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Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Gaelic and football united – Thig còmhla rinn!

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Football, language and a shared Celtic heritage will be the focus of a special sporting celebration in Inverness this Saturday (21 June).

    Alba FA is a football team established to use the game as a force to connect, inspire and grow Scottish Gaelic through community activity, both nationally and internationally.

    This Saturday Alba welcome Kernow FA, who represent Cornwall, for a ‘Celtic Nations’ clash at Canal Park.

    As well as the football match, the day includes a Gaelic medium football session (12 noon-1.30pm) for boys and girls, where all participants will receive free access to the main match.

    A pre-match gathering will begin with a pipe band and Highland dance performance followed by team warm-ups and national anthems prior to the 3pm kick-off.

    Driving the idea to create a Scottish national football team made up entirely of Gaelic speakers is Calum Ferguson, a former professional who played for Inverness Caley Thistle.

    He is a former pupil of Central Primary in Inverness, which 40 years ago was the first school in the Highlands to offer Gaelic medium education.

    He said: “You don’t have to be a Gaelic speaker or learner to come along, it’s just a celebration of football and what it can do.

    “This is a new footballing development and we’re trying to do our bit to support the language and Gaelic culture.

    “Above all else we want to preserve the language and pass it on to future generations.

    “Football is a great vehicle to champion that cause and bring people together.

    “Thig còmhla rinn – join us!”

    In recent years Calum has been heavily involved in promoting the Gaelic language through football.

    He helped to found FC Sonas, a Gaelic community football club, which delivers football sessions to youngsters.

    Highland Council is supporting Saturday’s events. Efforts to broaden Gaelic language opportunities for young people outside of a school setting is a key strand in the council’s Gaelic language plan.

    Calum was one of the guest speakers at Highland Council’s recent Gaelic conference which examined the economic, social and cultural opportunities that the language can offer for the region.

    Full details of Saturday’s event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alba-fa-vs-kernow-fa-tickets-1390581589969?aff=oddtdtcreator

    Alba Squad list

    • Michael MacÌomhair (MacVicar)
    • Harry MacNeacail (Nicolson)
    • Calum MacIllinnein (MacLennan)
    • Uilleam MacFhionghan (MacKinnon)
    • Domhnall Mhoireasdan (Morrison)
    • Niall Mac a’Phì (MacPhee)
    • Gilleasbuig Mac’Phiocair (MacVicar)
    • Jonathon Peutan (Beaton)
    • Dòmhnall MacEanraig (Henderson)
    • Padraig Mac Ille Mhaoil (MacMillian)
    • Ross MacDhòmhnaill (MacDonald)
    • Alex John Moireasdan (Morrison)
    • Angus John Moireach (Murray)
    • Daniel Moran
    • Gillies O’hAnluain (O’Hanlon)
    • Euan MacAnndra (Anderson)
    • David MacAnndra (Anderson)
    • Sam MacAoidh (MacKay)
    • Luke MacAoidh (MacKay)
    • Calum Frame
    • Calum MacFhearghais⁠ (Ferguson)

    Caption: Alba FA members Innes Scullion centre, Calum Ferguson left, Harry Nicolson right. Photo, Dylan Lawrence.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What UK involvement in Iran could look like – and the political questions it raises

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geraint Hughes, Reader in Diplomatic and Military History, King’s College London

    Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, CC BY-NC-ND

    At the time of writing, US President Donald Trump is deliberating over whether to join Israel’s air campaign to destroy Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons programme. This is already a contentious issue within Washington DC and the Trump administration. But if the president decides to take the US into a war with Iran, it will have significant implications for the US’s allies, not least the UK.

    As the recent strategic defence review emphasises, the US is Britain’s main ally, an essential partner in defence and intelligence.

    However, the Trump administration has made clear to its European allies that it no longer regards the defence of the continent as a US national security priority. And the president’s commitment to Nato is uncertain.

    It is possible that Britain and other European allies could be publicly pressured by Trump to support any intervention on Israel’s side. The US may expect this in return for the US’s continued involvement in Nato and its readiness to honour article 5 (the collective defence principle, which obliges collective retaliation to aggression against one member) for its allies.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Given the importance of American military power in deterring wider Russian aggression in Europe – and Trump’s transactional character – this would present Keir Starmer with a particularly stark dilemma.

    A purely US air campaign against Iran is feasible. The US Navy will soon have two carrier strike groups in the Middle East region. And the US Air Force’s B2 strategic bombers can launch raids across the globe from bases in the continental US.

    The US also has several military bases in the region. However, as was the case with the 1991 and 2003 wars with Iraq, Washington DC will need permission from Gulf Arab allies to use them.

    Nonetheless, the Trump administration could request authorisation from the UK’s Labour government to use US airbases in the UK and its overseas territories to support an air campaign against Iran. This would not involve the UK deploying forces, but would require the UK to approve the use of the airbases.

    The Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean would be a useful asset in this case. But its employment would reopen the controversy over its establishment in the 1960s.

    It could also call into question the diplomatic deal the UK made with Mauritius last month to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, while keeping this base open. The Mauritians are likely to oppose US airstrikes on Iran.

    Britain also has options for direct participation. RAF Typhoon jets stationed at Britain’s airbase in Akrotiri, Cyprus provided air defence support for Israel during the Iranian missile and drone strikes in April and October 2024. They could conduct similar missions now.

    But from the Royal Navy’s perspective, it would be difficult to divert the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales from its deployment to the Indo-Pacific, partly because the task group it sails with is a multinational one.

    Given that the British armed forces are already overstretched, it is difficult to see whether the UK could provide more than basing rights and air support to the Israelis (if requested).

    A discreet commitment of UK special forces (the 22nd Special Air Service regiment and the Special Boat Service) on the ground is conceivable. This can be – and indeed has been – authorised by previous governments without parliamentary debate. But any further British military commitment is likely to cause a political row.

    Legal and political ramifications

    The key question for Starmer and his ministers will not be whether Britain could back a US war against Iran but whether it should. After the debacle of the Iraq war and the ensuing Chilcot inquiry, it is difficult to see how any government – let alone a Labour one – can take Britain into a major interstate conflict on this scale without firm parliamentary support and a solid case in international law.

    To this end, the Attorney General Richard Hermer has reportedly questioned the legality of Israel’s preemptive attack on Iran, and has argued that any British military intervention should be limited to the defence of its allies.

    We should not forget that Starmer was a human rights lawyer and the head of the Crown Prosecution Service before he became a politician.

    Another legacy of Iraq is that it is customary (though not a legal requirement) for prime ministers to seek parliamentary approval for any major military operation. David Cameron lost a vote in the House of Commons to approve airstrikes against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in August 2013. But he gained parliamentary support for Britain’s commitment to the fight against Islamic State in 2015.

    A similar debate now is unlikely to lead to approval of British military intervention in this case. Within the Labour party, there is already widespread condemnation of Israeli tactics and Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza.

    There is little popular appetite for sending British sailors and airmen into a war with Iran. And, given the US vice-president’s own dismissive comments about the military experiences of European allies, the public is also entitled to ask why British servicemen should die or risk breaching international law for an administration that probably will not appreciate their sacrifice.

    Geraint Hughes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What UK involvement in Iran could look like – and the political questions it raises – https://theconversation.com/what-uk-involvement-in-iran-could-look-like-and-the-political-questions-it-raises-259420

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Jaws helped spur a fishing frenzy – so how have the world’s sharks fared since the 1975 release?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Sims, Professor of Marine Ecology, University of Southampton

    Steven Spielberg’s Jaws opened across North America on June 20 1975, and immediately tapped into the primal human fear of being hunted by a huge, savvy predator.

    Set on a fictional island off the coast of New England, the film depicts an epic battle between three men on a boat and an enormous great white shark. Jaws was hugely popular, grossing a record US$100 million in its first 59 days.

    Young and already mad about sharks, I left the film wanting to know more about their behaviour and ecology. But films affect people in different ways, and the movie has since spawned what social scientists call “the Jaws effect”.

    This contended that sharks became widely demonised as a result of the film’s depiction of them as relentless killers obsessed with attacking humans. Director Spielberg’s inspired use of fleeting glimpses of the shark’s fin knifing through the water, accompanied by the film’s sinister and unforgettable music, heightened those feelings. That’s how Jaws affected us. But 50 years on, how have shark populations fared?

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Both Spielberg and Peter Benchley, Jaws author and screenplay contributor, regretted the film’s influence on public perception of sharks. Indeed, Benchley became an advocate for shark conservation who enjoyed working with scientists (I was invited onto his radio show to discuss my research satellite-tracking basking sharks).

    In the years following the film’s release, increasing numbers of sharks – including the movie’s great white – were reportedly killed in shark fishing tournaments that had risen in popularity.

    Sharks grow slowly, take a long time to reach sexual maturity and have relatively few offspring. This makes many species vulnerable to overfishing. Fishing at this level removes too many sharks from the population too quickly, such that the remaining sharks cannot replace them fast enough, and the population declines. A recorded decline can be relatively large if the starting population size is already small, like that of top predators such as the great white shark.

    Several data sources, including rod-and-reel and longline fishing, indicate a significant decline in the abundance of white sharks in the 1970s and 1980s along the US east coast where the film is set. The Jaws effect in action?

