Veterans of the Normandy campaign are invited to register with the Royal British Legion if they would like to attend commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June 2024.

Normandy veterans will be at the heart of official events in the UK and France to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings.

Members of the Armed Forces will lead veterans and guests in commemorations to pay respects to those who died during the Normandy Landings, as well as veterans of the campaign who are no longer with us.

Events will take place in both Normandy and the UK to ensure veterans are able to visit Normandy or take part in a commemoration closer to home.

Normandy veterans should register with the Royal British Legion to express their interest in attending the commemorations.

Relatives and carers of Normandy veterans are encouraged to help veterans to register their interest.

Normandy veterans can register with the Royal British Legion on their website to express their interest in attending D-Day 80 events.

Government must give pubs which serve as the beating hearts of their communities greater support with tax rebates to safeguard the nation’s locals as vital social lifelines, a report from the think-tank Localis has urged today.

In a report issued today entitled ‘Inn-Valuable:

Unlocking the socio-economic potential of our nation’s pubs’, Localis also argued that a minister for pubs role be reinstated to join up help for the country’s pubs sector – which cumulatively supports 936,000 jobs, generates £28bn in GVA to the economy and delivers £15bn in tax revenues to the Exchequer annually.

According to polling undertaken by YouGov for the report, 75 percent of people felt the impact of pubs to community life to be positive. When asked if pubs are important in bringing people together, more than four-in-five (81 percent) of British adults agreed they are, with just 14 percent feeling that they are not.

Polling carried out for the report showed 68 percent of British adults felt that pubs help combat loneliness in their local area. Among pro-community activities supported by local pubs, nearly half (44%) of people were aware of pub events that bring the community together, a quarter (25%) knew of local pubs that supported charitable causes and 17 percent knew of local pubs that supported vulnerable people in their area.

The research identified from case studies taken pubs across the country some dominant themes on how the sector supports local people and communities, namely by:

Combatting isolation

Supporting local causes

Reflecting local culture

Bringing local business together

Supporting community through generations

Pollsters also found that among social uses of pubs in the last three months, more than half of the population (51%) had met a friend in one, while nearly two-in-five (37%) of people had visited the pub to meet up with family, a quarter (25%) had enjoyed Sunday lunch in one and 10% of the public had attended a pub-held birthday party in that timespan. In addition, six percent of the public had used pubs for dating purposes and 13% watched a sporting event.

A key recommendation of the report calls for the re-establishment of a Minister for Pubs post to co-ordinate a cross-government taskforce responsible for long-term strategy for the British pubs sector and to lead on help with tax and regulation, alongside an emergency fund for energy bill support.

The report authors also make the case for business rates rebates for those pubs which take on socially valuable roles such as foodbanks or in providing warm spaces for vulnerable people, with a call for a modest £4m cash-pot to help 1,000 pubs to diversify at a cost of a mere £4,000 per pub.

Localis head of research, Joe Fyans, said:

“Across Britain, pubs have consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion.

“Pubs are the beating heart of many communities, playing multifaceted roles in local daily life. This is why the decline of pubs is cause for great concern. With each closure, both tangible and intangible voids are left behind.

“The lessons are clear: pubs, in all their forms and across all locations, remain integral to British social cohesion as hubs of activity, community, and social capital. This makes their presence all the more crucial as community safety nets and beacons of light, offering a lifeline hope for many people looking for a real sense of local belonging.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said:

“The stories highlighted in this report truly are just a snapshot of the hugely positive impact pubs have in communities across the country every single day.

“There are few businesses that can say they add both social and economic value and pubs are delivering that value in neighbourhoods from Lanarkshire to Liskeard, and everywhere in between. Pubs provide solace to people in tough times and a place to celebrate in others and to lose them would have a serious impact on people’s lives.

“With closures continuing to rise and pubs under threat from further duty and business rates cost hikes we hope the Government will seriously consider the proposals put forward by this report so the foundations can be laid to help pubs continue to do this brilliant work in their communities long into the future.”

Becky Barnett who runs The Lamb Inn in Swadlincote, which features in the report, said:

“We support our local community in a number of ways, including offering free food and drinks to people on Wednesday mornings. People can come into the pub, have a free hot meal, and in winter, sit by our log fire in comfy chairs, no questions asked.

“When times are tough, we want to be a place where people can come for help and local people have been incredibly grateful of us opening our doors at no cost. At the same time, we also face challenges with high energy bills and other rising costs so it’s a scary time for our business as well, we want to continue to provide a non-judgemental warm space for people but we’re facing our own difficulties as well.”

Pub is The Hub chief executive, John Longden, said:

“Pubs and publicans are the heroes at the heart of community life that provide essential local services and activities that create social value.

“They are a lifeline for many rural areas providing vital local services and activities such as village stores, allotments and community cafes as well as offering a safe space to tackle the major societal issue of loneliness.

“Pub is The Hub now estimates 1,000 more pubs and local areas could benefit from services if they can be directly supported in the future to diversify."

New research, which is the first study of its kind to look at the relationship between dating app Grindr and tourism, has uncovered some of the surprising ways that both visitors and locals use apps to make the most of travelling to new cities.

The academic paper by Dr Rachel Katz, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, challenges the idea that Grindr is used mainly for casual sex, instead highlighting the ways that tourists use the app to get information about the location they are visiting, from restaurant recommendations to developing a deeper cultural understanding of the place, sometimes with a view to moving there longer-term.

The study, based on research Rachel conducted as part of her PhD at the University of Manchester and published in the leading digital research journal Social Media + Society, focusses on the social implications of Grindr use for gay tourism, tourist-local relationships, and digitally mediated social life. 

Rachel's findings also show how Grindr tourism practices are seen as mutually beneficial by tourists, locals, and immigrants. Grindr tourism contributes to tourists' embedded learning about travel destinations, immigrants' acclimation and friendship networks, and locals' self-ascribed cosmopolitan, multicultural identities. 

The research also addressed wider issues around sexuality, digital communication, migration movements, ethnicity, and the economic bodies that support large-scale tourism.

Rachel said:

"My findings on Grindr tourism reveal that travel practices among gay tourists have shifted away from traditional travel institutions such as group package tours toward more individualised, mobile, and privatised dating app tourism. This may offer insights for tech companies, the tourism industry, scholars, and individuals navigating the evolving ways dating apps affect other areas of social life."

