Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Refuge’s Ruth Davison responds to the plea entered by serving Met police officer David Carrick [January 2023]

The press release issued by Refuge on 16 January 2023.

In response to the plea entered by serving Met police officer David Carrick today, Ruth Davison, Refuge Chief Executive said:

Today, the platitudes must end. The crimes that David Carrick is accused of committing are utterly abhorrent, and his ability to be appointed and continue to serve as a police officer, while multiple allegations against him had been received by the force, will terrify women and girls up and down the country.

What has come to light today is barbarous and I send solidarity to the brave women who have come forward and reported these crimes. When a man who has been charged with 49 offences, including 24 charges of rape, is a serving police officer, how can women and girls possibly be – or feel – safe. The police are supposed to be our first line of defence, they are supposed to protect us from violent crime, they are supposed to hold perpetrators to account. Instead, the people who commit violent crimes against women are able to hold positions of power within the force and use their authority and status to abuse and harm, seemingly with impunity.

For too long, we have heard that things will change, that lessons are being learned, that mistakes will not be allowed to happen again. There has been enquiry after enquiry, promise after promise. But I see little evidence of any change today, and I ask myself what has to happen before crimes against women and girls are taken seriously?  Last year, the government agreed to make violence against women and girls a strategic policing priority, yet here we are again, learning about the numerous violent crimes committed by a man whose job it was to protect the public. As he stood in the dock today, David Carrick remained a serving police officer. One who had been authorised to carry firearms.

We cannot continue to be told that these are isolated incidents, that this is ‘one bad apple’. Last month, the director general of the IOPC stood down, after serious allegations were made against him. If the office responsible for investigating police misconduct is having to investigate its own director for allegations of crimes committed against a woman, then how can anyone have any faith in its ability to regulate against misconduct across the wider force?

Time and again, across the VAWG sector, we have called for more training, for more investment, for the police to work with specialist frontline organisations like Refuge, so they can better understand the dynamics of domestic abuse and so that officers can better understand the patterns of behaviours that perpetrators display. How can you prevent something you do not understand?

In this particular case, David Carrick was first reported to the police in 2001, before he even joined the force. He should never have passed intake vetting. There then followed a series of other complaints against him, including further incidents of domestic abuse. Sadly, as the CEO of the country’s largest specialist domestic abuse provider, it comes as no surprise to me that these incidents were dismissed as a ‘non-crimes’ and no action was taken. The first chances to stop this serial abuser were missed. If domestic abuse had been recognised and treated as the serious crime it is, how many of his later crimes could have been prevented?

Numerous other reports and complaints were made. Every single one of them should have raised the alarm. But none of them were taken seriously and no action was taken. Carrick was able to continue in post and was later issued with a licence to carry a firearm. Over the course of almost two decades, more and more brave women came forward to report crimes they allege were committed against them by Carrick. Those women were let down by the police and Carrick went on to abuse and harm more and more women, in ways which I cannot begin to comprehend.

What happens next must change the culture of policing for good. A force which breeds a culture of violent misogyny is not a force which can even begin to protect women and girls. Unless radical change to the way the policing system works across the country happens immediately, then women and girls will remain unsafe, and they will not have the confidence to come forward and report the violent crimes committed against them. Violence against women and girls has reached epidemic levels, and if the police cannot protect us from harm, then we must demand that they change the way in which they police violent men.

January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Met condemns officer, David Carrick, guilty of most serious sexual offences [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Met Police on 16 January 2023.

The Met today condemns the appalling criminal actions of a serving officer after he pleaded guilty to multiple rapes and other serious sexual offences.

David Carrick appeared at Southwark Crown Court today (Monday, 16 January) and entered guilty pleas to false imprisonment, indecent assault and four counts of rape. At a previous hearing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 13 December he pleaded guilty to 43 offences including 20 counts of rape, and further counts of controlling and coercive behaviour and sexual assault.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a hearing to take place at Southwark Crown Court beginning on Monday, 6 February.

Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray, the Met’s lead for Professionalism, said: “On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, I want to apologise to the women who have suffered at the hands of David Carrick.

“I commend their outstanding bravery in coming forward and reporting the horrific crimes they were victims of.

“Carrick is a prolific, serial sex offender who preyed on women over a period of many years, abusing his position as a police officer and committing the most horrific, degrading crimes.

“He has devastated women’s lives. He has had a devastating impact on the trust and confidence of women and girls that we are working so hard to earn. He has devastated colleagues.