    Actually, rapid declines were not limited to US waters. White shark catches in bather protection nets off the southeast coast of Australia recorded a similarly large decrease in the mid-1970s. And this particular source suggests white shark populations had begun declining from the mid-1950s, 20 years before Jaws.

    Additional factors, such as commercial overfishing, were obviously at play. The film’s influence probably exacerbated white shark declines that were already happening.

    Globally, the white shark has been assessed as vulnerable by conservationists, with a decreasing population trend. Fortunately, there are signs of recovery.

    National protection measures for white sharks were implemented in the 1990s where these animals were formerly abundant, like the US, South Africa and Australia, and worldwide protections came a few years later.

    Since the 1990s, there have been apparent increases in abundance off the US east coast (when populations are so small and data so sparse, a short-term increase may not be a lasting trend). Welcome signs that measures such as prohibiting catches in 1997 are having a positive effect following decades of over-exploitation. But this species is still vulnerable to incidental capture, so protection measures must be maintained and enforced to sustain any recoveries.

    The Jaws effect was not limited to great white sharks. Many other large sharks were captured and killed in shark fishing tournaments that became more common following the film. Unfortunately, the killing continues in remaining US tournaments today.

    But over the past few decades the overwhelming cause of large shark declines globally, particularly in the open ocean far from shore, has been the expansion of industrial-scale commercial fisheries targeting sharks for their fins and meat.

    It was estimated in 2024 that fishing vessels are killing around 100 million sharks a year – a number that rose during the last decade. Nearly a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction.

    It was estimated in 2021 that the global abundance of shark and ray species which prowl the open ocean (such as the oceanic whitetip or shortfin mako) has declined by an average of 71% since 1970 due to rocketing fishing pressure on the high seas (areas beyond national jurisdictions).

    My own research analysing shark satellite tracks in collaboration with over 150 shark scientists, showed that 24% of the space used by these sharks each month on average falls under the footprint of surface longline fisheries. These include vessels that can deploy lines 100km-long carrying 1,000 baited hooks for up to 24 hours. We found the overlap was even greater, about 75%, for commercially valuable species such as the blue shark.

    More sharks die in these overlap hotspots than in adjacent areas, according to more recent research.

    Demystifying Jaws

    Are there any signs of recovery for these species under existing management measures? For many oceanic sharks, the answer is still no.

    At present, measures in place (if any) on the high seas are insufficient to safeguard populations. There is very little or no protection of shark activity hotspots. And some of the measures, such as shark finning bans, have been shown to be ineffective.

    My colleagues and I revealed that catches of internationally protected species are sometimes 90 times greater than official reports.

    So there is still a very long way to go to rebuild global shark populations.

    Jaws helped promote a negative image of sharks that has no basis in reality. Rather, shark behaviour appears as complex in some cases as that of birds and mammals.

    Tracking sharks revealed they can migrate thousands of kilometres to feed in specific remote habitats, before returning to the very same place they left months before. Some prefer to hang out with familiar individuals, and sharks even form persistent social networks. Giant basking sharks take part in speed-dating-like behaviour when they form courtship swimming circles at the end of summer.

    The serial killer image has probably made it harder to convince people to sympathise with the plight of sharks. Jaws came at a time when very little was known about sharks, so fiction filled the void.

    But there are now more shark scientists thanks to Jaws. Demystifying these creatures has been the first step to their potential recovery.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    David Sims has received funding from the European Research Council, the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme and the UK Natural Environment Research Council.

    – ref. Jaws helped spur a fishing frenzy – so how have the world’s sharks fared since the 1975 release? – https://theconversation.com/jaws-helped-spur-a-fishing-frenzy-so-how-have-the-worlds-sharks-fared-since-the-1975-release-255444

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Liam McIlvanney is joining us for a seriously laid back discussion about crime fiction, academia and a few other matters – come along

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen Khan, Editor-in-Chief, The Conversation

    If you’re a professor of literature, writing a novel must be pretty easy, right? Or, hang on, maybe not. Perhaps all that knowledge, expertise and awareness of truly great writing makes putting yourself out there even harder?

    It’s a question I’ll ask of Liam McIlvanney of the University of Otago, New Zealand, on July 11 in a Q&A at Auld Hag, The Shoap in Islington, London. McIlvanney, an esteemed academic, is on a world tour to promote his latest work of crime fiction, The Good Father. Full transparency; McIlvanney and I both hail from Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire, Scotland, we’re good friends and share an addiction to following the (often mis-)fortunes of our home town’s storied football club. So, bits of all this may creep into the evening.

    That heritage has also informed the choice of venue, a Scottish cafe, deli and bakery, specialising in lorne sausage, well-fired rolls filled with Ayrshire bacon, and who knows, maybe even a Kilmarnock-style pie or two on the day. A big thank you goes out to Gregg Boyd and the Auld Hag team for making The Shoap available to us.

    Ok, so I’m biased, but I’ve read The Good Father already, and it’s a fantastic piece of work – a psychological thriller described by Val McDermid as “heart-stopping and heart-rending”. The plot charts the disappearance of a child from a beach and the psychological impact on a family desperate for answers. Liam’s previous novels such as The Heretic and The Quaker have received wide acclaim and landed numerous awards. His novels have earned a reputation for delivering a vivid portrait of Scottish life and culture in eloquent, often darkly humorous, prose.

    If the words, “crime fiction, literature, New Zealand and Scotland” catch your eye then do join us at 406 St John Street, Angel, Islington on July 11 for a late afternoon and early evening of seriously laid back discussion. Click here for free tickets. And if you are a long way from London, don’t worry, Liam is also speaking at a number of other venues in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and, of course, Scotland. See below for a full list of dates.

    – ref. Liam McIlvanney is joining us for a seriously laid back discussion about crime fiction, academia and a few other matters – come along – https://theconversation.com/liam-mcilvanney-is-joining-us-for-a-seriously-laid-back-discussion-about-crime-fiction-academia-and-a-few-other-matters-come-along-259401

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get the Support you Deserve. Start with a Simple Check!

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston City Council is proud to announce the launch of a brand-new Benefits Calculator and Income Maximisation Tool.

    Get the Support You Deserve. Start with a simple check. This easy-to-use, confidential tool helps residents check what financial support they maybe entitled to, from benefits to grants and other forms of assistance.

    The tool has already proven highly effective in other areas such as the London Borough of Barnet, where out of 14,000 users, 95% identified additional support they were eligible for.

    Since going live in Preston just over a month ago, the early results are already encouraging, 72 residents completed the short calculator, with an estimated 87.5% qualifying for an average of £953 per month in additional support. 47 users completed the full assessment journey, qualifying for an average of £677 per month in extra financial support.

    With an estimated £23 billion in unclaimed benefits nationally, Preston City Council is encouraging anyone who thinks they might be missing out to use the tool and see what help is available to them.

    Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, Cabinet Member for Resources, said:

    At a time when the cost of living is putting pressure on households, we want to make sure Preston residents are receiving all the support they’re entitled to.

    This simple tool is a valuable way for people to check what help is available, quickly, easily, and confidentially. I encourage everyone to give it a go or help a friend or neighbour access it if they can.”

    In addition to the support for residents, the benefits calculator allows the Council to gather anonymous, detailed analytics to help evaluate the financial needs of local residents and identify areas where additional support services can be targeted.

    The Benefits Calculator is free to use, takes just a few minutes to complete, and could make a real difference to household incomes across the city.

    Access the Benefits Calculator

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Sir Richard Moore as the Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Appointment of Sir Richard Moore as the Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust

    The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Richard Moore to be the next Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.

    The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Richard Moore to be the next Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.

    The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Sir Richard, for a term of five years. Sir Richard is currently Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and will take up the position of Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust on 1 October 2025.

    Sir Richard Moore KCMG

    Richard Moore has served as Chief of MI6, the UK Secret Intelligence Service, since July 2020. His tenure as Chief concludes on 30 September 2025. 

    Prior to this, Richard was Director General for Political Affairs at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office from April 2018 to August 2020. He served as British Ambassador to Turkey from January 2014 to December 2017. Previously he was Director for Europe, Latin America and Globalisation (2010 to 2012) and Director for Programmes and Change (2008 to 2010). He has had postings in Vietnam, Turkey (1990 to 1992), Pakistan and Malaysia.

    Richard has a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University and, on leaving Oxford, won a Kennedy Scholarship for post-graduate study at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 2007, he attended the Stanford Executive Programme.

    Additional information

    The Kennedy Memorial Trust was established in 1964 to administer monies raised in the United Kingdom as a tribute to the late President John Kennedy. Part of the fund was used to create and maintain the Kennedy Memorial site at Runnymede. The remaining capital is used to provide Kennedy Scholarships which enable British postgraduate students to study at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The recruitment processes for Trustees of the Kennedy Memorial Trust are run by the Trust and approved by the Prime Minister. A panel was chaired by Mary Ann Sieghart, Senior Independent Trustee of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Conflict sets back development gains for decades: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Conflict sets back development gains for decades: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council debate on poverty, under-development and conflict.

    The United Kingdom is grateful to Guyana for convening this important open debate, underlining the challenges of poverty and under-development.

     At the core of the 2030 Agenda is the understanding that human rights, peace and security, and development are deeply interlinked and mutually reinforcing. 

    The theme of Guyana’s Council tenure, Partnering for Peace and Prosperity, reminds us of the importance of working together to address these challenges effectively.