Under-performance by the majority of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, will mean companies have to return £114m to customers next year.

The rebate, set out today by Ofwat following its assessment of performance against targets set for 2022/23, will come off customers’ bills for next year. Water companies were set stretching targets for 2020-25 to deliver better outcomes, for both customers and the environment. Where they fall short on these, the regulator reduces the amount of money companies can collect from customers.

Ofwat’s decision comes as it publishes its annual Water Company Performance Report, which categorises companies’ performance as ‘leading’ ‘average’ or ‘lagging’, against a set of common metrics including pollution incidents, customer service and leakage. This year, no company has been ranked in the ‘leading’ category.

Ten companies are in the ‘average’ category and seven have been categorised as ‘lagging’ (Anglian Water, Dŵr Cymru, Southern Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Bristol Water and South East Water).

Ofwat’s Water Company Performance Report has also assessed company performance for the three years since the start of the current regulatory cycle (which covers 2020-2025). Over that time, companies have shown improvements in areas including leakage and internal sewer flooding and last year, all but one company achieved the performance level for unplanned water outages.

However, across the board, progress has been too slow. In 2022/23, fewer than half of companies achieved their performance target on reducing pollution incidents and fewer than half of the companies meeting their performance commitment on leakage. This performance is matched by an overall decline in customer satisfaction during the past year.

In addition, Ofwat also reports that most companies have not fully invested their 2020-2023 allowed funding for delivering service enhancements.

David Black, Ofwat CEO said:

“The targets we set for companies were designed to be stretching – to drive improvements for customers and the environment. However, our latest report shows they are falling short, leading to £114m being returned to customers through bill reductions. While that may be welcome to billpayers, it is very disappointing news for all who want to see the sector do better.

“It is not going to be easy for companies to regain public trust, but they have to start with better service for customers and the environment. We will continue to use all our powers to ensure the sector delivers better value.”

Ofwat is currently investigating all 11 water and wastewater companies and there are live enforcement cases for six companies for potential failures on sewage discharges into the environment. There are also two live enforcement cases into Dŵr Cymru and South West Water in relation to the accuracy of reporting of leakage and per capita consumption performance.

Criminals who try to evade the final moment of justice will be ordered into the dock to attend their sentencing – and will face longer behind bars if they refuse to appear.

The reforms announced yesterday (Wednesday 30 August) will create a new power for judges to order an offender to attend their hearings and make it clear – in law – that force can be used to make sure this happens.

The changes will mean that in future, in high profile cases like that of serial child killing nurse Lucy Letby, criminals who try to evade the final moment of justice will be ordered into the dock to attend their sentencing – and will face longer behind bars if they refuse to appear.

Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Donna Jones, said: 

Quote

 

“It is only right that those who commit the most heinous crimes in our communities are forced to face their fate at sentencing hearings.

“For too long criminals have been able to hide away, not facing their victims or hearing the impact their actions have had on the lives of those they have harmed. We hope that these new powers will give greater closure to victims.

“These landmark reforms send a robust message that those who commit such horrific crimes will be forced to face the full consequences of their actions.”

 

National Custody Lead for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, Emily Spurrell said: 

Quote

 

“I welcome today’s news that the Government have committed to enshrine the Face the Family campaign in law.

“This announcement is testament to the tireless campaigning of Cheryl Korbel and other bereaved families who have battled to improve the system for others.

“Victims and families show incredible strength, often reliving their experiences in open court, and for many seeing the perpetrator sentenced is a crucial step in their process of gaining some closure. Despicable individuals like Thomas Cashman should be made to listen to those whose lives they have shattered and face up to the devastating consequences of their abhorrent actions.

“This isn’t a huge change in the law, but it is an important step in helping to shift the power balance, putting the needs of victims before offenders and ensuring those have suffered have their voices heard.”

 

Budding young photographers are being encouraged to enter the RSPCA’s high-profile national young photography competition which is now celebrating its 33rd year. 

The 2023 RSPCA Young Photographer Awards has now opened for entries and runs until Tuesday 15 August. The judges are looking forward to another year of impressive entries – having last year had more than 4,000 to sift through.

With ten different categories* to choose from, there’s something for everyone, whatever their interest – and some fabulous prizes to be won. All animals are welcome, from pets to wildlife, insects, farm animals and more. 

TV presenter, wildlife advocate and long-term RSPCA supporter, Chris Packham said: “I am really excited about the launch of this year’s RSPCA Young Photographer Awards and I hope many young people will get outside and photograph their favourite animals or bugs for this fantastic competition. 

“As judges we’re never quite sure what we’ll see on judging day - and that is part of the beauty of this competition. We could see pictures of anything, from someone’s family dog, to a fox cub out in the wild or a bumble bee in mid-flight. 

“We find our young photographers always deliver. Being involved with this competition is one of the highlights of my year as I get so excited about the fact that kids are getting interested in animals and taking some great photos along the way.”

Following its popular introduction last year, the ‘Pet Portraits’ category will be featuring again in this year’s competition. Also returning is the inclusive ‘Mobile Phone and Devices’ category, which offers everyone the chance to enter, even if they don’t have access to a professional camera.  

Young Photographer awards judge and RSPCA photographer, Andrew Forsyth, said: “Every day young people are capturing great photos on their mobile devices, so it was really important for us to not exclude that creativity from the competition. We saw some great entries to the ‘Mobile Phone and Devices’ category last year - it really opens up the competition to such an exciting array of photography. We can’t wait to see what we get this year.

“I think the best thing about the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards is that photographers are always bringing fresh ideas, trying different things, and new approaches. It's always a real joy and a surprise to look through the entries every year.”

Judges include: wildlife photographer and TV presenter Chris Packham; wildlife photographer and presenter Rachel Bigsby; former competition winner-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt; professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie; and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs. 

“Every year I’m so impressed by the level and skill in the photographs that are submitted,” Chris continued. “I would really encourage all young people to have a go at entering, even if this is their first time getting out into nature and taking some photos - just give it a try, you don’t have to be a seasoned photographer to be in with a chance of winning.”

The judges will award trophies to winners in each category, as well as crowning an Overall Winner. The Overall Winner will receive a weekend photography break with award­-winning wildlife photographer Danny Green's team at Natures Images. Worth £675, this fabulous prize includes two nights' accommodation for the winner and a parent/guardian.