“He used the fact he was a police officer to control and coerce his victims. We know they felt unable to come forward sooner because he told them they would not be believed.

“We should have spotted his pattern of abusive behaviour and because we didn’t, we missed opportunities to remove him from the organisation.

“We are truly sorry that Carrick was able to continue to use his role as a police officer to prolong the suffering of his victims.

“I would also like to recognise the work of the Hertfordshire Constabulary officers whose thorough investigation has meant Carrick’s victims have been spared the further ordeal of a trial.”

After Carrick was charged with rape in October 2021, the Met began a thorough review of his service, his conduct and complaints record, any occasions on which he had come to the notice of the police and his vetting.

It was established that he was on police systems in relation to a number of off duty incidents both before and after his employment as a police officer. These incidents were in the Met’s force area and in those of other forces.

With the exception of his arrest in October 2021, none of these incidents resulted in any criminal sanction at the time.

However, when the overall case history is examined now in detail, it reveals a pattern of behaviour that should have raised concerns regardless of the outcome of individual incidents.

AC Gray added: “The duration and nature of Carrick’s offending is unprecedented in policing. But regrettably he is not the only Met officer to have been charged with serious sexual offences in the recent past.

“Our work to identify and rid the Met of corrupt officers is determined and focussed.

“As the Commissioner has said, we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who are engaged in corrupt or criminal behaviour using all the available tactics and techniques at our disposal.”

In response to the recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the interim findings of the Baroness Casey review, the Met has invested millions of pounds and brought in over 400 additional officers and staff to identify and investigate offenders within the police service.

A dedicated Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offending investigation team has been set up with over 50 experienced investigators targeting any officer or staff member who may be engaged in domestic abuse or sexual offences.

All current officers and staff who have previously been the subject of allegations of sexual offending or domestic abuse, where allegations couldn’t be proven and were not subject of misconduct hearings, are subject to an ongoing review.

A new Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command is proactively investigating and identifying officers and staff who abuse their positions of trust whether on duty or off duty, in person or online.

There has been significant investment in intelligence capabilities and in the skills of specialist investigators.

A thorough audit of national police databases, to identify intelligence and information about officers and staff that may not be known by the organisation, is under way.

An internal appeal is asking Met officers and staff to report corruption and abuse and for the first time in policing, an anti-corruption and abuse hotline has been launched, in partnership with Crimestoppers, where the public can anonymously report Met officers and staff who abuse their positions of power and trust.

Further information about David Carrick:

Carrick was arrested in October 2021 and was immediately suspended.

A thorough and complex investigation was carried out by Hertfordshire Constabulary, culminating in the guilty pleas entered at court. Met officers have provided every possible assistance and cooperation to the investigation throughout.

As soon as Carrick entered his first guilty pleas, his pay was stopped and the accelerated misconduct process was initiated which will conclude with a hearing to be held in his absence on Tuesday, 17 January.

After Carrick was charged, a thorough review was carried out covering his career history, any complaints received during his service, occasions that he came to the notice of police and his vetting.

Career history:

Carrick joined the Met in 2001. He initially worked as a response officer in Merton and Barnet. In 2009 he transferred to what is now the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command where he remained until his arrest and suspension in October 2021.

He had no prior service with any other police force.

Public complaints:

Carrick was the subject of five complaints from members of the public during his Met service. They were all received between 2002 and 2008 and none were of a sexual nature.

Two complaints alleged that Carrick had been rude in his manner towards members of the public. These were investigated and dealt with by management action locally.

Three further complaints, relating to incivility and use of force, were received but subsequently withdrawn or dismissed.

Off duty matters:

We identified that Carrick had come to the attention of the Met and other forces on nine* occasions prior to October 2021 but that on none of those occasions had he been charged with a criminal offence.

2000 (MPS)

Prior to the start of his police service, he was a suspect in two offences involving the same female victim. One involved an allegation of malicious communications and the second an allegation of burglary.

The victim was a former partner. Carrick had refused to accept the end of their relationship.

He was not arrested and no further action was taken in relation to either allegation.

*The above two allegations are counted separately as they were reported at different times within the same year.

2002 (MPS)

Carrick was accused of harassment and assault against a former partner. He was not arrested and no further action was taken in relation to the criminal investigation.

This was after the start of his service as a police officer, but the matter was not referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards. Information about this matter and our review of it has been shared with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

2004 (MPS)

Carrick was involved in a domestic incident. No criminal allegations were made, he was not arrested. The matter was not referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards as there was no criminal allegation.

