilot following a successful first year [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 February 2023.

Innovative pilot provides grants, guidance and advice to reduce the impacts of tree pests and diseases and build the resilience of England’s trees, woodlands and forests.

The Tree Health Pilot is today (Tuesday 7 February) being updated to improve the support available to farmers and land managers dealing with tree pest and disease issues.

The innovative Pilot, running between 2021 and 2024, provides land managers with grants, guidance and advice to reduce the impacts of tree pests and diseases and build the resilience of England’s trees, woodlands and forests ahead of the roll-out of a future nationwide Tree Health Scheme. The Pilot is currently available in London, the South East, the North West and the West Midlands.

Following a successful first year, in which more than 80 expressions of interest were received, Defra has worked with the Forestry Commission to evaluate user feedback and make several key changes to the scheme. These include simplifying the payments process, introducing higher payment rates, implementing a new advice package, and improving guidance.

In line with changes being made across the Countryside Stewardship and the England Woodland Creation Offer schemes, payment rates for standard capital cost items – which are one-off projects such as installing deer fencing and tree shelters – are increasing. Maintenance rates, which help ensure newly planted trees are growing healthily, will increase from £300 to £350 per hectare per year for trees planted in woodland. And to help cover coordination costs for group applications, the fee paid to the group facilitator will rise to £24 per hour.

Today’s announcement follows the publication of the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan, which committed to the publication of a revised Tree Health Resilience Strategy to improve the baseline diversity, health and condition of our trees, woods and forests, and drive the long-term changes needed to adapt to climate change and disease pressures such as ash dieback.

Chief Plant Health Officer Nicola Spence said:

This Pilot supports land managers to deal quickly and effectively with tree health issues. By funding innovative methods to fell and restock diseased trees, for instance, using skylines or horse loggers to reach larch trees in remote areas, and encouraging group collaboration to deal more efficiently with roadside ash – it ensures a comprehensive and targeted approach to better protecting our trees.

We have been able to gather meaningful feedback for the design of our future Tree Health Scheme, with a greater focus on tailoring support to land managers where most needed and equipping them with practical tools to reduce and manage future threats in order to create more resilient treescapes.

Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley, said:

From lone trees to entire woodlands, a thriving treescape is not only fundamental to our health and wellbeing, but crucial for combatting climate change, improving biodiversity and growing local economies.

These improvements will ensure greater participation in the scheme, better knowledge of the issues around tree health, and swifter action to tackle pests and diseases – all helping to protect our trees now and for future generations.

The Tree Health Pilot covers five tree types, including ash affected by ash dieback, oak trees infested with Oak Processionary Moth, and sweet chestnut infected by sweet chestnut blight. Plants and trees deliver around £15.7 billion each year in social, environmental and economic benefits across England so reducing pest and disease risks is crucial in protecting these vital national assets and the environmental benefits they provide.

The Tree Health Pilot is part of a focus on protecting and enhancing the environment alongside producing food sustainably and will inform our future Tree Health Scheme being rolled out through our landmark Environmental Land Management schemes.

February 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £32 million boost to upgrade existing heat networks and reduce energy costs [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 7 February 2023.

New scheme will make existing heat networks in England and Wales more energy efficient – reducing emissions and household bills.
- New scheme will make existing heat networks in England and Wales more energy efficient – reducing emissions and household bills
- upgrades will help more than 100,000 homes reduce their energy use with heat network operators able to apply for funding from today
- some heat networks haven’t been upgraded since they were installed more than 40 years ago
Old and inefficient heat networks will be given a £32 million cash injection to produce cheaper energy and reduce carbon emissions for thousands of homes across England and Wales.

Through the newly launched Heat Network Efficiency Scheme, out of date equipment will be upgraded with energy efficient alternatives such as replacement pumps, pipe insulation and underfloor heating controls. Cutting-edge data monitoring systems will also be introduced to check systems are performing correctly.

The new scheme will deliver improvements to existing heat networks, helping consumers in more than 100,000 homes reduce their energy use – lessening the burden of increasing heating bills.

The changes will help prevent against breakdowns where customers are without heat and hot water and reduce instances of homes and corridors becoming too hot through heat escaping from inefficient piping.

Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan said:

This £32 million boost will provide thousands of homes in England and Wales with cheaper, greener energy through upgrades these heat networks desperately need.

We’re investing in new heat networks, but it’s just as important to maintain and refurbish existing systems to ensure all customers can benefit from reduced energy use and household bills.

Heat network operators, such as universities, NHS Trusts and charities, will be able to bid for funding from today by requesting an application form from delivery partner Gemserv.

Some heat networks haven’t been upgraded since they were installed more than 40 years ago, meaning many are inefficient due to not being installed properly, poorly maintained or the equipment has begun to wear out.

Heat networks offer carbon emissions savings by supplying heat to buildings from a central source, avoiding the need for households and workplaces to rely on individual, energy-intensive heating solutions – such as gas boilers. As such, heat networks provide a significant contribution to the UK’s carbon reduction commitment.

The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) forms an important part of the government’s support for heat networks which also includes the £288 million Green Heat Network Fund.

HNES follows and builds on the HNES Demonstrator, a one-year project which ran until March 2022. As well as delivering improvements to 37 existing heat networks, HNES Demonstrator supported 73 projects to identify cost-effective improvement measures.

Stephen Knight, Director at Heat Trust, the national consumer protection scheme for heat network customers said:

At Heat Trust we sadly hear of far too many examples of inefficient and poorly performing heat networks. These can result in much higher energy costs for residents, overheating corridors and frequent breakdowns.

The rise in gas prices over the last year has meant that inefficient heat networks are now expensive for residents. The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme is therefore an important step in the right direction, and I would urge all those responsible for running heat networks to consider bidding for funding.

To further improve the operation of existing heat networks, a series of guidance videos has also been published today that sets out the practical steps that operators of heat networks can take to improve the performance of their systems.

The government is delivering energy bill support to consumers on heat networks through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and passed legislation last year to ensures that suppliers pass on savings to residents.

This is on top of the £400 that all consumers receive off their energy bills this winter via the Energy Bills Support Scheme and for support with electricity bills through the Energy Price Guarantee.
February 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Over £110 million to unlock zero emission guilt-free flights [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 7 February 2023.

Cutting edge new technologies that could enable electric flying taxis and hydrogen powered aircraft to take to the skies will be developed in the UK.
- Government and industry are investing £113 million in hydrogen and all-electric flight technologies to unlock guilt-free flight and support green jobs across the UK
- investment will support development by Vertical Aerospace of the next generation of high-end, lightweight batteries for small aircraft
- projects led by Rolls-Royce to develop a zero-emission liquid hydrogen combusting jet engine will also receive backing
- comes alongside launch of a new Call for Evidence seeking views from the sector on how we can reach the target for airport operations in England to be zero emissions by 2040
Cutting edge new technologies that could enable electric flying taxis and hydrogen powered aircraft to take to the skies will be developed in the UK, thanks to £113 million of investment being announced by the Business and Transport Secretaries today (Tuesday 7 February).

Through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, government and industry are jointly backing new exciting zero-carbon technologies to open up a future of guilt-free flying. This includes a project by Bristol-based electric aircraft manufacturer Vertical Aerospace to develop high-end, lightweight batteries, as well as projects led by Rolls-Royce to develop the building blocks of a liquid hydrogen combusting jet engine, which would enable flight without the carbon emissions.

From Belfast to Derby, these successful projects will help secure thousands of jobs across the supply chain and hundreds of millions in private investment across the UK, growing the country’s economy and putting us at the forefront of reducing global aviation emissions.

The ATI Programme continues to deliver practical successes, the most recent being the maiden flight of ZeroAvia’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered 19-seater aircraft in January.

In addition, the Department for Transport is launching a Call for Evidence seeking views from the sector on how to reach the target for airport operations in England to be zero emissions by 2040. The target was set as part of the government’s Jet Zero Strategy, launched in July last year.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Guilt-free flying is within our reach, and we are backing the world-leading UK firms whose skills and ingenuity are going to make that dream a reality.