    I will make three points.

    First, we need to equip the UN system to deliver more integrated solutions to these challenges, especially in fragile and conflict-affected states.

    This means aligning humanitarian, development, and peace and security efforts, targeting the drivers of conflict, and using robust analysis and early warning systems to shape the UN’s responses. 

    And it means strengthening cooperation between the UN and the International Financial Institutions. We should seize the opportunities offered by UN80 to drive this approach forward.  

    Second, Member States agreed in the Pact for the Future that we need to strengthen national conflict prevention strategies. 

    The United Kingdom welcomes the initiatives taken by the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund to support countries to this end. And we hope that the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review will increase the momentum behind this work.

    Third, as the Secretary-General highlighted, local ownership and inclusivity are key to fostering sustainable development and enduring peace. 

    As we mark the 25th anniversary of this Council’s landmark resolution on Women, Peace and Security, it remains vital to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in political and peace processes. 

    And I echo your emphasis, President, on this aspect.

    The United Kingdom is proud to have partnered closely with Guyana in this area, including in the development of Guyana’s own National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. 

    President, it is all too evident that poverty and under-development can exacerbate the drivers of conflict. The world’s poorest people are particularly vulnerable to the immediate harms caused by conflict. And conflict sets back development gains, often for decades, as the Secretary-General reminded us.

     The United Kingdom is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the UN system can support coordinated responses to these interlinked challenges.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘New offshore wind farms should benefit Welsh public purse’ – Plaid Cymru

    Source: Party of Wales

    Plaid Cymru challenge Labour suggestion that offshore wind announcement is ‘vindication’ of keeping Crown Estate powers in Westminster

    Plaid Cymru’s Energy spokesperson in Westminster, Llinos Medi MP, has pushed back against the Secretary of State for Wales’ suggestion that a new announcement on offshore wind projects is a “vindication” of keeping Crown Estate powers in Westminster.

    Ms Medi pointed out that devolution of the Crown Estate has not hindered the development of renewable energy projects in Scotland, which is developing 19 offshore wind projects under the devolved Scottish Crown Estate.

    The Crown Estate today announced it is set to partner with Equinor and Gwynt Glas – a joint venture between EDF Renewables UK and ESB – to develop floating windfarms off the coasts of West Wales and the South West of England.

    The Plaid Cymru MP also suggested that the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, had not been “effective” in lobbying her party colleagues in London on the devolution of the Crown Estate. Last month, Baroness Morgan said that devolution of the estates would allow Wales to profit from renewable energy in the Celtic Sea, “We saw them take our coal. We saw them take our water. We will not let them take our wind, not this time, not on my watch.”

    Plaid Cymru Energy spokesperson in Westminster, Llinos Medi MP, said:

    “Until we devolve the Crown Estate, the process of extracting wealth from Wales’s natural resources will continue.

    “The Labour First Minister of Wales made a big pitch that she would not let Westminster ‘take our wind’. It’s clear that those efforts have not been effective, as the fees and profits from this announcement will be given to the Treasury in Whitehall rather than being retained for the Welsh public purse for the benefit of our communities.

    “Devolution of the Crown Estate would not hinder the development of renewable energy projects in Wales, as has been demonstrated in Scotland, which is developing 19 offshore wind projects under the devolved Scottish Crown Estate.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government must act now on free bus travel for asylum seekers rollout

    Source: Scottish Greens

    19 Jun 2025 Transport

    Free bus travel isn’t just practical – it’s a statement of who we are and the kind of country we want to be.

    More in Transport

    There must be no more delays by the Scottish Government to finally deliver free bus travel for people seeking asylum, say the Scottish Greens.

    Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell, the party spokesperson for transport, says that while the Government has repeatedly agreed the policy is the right thing to do, and the commitment made, it still hasn’t been delivered.
     
    Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie recently wrote to Mark Ruskell confirming the Scottish Government will provide £2 million funding for the pilot scheme, however only with a vague deadline for implementation later this year.
     
    Today in Parliament, Mark questioned the Minister for Equalities Kaukab Stewart on progress, however she was unable to provide a clear date for when the pilot would be delivered.
     
    Advocates, campaigners, and refugee support organisations have long called for more tangible measures to support the wellbeing and integration of people seeking asylum – with free bus travel seen as a key and long-overdue step.
     
    The Scottish Government first committed to expanding free bus travel to people seeking asylum in 2023. However, they scrapped the proposal in 2024 – only to be forced to bring it back as part of the Scottish Budget following negotiations with the Scottish Greens.
     
    With this year’s Refugee Week highlighting compassion, solidarity, and community, Mark said there is no better time to act than now.
     
    Mark said:

    “It has been 2 years since the Scottish Government finally promised to provide free bus travel to people seeking asylum in Scotland. But committing to something is not the same as delivering it.
     
    “People seeking asylum are banned from working and forced to survive on as little as £8 a day from the UK Government – an amount that barely covers a day ticket on many buses across Scotland.
     
    “Imagine trying to survive, support your family, attend vital appointments, or go to school – all on just £8 a day. Most of us spend more than that on a sandwich or a coffee. Expecting people to build a new life in Scotland with no way to get around is simply unjust.

    “Every day of delay to this scheme is another day that people in need go without access to essentials. People stuck in an asylum system that forces them into poverty cannot wait another 2 years for this. The Scottish Government needs to give a clear timeline for when this scheme is finally going to be rolled out.
     
    “If we truly believe in a Scotland that welcomes refugees, that supports those fleeing war and persecution, then we must back that up with real support. Delivering free bus travel isn’t just practical – it’s a statement of who we are and the kind of country we want to be.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Richardson Brothers Foundation announced as sponsors for Armed Forces Day 2025 event

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The event, which has welcomed the Richardson Brothers Foundation onboard as this year’s sponsors, is on Saturday 28 June, noon to 4pm, at West Park, and will be buzzing with activities for people of all ages, focusing on free family fun throughout the day.

    City of Wolverhampton’s Mayor, Councillor Craig Collingswood, said: “It’s fantastic to have the Richardson Brothers Foundation come on board as sponsors of our annual Armed Forces Day event.

    “Wolverhampton has a special relationship with our Armed Forces as do I with my son serving in the British Army, and this fantastic, free and fun event for all the family is a wonderful way to mark this – I look forward to seeing you there, joining the festivities with you and celebrating all that the Armed Forces do to defend our nation at home and abroad.”

    Jan Jennings, on behalf of the Richardson Brothers Foundation, said: “The Richardson Brothers Foundation is pleased to be supporting Wolverhampton’s Armed Forces Day. The family’s support for the military goes back decades and Carl Richardson was appointed Honorary Colonel of 4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment in 2024. We hope the day is a huge success where people can find out more about the Armed Forces and celebrate the amazing work they do.”

    Don’t miss the Armed Forces Parade at 1pm and there are also funfair rides and inflatables, street food and bar traders, free activities including face painting, smoothie bike and much more for all the family to enjoy.

    For more information, please visit Armed Forces Covenant.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Delivering an energy market that works for consumers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Delivering an energy market that works for consumers

    New proposals announced to expand automatic compensation schemes when things go wrong.

    • New proposals to expand automatic compensation schemes for when things go wrong
    • working people will be better protected with fairer, quicker, easier access to compensation when they are let down by their energy supplier
    • follows confirmation that 2.7 million extra households will receive £150 off their energy bills next winter as the Warm Home Discount is expanded, easing the cost of living through the Plan for Change

    Working people will have better protections in the energy market through a new package of protection measures announced by the Prime Minister today.  

    The current system makes it too difficult for consumers to access proper compensation.

    Companies have 8 weeks to respond to requests, and if they do not respond or complaints go unresolved, then the onus is on consumers themselves to self-refer to the Energy Ombudsman.

    This produces a situation in which consumers often do not access the compensation they are entitled to due to time pressures or fatigue with a complex system.

    These reforms will take the pressure off consumers and onto the companies to ensure that consumers get the compensation they deserve. Doing so will ensure energy consumers are better-protected and empowered to take action when necessary.  

    These include proposals to make compensation fairer, quicker and easier, and covers areas including:  

    • working with Ofgem to look at expanding automatic compensation to cover more key issues faced by consumers, including excessively long call waiting times, unexpectedly high bills when suppliers fail to adjust direct debits, suppliers not responding to complaints, or suppliers not complying with Energy Ombudsman final decisions
    • government working with Ofgem to look at further increasing the value of base-level compensation from £40, following the first increase since the payments were last set a decade ago
    • strengthening the Energy Ombudsman’s powers so that suppliers must comply with its final decision or pay compensation to the consumer 
    • cutting the time before complaints can be escalated to the Ombudsman from 8 to 4 weeks
    • making referrals to the Ombudsman automatic, instead of people having to do it themselves

    Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 

    Through our Plan for Change we are delivering an energy market consumers can trust, putting an end to unfair practices, holding suppliers to account, and ensuring that the consumer always comes first.  

    Today’s announcement is about taking the next steps – helping households to get fairer, quicker, easier compensation when things go wrong.

    This announcement follows confirmation that 2.7 million extra households will receive £150 off their energy bills this winter as the Warm Home Discount is expanded – putting more money directly into people’s pockets. 