2009 (Herts)

Hertfordshire Constabulary officers responded to a third party report of a domestic incident involving Carrick. No criminal allegations were made and he was not arrested. Records held by Hertfordshire in relation to this incident suggest Met supervisors were informed at the time however no record of this has been found on Met systems. It doesn’t appear a formal referral to the Met was made.

2016 (Hants)

Carrick was initially a suspect in a Hampshire Police investigation following an allegation of harassment. He was not arrested and the investigation was later closed.

2017 (TVP)

We understand that Carrick was spoken to by Thames Valley Police officers having been ejected from a nightclub in Reading for being drunk. This information has been provided by a third party and there is no record of the incident on police systems. It is understood Carrick was not arrested and the matter was not referred to the Met.

2019 (Herts)

It was alleged that Carrick had assaulted a woman during a domestic incident dealt with by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, specifically that he grabbed her by the neck.

No further action was taken. The matter was referred to the Met and Carrick was given words of advice in relation to informing his chain of command about off duty incidents.

Following the decision to take no further action in relation to the criminal allegation, it was determined he had no case to answer in relation to misconduct. Information about this matter and our review of it has been shared with the IOPC.

2021 (Herts)

In July 2021, Carrick was arrested by Hertfordshire Constabulary following an allegation of rape. The victim ultimately decided not to proceed and in August it was decided that no further action would be taken. The victim was later spoken to again as part of the current investigation and the offences she disclosed are among those Carrick has pleaded guilty to at court.

The 2021 matter was referred to the Met at the time and Carrick was placed on restricted duties.

When the criminal allegation was not proceeded with, it was determined that he had no case to answer in relation to any misconduct matters and in September the restrictions were lifted albeit Carrick never returned to full duties. Information about this matter and our review of it has been shared with the IOPC.

Were these incidents to have occurred today, we are more confident that they would have been identified as forming a pattern of behaviour requiring further investigation even in the event that individual allegations had been withdrawn.

Cases where no further action is taken in relation to criminal allegations are now more likely to be further interrogated to identify any underlying concerns.

We have a dedicated team of officers who make up the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences Unit in our Directorate of Professional Standards who are taking allegations forward, supporting victims and ensuring we build evidence against officers where we believe they have a case to answer.

Vetting:

Carrick was vetted on joining the Met in 2001 and again in 2017. On both occasions his vetting was successful, but we know the vetting requirements (the types of checks undertaken) were not as robust for either of these clearances as they are now.

He should have been re-vetted after ten years of service. Delays in re-vetting of officers have previously been identified as an area that the Met needs to improve and significant improvements have already been made.

The Met’s approach to vetting has changed significantly in recent years and is now far more robust. We are confident that someone applying to join the Met today with the same pre-employment history would not receive vetting clearance.

A review of Carrick’s case has also determined that were he to have been re-vetted following his arrest in 2021 according to the processes in place today, he would not have received vetting clearance.

It is now the case that if an officer or staff member is arrested or is being investigated for a serious offence, consideration is given to a full review of that individual’s circumstances including the possibility that re-vetting would be required.

This is a change from the approach that was in place in 2021 when such an arrest did not always result in consideration of a vetting review.

Vetting is one of the focuses of ongoing reviews and any learning identified in this case will be fed into those pieces of work.

January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : British Royal Navy ship HMS TAMAR visits Bangladesh [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 January 2023.

The deployment of HMS TAMAR emphasises the UK’s commitment to defence cooperation with Bangladesh, and to an open and resilient international order for open societies and economies to flourish.

On 15 January 2023, the Royal Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS TAMAR has arrived at the naval base in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The vessel was received by Chief Staff Officer to Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Capt M Faizul Hoque, (C), psc, BN. The deployment of HMS TAMAR emphasises the UK’s commitment to defence cooperation with Bangladesh, and to an open and resilient international order for open societies and economies to flourish.

During the visit, HMS TAMAR and her crew will engage in a series of events with the Bangladesh Navy and the local administration in Chattogram to maximise bilateral relations benefitting both countries’ military, trade, development and political alliances.

Commanding Officer of HMS TAMAR Commander Teilo Elliot-Smith, Royal Navy said: “It is a complete honour to bring HMS TAMAR to Bangladesh. Apart from the cultural wonder of Chittagong I’m excited to better understand maritime security priorities in the Bay of Bengal. Our welcome was spectacular and it’s clear we have much in common.”