The winners will be announced in December 2023, at an awards ceremony hosted by Chris Packham at the Tower of London. 

Young photographers can upload their images, view past galleries and find out everything they need to know at: www.rspca.org.uk/ypa.

Sponsors of the competition are Natures Images (wildlife photography holidays), Camtraptions (camera traps for wildlife photography) and Wildlifephoto.com (resources for nature photographers).

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call their donation line on 0300 123 8181.

Police have said that this afternoon, officers have sadly discovered the remains of a baby near to where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were arrested.

Det Supt Lewis Basford of the Met Police said:

Quote

 

"The news that we did not want to hear".

"We will do everything we can to make sure we find out what has happened.

An application for an extension of their detention for a further 36 hours was sought and granted by Brighton Magistrates Court."

 

Both Constance Marten and Mark Gordon (A convicted rapist) were detained by police shortly before 9:30pm on Monday, 27 February following a top off from a member of the public who spotted them as they walked along a street in Brighton close to the scene.

A frantic search of allotments and woodland close to their location was quickly undertaken in order to locate the missing baby.

The couple were arrested on suspicion of child neglect on Monday, and further arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter yesterday.

They both remain in custody for further questioning.

Shortly before 21:30hrs on Monday, 27 February, a member of the public reported a sighting of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon in Stanmer Villas, Brighton.

Officers from Sussex Police attended the location and the pair were arrested. The pair remain in custody.

Their baby is still missing and an urgent search operation is taking place in the area using both the forces helicopter and drones.

Timeline

The investigation started when officers were called to a car on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61, near junction four (Farnworth, Bolton) at 18:33hrs on Thursday, 5 January, officers. However, the occupants were not at the scene.

It is believed most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.

Enquiries revealed that Constance and Mark were the occupants of the car and that Constance had very recently given birth, possibly one or two days before, and had not been assessed by medical professionals.

A missing persons investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police, who established that the family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Officers believe they then travelled to Liverpool and then onwards to Harwich via a taxi at about 03:30hrs on Friday, 6 January.

Mark, Constance and a baby were seen by a member of the public in Harwich at about 09:00hrs on Saturday, 7 January. Officers also received a number of confirmed sightings of the family in Colchester on Friday, 6 January and Saturday, 7 January.

Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to Essex Police on Monday, 9 January.

Essex Police carried out a number of enquiries and reviewed hours of CCTV and were able to place the couple near East Ham Station between 10:30hrs and 12:30hrs on Saturday, 7 January. As this was the last confirmed sighting of the family at the time, the investigation was handed over to the Metropolitan Police Service on Thursday, 12 January.

Detectives then established that they took a taxi from East Ham, being dropped off in Whitechapel Road at 18:14hrs on Saturday, 7 January.

The couple are seen leaving the taxi with an orange carrier bag and a pram. They both have their heads and faces covered and Mark is wearing white plastic bags on his shoes, which he removes a short time later.

At 18:19hrs Mark went into Argos on Whitechapel Road, E1, and bought two big bags full of items, paying in cash, including a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows – which sparked fears they have been camping, including at times when the temperature plummeted to sub-zero.

They spent the next few hours walking along the Whitechapel Road area, where they tried to flag down three taxis but were refused. They then walked to the Brick Lane area.

At about 23:46hrs on Saturday, January 7 they then went to Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane where they dumped a number of items, including the pushchair. They then got a taxi to Haringey.

At 01:24hrs on Sunday, January 8 they then got in another taxi in Allison Road, Haringey, and travelled to Newhaven, where they were dropped off just outside the port at 04:56hrs.

This is the last official sighting of the family.

Anyone with information that could assist the search is asked to call 999.

Detectives are appealing to the public to report any sightings of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon to the police, as they continue their investigation to locate the missing couple and their newborn baby.

It is now more than six weeks since the car Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were travelling in was found on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61 on Thursday, 5 January.

It is believed Constance gave birth either in or near the car only a day or two earlier. Neither the baby nor Constance have received any medical attention. It is unknown if the baby was full-term or has any health issues, which is why officers remain committed to finding the family.

The last confirmed sighting of them was at about 06:15hrs on Sunday, 8 January, when they walked along Cantercrow Hill, in Newhaven, into the fields beyond. However, given the time that has passed they could have moved on some considerable distance since then.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford of the Met’s East Area Command said: 

Quote

 

“My officers and I remain absolutely committed to finding Constance, Mark and their newborn baby. We’ve been working around the clock behind the scenes and we’ve viewed more than 630 hours of CCTV as part of our efforts to find them.

“Information from the public has been vital to our investigation and we have received more than 350 calls to our dedicated incident room – thank you to everyone who has made contact with us so far, we are so grateful to you.

“While sadly these calls have not yet led to the couple and their baby being found, it could take just that one call into us with the right information, at the right time, to help us find the family and make sure they are okay.

“We are continuing to offer a reward of up to £10,000 for any information that leads to the family being found. So please, if you have information and have not yet come forward or if you think you have seen them, please contact the incident room without delay. Please only call 999 if you are with them or can see them at the time, otherwise call the incident room number.

“They could be absolutely anywhere in the UK, so we need everyone to remain vigilant. When they were last sighted on 8 January they were in the possession of a blue two-man tent, so please keep your eyes peeled, especially while you are out and about in waste ground or beauty spots, or while you’re walking the dog.

“Please be mindful that they might not always be out and about together. It could be that you just see Constance or Mark out by themselves getting supplies while the other is wherever they are staying with the baby.

“I would like to stress that we are not doing this and putting so many resources and efforts into finding the family just to be awkward or to interfere. We have a genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of the baby, and Constance and Mark, and it our duty to ensure that they are okay.”

 

Anyone who has information on the family’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 7175 0785.

Alternatively, information can be reported 100 percent anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask for personal details and they do not trace your device.

Timeline

The investigation started when officers were called to a car on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61, near junction four (Farnworth, Bolton) at 18:33hrs on Thursday, 5 January. The occupants were not at the scene. It is believed most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.

Enquiries revealed that Constance and Mark were the occupants of the car and that Constance had very recently given birth, possibly one or two days before, and had not been assessed by medical professionals.