As the whole world moves to greener forms of aviation, there is a massive opportunity for the UK’s aerospace industry to secure clean, green jobs and growth for decades to come. Together with the companies that share our ambitions, we are determined to seize this moment.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

The Jet Zero Council is helping to define the future of flying – one that’s more optimistic about the sector’s environmental impact while putting UK innovation at the forefront of international aviation.

As well as developing the next generation of aircraft, it’s also crucial we make the sector greener on the ground, and the call for evidence we’re launching today will help us gather evidence on how airports can reach zero emissions by 2040.

Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce plc, said:

Rolls-Royce welcomes this announcement from the UK government today. ATI funding enables us and our partners to deliver these exciting projects that are critical to the delivery of the zero carbon element of our net zero road map and will help position the UK as a leader on the pathway to more sustainable flight.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO and Founder of Vertical Aerospace, said:

At Vertical, we are pioneering the most advanced electric aircraft in the world, right here in the UK. We are absolutely delighted to co-invest with the government in developing the lightweight, high-performance, and safe batteries we need to make zero carbon flight a reality. In the race to Net Zero, the ATI Programme is delivering a huge opportunity for the government and industry to come together to create world-leading, British technologies and build British expertise.

The investment will be announced at the seventh meeting of the Jet Zero Council, a partnership between government and industry that’s been set up to fast-track ambitions for zero-emission flight by 2050 through investment and focus on advanced technologies and sustainable aviation fuels, as laid out in the Jet Zero Strategy. The Council is leveraging the UK’s world-leading aerospace and aviation sectors, which pre-pandemic employed 230,000 people in the UK and contributed £22 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy, to effectively tackle emissions while encouraging growth and green innovation.

Jet Zero Council CEO Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow Airport, said:

The launch of the Jet Zero Strategy last year was a key milestone on the path to decarbonising aviation, and it’s fantastic to see the progress that has been made since then, such as on boosting the UK’s SAF industry and with the International Civil Aviation Organisation aiming to reach net zero by 2050.

This investment, and the launch of the Call For Evidence on how airports in England can reach zero emissions by 2040, are another vital part of that journey and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners in industry and government to define the future of flying.

Today’s meeting is taking place at Boeing’s London offices, further highlighting the importance of aerospace businesses to the UK’s plans for jobs and growth. In the UK, Boeing employs a highly-skilled workforce of over 3,000 people across 30 key locations and spends nearly £2 billion a year in the supply chain on high-value aerospace export parts.

As the Council’s hosts, Boeing will use today’s meeting to demonstrate their new data modelling tool, Cascade, which allows the user to visualise various decarbonisation strategies on the pathway to net zero emissions. Using a variety of datasets, Cascade helps airline operators, policy makers and industry partners make informed decisions on the journey to net-zero by 2050. The tool computes full life-cycle accounting of total climate effects using scenarios for the 5 core strategies: renewable energy, airplane fleet renewal, future aircraft and advanced technologies, operational efficiency improvements and market-based measures and demonstrates that SAF is required to meet the 2050 commitment while continuing to invest in hydrogen, electric and advanced technologies.

Maria Laine, president of Boeing in the UK, Ireland and Nordic region, said:

Today’s Jet Zero Council meeting is an opportunity to highlight progress and assess opportunities on the journey to net zero. Close partnership between government and industry is vital to achieving a zero-carbon future, and we are delighted to showcase some of the innovative tools Boeing has designed to help us collectively reach this goal. Through Cascade, it’s clear that we need sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under any scenario to reach our 2050 goal while investing in cutting-edge technologies that will inform the future of flight.

The meeting comes after significant developments in the government’s SAF programme. At the end of last year, 5 companies were awarded a share of the Department for Transport’s £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund, with projects from Teesside to Ellesmere Port receiving funding to build plants that will convert household and industrial waste into jet fuel.

Virgin Atlantic will also receive government funding to complete the first ever net zero transatlantic flight on 100% SAF. The flight from London to New York will take off from the UK this year.
February 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russia must fulfill its commitment to facilitate the unimpeded export of food from Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports – UK Statement at the UN Security Council [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on Ukraine.

Thank you, President.