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said: “I am delighted that HMS TAMAR is visiting Bangladesh, the second Royal Navy ship to come to Chattogram in eighteen months, and I am very grateful to the Bangladesh Navy for their warm welcome. This visit is another example of the UK’s long history of defence cooperation with Bangladesh, especially in the maritime domain. As part of the Indo Pacific focus to our foreign policy we are committed to further deepening defence and naval cooperation with Bangladesh.”

It is worth mentioning that a significant number of Bangladesh Navy personnel have trained alongside the Royal Navy in the UK, including at the Royal College of Defence Studies; on International Principal Warfare Courses, Royal Navy Young Officer Courses, Advance Marine Engineering Courses, Marine Engineering Application and Management Courses, International Midshipman Courses, and Underwater Medicine Courses; and through the UK government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship.

January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government reaffirms commitment to protect energy users in the North of Scotland [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 16 January 2023.

Households and businesses in the North of Scotland will continue to benefit from energy bill savings through the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme.
- All households and businesses in the North of Scotland will continue to be protected from the higher costs of distributing electricity to the area.
- £94.97 million will be provided through the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme to subsidise those facing higher energy bills because of these additional costs, with savings of £60 per household. This comes on top of UK government energy support in place for this winter.
- the UK government is introducing legislation to make several technical improvements to the scheme to boost its efficiency.
The UK government is today announcing that all households and businesses in the North of Scotland will continue to receive protection from higher energy bills, with average savings of £60 to offset the higher costs of electricity distribution in the region. This is in addition to savings offered through other UK government schemes including the Energy Price Guarantee and Energy Bill Support Scheme.

£94.9 million of support will be provided through the continued Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme (HBRS) and Common Tariff Obligation (CTO), which is automatically taken off bills.

The government introduced the HBRS in April 2005 to provide a cross subsidy to reduce distribution charges in the North of Scotland. Electricity distribution in the region is more costly than elsewhere because of its unique geography, which presents challenges to electricity networks. The scheme is funded by charges on all licensed electricity suppliers across Great Britain, costing £1 per household.

Following the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government stepped in to provide Scottish households with support to help meet rising energy costs. This includes the Energy Price Guarantee, saving the typical household in Great Britain around £900, payments of £400 towards bills through the Energy Bill Support Scheme, as well as £1,200 being provided to the most vulnerable households.

UK government Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said:

The UK Government is determined to protect energy users wherever we can and to ensure fairness when it comes to energy prices across the Union.

Therefore we are reaffirming our commitment to the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme and Common Tariff Obligation, which are vital tools for easing energy costs for those living in rural areas of the North of Scotland.

Technical improvements are being brought forward. This will mean that funding charges are minimised without reducing assistance being offered.

UK government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said:

At a time when the cost of energy bills is on everyone’s minds, the UK Government wants to see equality for users, whether you live in Sutherland or Sunderland.

The continuation of this payment is good news for people in rural parts of Northern Scotland, protecting households from the higher electricity distribution costs in certain areas.

Legislation to be introduced in Parliament will make technical improvements to the HBRS and follows support of £92.7 million provided through these schemes in 2021/22.

The Common Tariff Obligation (CTO) performs a similar function to the HBRS within the North of Scotland by preventing electricity suppliers from charging comparable domestic consumers different prices solely on the basis of their location within the region.

David Hilferty, Social Justice spokesperson for Citizens Advice Scotland, said:

We know consumers and business in the North of Scotland continue to face higher costs when it comes to energy and extending this scheme and the associated protections is a welcome move. If anyone is worried about energy bills or costs generally they can seek free, impartial and confidential advice from the Citizens Advice network.

There is a requirement for the UK government to review the HBRS and CTO every three years. The latest review included a public consultation, where most respondents supported the UK Government’s proposal to retain the schemes in their current form with some technical improvements to the funding arrangements of the HBRS.

These technical improvements included:
- Removing a distortion which allowed some suppliers to avoid charges at the expense of others.
- Adjusting support for inflation using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs instead of the Retail Price Index, as the former is now considered a better measure.
- Addressing an ambiguity that could be interpreted as requiring funding to be recovered twice-over from electricity suppliers.
January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Easier for Sky customers to get cheaper internet thanks to DWP scheme [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 January 2023.
- Sky is the first major connectivity provider to join DWP initiative making it easier for benefits claimants to get discounted broadband and mobile tariffs
- Automatic verification means claimants do not have to repeatedly prove their benefit claim status to access discounted social tariffs
- Switching to a social tariff could save claimants up to £180 a year
This system makes it easier than ever for low-income families to sign up to discounted broadband which could save households as much as £180 a year compared to industry average tariffs.