    This vital support is the latest in a raft of cost of living support made possible because the government has stabilised the economy, fixed the foundations and repaired the public finances – deliberate choices which are helping provide security and more money in the pockets of working families through the Plan for Change.

    Since last summer, interest rates have been cut 4 times, lowering mortgage costs, free school meals have been rolled out for over half a million more children so that kids can focus on learning rather than hungry bellies, free breakfast clubs are being expanded to every child in the country, school uniform costs have been cut, and the 30 hours of free childcare scheme has been extended to more working parents.

    Work continues on the government’s comprehensive review of Ofgem, focusing on delivering an energy market where the consumer comes first.    

    The review is also considering how Ofgem can better drive the government’s missions for clean power and economic growth.  

    This includes investigating how the regulator can support the private sector to invest in energy infrastructure, and ensuring that families who want to upgrade their homes with clean technology can do so safe in the knowledge that they are protected by robust and responsive regulation.  

    Notes to editors

    Formal recommendations following the conclusion of the Ofgem Review Call for Evidence will be published later this year.  

    Reforms follow Secretary of State Ed Miliband’s letter to Ofgem Chief Executive Jonathan Brearley in February, in which he demanded that Ofgem took quicker and more effective action on consumer protection issues, including compensation for families affected by the forced installation of pre-payment meters.  

    In May Ofgem announced £18.6 million of compensation for the victims of forced pre-payment meter installations, following the Secretary of State’s letter and months of government work with the sector.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government steps in to protect consumers with old energy meters

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Government steps in to protect consumers with old energy meters

    A widespread switch-off of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters will not happen on 30 June.

    • Ministers have confirmed that a widespread switch-off of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters will not happen on 30 June – with this summer now marking a limited start of a phase-out process
    • Industry will pursue a phased approach beginning with a very small number of homes and businesses in carefully targeted local areas, with government monitoring suppliers’ performance to ensure the process is smooth and working families are protected
    • Affected customers will be contacted in advance, and are urged to respond to energy suppliers and book appointments to have their meter replaced

    Thousands of people with a Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter will not face any unexpected disruption to their heating or hot water at the end of this month, as the government confirms there will be a cautious and targeted phase out to the service, protecting working families. 

    The Radio Teleswitch Service uses radio signals to switch older electricity meters between different tariffs such as peak and off peak, and can also be used to turn heating and hot water systems on and off at specific times of the day.  

    The service was introduced in the 1980s and, as planned, is now reaching the end of its life. But unacceptably slow progress to replace these meters has left around 314,000 households still using them as of last month – equal to around 1% of British households.  

    Ministers have taken action to ensure industry delivers a better phase out plan from 30 June, ensuring working families can continue to go about their home lives as normal. 

    The phase out will now begin on a significantly smaller scale, in areas with very few RTS customers, meaning energy suppliers will be ready to respond rapidly to protect households who most need support.  

    In advance of any phase out activity in their area, households will be contacted by their energy supplier to inform them well ahead of time, before their meters are affected. 

    Ministers have been clear that they also expect suppliers’ momentum to install replacement meters to increase over the coming weeks. 

    Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 

    We have stepped in to ensure that thousands of vulnerable consumers with RTS meters do not experience any sudden disruption at the end of this month.  

    I will be watching suppliers closely to make sure they are doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.

    Charlotte Friel, Director for Retail Pricing & Systems for Ofgem, said:

    Ofgem has been clear that customers must be protected at every stage of the phased area-by-area shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal. 

    At the same time we expect energy companies to go faster, building on the work of the cross-sector Taskforce set up by Ofgem that has seen the upgrade rate rise from 1,000 meters per month to more than 1,000 per day. 

    While this carefully managed phaseout process should reassure customers, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently so it’s vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment.

    The Minister for Energy Consumers will meet with Ofgem and Energy UK on a fortnightly basis to review how the gradual and targeted phase out is progressing, with a particular focus on Scotland – where around 105,000 RTS meters are installed, as well as remote and rural areas, to ensure all efforts are made to reach these households.  

    Suppliers will continue contacting households to book replacement appointments and consumers are urged to respond as soon as possible.  

    In most cases, this will involve switching to a smart meter, which can work in the same way as RTS meters, with automatic peak and off-peak rates, and the ability to turn heating and hot water systems on and off, ensuring minimal disruption to households.  

    The government will continue to do everything possible to ensure working families benefit from stronger protections and improved customer service in the energy market, with new reforms to be set out in the coming weeks. 

    Notes to editors

    The RTS uses the same infrastructure as the BBC’s longwave radio signal to tell older electricity meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. The infrastructure underpinning the signal is reaching the end of its life, meaning the equipment that sends the radio signal can no longer be adequately maintained. 

    As of 30 May, there were 314,935 RTS meters requiring replacement in Great Britain, according to supplier data collected by Ofgem.   

    If households and businesses think they have an RTS meter installed, they should contact their supplier to arrange a replacement immediately. Technical solutions are available to replace RTS meters in all households. 

    For RTS customers that live in an area without smart meter signal, their supplier will explain what other options are available before the radio signal is switched off. Energy suppliers are obliged under their licence conditions to ensure that a suitable alternative metering system is installed and that the customer’s service is not disrupted. 

    The first stage of the phase-out will target specific, localised areas, affecting a maximum of 600 households over a 3 week period – with the government and industry carefully monitoring suppliers’ response times and their effectiveness in supporting vulnerable consumers throughout this phase.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister meets with Lionesses ahead of the Euros to announce a new approach to school sport

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prime Minister meets with Lionesses ahead of the Euros to announce a new approach to school sport

    Today the Prime Minister met with the Lionesses as they prepare to defend England’s title at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 football competition next month. 

    • Government announces new School Sport Partnerships and a new Enrichment Framework for schools to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity
    • Girls to be given the same opportunity as boys to play sport at school, as well as equal access for those with special needs and disabilities – as the Government delivers its Plan for Change
    • Prime Minister visits Lionesses training session to throw support behind players ahead of this summer’s tournament – telling the team: “we are behind you every step of the way”

    Today the Prime Minister met with the Lionesses as they prepare to defend England’s title at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 football competition next month. 

    He wished head coach Sarina Wiegman and the rest of the squad good luck ahead of their first match – telling them the whole nation is behind them. 

    The visit comes alongside new plans to give every child across the country equal access to high quality PE and sport as the government announces a new approach to school activity.

    This will ensure schools have a new framework that will include a clear focus on equal access and two hours per week of physical education. Each school’s offering will be publicly available. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    I speak for the entire nation when I say good luck to our Lionesses for this summer’s Euros. We will be behind you every step of the way.  

    Not only have you made history, but you have inspired the next generation to find a sport they love. That’s why I’m delighted we are delivering on your call to ensure they have the opportunity to go on and play – maybe even for England one day.

    A national network will be developed to build strong partnerships between schools, local clubs and National Governing Bodies to identify and break down barriers to sport for children who are less active, primarily girls and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  

    It will be supported by a new Enrichment Framework to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality extra-curricular activities – including football and other sports. 

    The government has also committed to publish information about every school’s sport and enrichment offer, so parents can see what their children can play. The information will be included in new ‘school profiles’ – a one stop shop for parents to see information about their local schools, with further detail to come in the autumn. 

    Leah Williamson and Lotte Wubben-Moy – driving forces behind the Lionesses’ equal access campaign – were among the players to hear from the Prime Minister how the new approach will level the playing field for young girls and children with disabilities in England.

    Lioness Lotte Wubben-Moy welcomed today’s announcement:

    We want every young girl to have the opportunity to play football in school. This isn’t only about laying the foundations for future Lionesses to rise up, but also a chance for the power of football to help create change within the education system and set an example for equality. 

    Only 50% of secondary schools currently offer equal access to football for girls and boys. At such a crucial time in a young person’s life we cannot underestimate the positive impact football and sport can have on their physical and mental wellbeing.

    The PM’s announcement is an encouraging build upon the legacy of our Euros win in 2022. We as Lionesses are eager to see the speedy introduction of these new proposals. A bright future is ahead.

    Today’s news aims to reverse a worrying trend where boys are more active than girls. It will boost physical access for all pupils, regardless of age, gender or ability. It will also support the delivery of competitions at a local, regional and national level. 

    The partnerships approach will ensure inclusive best practice is shared and adopted widely across all schools in England. 

    This builds on the work the government is already doing with partners including Youth Sport Trust and Sport England to boost participation having already invested £100m to upgrade sports facilities.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV: Civil Service Must Address Concerns of Staff Opposed to Pride Participation

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV Equality spokesperson Ann McClure:

    “Following confirmation that the Civil Service is taking part in this year’s Belfast Pride parade, Timothy Gaston tabled a number of questions to Finance Minister John O’Dowd raising serious concerns about the ramifications of this approach for the impartiality of public servants.

    “On inquiring whether consideration was given to the views of civil servants (Protestant or Roman Catholic) who hold conscientious or faith-based objections to participation in Belfast Pride, the Minister responded in very general terms, outlining the NICS commitment to inclusivity, equality, and impartiality — but significantly did not address the actual question of whether there was any consultation, engagement, or accommodation for people who object to Pride.

    “In another question, Mr Gaston asked the Minister if, in light of Civil Service participation in Pride, employees would be able to participate in pro-life marches. Mr O’Dowd merely referred Mr Gaston back to his previous non-answer.