A missing person’s investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police, who established that the family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Officers believe they then travelled to Liverpool and then onwards to Harwich via a taxi at about 03:30hrs on Friday, 6 January.

Mark, Constance and a baby were seen by a member of the public in Harwich at about 09:00hrs on Saturday, 7 January. Officers also received a number of confirmed sightings of the family in Colchester on Friday, 6 January and Saturday, 7 January.

Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to Essex Police on Monday, 9 January.

Essex Police carried out a number of enquiries and reviewed hours of CCTV and were able to place the couple near East Ham Station between 10:30hrs and 12:30hrs on Saturday, 7 January. As this was the last confirmed sighting of the family at the time, the investigation was handed over to the Metropolitan Police Service on Thursday, 12 January.

Detectives then established that they took a taxi from East Ham, being dropped off in Whitechapel Road at 18:14hrs on Saturday, 7 January.

The couple were seen leaving the taxi with an orange carrier bag and a pram. They both had their heads and faces covered and Mark was wearing white plastic bags on his shoes, which he removed a short time later.

At 18:19hrs Mark went into Argos on Whitechapel Road, E1, and bought two big bags full of items, paying in cash, including a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows – which sparked fears they have been camping, including at times when the temperature plummeted to sub-zero.

They spent the next few hours walking along the Whitechapel Road area, where they tried to flag down three taxis but were refused. They then walked to the Brick Lane area.

At about 23:46hrs on Saturday, January 7 they then went to Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane where they dumped a number of items, including the pushchair. They then got a taxi to Haringey.

At 01:24hrs on Sunday, 8 January, they got in another taxi in Allison Road, Haringey, and travelled to Newhaven, where they were dropped off just outside the port at 04:56hrs.

They then walked to where the A259 crosses over the B2109. They were seen sheltering from the rain, under the overpass, at about 06:00hrs.

At around 06:15hrs on Sunday, 8 January, they walked along Cantercrow Hill into the fields beyond. They were carrying a number of bags and their blue tent, and officers believe they have been camping in the area subsequently, although given the time that’s passed they could have moved on some considerable distance.

Photo ©: London MET Police

Detectives are offering a £10,000 reward for information that helps them to locate a couple and their newborn baby.

The team of officers working around the clock to trace Constance Marten, 35, Mark Gordon, 48, and their newborn baby are continuing to urge the public to report any sightings of the family to the police – and are now offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to them being found.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: 

Quote

 

“We continue to be extremely concerned about the health and wellbeing of the newborn baby, which has had no medical care and has been on the move, and possibly exposed to sub-zero temperatures, for almost a month now. We’re also concerned for the welfare of Constance and Mark, because our enquiries suggest that they were constantly moving and awake for at least a few days – which must be especially draining on someone who had recently given birth with no medical attention.

“Finding the baby is our top priority and we are now offering a £10,000 reward to anyone who provides information which leads to them being found. Maybe you have been reluctant to come forward before, for whatever reason, with key information to help us find the family. It does not matter why you did not speak to us earlier, what matters is doing the right thing now for the good of a vulnerable newborn baby.

“Maybe you saw them wandering the streets? Perhaps they asked you for directions? Maybe they got into your taxi, or they came into your establishment to buy food and drink? Please contact us with any information you have, because every single bit of information we get will assist us with finding them. I’d like to stress that if you have taken cash to provide a service to the family, whether that’s giving them a lift, accommodation or something else, that you are not in any sort of trouble, we just need to hear from you.”

 

Detectives have been tirelessly working to trace the family and have now tracked them to Newhaven, in East Sussex. They were dropped off in a taxi at 04:56 on Sunday, 8 January just outside the entrance to the port. They were seen carrying the bags containing the blue two-man tent, sleeping bags and pillows that they had purchased from Argos the evening before – meaning they could still be camping somewhere in the UK.

However, they were no longer in possession of the pushchair that they were previously seen with after they dumped it in Flower and Dean Walk, E1, at 23:46hrs on Saturday, 7 January.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford added: 

Quote

 

“We have no evidence to suggest that they boarded a ferry in Newhaven, and we still strongly believe that they remain here in the UK – although they could be anywhere. Our enquiries also establish that the baby was alive and with them when they got the taxi to Newhaven.

“We know they were still in possession of camping equipment on Sunday, 8 January and so I’d encourage people to remain vigilant and keep a look out for a blue tent. Please keep your eyes peeled, especially while you are out and about in waste ground or beauty spots, or while you’re walking the dog, and report any information to us.”

 

Anyone who has information on the family’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 7175 0785.

Alternatively, information can be reported 100 per cent anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask for personal details and they do not trace your device.

Timeline

The investigation started when officers were called to a car on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61, near junction four (Farnworth, Bolton) at 18:33hrs on Thursday, 5 January, officers. However, the occupants were not at the scene.

It is believed most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.

Enquiries revealed that Constance and Mark were the occupants of the car and that Constance had very recently given birth, possibly one or two days before, and had not been assessed by medical professionals.

A missing persons investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police, who established that the family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Officers believe they then travelled to Liverpool and then onwards to Harwich via a taxi at about 03:30hrs on Friday, 6 January.

Mark, Constance and a baby were seen by a member of the public in Harwich at about 09:00hrs on Saturday, 7 January. Officers also received a number of confirmed sightings of the family in Colchester on Friday, 6 January and Saturday, 7 January.

Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to Essex Police on Monday, 9 January.

Essex Police carried out a number of enquiries and reviewed hours of CCTV and were able to place the couple near East Ham Station between 10:30hrs and 12:30hrs on Saturday, 7 January. As this was the last confirmed sighting of the family at the time, the investigation was handed over to the Metropolitan Police Service on Thursday, 12 January.

Detectives then established that they took a taxi from East Ham, being dropped off in Whitechapel Road at 18:14hrs on Saturday, 7 January.

The couple are seen leaving the taxi with an orange carrier bag and a pram. They both have their heads and faces covered and Mark is wearing white plastic bags on his shoes, which he removes a short time later.

At 18:19hrs Mark went into Argos on Whitechapel Road, E1, and bought two big bags full of items, paying in cash, including a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows – which sparked fears they have been camping, including at times when the temperature plummeted to sub-zero.