Introduced last summer, the government scheme lets internet service providers – with claimants’ permission – ask the DWP to automatically verify their customers’ benefit entitlement.

This means people do not need to actively prove they claim benefits whilst on a tariff designed for those on low incomes, as they did previously, often as frequently as every month.

Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies said:

It’s positive to see a major provider, such as Sky, sign up to our scheme, making it easier for families to access cheaper broadband and mobile tariffs in difficult times, and I call on other providers to follow suit in offering this type of tariff for those in need.

Claimants who think they might be eligible for one of these tariffs, should contact their provider.

This is just one of the ways we are working to help households during these tough times as part of the government’s £37 billion support package for those most in need. Do use the DWP benefits calculator, which is a helpful tool for those looking to see if they could access wider support.

Stephen van Rooyen, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, Sky, UK & Europe, said:

We know how important connectivity is to our customers, which is why we are focussed on ways we can support them to say online. As well as support with bills, we also provide existing, eligible customers with a broadband and mobile social tariff, helping them stay connected for a significantly reduced cost. The Department for Work and Pensions eligibility tool is a useful step forward, enabling us to more easily confirm eligibility.

Sky and its subsidiary brand NOW join a growing list of providers signing up to the government initiative to help millions access cut price broadband, with WightFibre already signed up to the scheme.

Before the new system was introduced, people were regularly required to verify their entitlement to providers with Jobcentre letters or screenshots of their Universal Credit account.

The availability of social tariffs has been strengthened recently thanks to a drive by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to encourage telecommunicators to expand their range of cheaper deals.

Broadband social tariff take-up more than doubled in 2022 to 136,000 households and the cross-government Help for Households programme, which aims to help people with the increased cost of living, recently launched a UK-wide public awareness campaign to drive awareness and uptake further.

Those in receipt of benefits interested in exploring broadband tariff options should visit Ofcom’s website to view the full list of options on offer from providers.
January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : First orbital satellite launch from UK [January 2023]

The press release issued by the UK Space Agency on 16 January 2023.

On 9 January 2023, the first ever orbital launch attempt from UK soil took place by Virgin Orbit from Spaceport Cornwall. Although the rocket reached space, it did not reach the orbit required to enable it to successfully deliver its payloads.

It did, however, demonstrate the UK’s growing satellite launch capability.

What happened during the first launch?

The first launch was attempted from Spaceport Cornwall in the south-west of England on the evening of 9 January 2023. It was what is known as a ‘horizontal launch’.

A specially modified Boeing 747 from Virgin Orbit called Cosmic Girl, with a rocket attached under its wing, took off from Spaceport Cornwall.

In flight, the LauncherOne rocket deployed from the wing as planned and began its journey to space.

Unfortunately the rocket was not successful in reaching the required orbit. The plane returned safely to the Spaceport.

The project succeeded in creating a horizontal launch capability at Spaceport Cornwall.

Spaceport Cornwall is situated at Newquay Airport, near the coast of Cornwall. The 747 flew out over the sea and launched its rocket far away from populated areas.

Why launch from the UK?

The UK has a growing space sector, which employs 47,000 people. UK space companies have a strong track record in satellite manufacturing, spacecraft design and data applications. In fact, Glasgow builds more satellites than anywhere outside the United States. Soon we’ll be able to launch them from the UK too.

The UK is also located relatively far north, which means it’s perfect for launching satellites into polar and Sun-synchronous orbits, which go over the north and south poles. These orbits are ideal for satellites that monitor the Earth and provide telecommunications.

With a long coastline and many islands, the UK offers a range of suitable locations for launching rockets safely out over the sea – away from settlements and people.

What benefits will it bring?

Launch services are worth a potential £3.8 billion to the UK economy over the next decade.

UK spaceports will need new skills, supply chains and supporting services, creating high-skilled jobs and opportunities across the country. For example, Spaceport Cornwall and the Centre for Space Technologies expect to create 150 jobs.

Through initiatives such as our LogoLiftOff! and Nanosat Design competitions, the UK Space Agency is also harnessing launch as a platform to encourage young people to pursue STEM subjects in order to help grow the UK’s future space talent pipeline.