    “In light of the events of the weekend — when grossly offensive behaviour at and around Omagh Pride not only took place but was promoted on the official Facebook page of Omagh Pride — there is a need for the Civil Service and the Minister responsible to directly address the matters raised with him and not hide behind newspeak answers.

    “Participation in Pride events was never compatible with a truly inclusive workplace. That is all the more true this year when the Pride movement is openly campaigning against the Executive’s policy to protect children and young people from puberty blockers.”

    Note to editors

    Mr Gaston’s questions and the answers received are as follows:

    AQW 28291/22-27

    Mr Timothy Gaston
    Question:
    To ask the Minister of Finance to detail any consideration given to the views of civil servants, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, who hold conscientious or faith-based objections to Belfast Pride when the Northern Ireland Civil Service made the decision to participate in this year’s event.

    Answer:
    As one of the largest employers here and a public service provider, the Civil Service recognises and respects the diversity of people’s identities, experiences and backgrounds.

    As an equal opportunities employer, the Civil Service participates in Belfast Pride as part of its ongoing commitment to being an inclusive employer and programme of outreach with under-represented groups.

    In accordance with the Civil Service Code of Ethics, civil servants are required to carry out their role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service’s core values of: Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity and Impartiality.

    In living out the core value of ‘impartiality’, civil servants must carry out their responsibilities in a way that is fair, just and equitable and reflects the Civil Service’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, including the obligations under Section 75.

    AQW 28289/22-27
    Mr Timothy Gaston
    Question:
    To ask the Minister of Finance, in light of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) decision to participate corporately in Belfast Pride, whether NICS staff will be permitted, as NICS staff, to take part in other events such as pro-life marches.

    Answer:
    I refer the member to the response provided for AQW 28291/22-27.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Brand Scotland takes centre stage at Royal Highland Show

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Brand Scotland takes centre stage at Royal Highland Show

    Scottish Secretary to bang the drum for Scotland’s iconic food, drink, agriculture and farming sectors at the Edinburgh event

    Fresh from new Spending Review financial backing, the UK Government’s Brand Scotland campaign to boost exports of Scottish products and promotion of inward investment takes centre stage at the Royal Highland Show from today (Thursday June 19).

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray will be in attendance and later host a reception with the Scotch Whisky Association to promote our iconic national tipple, enjoyed by tens of millions around the world.

    Exhibitors and showgoers will hear how the UK Government is working with Scottish businesses to maximise the benefits of recent trade deals with India, US and the EU to create significant opportunities at home and abroad. 

    The UK-India trade deal slashes tariffs on whisky. Meanwhile the UK-EU deal also means that British farms will be able to sell sausages and burgers to the EU for the first time in five years.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    Scotland is at the heart of the UK Government’s Plan for Change to put more money in the pockets of working Scots by investing in the country’s renewal. That’s why in last week’s Spending Review the Chancellor unleashed a new era of growth for Scotland, confirming billions of pounds of investment and creating thousands of high-skilled jobs.

    Our Brand Scotland campaign is an important part of this commitment and the Royal Highland Show is a fantastic opportunity to bang the drum for our iconic produce and help turbo-charge sales of Scottish goods and services at home and abroad. Following my recent successful trips to Norway, Malaysia, Singapore, Washington and New York – and last week’s all women trade mission to Spain, led by Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill – we’re already seeing positive results from championing Brand Scotland.

    The trio of trade deals sealed by the Prime Minister is a fantastic opportunity for Scotland’s food and drink sector – from slashing tariffs on whisky and gin in India to putting Scottish burgers and sausages back on the menu for the EU. I look forward to continuing to work with Scottish businesses and other key partners as we give our country the global platform it deserves.

    The Scottish Secretary is expected to meet with NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon, Quality Meat Scotland, Lidl executives to discuss the retailers’ ambitions for growth in Scotland and support of Scottish food and drink suppliers and Graham’s Dairies to chat about export opportunities. He is also due to visit Scotland’s Larder where a huge range of Scottish food and drink producers will be in attendance.

    Other stakeholders lined up include Penicuik-based Moredun Institute which employs over 170 scientists, vets  and support staff promoting livestock health and welfare through cutting-edge research and education.

    Showgoers dropping into the UK Government marquee will be able to hear from UK Government departments and agencies about how they are delivering for people in Scotland and for our businesses across the world 

    Also present in the marquee will be exhibits from a number of exciting UK Government funded projects, including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scottish Football Association (grassroots football funding), Dramtubes & Project Harmless (British Business Bank funded) and Destination Tweed (National Lottery Heritage Fund).

    Other government departments and agencies in attendance will be:

    • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (promoting the UK’s extensive overseas network, which works day in day out to promote our country)
    • Department for Business & Trade (direct access to global trade expertise)
    • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
    • Department for Work & Pensions
    • Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy, RAF)
    • Department for Transport (with Northern Lighthouse Board – responsible for the waters surrounding Scotland and the Isle of Man)
    • Shared Rural Network (SRN – designed to improve mobile coverage and boost connectivity across the UK, with the biggest uplifts in rural parts of Scotland and Wales. It is jointly funded by the Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators – EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone – with the objective of delivering 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by December 2025).

    Further information
    The Royal Highland Show is Scotland’s biggest outdoor event, attracting around 190,000 people. It runs from June 19 to 22.

    The Scotland Office’s Spending Review settlement allocates £0.75 million each year to champion our ‘Brand Scotland’ trade missions to promote Scotland’s goods and services on the world stage and to encourage further growth and investment.  

    As well as the Brand Scotland visits mentioned earlier, we have also supported a trade mission from Glasgow to Shanghai and have plans for more visits during the year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public service reform strategy launched

    Source: Scottish Government

    Blueprint for enhancing lives and communities.

    A new Public Service Reform Strategy will deliver the public services that people of Scotland deserve and need in the future, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee has said.

    Outlining the strategy to Parliament, the Minister also announced the intention to reduce spending on corporate functions across public bodies, including the Scottish Government, to deliver £1 billion of savings in five years. 

    The strategy sets out concrete steps that government will take through partnership working, particularly with trade unions, to ensure that every pound of investment is focused on frontline delivery and that there are the right staff in the right roles to deliver real change. 

    More than 80 actions are set out to drive change and make Scotland’s public services fit for the future, by addressing the challenges caused by increased demand, changing demographics and UK Government financial decisions.

    These include leadership and cultural change across the public sector; reducing the number of public bodies to deliver increased efficiency; further review and rationalisation of public sector buildings, working with local partners to remove data barriers that prevent the delivery of programmes; embracing automation and publishing a new Digital Strategy which will set out the acceleration of the digitisation of government.

    Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said: 

    “This strategy is grounded in the shared belief that Scotland’s public services are an investment — in people, places and our collective future. It builds on the work we’ve done since the Christie Commission which outlined the need for public services focused on prevention, place, partnership, people and performance.

    “Public service reform is an integral part of the government’s response to the challenges we face. The strategy sets out a bold, system-wide approach to change centred around three key priorities: prevention, joined-up services and efficiency.

    “The aim is to do things better, not do less. Public services are an asset and investment in our collective future. They reflect the society we are, and who we aspire to be.

    “We are determined to unlock the full potential of Scotland’s public services — making them more efficient, more joined-up, and more preventative in approach, so that they work better for the people of Scotland. It demonstrates that this Government is ready to go further and faster than we ever have to reform our public services.

    “We must be bold and brave to deliver real, long lasting and meaningful change.”

    Background

    Scotland’s Public Service Reform Strategy: Delivering for Scotland – gov.scot

    The Public Service Reform Strategy is supported by sectoral improvement plans including the NHS Operational Improvement Plan – to tackle immediate pressures on the health service – and the Tackling Child Poverty Plan to reduce the number of children living in relative poverty in Scotland to 10% by 2030.

    It builds on the findings of and subsequent work following the 2011 Christie Commission report, and learning from successful preventative policies such as the roll-out of the Scottish Child Payment. The strategy’s implementation will be evaluated and monitored by the Public Service Reform Board, which brings together scrutiny from public bodies, local government, and the third and private sector. The strategy has also been informed by a summit held in February involving representatives from Scotland’s 131 public bodies, local government and the third sector.

    Learning from 25 years of Preventative Interventions in Scotland – gov.scot

    Examples of previous reforms include:

    • Investment in Early Learning and Childcare: The Scottish Government has invested around £1 billion every year in funded Early Learning and Childcare since 2021. Some 95% of three and four-year-olds are registered for the 1,140 hours funded childcare offer and 74% of parents have said it helped employment prospects.
    • Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012: One of the biggest public service transformations since devolution, this created the Scottish Police Authority, the unified Police Service of Scotland (Police Scotland) and the single Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.
    • Childsmile: Between 2003 and 2020, the Childsmile programme has halved tooth decay amongst children and generated significant cost savings for NHS health boards.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work starts next month on Royal Parade bus improvements

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Work will start next month (July) to change the layout of Royal Parade to improve bus services as part of Plymouth’s ambition to encourage people to make greener travel choices as the city grows.

    The Royal Parade bus improvement scheme aims to reduce congestion and improve the reliability of bus services to and from the city centre by increasing the number of bus stops on the shop side.

    There are over 100 buses every hour – making it the city’s busiest bus interchange – with over nine million passenger journeys from or to Royal Parade every year – either arriving to work in the city centre, to shop, stay or visit, or to head onto to destinations across the city e.g. the hospital, Plymstock or the Dockyard.