They spent the next few hours walking along the Whitechapel Road area, where they tried to flag down three taxis but were refused. They then walked to the Brick Lane area.

At about 23:46hrs on Saturday, January 7 they then went to Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane where they dumped a number of items, including the pushchair. They then got a taxi to Haringey.

At 01:24hrs on Sunday, January 8 they then got in another taxi in Allison Road, Haringey, and travelled to Newhaven, where they were dropped off just outside the port at 04:56hrs.

This is the last official sighting of the family.

Firefighters across the UK have delivered a decisive mandate for strike action, with 88% voting Yes on a 73% turnout. 

Two separate simultaneous ballots, in Northern Ireland and among control room staff in the North West of England, also delivered strong results. In Northern Ireland, the result was even stronger, with 94% of members voting in favour of action.

In the hope of averting strike action, the Fire Brigades Union has given the government and employers ten days (until Thursday 9th February) to come forward with an improved offer which could be put to a vote of members.

If they go ahead, the strikes would be the first nation-wide fire strike over pay since 2003. FBU members rejected a below-inflation 5% pay offer in November last year.

The vote on industrial action follows more than a decade of real terms pay cuts. It comes as fresh research shows that firefighters are significantly more likely to develop cancer than the general population.

Polling shows that public support for strike action by firefighters is strong – by around 2 to 1. 58% of the public back action, while only 33% oppose it.

Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said:

Quote

 

"Firefighters across the UK have spoken. The Fire Brigades Union has a decisive mandate for strike action.

This is an overwhelming vote for strike action against an offer which would mean further significant cuts to real terms wages for firefighters and control room staff. They have already lost at least 12% of the value of their pay since 2010.

This is an absolute last resort for our members. The responsibility for any disruption to services lies squarely with fire service employers and government ministers.

Rishi Sunak’s government has refused to make funding available for a decent pay offer to firefighters and control staff.

Firefighters were among Britain’s Covid heroes who kept frontline services going during the pandemic. The Prime Minister has badly misjudged the public mood by imposing pay cuts on key workers.

Our members risk their health and safety, and sometimes their lives, round the clock to keep people safe and serve their communities. However, with inflation and energy bills rocketing, they are now increasingly struggling to pay the bills or to afford the basics.

The government and the employers have the power to stop strikes from happening by making a credible offer that can resolve this dispute. The ball is in their court.

We have delayed calling strikes to allow the employers to meet us and to make a new offer. I hope they take that opportunity. Otherwise, in the coming weeks, we intend to announce a series of strike dates and industrial action.”

 

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott announces shake-up of private pensions to create fairer, more predictable, and better-run pensions.

Measures include consultation on new Value for Money framework, defined contribution scheme charge cap reforms, further work on small pots, and extension of Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes.

Ministers say that the plans will help address the pension inequality gap which has risen since the decline of Defined Benefit (DB) and the emergence of Defined Contributions (DC).

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott has today (Monday 30th January) unveiled a package of measures to deliver value for savers and boost fairness, predictability, and adequacy across the private pensions sector.

The measures include a consultation on a new and much anticipated Value for Money (VFM) framework, developed in partnership with The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority, which sets out how schemes will be expected to provide savers with better value from their investments and a quality level of service.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott MP MBE said:

Quote

There is a pension inequality gap between those who had secure retirements thanks to DB, to much more uncertainty now. Since 2012, Automatic Enrolment has transformed the pensions landscape in the UK for the better, but we know there’s more to be done to ensure a fairer future for savers.

Being in an underperforming pension scheme can lead to someone missing out on thousands of pounds.

The Value for Money framework and our new measures will improve security and create better returns for savers, so they can enjoy the retirement they’ve worked so hard for.

Today’s proposals include plans for:

Schemes to disclose their investment performance, costs and charges, and quality of service via clear and comparable metrics to the benefit of savers;

Reforms to the charge cap, giving schemes more flexibility to invest in so-called “illiquid assets” such as start-up companies, renewables and infrastructure;

Feedback on workable solutions to tackle the issue of small pots;

An extension of Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) schemes, most significantly to include multi-employer models

Executive Director of Regulatory Policy, Analysis and Advice at The Pensions Regulator, David Fairs said:

Quote

 

Ensuring every pound that savers put into their DC pension pot delivers value for money is vital to help people achieve the best possible retirement. The measures announced as part of this far-reaching reforms package deliver on our commitment to put savers at the heart of all we do.

Our joint Value for Money framework will drive greater transparency and standardisation of reporting across the DC pensions market, allowing trustees to make more informed decisions and improve long term outcomes for savers. I urge the industry to take part in these important consultations.

 

Executive Director of Markets at the Financial Conduct Authority, Sarah Pritchard said:

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Pensions are complex, and savers need to be able to trust that their providers have the information they need to make the right choices. These proposals will help ensure that they take a wide ranging and long-term view – value for money is not just about costs and charges.

We will continue to work with Government, other regulators, and industry to deliver long term value and support savers in their retirement.

 

Value for Money

The VFM framework will improve transparency, comparability, and competition between defined contribution pension schemes and help deliver the best possible value and long-term outcomes for pension savers.

It will require pension schemes to disclose key metrics and service standards shifting focus from a dominant consideration of costs only, to enable a holistic assessment of VFM.

Illiquids

These measures – due to come into force in the Spring – will require schemes to provide transparency to savers over their approach to illiquid assets and disclose information on their overall investment asset allocations.

This will unlock the potential for savers to see improved returns over a longer period, while also providing a boost to UK growth initiatives.

Small Pots

The average worker will have around 11 jobs over the course of their career, meaning they may accrue multiple small pension pots. This creates a risk of members losing track of their pension savings and creates cost and inefficiency in the system. The call for evidence will seek feedback on workable solutions, enabling savers to achieve better outcomes at retirement.

CDCs

The introduction of CDC schemes last year– which see both the employer and employees contributing to a collective fund from which individual retirement incomes are drawn – was a landmark moment for UK pensions.

The new consultation, launched following discussions with a wide range of stakeholders and interested organisations, will explore what new types of multi-employer CDC schemes should look like and how to maximise their benefit for UK savers.

Latest figures show that there are more than 16,700 additional police officers in England and Wales since April 2020.

An extra 1,420 officers have joined police forces across England and Wales in the past 3 months, as the government continues its unprecedented drive to recruit 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023.