First, on behalf of the UK, I would like to offer condolences to those people affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. Our thoughts are with those families in mourning on this sad day, and our appreciation with the many contributing to the rescue and relief efforts. The UK is contributing immediate support and are in close touch with those responding on the ground.

Focusing on Ukraine, I would like to thank Under-Secretary General Griffiths for his briefing today.

As the UN has set out in many briefings over the past year since Russia started this war, Russia’s invasion has been devastating for the Ukrainian people.

We receive daily reports of families, children, elderly and disabled people forced to make ends meet while sheltering from relentless firing. A staggering 17.6 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2023.

The ongoing insecurity across frontlines has prevented humanitarian organisations from establishing a sustained presence and access to those who need it most.

The UK’s support for neutral, impartial humanitarian action in Ukraine is clear.

We commend the efforts of the United Nations and humanitarian organisations. But we know that in territory controlled by Russia, there is limited, sometimes no access for humanitarian organisations. The systematic denial of humanitarian access must end.

This ongoing behaviour is consistent with Russia’s behaviour throughout the war, including the deliberate and callous targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the instrumentalisation of access to food and energy – which has had implications for vulnerable people in Ukraine and across the globe.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped increase vital supplies and reduce global food prices. Global demand for Ukraine’s grain remains strong.

And yet, in recent weeks, Russian inspections of ships has slowed and the backlog of waiting ships has increased. Exports under the Initiative have decreased.

We join others in calling on Russia to fulfill its commitments, in line with MOU with the UN, to ‘facilitate the unimpeded export of food’ from Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports.

This means renewing the Black Sea Grain Initiative next month and scaling-up inspections at a rate that better meets global demands.

President, the world needs a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.

Russia must stop seeking to shift blame and must face up to some very basic truths. First, it must acknowledge the immense suffering its war is causing to its own people, the people of Ukraine and to people around the world. And second, it must recognise that there is one clear solution to end this suffering: a unilateral withdrawal of Russian troops, in line with the UN Charter, and an end to this futile war.

Thank you, President.

February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Sir William Worsley re-appointed as Forestry Commission Chair [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 February 2023.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey today (Monday 6 February 2023) confirmed that Sir William Worsley has been reappointed, by way of Royal Warrant, as Chair of Forestry Commission for a second term. His second term will run for three years from 10 February 2023 to 9 February 2026.

During his first term, Sir William led the implementation of the England Trees Action Plan – which sets out the government’s long-term vision to enhance our treescape between now and 2050. This includes work which is currently underway to triple the rate of tree-planting in this country by the end of the current Parliament in 2025.

Tree-planting is one of the cornerstones of the government’s ongoing action to combat climate change and reach net zero. Sir William will continue to lead the work of the Forestry Commission, which has a vital role in delivering ambitious plans for England’s forests and woodlands.

Commenting on his re-appointment, Sir William Worsley said:

Healthy and productive trees bring a range of environmental, economic and social benefits – capturing carbon, powering our thriving forestry sector and improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. I am therefore delighted to be re-appointed as Chair of the Forestry Commission.

I am proud to have overseen the implementation of the England Trees Action Plan, which is driving our ambition to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament. It is my personal mission to build on these efforts to protect and expand our nation’s trees, woodlands and forests for the benefit of all.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

Sir William has provided robust leadership as Chair of Forestry Commission, bringing a strong sense of duty and a wealth of experience to the organisation, and I am pleased he will continue as Chair for a second term.

I look forward to further working with Sir William and the Forestry Commission in delivering our ambitious plans to triple the rate of tree planting by the end of this Parliament.

Richard Stanford, Forestry Commission Chief Executive, said:

I am delighted that Sir William will continue his fantastic work as Chair of Forestry Commission for another term – his passion and experience have proved invaluable to the organisation and forestry sector as a whole.

I look forward to working closely together in protecting and expanding our forests, woods and trees and promoting sustainable management of them for people and nature.

The reappointment has been completed in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be declared. Sir William has declared that he has not taken part in any political activity in the past five years.

Sir William Worsley has been Chair of Forestry Commission since 2020. From June 2018 to his appointment as Chair, Sir William was the Government’s Tree Champion. He began his career as a chartered surveyor and for several years worked with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) as former President and Chairman of the Board.