    The scheme, which will be carried out by Morgan Sindall, will get underway from Monday 7 July and will take around nine months. When finished, the scheme will reduce delays at this key point by cutting queues and double stacking of buses, making services more reliable and helping to make going by bus a more attractive option than the private car.

    Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “Plymouth needs to improve bus services to make it easier for everyone to get to work, school, shops and businesses, friends or family. Nearly 25 per cent of households in Plymouth do not have a car and with the city’s population expected to grow, improving sustainable travel choices is vital to keeping the city moving.

    “We realise there is going to be some upheaval for a time for passengers, but please bear with us as the long-term gain will be better bus journeys. We are working closely with the bus companies to make sure everyone knows where to catch their buses from.”

    From Monday 7 July all bus stops on the shop side of Royal Parade between Courtenay Street and St Andrews Cross Roundabout will be closed and temporary stops will be available in alternative locations around the city centre.

    There will be a chance to talk through the scheme at three public drop-in events in the city centre:

    • Wednesday 2 July (10am to 2pm), House of Fraser Café (top floor)
    • Friday 4 July (2pm to 5.45pm), Central Library (Scott Room)
    • Sunday 6 July (10am to 3pm), Royal Parade (gazebo outside House of Fraser entrance.

    Information showing bus users where to find their temporary stops is available on the scheme’s webpage at www.plymouth.gov.uk/royalparade and information will be available in the Plymouth Citybus shop on Royal Parade, Central Library and in bus shelters at key destinations around the city.

    The Plymotion Team and project team will also be on the ground every weekday between Monday 23 June and Friday 18 July to hand out information leaflets and make sure everyone knows where to get their bus from.

    The eastbound side (or shop side) of Royal Parade will be reduced to one lane for all vehicles, meaning there will not be a dedicated bus lane between Derry’s Cross and St Andrews Cross roundabouts. Cyclists will still be able ride on the road in the all-traffic lane.

    Pedestrian access will remain during the day, and all three crossings will be available. Some overnight restrictions may be needed and pedestrians diverted to the other side of Royal Parade via the crossings.

    The scheme includes laying high quality granite along the pavement on this side to replace concrete slabs that have become worn and slippery in places. This means that the pavement between the kerb and shop fronts will be sectioned off for this work. This will be carried out in stages to minimise the impact on businesses and shoppers. Temporary pedestrian footways to allow access to shop doorways will be in place.

    Access to shops, businesses and residential properties will remain at all times.

    The carriageway reconstruction and surfacing works will require full road closures, but these will take place overnight only and a diversion route will be in place around the city centre via Western Approach, Cobourg Street and Exeter Street.

    Main construction work will start on Monday 14 July and entails:

    • redesigning the road with a shallow sawtooth layout, increasing the number of bus stops from 12 to 15, to prevent double stacking, unnecessary idling and improve air quality. This will improve bus manoeuvrability and safety by reducing the need for buses to reverse out and ensure passengers can get on and off from the pavement.
    • clearer information about where and what bus to get in the new shelters and upgraded Real Time Passenger Information displays
    • bigger shelters to make it easier for people with pushchairs or wheelchairs to use them. They will have living roofs to support biodiversity
    • an upgraded toucan crossing at Armada Way for pedestrians and cyclists
    • average speed camera system to replace existing static cameras, supporting a safe environment for pedestrians.

    The original budget was estimate at around £5 million based on the information available at the time. With more costs finalised, £7,494,692 has now been secured from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund and Bus Grant, Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone funding and the Council’s Better Places funding.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester City Council reacts to Government announcement on new Housing Bank

    Source: City of Manchester

    On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Government announced that it was to create a housing bank to drive their ambition to build 1.5m new homes.

    Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig has responded to this positive news. She said:

    “We welcome the news that the Government will be making an even greater investment in Manchester helping us to build the homes – and at scale – that our city needs. 

    “We have a track record in Manchester of being able to deliver on our commitment to providing new homes for residents and with the prospect of improved future investment alongside our local housing strategy, we are meeting our target of helping to deliver 36,000 new homes by 2032 – at least 10,000 of which will be for social rent, Council housing or genuinely affordable homes.

    “We look forward to continuing a strong partnership with Government and Homes England to help unlock some important residential opportunities in the coming years – including the future phases of the major Victoria North regeneration programme – that will support our residents into quality homes and onto the housing ladder.”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Award-winning SEND Next Choices event returns to first direct arena Leeds

    Source: City of Leeds

    The award-winning ‘SEND Next Choices – getting ready for adult life’ event is returning to the First Direct Arena Leeds on Tuesday, June 24.

    Organised by Leeds City Council Employment and Skills service, this year’s event will feature more than eighty exhibitors offering advice on education, training, apprenticeships, support services and career opportunities.

    The fair will also feature a fun zone where visitors can try out exciting activities, including a climbing tower from West Leeds Activity Centre. Visitors to the morning session will also have the chance to meet Henry, Leeds City College’s cava-poo therapy dog. 

    The free-to-attend event, which won the Institute of Economic Development’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award in 2024, is an opportunity for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their parents, carers, support workers, and teachers to prepare for the next steps in adult life.

    There will also be the opportunity to attend information sessions and meet people from over eighty organisations who can offer transition support as the children move into adult life. 

    This year’s exhibitors include Leeds City College, University Centre Leeds, Disability Action Yorkshire, Lighthouse Futures Trust, JCT600 Limited, The Kings Trust, Specialist Autism Services and many more.

    Leeds City Council executive member for economy, culture and education, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “Leeds is an inclusive city that has a wealth of opportunities for everyone to achieve their full potential. 

    “The SEND Next Choices event is the perfect way for young people with special educational needs and disabilities to plan toward achieving that potential, as was recently recognised at the 2024 National Institute of Economic Development awards.

    “I encourage any young people with special educational needs and disabilities who are looking at what comes next to book tickets and come along to find out the wide range of options available to them.”

    The SEND Next Choices event is free to attend, but tickets are limited. You can find out more information and book your tickets by visiting: https://www.universe.com/events/send-next-choices-getting-ready-for-adult-life-2025-tickets-4FKVW6?utm_source=schools+and+councillors&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SEND25

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Blackness Road housing development

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    A TENDER to build 24 new flats on a prominent corner site in the West End of Dundee, is set to be discussed by councillors next week.

    More than £8.5m has been set aside to fund the project, at Blackness Road/Glenagnes Road, which could provide six wheelchair accessible one-bedroom flats and 18 two-bedroom properties.

    Kevin Cordell, convener of the neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee said: “There has been a longstanding commitment to redevelop this site, which this tender delivers on.

    “The development goes towards meeting the need for increased investment in affordable housing developments to ensure that all residents have access to secure, energy efficient and sustainable homes suitable now and in the future.”

    Lynne Short, the committee’s deputy convener added: “Developments like this help to deliver our ongoing commitment to our communities by providing wheelchair accessible properties.

    “The resilient and empowered communities we are striving for in Dundee only come about through inclusivity and with quality of life for all our citizens being a key priority, these homes help to achieve that.”

    Following the traditional tenements of its neighbours the proposed design will be sympathetic to the surrounding area and use enhanced foundation detailing and retaining wall structures.

    The development benefits from high performing insulation and a heating system comprising a hybrid air source heat pump and aligns with Dundee City Council’s commitment to providing affordable homes and supporting the wider community.

    Dundee City Council Housing Revenue Account will meet £5,201,918.54 of the £8.527m total, with Scottish Government Affordable Housing Investment Grant provisionally agreeing to fund £2,326,000.00 and Council Tax income from second homes, meeting the rest.

    The neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee, which meets on Monday, will be asked to approve awarding the tender to Clark Contracts Limited. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SNP abandoning future generations with climate announcement

    Source: Scottish Greens

    19 Jun 2025 Climate

    Newly published carbon budgets have watered down targets, when we need to ramp up our efforts.

    More in Climate

    The Scottish Government has abandoned future generations after ignoring key climate experts’ advice today, when they published concerningly weak new climate budgets, say the Scottish Greens.
     
    Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie has slammed it as “yet another step away from evidence-based climate policy”.
     
    Last month, the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) published a report urging the Scottish Government to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions if they are to meet their 2045 net-zero target. With the publication of today’s carbon budgets, the SNP have ignored the advice from the CCC on reducing pollution from agriculture and other sectors.
     
    The newly published carbon budgets lack ambition to reduce emissions, with the previous target of a 75% reduction by 2030 now reduced to 57%.
     
    Patrick Harvie said:

    “This is a deeply troubling announcement from the SNP, and takes us another step away from evidence-based climate policy. We’ve known for years that ambitious targets alone aren’t enough to tackle the climate emergency, but that means we should be ramping up action to protect our planet, not watering down the targets.
     
    “Climate experts have been clear that the Scottish Government has failed to take on board the urgent action needed. They issued warning after warning, but the SNP have failed to step up and tackle the climate crisis head on.
     
    “The UKCCC is clear – we can reach Scotland’s 2045 target. But that will only happen if we are brave enough to have less words and more action to get the job done. Today’s announcement does not show bravery from the SNP.
     
    “The government has many of the solutions they need ready at their fingertips. Investing in climate action will create good jobs and save people money too.
     