Figures released today (25 January) show that more than 16,700 additional police officers have joined the police since April 2020 as part of the government’s pledge to get more police officers on our streets.

Today’s figures mean that the government has met 84% of that target and is well on the way to recruiting 20,000 new officers by March.

The figures released today also show the number of police officers from an ethnic minority background is at an all-time high, as the government’s recruitment campaign works to change the face and culture of policing.

While there is more to do to ensure policing is representative of the communities it serves, there are 11,691 police officers who identify as being from an ethnic minority, more than ever before.

There are also now 51,107 female officers in our 43 police forces in England and Wales, which is also at its highest point.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

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Improving confidence in our police forces means we must attract the brightest and the best to one of the toughest but most rewarding jobs in our country. I am delighted we are on track to deliver our bold promise to the British people of putting 20,000 additional officers on the streets.

This next generation of brave police officers will add to efforts to drive down invasive crimes like burglary and neighbourhood offences, return to common sense policing and make our communities feel safer and stronger.

 

New recruits are subject to a rigorous vetting and assessment process to assess suitability for the role of police officer, including testing against core behaviours and values.

Policing and Crime Minister Chris Philp said:

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Policing is a career like no other and I am proud so many thousands of people in England and Wales want to put themselves forward to protect their communities from danger - in a challenging, essential and rewarding job.

In a matter of months, when this once-in-a-generation recruitment drive is complete and we have a record number of officers across England and Wales, our police forces will be more representative than ever of the communities they serve.

 

The overwhelming majority of new recruits recently surveyed report positive job satisfaction and want to remain officers for the rest of their working lives, and compared to other public sectors, voluntary resignations in policing remain low at 2.5%.

The rate of uplift growth varies by quarter with the June and December quarters traditionally slower. This is due to the way that forces plan recruitment to hit their annual targets.

Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Martin Hewitt said:

Quote

 

We are getting really close to achieving an additional 20,000 officers into policing nationwide and I am pleased to see great progress with this ambition from all forces.

All of our police forces are working hard to recruit new officers who meet nationally agreed College of Policing standards by the end of March and although we are nearly there, we know how important it is to continue to focus our efforts on making sure policing is as diverse and representative as the communities we serve.

 

Overall funding for policing will rise by up to £287 million in the next financial year (2023-24) compared to the 2022-23 funding settlement, bringing the total up to £17.2 billion for the policing system. In addition every police officer received a £1.9k uplift to their salary with effect from 1 September 2022, which equalled up to an 8.8% increase for those on the lowest pay points.

All recruits must meet the standards set by the College of Policing and the government has worked with chief constables and the college to modernise, standardise and increase resilience in the recruitment process to ensure forces are able to hire the additional officers to keep communities safe.

The quality and coverage of local news will continue to decline without new support from the Government, MPs say today, in a report that warns of the damage a reduction in provision can cause to democracy and society.

Today’s DCMS Committee report on the sustainability of local journalism outlines how many local publishers, with smaller audiences and reach, have struggled to adapt to the shift away from print towards an online world which favours larger players. Between 2009 and 2019, more than 300 local newspaper titles closed, with surviving news providers often operating with diminished resources and fewer journalists.

Salford has seen the loss of it's flagship online publication 'SalfordOnline' as well as the Salford Star, The Salford City Reporter / Advertiser / Eccles Journal to name just a few. Meanwhile in Irlam and Cadishead, Local Mag fights to survive on a month by month basis.

We built salford.media to be a little different in how it is funded, but still we struggle against the behemoths in the industry on our doorstep.

The Committee highlights the harmful impact on communities of the resulting decline in access to local news, including a decrease in participation in civic life, less scrutiny of local government decisions and increasing levels of polarisation and misinformation.

To support the sector to adapt to the new market, the report recommends that the Government establishes an innovation fund for news as proposed in the Cairncross Review. It should also explore ways to make it easier for local news publishers to achieve charitable status and encourage more philanthropic funding of local journalism.

More must also be done to ensure that support reaches smaller publishers of local news, and long-awaited digital markets legislation must enable news sites to negotiate a fair commercial relationship with online companies that host their stories, such as Google and Meta.

The Committee also calls for the BBC to reconsider its proposals for its local radio stations to share more content across regions as part of its digital first strategy. The corporation wrote to MPs since the report’s agreement saying they had adapted a number of proposals, although the main changes of concern to the Committee will still go ahead.

Damian Green MP, Acting Chair of the DCMS Committee, said:

Quote

 

“With the shift towards online readership swallowing up traditional print revenues, many local newspapers which have served their communities for years have struggled to keep their heads above water. While hundreds have already folded, those that remain are faced with a lack of resources to conduct quality journalism, forcing them into a downward spiral of decline, as readership and therefore revenues continue to fall further.

The disappearance of local news providers, which have always acted as the eyes and ears of their readers and held local decision makers to account, has ripped a hole in the heart of many communities. Worryingly it is the most deprived areas of the country that are most likely to miss out on coverage, compounding the disadvantages they already face.

While there are many success stories of innovation, the very nature of having smaller audiences and limited reach means local publishers find it hard to float in a market that rewards scale. The sector can have a sustainable future, but without more support and a rebalancing of the rules to help smaller publishers, the decline in local journalism and all the negative impacts associated with it will continue.”

 

The state of local journalism

Despite the collapse in revenues and challenges for surviving titles, there are encouraging examples of innovation by local news publishers. The sector can be revived and have a sustainable future with the right support.

Support for local news

The BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter Service (LDRS) has had a positive impact but more could be done to expand it across different platforms and to give access to a wider range of news providers. It should be protected during forthcoming BBC Charter negotiations.

The Government should build on the Future News Pilot Fund – set up in response to the recommendations of the Cairncross Review – and create a long-term public interest news fund to support innovation, start-ups and new technology.

Statutory notices are an important revenue stream for many local news publishers and the requirement that councils place them in local newspapers should be kept. The rules and practices for placing them should be reviewed, with an assessment of how this revenue stream can be made more accessible for new entrants to the local news market.

While market consolidation has ensured the survival of newspaper titles, the Committee is concerned that some of the approaches of the largest publishers may be reducing the quality of the local journalism produced by their titles. The largest publishers taking a disproportionate share of available support may be stifling much needed innovation. There should be an audit of public money that supports local news and an analysis of whether this could be distributed more fairly.