February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government confirms £60 billion for local authorities to deliver vital services [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 6 February 2023.

The local government finance settlement has confirmed £60 billion for councils to deliver local services.
- Levelling Up Secretary confirms increased funding package for councils to deliver local services and support vulnerable households with council tax bills
- An extra £5.1 billion available on last year’s settlement, including access to £2 billion new social care grant
- Government funding gives certainty to local government and stands behind councils in challenging times
Councils in England will benefit from almost £60 billion to deliver vital frontline services as the Government confirms an average funding increase of 9.4% for town halls over the next financial year.

After close engagement with councils, the settlement includes £2 billion in additional grant funding for adult and children’s social care for 2023/24 and a one-off Funding Guarantee that ensures every local authority in England will see at least a 3% increase in core spending power before any local decisions around council tax are taken.

Following consultation, the Government has expanded the total funding allocations to include a further £19 million for all services and £10 million extra for the Rural Services Delivery Grant. This additional funding will help councils deliver core services and address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.

The Government proposed the funding package in December and consulted with councils on all elements of the settlement. Now, the Government is confirming its intention that councils across England will benefit from an additional £5.1 billion – an increase of 9.4% on last year – as it continues to stand behind councils and public services in the face of financial pressures.

The final settlement for local government ensures the most relatively deprived areas of England receive 17% more funding per household than the least deprived.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

“Every day councils across the country deliver for their communities and play a crucial role in driving forward levelling up.

“This funding package represents an increase of over 9% for councils on last year, ensuring a fair deal for local government that reflects the vital work councils do to provide key services on which we all rely.”

Alongside the provisional settlement, the Government announced a £100 million of additional funding for local authorities to support the most vulnerable households in England – delivering on the manifesto commitment to protect local taxpayers from excessive increases. This funding supports the government’s council tax referendum package, which strikes a fair balance to ensure taxpayers are not over-burdened at a time of significant pressure on the public finances.

This announcement follows a major £2.1 billion investment for councils across the UK through the Levelling Up Fund, which will deliver transformational projects to help spread opportunity to historically overlooked areas.

The provisional settlement consultation was open for 4 weeks and closed on 16 January 2023.
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government moves ahead with plans to crack down on illegal waste [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 February 2023.

Reforms to crack down on dangerous waste cowboys and illegal practices.

New reforms to target waste criminals and combat dangerous practices at waste sites were unveiled today (6 February 2023) by Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.

The current rules in England and Wales allow certain low-risk, small-scale waste activities to be carried out under a registration scheme, exempt from the need to hold an environmental permit, providing a light-touch but valuable form of regulation.

However, criminals have used the cover of exemptions to carry out illegal waste activities such as stockpiling large amounts of undocumented or unsuitable waste and evading Landfill Tax in England and Landfill Disposals Tax in Wales. These abuses are estimated to cost the English economy £87.2 million a year.

The government confirmed plans to close these loopholes in the Environmental Improvement Plan, which was published last week, alongside a pledge to seek to eliminate waste crime by 2043.

The government proposes to remove three of the 10 waste exemptions of most concern, covering the use of depolluted end-of-life vehicle parts, the treatment of tyres, and the recovery of scrap metal. Illegal or improper activity that undermined legitimate operators and posed a risk to the environment and the public was particularly pronounced for these exemptions. The conditions of a further seven exemptions will also be tightened.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Waste crime costs taxpayers tens of millions of pounds every year. We are determined to take the fight to those shameful criminals who seek to wreak havoc on our environment and economy.

We are clear in our commitment to eliminate this kind of illegal activity and these reforms will prevent dishonest operators from gaming the system and putting our health at risk.

This is just one of the measures we’re taking to tackle waste crime – we’re also giving regulators and local authorities more power to bring criminals to justice.

Steve Molyneux, the Environment Agency’s strategic lead on Waste Regulation, said:

The Environment Agency is determined to make life harder for criminals by disrupting and stopping illegal activity through better regulation and tough enforcement action.