Safety and the environment

Safety, security and protection of the environment are top priorities for the UK government.

We have progressive regulations for launch which make it safe for the public and protect the environment, while allowing new technologies to be used as they are developed.

The government is very careful about the impact launches have on the environment and won’t allow launches to happen before a detailed assessment of their environmental effects has been done.

Rocket launches do release some CO2 and other by-products, but they take place infrequently and the satellites being launched bring significant benefits.

Half of the data we need to monitor climate change can only come from satellites – so it’s vital to get them into space.

UK rocket manufacturers are also working to make rocket launches better for the environment, including turning unrecyclable plastic waste and even beeswax into rocket fuel.

Future launches

The UK has made significant steps forward towards achieving our launch ambitions and further our position as Europe’s most attractive destination for commercial launch activities.

Through the 2021 Space Industry Regulations, our outcome-focused regulatory framework is the most modern space legislation in the world, with a focus on safety and the flexibility to support the pace of innovation.

We have used our strong global partnerships to work with international partners to secure the agreements we need to enable UK launch including with Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, the Faroe Islands and Norway to secure their support for UK launch activities.

The UK remains committed to becoming the leading provider of commercial small satellite launch in Europe by 2030.

There are several other spaceports currently planned or under construction in the UK. These are in England, Scotland and Wales.

January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Execution of Alireza Akbari – Statement by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs [January 2023]

The press release issued by the French Government on 15 January 2023.

France condemns in the strongest terms the execution in Iran of Alireza Akbari, an Iranian-British national.

It expresses its full solidarity with the British authorities and extends its condolences to Mr Akbari’s family.

At the Minister’s request, the chargé d’affaires of the Iranian Embassy in Paris was summoned once again this morning so that we could express our outrage. A warning was also issued to him: Iran’s repeated violations of international law cannot go unanswered, especially when it comes to the treatment of the foreign nationals the country arbitrarily detains.

France reiterates its steadfast opposition to the death penalty everywhere and in all circumstances, and condemns its political use in Iran.

January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the execution of Mr Alireza Akbari [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Council of the European Union on 15 January 2023.

The European Union condemns in the strongest terms the execution in Iran of Iranian-British national Alireza Akbari and recalls yet again its strong opposition against the application of capital punishment in any circumstance.

The European Union offers its condolences to Mr Akbari’s family and expresses its full solidarity with the United Kingdom. The execution of a European citizen is an appalling precedent that will be followed closely by the EU.

The death penalty violates the inalienable right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

The European Union calls on Iran to refrain from any future executions and to pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment.

January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Households across Northern Ireland to start receiving £600 UK Government energy support [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 16 January 2023.

Support for energy bills coming to Northern Ireland, with vouchers beginning to reach people today, and delivery continuing over the next few weeks.
Customers who pay for their energy using prepayment meters (keypads) or quarterly standard credit will receive £600 vouchers from today, with delivery continuing throughout January and February

Vulnerable customers eligible for vouchers will receive support first, with the UK Government urging people to redeem them at Post Office branches as soon as possible

Customers who pay via Direct Debit will receive £600 directly into their bank account via their supplier from this month

From today, households across Northern Ireland will start to receive £600 worth of support with their energy bills under the UK government’s energy support schemes, with help already reaching a number of vulnerable households last week.

This follows the UK government’s announcement on Monday 19 December that all households across Northern Ireland will receive a single £600 payment, made up of £400 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) and the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP). The £200 AFP is being provided to all households given the high proportion of households who use alternative fuels to heat their homes. A further update on 30 December set out how and when households would receive support in January. The one-off £600 payment means households are due to receive the full amount of energy bills support from the UK Government before households in Great Britain.

Starting from today, with delivery phases continuing throughout January and February, customers who use a prepayment meter (keypad) or who pay their bills quarterly via standard credit will receive a voucher worth £600. People due to receive support in the form of a voucher are encouraged to look out for them arriving in the post, and to redeem the voucher as soon as possible once they receive them. This will help make sure support is delivered to all households as promptly as possible.

The voucher will come in the form of a letter, will carry the badge of the relevant electricity supplier and the UK government, and will contain a barcode. Customers will not be asked to go online or to provide any details, with ministers urging the public to stay vigilant of scams. For customers who pay by standard credit, vouchers will be addressed to the account holder, while customers who pay via a keypad meter will receive a voucher addressed to “the occupier” of their property.