The Government should consider how it might make it easier for local news organisations to achieve charitable status and how to encourage more philanthropic donations to local news publishers.

Local television and radio

The BBC should reconsider its proposed changes to local radio provision. The strategy for digital first should not come at the expense of local radio.

The role of online platforms

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill will be vital in redressing the unbalanced relationship between the large digital platforms and local news publishers. There should be clear and explicit provisions for ensuring smaller publishers are fairly remunerated.

Detectives are urgently appealing to the public to help them find a new-born baby who they believe has been sleeping in a tent in sub-zero temperatures.

The team of officers are working around the clock to trace Constance Marten, 35, Mark Gordon, 48, and their new-born baby, have established that they went into a branch of Argos on Whitechapel Road, E1, at 18:19hrs on Saturday, 7 January to buy camping gear.

Mark went in alone and bought two big bags full of items, paying in cash, including a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows. He left the store at 18:40hrs.

They then spent slightly more than three hours walking around the Whitechapel Road area. The couple attempted to flag down three black cabs, but were refused.

They then left the area on foot and were last seen walking along Brick Lane, towards Bethnal Green Road, at 22:01hrs on Saturday, 7 January. Mark is often seen walking alone ahead of Constance and the baby.

Police say that this is the last official sighting of the family.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: 

Quote

 

“We are extremely concerned that a new-born baby – less than a week old at the time on 7 January – has been exposed to sub-freezing cold temperatures if Mark and Constance have been camping out somewhere as our evidence suggests.

“No child, especially a tiny, new-born baby, should be forced to endure such dangerous, potentially life-threatening, conditions.

“This is why it is absolutely vital that anyone with information about their whereabouts contacts us as a matter of urgency – whether it is with a recent or older sighting. Every piece of information is crucial to enabling us to find the baby and ensure it is okay.

“My officers will continue working tirelessly behind the scenes to piece together the family’s movements and current whereabouts. It could be that they are trying to blend in with homeless communities, either here in London or further afield, or they could be camping in more rural or wooded areas.

"They could be absolutely anywhere in the country. Please keep your eyes peeled, especially while you are out and about in waste ground or beauty spots, or while you’re walking the dog, and report any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is, to us.”

 

At 18:33hrs on Thursday, 5 January, officers were called to a car on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61, near junction four (Farnworth, Bolton). However, the occupants were not at the scene.

It is believed most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.

Enquiries revealed that Constance and Mark were the occupants of the car and that Constance had very recently given birth, possibly one or two days before, and had not been assessed by medical professionals.

A missing persons investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police, who established that the family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Officers believe they then travelled to Liverpool and then onwards to Harwich via a taxi at about 03:30hrs on Friday, 6 January.

Mark, Constance and a baby were seen by a member of the public in Harwich at about 09:00hrs on Saturday, 7 January. Officers also received a number of confirmed sightings of the family in Colchester on Friday, 6 January and Saturday, 7 January.

Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to Essex Police on Monday, 9 January.

Essex Police carried out a number of enquiries and reviewed hours of CCTV and were able to place the couple near East Ham Station between 10:30hrs and 12:30hrs on Saturday, 7 January. As this was the last confirmed sighting of the family, the investigation was handed over to the Metropolitan Police Service on Thursday, 12 January.

Detectives have now established that they took a taxi from East Ham, being dropped off in Whitechapel Road at 18:14hrs.

The couple are seen leaving the taxi with an orange carrier bag and a pram. They both have their heads and faces covered and Mark is wearing white plastic bags on his shoes.

Their movements are then as described above.

Anyone who has information on the family’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 7175 0785.

Alternatively, information can be reported 100 per cent anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask for personal details and they do not trace your device.

Photos: London Met

Hard working ambulance workers are out on strike again today over a dispute centred around pay and conditions.

Members of Unite and Unison are are taking full day strike action today (Monday, 23 January), with the GMB union following suit tomorrow (Tuesday the 24th).

NWAS will see services impacted both days with serious restrictions in place.

Ambulances will only be dispatched in the case of a life threatening emergency such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, head injuries etc...

The strike action will take place on:

23 January – Unison – 1100-2300 and Unite – 00.01 to 23.59

24 January – GMB – 00.01 to 23.59

During the strike, other patients requiring hospital treatment will likely be asked to take alternative transport, such as a taxi or get a lift from family or friends, and there may be delays. For non-urgent health concerns, people should use 111.nhs.uk, their GP or their local pharmacy for help.

In addition, 999 and 111 call centres will also have fewer staff and be stretched. Therefore, they are asking you not repeatedly call them asking for updates on where your ambulance is. Please only call back if your condition has worsened or to cancel the ambulance. They need to keep lines free for other emergencies.

Patients using the Patient Transport Service (PTS) on the 23rd and 24th may also be affected. Transport will only remain available for renal, oncology and palliative care appointments. Providers will be in touch to inform you if your appointment is being cancelled or to advise if you need to seek alternative transport.

Ged Blezard, Director of Operations, said:

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“We have been really well supported by the public on the previous two days affected by strikes. However, we understand that anxiety these days can affect people concerned about their health.

“While we hope for a swift resolution to the dispute. This is an issue between the trade unions and the Government in relation to pay, and we respect members’ right to strike.”

“Be assured that if you really need us, please continue to call 999, and we will come as quickly as possible. As before, we are maximising our own resources, using private providers and military support where appropriate and working closely with our trade unions to provide cover for the most serious emergencies. We are also working with our healthcare partners to maintain patient safety during these periods of industrial action.

“But, ultimately, to get to the people who need us this time, we need people to use us wisely.

“Only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency, and if you need urgent care – first use the symptom checker at NHS 111 online, which will direct you to the most appropriate support. Again, you should call on friends or relatives for transport if necessary.”

 

Tonight's BBC coverage of the match between Liverpool and Wolves was interrupted by what appears to be a pornographic soundtrack pumping into the studio.

Gary Lineker tried his hardest to keep a straight face as the moans kept coming and coming.

Viewers watched on in disbelief with the orgasmic sound continuing for almost 10 minutes, as the presenters tried their hardest to ignore it and move on, but alas, the sounds just kept coming.