    “We can switch to clean heat to warm our homes, invest in public transport to reduce cars on our roads, and support rural communities to cut emissions from land use and farming, but instead, the SNP have decided to shy away from taking action, as if they hope someone else is coming to save us.
     
    “We are in a climate emergency, and we need to start acting like it, so that future generations don’t look back and ask why Scotland abandoned them when we had the opportunity to fix things.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens say Glasgow tourist tax will transform the city 

    Source: Scottish Greens

    19 Jun 2025 Finance

    Cities deserve to be a thriving space for tourists and residents alike – tourist tax can make that happen.

    More in Finance

    Glasgow City Council has today agreed on plans for a tourist tax which would raise £16m a year for public services – a decision welcomed by the Scottish Greens to help improve the city.

    The 5% tax is set to be charged on hotel bookings in Glasgow from January 2027. The money raised will be spent on public services, like street sweeping, investing in city landmarks, and improvements to parks, to improve the city for residents and visitors alike.

    Glasgow Green councillors attempted to amend the scheme to include stronger measures like penalties for non-compliance and capping how much was spent on marketing, however these were voted down by the SNP, Labour, & Conservative councillors.

    Passing the law to introduce a tourist tax came as a result of budget negotiations between the SNP and the Greens, and has been a long standing policy that Greens have been raising in Councils since 2011.

    Green Cllr Blair Anderson, whose motion started the process, said: 

    “The tourist tax is going to be a game-changer for Glasgow, delivering more money to tidy up our city and make it even more attractive for visitors and residents alike.

    “A small contribution from tourists will mean we can invest millions more in street sweeping, bin collections, and getting Glasgow looking good again.

    “I’m glad that Greens in Holyrood got this law passed, and I’m grateful to all councillors who have worked with me over recent months to get this tax in place as soon as possible.”

    Scottish Greens MSP for Glasgow, Patrick Harvie said:

    “Glasgow is a global city, drawing visitors from all over the world. But we have seen how over-tourism can damage communities, like in Venice and Barcelona, where the residents end up paying the price. 

    “The tourist tax is vital to delivering sustainable tourism where local residents feel the benefit of our tourism and events sectors. I’m delighted that Glasgow is continuing to benefit from Green policy in action.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oaklands Farm Solar Park development consent decision announced

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Oaklands Farm Solar Park development consent decision announced

    The Oaklands Farm Solar Park application has today been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

    Oaklands Farm Solar Park

    The application will comprise of the construction and operation of a solar farm plus energy storage with associated infrastructure and connection to the grid. 

    The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Oaklands Farm Solar Limited on 8 February 2024 and accepted for examination on 5 March 2024.  

    Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 19 March 2025.   

    This is the 94th energy application out of 158 applications examined to date and was again completed by the Planning Inspectorate within the statutory timescale laid down in the Planning Act 2008.   

    Local communities continue to be given the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this six-month examination.   

    The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.  

    The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.  

    Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email:   

    Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Closure of loophole to keep terrorists and extremists out of the UK

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Closure of loophole to keep terrorists and extremists out of the UK

    A law has been introduced to prevent British citizenship being reinstated to people considered a national security risk following a successful initial appeal.

    National security will be strengthened under a new law to prevent British citizenship being reinstated to individuals considered a risk following a successful initial appeal.

    The Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Bill will ensure that citizenship is not automatically reinstated after a successful appeal until all further appeals are exhausted—protecting the public from potential threats.

    The bill addresses a gap in the law identified by the Supreme Court, where it confirmed people automatically regain their British citizenship if their initial appeal is successful – even before further appeals have been determined.

    This could mean individuals who the government still considers a risk to the UK’s national security can either be released from immigration detention or return to the UK whilst further appeals are still possible or are ongoing.

    This change will also prevent a person from having British citizenship reinstated and then renouncing any other nationalities. This would mean any future decision to deprive their citizenship following a successful further appeal, could not be made as it would unlawfully render them stateless, meaning they could also not be deported from the UK or prevented from returning if they were already overseas.

    Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

    Protecting our national security and keeping the British public safe is the first duty of this government and the foundation of our Plan for Change. The power to deprive someone of their British citizenship is an essential tool, and helps protect us from some of the most dangerous people.

    We must close this gap in the law and prevent British citizenship being reinstated to individuals until all appeals have been determined. This is the right thing to do if we believe someone is a threat to our national security, and it will make Britain safer.

    Deprivation decisions on ‘conducive to the public good’ grounds are taken only in the most serious cases by the Home Secretary, where it is in the public interest to do so because of the individual’s conduct or the threat they pose to the UK.

    The change in the law follows the similar approach taken in asylum and human rights appeals cases, where asylum is not granted to a person appealing a rejection until all further appeals, up to the Court of Appeal, have been determined. 

    This narrowly focussed bill, consisting of two clauses, makes no change to a person’s existing right to appeal any decision to remove their British citizenship, and doesn’t widen the reasons for which a person could be deprived of their citizenship.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Care for those with learning disabilities or autistic people

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Care for those with learning disabilities or autistic people

    New guidance published today will provide a boost in the quality of care for people with a learning disability or autistic people

    • New guidance published today to ensure health and care staff have skills to provide care for people with a learning disability and autistic people

    • Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism named after teenager who died in 2016 after having severe reaction to medication given to him against family’s wishes

    • Training will aim to tackle health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people, who face poorer health outcomes than general population

    People with a learning disability and autistic people will get safer, more personalised care as the government publishes new guidelines for health and care providers to train staff.

    The Oliver McGowan code of practice on statutory learning disability and autism training aims to ensure staff have the right skills to provide care and boost understanding of the needs of these groups of people.

    It sets out the standards that providers are expected to meet to be compliant with the law and help make sure patients are kept safe.

    Those with a learning disability or autistic people face poorer health outcomes than the general population, and it is crucial that health and social care staff have the right knowledge and skills to tackle these inequalities.

    The training and the Code of Practice are named after Oliver McGowan, an 18-year-old from Bristol with a mild learning disability who died following a severe reaction to medication given to him against his and his family’s strong wishes.

    Under the law, health and care providers registered by the Care Quality Commission have a requirement to ensure staff have the appropriate training.

    Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock said:

    I pay tribute to Paula McGowan OBE and Tom McGowan and their incredible campaign to improve the care of people with a learning disability and autistic people after the tragic death of their son, Oliver.

    Through their work, they have shown admirable dedication, commitment and passion – Oliver’s memory and legacy lives through them.

    This government recognises the appalling health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people.

    Everyone deserves to receive high-quality, empathetic and dignified care but this cannot be achieved if staff do not have the right training. The Oliver McGowan Code of Practice published today will be a boost for anyone with a learning disability or autistic people, their families and loved ones.

    Paul and Tom McGowan said:

    The publication of the Code of Practice marks a deeply emotional and significant milestone for us and will ensure Oliver’s legacy will continue to make a difference by safeguarding people with a learning disability and autistic individuals from the same preventable failings that he tragically endured.

    The Code establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the delivery of the training, promoting consistency and a deeper understanding across health and social care services.

    We are profoundly grateful to cross party politicians for their unwavering support and especially to Baroness Sheila Hollins, whose leadership has been pivotal in advancing this important work.

    Our heartfelt thanks extend to everyone within the NHS and social care sectors, to our expert trainers, and to individuals with a learning disability and or autism, along with their families and carers. This is a true example of what meaningful change looks like, giving a voice to those who are not always seen or heard, creating a lasting impact that will continue to transform lives for the better.

    Tom Cahill CBE, National Director, Learning Disability and Autism NHS England said:

    We know that often the quality of care and support for people with a learning disability and autistic people has not been good enough and we are determined to make this better  .

    This code of practice – a result of Paula and Tom McGowan’s tireless dedication – will mean all NHS staff have the training and support they need to reduce inequalities and give people with a learning disability or autistic people the care they deserve.

    Rebecca Bushell-Bauers, Care Quality Commission Director for people with a learning disability and autistic people said:

    Today highlights Paula and Tom McGowan’s tireless campaigning in their son’s name for better care for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

    We are dedicated to advocating for and improving the health and care outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The code of practice will further support us in assessing and inspecting whether health and social care providers are training their carers and staff to support autistic people and people with a learning disability appropriately and hold them to account to ensure they are delivering good, informed and safe care.

    Baroness Hollins said:

    I am delighted that, following my amendment to the 2022 Health and Care Act, the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice has now been laid before Parliament. This milestone supports the requirement that health and care staff complete training that equips them to better care for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

    I pay special tribute to Paula and Tom McGowan, whose tireless advocacy in memory of their son, Oliver, has led to lasting change including through the Code and training in his name. This is a vital step towards tackling health inequalities and improving care across health and social care services.

    The training will be backed by funding as part of the Learning and Development Support Scheme for adult social care in Autumn 2025.

    Any adult social care providers who arrange for training for their staff between April 2025 and March 2026 will be reimbursed for the costs.

    The Health and Care Act 2022 set out a legal requirement for CQC health and care providers to ensure staff receive appropriate training in caring for those with a learning disability or autistic people.

    Oliver McGowan was repeatedly prescribed antipsychotic medications despite medical notes highlighting his severe adverse reactions to these drugs and against his and his family’s wishes.

    Healthcare staff consistently failed to understand how autism presented alongside epilepsy and did not make the adjustments needed to accommodate for his needs.