All customers who are classed as vulnerable by their supplier have been prioritised to receive support first. This includes people who are of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick, and are already listed on their supplier’s Customer Care Register.

The easiest way for people to redeem their voucher is by paying the money directly into their bank account. To do this, customers need to take the following items with them to the Post Office:

their voucher (addressed to the account holder or occupier of their home)

the letter from their supplier

proof of address (dated between 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2023)

photo ID

bank card

Customers who use a keypad will also need to take their keypad card or app to the Post Office to redeem the voucher.

People who do not have a bank or credit union account will also be able to redeem their vouchers for cash at the Post Office, subject to the branch having the cash available. Householders are strongly advised to open an account as this is the safest way to receive the £600.

Customers with a Direct Debit arrangement with their energy supplier will automatically receive the £600 payment directly to their bank account, without any action required, and will not be provided with vouchers.

Regulations were recently introduced to make sure support is passed on to households who pay for their energy via an intermediary, such as a landlord.

Energy and Climate Minister, Graham Stuart, said:

We’ve been working flat out to make sure households across Northern Ireland get the support they’ve been promised this winter, so it’s great to see this landing where it’s needed, with vulnerable customers first in line. The coming weeks will see each household in Northern Ireland receive £600 to help with their energy bills, so they can keep safe and warm this winter without worrying about the cost.

I urge all customers due to receive vouchers to look out for them and redeem them as soon as possible, so they can benefit from this support worth hundreds of pounds. This is the latest step we’re taking to help households in the face of global strains on the energy market.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said:

This is much needed and welcome support for Northern Ireland households, with vouchers beginning to reach people today, and delivery continuing over the next number of weeks. If you’re a customer that pays by direct debit, you will receive the £600 payment directly to your bank account.

I’m grateful to all those who have been working hard to deliver this support for Northern Ireland but it is disappointing that this was not able to be delivered sooner by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council, said:

It is very welcome news that the first of the £600 payments are now being made to consumers in Northern Ireland. While it may take a few weeks for consumers to receive the vouchers, the important thing to know is that you don’t need to do anything to receive the voucher, it will be posted to you directly. There is no need to contact your energy supplier, Post Office, or the Consumer Council as direct debit customers will have the money paid into their bank account and everyone else will be sent a voucher letter in the post.

Details of how households in Northern Ireland can expect to receive the support are set out below:

Customers who pay by Direct Debit

Direct Debit customers will receive the payment directly to their bank account or if suppliers have been unable to complete a direct payment for a Direct Debit customer into their bank account, then they will receive a voucher from the Post Office in the name of the electricity account holder.

These payments will be made from 16 January onwards.

Direct Debit customers do not need to contact their supplier to receive this payment – it will be credited to their bank account automatically.

Only the account holder can access the £600 payment. There should be no need to contact your supplier to receive this payment.

Customers who pay by Cash, Cheque or Bank transfer (standard credit)

Customers who pay for their electricity by cash, cheque or bank transfer will receive a voucher from the Post Office in the name of the electricity account holder.

Deliveries of vouchers will begin on 16th January, with delivery phases continuing throughout January and February.

Customers do not need to contact their supplier to receive this voucher – it will be sent to homes automatically.

Customers who pay via a keypad meter

Customers who pay for their electricity via a keypad meter will receive a voucher in the mail from the Post Office addressed to “the Occupier”.

Deliveries of these vouchers will begin on 16th January, with delivery phases continuing throughout January and February.

Customers do not need to contact their supplier to receive this voucher – it will be sent to homes automatically

Equivalent payments will be made through the EBSS Alternative Funding scheme at a later date to households without a domestic electricity contract, such as residents of park homes, care homes, tenants in certain types of private and social rented homes, and residents of caravans and houseboats on registered sites. Further details will be set out in coming weeks, ahead of the scheme’s launch in February.

In addition to the discounts provided through EBSS NI and Alternative Fuel Payments, the UK Government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) is expected to save the average UK family £900 over this winter.

Further support in direct payments is being provided to vulnerable households this year, including cost of living payments for pensioners, people receiving disability-related allowances and those on means-tested benefits. The Household Support Fund provides additional assistance for those most in need and £26 billion worth of targeted support will help protect the most vulnerable over the next financial year.
January 16, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak takes action to stop disruptive protests [January 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 January 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is backing the police to clamp down on highly disruptive and dangerous protests, under plans announced today.
Through an amendment tabled to the Public Order Bill, the Government will broaden the legal definition of ‘serious disruption’, giving police greater flexibility and clarity over when to intervene to stop the disruptive minority who use tactics such as blocking roads and slow marching to inflict misery on the public.