The unwanted noises could still be heard whenever they switched between the studio feed and the match commentator.

To their credit the presenters did their best to carry on with the show, as finally the noise came to a climactic end and ceased after Gary found a hidden mobile phone on the set.

It's unknown as to how the incident happened and the BBC have not yet released a statement. 

Survivors of domestic abuse will be given the choice to allow the CMS to collect and make payments on their behalf – without the consent of an abusive ex-partner.  This will prevent perpetrators from using child maintenance as a form of ongoing financial abuse and control and mean survivors will not have to have contact with their ex-partner if there is evidence of domestic violence.

The CMS will also have new powers to report suspected cases of financial coercion to the Crown Prosecution Service to help bring abusers to justice. One-to-one support for survivors will be piloted and domestic abuse training for staff improved.

These changes come after the DWP commissioned Dr Samantha Callan, a leading expert on domestic abuse, in the autumn of 2021 to review CMS support for parents who had experienced domestic abuse in setting up a child maintenance arrangement. This followed the tragic death of Emma Day, who was murdered by her ex-partner, Mark Morris.

Minister for Work and Pensions Viscount Younger of Leckie said:

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Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime and we are doing everything in our power to support survivors to make child maintenance claims safely and without fear.

We have strengthened the ways in which the Child Maintenance Service can support survivors in making a maintenance claim safely. I am grateful to Dr Samantha Callan for recognising this and for her vital work which will protect more parents from abuse, bring more perpetrators to justice and help keep families safe.

 

Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies, DWP’s Lead for Women, said:

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Any form of domestic abuse and coercive control is unacceptable and illegal but very sadly can be found in most communities and we need to help people speak out and get the assistance they need. Here at DWP we are committed to doing all we can to provide vital support to those affected.

Our improvements to the Child Maintenance Service will mean no one will be prevented from making a claim because of domestic abuse and financial control, and will run alongside our wider support for DWP claimants experiencing abuse or who are in vulnerable situations to disclose this and be helped to move forward in safety.

 

Dr Samantha Callan said:

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As well as violence, there is now legal recognition that domestic abuse includes financial and other forms of coercive control which can continue to play out – or be initiated – after parents separate. My review highlights the pressing need for the Child Maintenance Service to help protect its clients from all forms of abuse and be aware that these can be perpetrated by the receiving as well as the paying parent and I am pleased the Government is acting on my recommendations.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs said:

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Emma Day’s death highlighted the critical role of the Child Maintenance Service in responding to domestic abuse.  The proposed changes to the CMS demonstrate the powerful impact that a Domestic Homicide Review can have and why it is so important that lessons are learnt. I am particularly thankful to Emma’s family for all their work to campaign for change.

I welcome the Government’s response to the independent review and pleased to see that the majority of the recommendations have been accepted. I look forward to working with DWP to make further improvements to the CMS for survivors, and to following the progress of the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Bill.

 

All CMS customers are asked if they have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse. If customers feel that their specific claim will put them in danger, they will be signposted to support – such as the National Domestic Violence Helpline for example – and asked to contact the police about their case.

If a customer is in immediate danger, the CMS will offer advice on contacting the police and, if customers do not feel able to do this, then to ask whether customers are content for the CMS to call the police on their behalf.

Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this government. That is why it introduced its landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, alongside a comprehensive action plan of other non-legislative measures.

The cross-government Tackling Domestic Abuse plan, published in March, invests over £230 million into tackling these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 extended the controlling or coercive behaviour offence to clamp down on economic abuse, which can be part of a pattern of controlling or coercive behaviours by domestic abuse perpetrators.

For the new offence to be effectively implemented and to further assist frontline agencies in identifying, investigating and evidencing domestic abuse offences, the government is updating the Controlling or Coercive Behaviour Statutory Guidance. This will be published in spring 2023, in line with the extended offence coming into force.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 also removed the ‘living together’ requirement for controlling or coercive behaviour, which means the offence will soon apply to intimate partners, ex partners or family members, regardless of whether the victim and perpetrator live together.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is backing the police to clamp down on what he describes as highly disruptive and dangerous protests, under controversial plans announced today, although just what is the definition of disruptive?

Campaign groups up and down the country, claim it is just a way to silence the voices of protestors, stating that the definition of what is considered to be disruptive is unclear.

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 which it says use tactics such as blocking roads and slow marching to inflict misery on the public.

Such protest tactics were regularly used during the Barton Moss protests which took place in 2013.

However. the courts agreed that in the vast majority of cases, slow walking tactic was legal in this instance, as they were walking along a known public footpath.

Police at the time claimed it to be a road, which was not the case as confirmed by the local council, which maintained that it status as a public footpath had not altered.

Despite repeated calls for the police to stop and evidence to show that it was not a road, officers continued to remove protestors from the public footpath in order to facilitate the passage of trucks onto the site.

They were regularly dragged aside and arrested by police who claimed they were blocking the road into the iGas exploratory site, despite them clearly having a legal right to walk along the path.

There are genuine fears that such new, sweeping powers could be used to stifle genuine and legal protest.

While the Government has already given police additional powers to prevent protestors 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:

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“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:

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“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:

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“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.

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

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“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:

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“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.”

 

Main Photo: The late Albert Spiby

Police searching for a couple along with their new-born baby boy that went missing after abandoning their broken down vehicle in Bolton, have made sweeping overnight searches of hotels in Colchester to try and locate them.

Officers working the case say that Constance Marten has the means to support her family indefinitely as she comes from a wealthy land owning family.

Evidence suggest that Constance has recently given birth and the baby has not been assessed by medical professionals.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston said:

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“As we have said previously, from our perspective this search is about the young child’s welfare. We know some elements of the public may see police involvement as unwelcome and I would seek to assure you that we do not wish to impose ourselves for any reason other than to make sure the new-born baby is alive and well.

“I am a parent myself and I know the bond a mother and father have with their child, but I would appeal directly to Mark and Constance to put the welfare of their child first. To you, Constance, medical professionals still need to assess your baby to make sure he or she is medically well and there are no underlying issues for which he or she may need help for. Indeed, medical professionals would like to examine you for the same reasons.

“Please, get in contact any way you would like to. We are here and ready to help you.”

 

Anyone with information is urged to contact 101 immediately.