Today’s announcement will help us in our goal by restricting or removing waste exemptions that are used to mask illegal waste sites. These sites are a risk to the environment and people’s safety, and undercut legitimate business. We will keep working with Government and the waste industry to drive further action on waste crime.

The Environment Agency’s regulatory compliance checks have revealed that certain exemption types have been routinely used to hide illegal waste activities from regulatory oversight in recent years.

For instance, in November 2020 firefighters tackled a blaze for a week at a site in Bradford that held an exemption allowing the storage of tyres. The exemption was being abused and 600,000 tyres were on the site. The proposed reforms would mean a full environmental permit would be needed for this kind of site.

The government is also planning to introduce greater record-keeping requirements for all waste exemption holders; impose limits and controls on how multiple exemptions can be managed at one site; and ban the use of exemptions at a site operating under an environmental permit, or where there is a ‘direct link’ between the exempt and permitted activity.

This follows our consultation on proposals to tackle crime and poor performance in the waste sector.

We recently consulted on reform of the carrier, broker, dealer regime, meaning increased background checks for firms moving or trading waste; and on the introduction of mandatory digital waste tracking, ensuring better record-keeping to help regulators detect waste crime.

On top of this we are awarding councils with grants to tackle fly-tipping, and have provided funding of over £450,000 to help several councils purchase equipment to assist further, such as CCTV.

The Environment Agency has today launched a National Waste Crime Survey to help stop criminals. They want to hear from victims of waste crime such as landowners, insurance companies and residents as well as from those who can provide important information such as industry.

At present only 25% of waste crimes are reported. Don’t let the criminals get away with it. Report anything suspicious to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or our 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : MDP launch new anonymous reporting line for officers and staff [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 February 2023.

On 6 February, the MDP Professional Standards Department will be launching a Crimestoppers Police Integrity Line.

As the experts in speaking up about crime and wrongdoing, Crimestoppers are working with organisations such as the MDP to improve crime prevention and detection, as well as protect their staff and communities.

It can be difficult to come forward with information. Often people don’t know what to do, or are scared to say anything, especially in the working environment when an issue involves their colleagues – but Crimestoppers offer a safe way to do this.

MDP officers and staff can now telephone the Crimestoppers Police Integrity Line, safely and anonymously. This service is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is specifically designed to protect the caller’s identity.

A Crimestoppers operator will record the information from the caller and pass it on to the Professional Standards Department to further investigate.

Head of the MDP Professional Standards Department, Temporary Superintendent Karryann Rogers, joined the MDP in July 2022 after serving with Cambridgeshire Constabulary for 30 years and retiring from their Professional Standards Department as a Detective Chief Inspector.

Temporary Superintendent Rogers said:

This new reporting line is part of a bigger piece of work being undertaken by the MDP to set up its own Anti-Corruption Unit.

The reporting line is a safe avenue for officers and staff to anonymously report any misconduct within the Force. We all need to be ‘doing our bit’ in calling out bad behaviour and reporting any wrongdoing, after all the Police Regulations make it quite clear that we have a duty to challenge and report.

It is an opportunity for us to improve our working conditions and to establish better processes for dealing with bad behaviour. We want to make the MDP a great place to work and a safe space for individuals to speak up when they feel they have been mistreated.

In the past, individuals may have felt that they weren’t being listened to, or that they did not have the confidence in previous systems to report any wrongdoing. This new reporting line is 100% anonymous, guaranteed by Crimestoppers, who are specially trained to protect the caller’s identity.

The new reporting line also supports the MDP’s work to achieve White Ribbon Accreditation and its commitment to stamping out violence against women and girls (VAWG).

MDP Assistant Chief Constable Territorial, Crime and Support, Jason Gwillim said:

The MDP is committed to creating an inclusive culture where all our officers and staff enjoy coming to work without fear of being the victims of bad behaviour. We hope that by introducing systems such as this new reporting line, we can not only deal with corruption more effectively but prevent it from happening in the first place.

The Police Integrity Line is a big step for the Force, in making real lasting change to eradicate corruption within the Force and protect our officers and staff. By bringing the issue to the forefront, we might be able to encourage perpetrators to recognise their behaviour and stop.

February 6, 2023