While the Government has already given police additional powers to prevent protesters using guerrilla tactics, police chiefs have told the Prime Minister that there is some uncertainty over what reaches the threshold of ‘serious disruption’.

The changes introduced today will give police officers absolute clarity over when they should step in. In practice, this will mean:

police will not need to wait for disruption to take place and can shut protests down before chaos erupts

police will not need to treat a series of protests by the same group as standalone incidents but will be able to consider their total impact

police will be able to consider long-running campaigns designed to cause repeat disruption over a period of days or weeks

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“The right to protest is a fundamental principle of our democracy, but this is not absolute. A balance must be struck between the rights of individuals and the rights of the hard-working majority to go about their day-to-day business.

“We cannot have protests conducted by a small minority disrupting the lives of the ordinary public. It’s not acceptable and we’re going to bring it to an end.

“The police asked us for more clarity to crack down on these guerrilla tactics, and we have listened.”

Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Mark Rowley said:

“The Met has a long history of policing protests, responding quickly and effectively to incidents involving crime and where serious disruption is caused, often in challenging situations. We have specialist officers trained to deal with a range of tactics, but this is complex, time-consuming work.

“It is clearly understood that everybody has the right to protest. Increasingly however police are getting drawn into complex legal arguments about the balance between that right to protest and the rights of others to go about their daily lives free from serious disruption. The lack of clarity in the legislation and the increasing complexity of the case law is making this more difficult and more contested.

“It is for Parliament to decide the law, and along with other police chiefs, I made the case for a clearer legal framework in relation to protest, obstruction and public nuisance laws. We have not sought any new powers to curtail or constrain protest, but have asked for legal clarity about where the balance of rights should be struck.

“I welcome the government’s proposal to introduce a legal definition of “serious disruption” and “reasonable excuse”. In practical terms, Parliament providing such clarity will create a clearer line for the police to enforce when protests impact upon others who simply wish to go about their lawful business.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Public Order and Public Safety, Chief Constable BJ Harrington, said:

“We welcome the constructive conversations with government over more clearly defining serious disruption. This will support officers in confidently and quickly taking action and making arrests where appropriate.

“Policing is not anti-protest, but there is a difference between protest and criminal activism, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to activists who deliberately disrupt people’s lives through dangerous, reckless, and criminal acts.

“Police have a responsibility to appropriately balance the rights of the public who are going about their daily business lawfully and the rights of those protesting.”

The College of Policing have confirmed today that they will produce guidance outlining the additional powers given to officers over the last year.

National Highways is also reviewing its guidance, taking learnings from previous protests to ensure that roads are reopened as quickly as it is safe to do so.

Today’s announcement is the latest step in the Government’s continued commitment to tackle the highly disruptive protests that the British public have been increasingly subjected to over the last few years.

Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, the Government introduced a statutory offence of public nuisance and created powers for the police to place conditions on unjustifiably noisy protests and increased the sentences for obstructing the highway. Measures already announced in the Public Order Bill include creating a new criminal offence for interfering with key national infrastructure and for ‘locking-on’.

The Prime Minister also sat down with the Home Secretary and police chiefs in December to give a clear message that the Government expects protesters who disrupt the lives of others to be swiftly removed and arrested.

Further supportive quotes

Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner said:

“When Police Leaders were summoned to No. 10 last month, the Prime Minister made it absolutely clear that the law-abiding public must be protected from disruptive illegal protests. The Prime Minister promised to give policing the powers needed to end disruptive protests faster.

“Today, the Prime Minister has delivered on his promise to PCCs and Police Leaders to aid police forces by clarifying the law governing disruptive protests. This is in addition to the steps the Government has already taken to give policing more powers in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.

“Kent Police was robust in dealing with these activists during last year’s disruption. This new clarity is welcome and should mean no more excuses from any agency for not clearing up disruption effectively.”

Nick Harris, National Highways’ Chief Executive, said:

“The strategic road network is the backbone of the country, supporting the movement of trade, the daily commute and connecting friends and families, so people have a right to expect it to operate efficiently.

“We’ve already obtained civil injunctions to deter reckless and dangerous protests on these busy roads. When they do occur, our guidance will help keep disruption to a minimum by ensuring that the carriageway is opened as quickly as it is safe to do so.”
January 16, 2023