    Oliver died after developing a severe side effect to the medication which caused brain damage, and after life support was withdrawn by his parents, he died on 11 November 2016.

    Oliver’s parents, Paula and Tom McGowan, have campaigned for better training for health and care staff to improve understanding of the needs of people with a learning disability or autistic people.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rapist who filmed assault has sentence increased

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Rapist who filmed assault has sentence increased

    A man who raped a woman and shared a video of his assault with other people has had his sentence increased, following intervention by the Solicitor General.

    Gagandeep Gulati (20), from Hounslow, West London, has had his sentence increased by three years after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP, referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.  

    The Court heard that Gulati found the victim near Jubilee Square in Leicester city centre and coerced her to go to Castle Gardens where he raped and sexually assaulted her.  

    Gulati’s movements were captured by CCTV, which led detectives to an accommodation where he was arrested. 

    During police enquiries, Gulati claimed that he had been raped and assaulted by the victim. However, detectives found that he had filmed his attack on the victim and shared the footage with other people.  

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said: 

    Gagandeep Gulati’s rape of a vulnerable young woman before sharing his awful crimes with other people was sickening.

    I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence following my intervention.

    On 28 March 2025, Gagandeep Gulati was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and sharing or threatening to share an intimate photograph or film.   He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

    On 19 June 2025, judges increased Gulati’s sentence to nine years, while imposing concurrent sentences for the assault by penetration and sexual assault of four years and six months respectively after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for life for drugging and raping 10 women as judge commends Met officers

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A senior judge has praised the Metropolitan Police Service following one of the most challenging and complex investigations conducted by detectives to bring a serial rapist to justice.

    The case demonstrates the Met’s ongoing commitment to keeping women and girls safe and work to eradicate sexual violence, largely at the hands of predatory men.

    Zhenhao Zou, 28 (20.02.97), of Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle, was convicted of drugging and raping women both in the UK and China in March 2025. A jury found him guilty of 28 offences in total, including counts of voyeurism, possession of an extreme pornographic image, possession of a drug to commit a sexual offence and false imprisonment.

    On Thursday, 19 June, he was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to a life sentence. He will have to serve a minimum of 24 years.

    The lengthy sentence reflects justice for the women who are victim-survivors of Zou and is testament to the extraordinary lengths gone to by investigators, who left no stone unturned in their pursuit to take a dangerous sexual predator off the streets.

    Following the sentencing hearing, officers paid tribute to the brave victim-survivors, who have always remained at the very heart of the investigation.

    During the sentencing hearing, the judge commended Met detectives DC Jack Woods and DC Oliver Colville, while paying tribute to the whole prosecution team.

    Commander Kevin Southworth, of the Metropolitan Police Service, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts have always been with the courageous victim-survivors of Zou’s heinous and predatory crimes.

    “Thanks to the remarkable efforts of our officers and prosecutors, a dangerous and cowardly offender has been handed a life sentence. I hope the fact Zou can no longer harm others serves as a small amount of comfort to the women who have suffered immeasurably.

    “I would also like to take this opportunity to stress that our investigation remains open and we continue to appeal to anyone who may think they have been a victim of Zou. Please come forward and speak with our team – we will treat you with empathy, kindness and respect.”

    The investigation

    Before his arrest in January 2024, Zou was a student at University College London (UCL) since 2019 and prior to that studied at Queen’s University Belfast.

    Zou used social media platforms and dating websites to target victim-survivors – all of which are believed to be of Chinese heritage. He lured women to his accommodation under the pretence of having a drink or studying and then plied them with drinks laced with drugs.

    He filmed himself as he raped the woman as they lost consciousness.

    Met investigators watched hundreds of these disturbing videos as they built a case of evidence against Zou. It was after analysis of this graphic and disturbing material that it became apparent that he had not only committed offences in London, but also in his home country of China too.

    The prosecution team were unable to identify all of the victim-survivors captured, so relied on this video evidence to present a compelling case during the trial. Officers also meticulously pulled together over 4000 documents to leave no doubt in the jury’s mind about Zou’s guilt.

    Alongside this, they downloaded around six and a half terabytes worth of data from Zou’s phones and laptops, which included around nine million messages. This is the equivalent to 1,664 hours of footage and is one of the biggest cases the Met’s digital forensics lab has ever dealt with.

    Met officers spent months trawling through messages to understand Zou’s pattern of offending, scrupulously translating them into English from Simplified Chinese.

    The appeal

    Following Zou’s conviction, investigators shared that they believed Zou’s offending was much wider than the eleven rapes he was convicted of. They made a direct appeal to unidentified victim-survivors to come forward and seek specialist support.

    Securing justice for the victim-survivors of Zou and putting him behind bars has been at the forefront of detective’s minds since the start of the investigation. To secure a conviction through a fair trial, officers made the decision not to appeal for further victim-survivors ahead of conviction. Sharing specific information relating to his offending may have caused the case to collapse, leaving Zou to offend again. By appealing post-conviction, the Met was able to share the fullest details to support potential victim-survivors coming forward.

    Since the appeal in March 2025, 24 women have made reports to the police. These continue to be investigated thoroughly by a dedicated team of officers. Following the sentencing hearing, the team will continue to liaise with the Crown Prosecution Services around potential future charges.

    Detectives continue to keep an open mind about the identities of unidentified victim-survivors but have been keen to speak to women from the Chinese student community – they may have been living in London between 2019-2024 or met Zou while he was living in China.

    So far, investigators have not received any reports from women who met Zou while he was living in Belfast but remain in contact with Police Service Northern Ireland. They continue to encourage any current or former Northern Ireland residents who have concerns to come forward and speak to officers.

    Saira Pike, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Zou is a serial rapist and a danger to women. His life sentence reflects the heinous acts and harm he caused to women and the danger he posed to society.

    “We have always been determined to seek justice for both the unidentified and identified victims in this case. We used an evidence-led approach that relied on the video recordings of Zou to ensure this dangerous predator faced justice.

    “The prosecution team worked with the police for over a year to pick apart an unprecedented amount of footage and web chats showing his meticulous planning and the horrifying execution of his crimes.

    “Following the police appeal, we will continue to review and consider any further charges to ensure that he is held accountable and seek justice for all victims.

    “I’d like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the courageous women who came forward to report Zou’s horrific crimes. They have been incredibly strong and brave – there is no doubt that their evidence helped us to secure his conviction, and the life sentence handed to him today.”

    How to contact the police and independent support agencies:

    Reports relating to Zhenhao Zou can be made online via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP): https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO1 . The MIPP is also available in Simplified Chinese https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO2, so it is as accessible as possible for potential victim-survivors.

    If you wish to speak to Met detectives or make a report relating to Zou, you can also contact police via email on survivors@met.police.uk

    You can also make a report to police by calling 101 from within the UK, quoting reference 2904/04FEB25.

    If you live in England or Wales and have been affected by this case and would like to seek support from specialist agencies, please contact the independent charity Rape Crisis via their 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line or call them on 0808 500 2222. Specially trained staff are there to listen, answer questions and offer emotional support.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for drugging and raping 10 women as judge commends officers

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A senior judge has praised the Metropolitan Police Service following one of the most challenging and complex investigations conducted by detectives to bring a serial rapist to justice.

    The case demonstrates the Met’s ongoing commitment to keeping women and girls safe and work to eradicate sexual violence, largely at the hands of predatory men.

    Zhenhao Zou, 28 (20.02.97), of Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle, was convicted of drugging and raping women both in the UK and China in March 2025. A jury found him guilty of 28 offences in total, including counts of voyeurism, possession of an extreme pornographic image, possession of a drug to commit a sexual offence and false imprisonment.

    On Thursday, 19 June, he was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to a life sentence. He will have to serve a minimum of 24 years.

    The lengthy sentence reflects justice for the women who are victim-survivors of Zou and is testament to the extraordinary lengths gone to by investigators, who left no stone unturned in their pursuit to take a dangerous sexual predator off the streets.

    Following the sentencing hearing, officers paid tribute to the brave victim-survivors, who have always remained at the very heart of the investigation.

    During the sentencing hearing, the judge commended Met detectives DC Jack Woods and DC Oliver Colville, while paying tribute to the whole prosecution team.

    Commander Kevin Southworth, of the Metropolitan Police Service, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts have always been with the courageous victim-survivors of Zou’s heinous and predatory crimes.

    “Thanks to the remarkable efforts of our officers and prosecutors, a dangerous and cowardly offender has been handed a life sentence. I hope the fact Zou can no longer harm others serves as a small amount of comfort to the women who have suffered immeasurably.

    “I would also like to take this opportunity to stress that our investigation remains open and we continue to appeal to anyone who may think they have been a victim of Zou. Please come forward and speak with our team – we will treat you with empathy, kindness and respect.”

    The investigation

    Before his arrest in January 2024, Zou was a student at University College London (UCL) since 2019 and prior to that studied at Queen’s University Belfast.

    Zou used social media platforms and dating websites to target victim-survivors – all of which are believed to be of Chinese heritage. He lured women to his accommodation under the pretence of having a drink or studying and then plied them with drinks laced with drugs.

    He filmed himself as he raped the woman as they lost consciousness.

    Met investigators watched hundreds of these disturbing videos as they built a case of evidence against Zou. It was after analysis of this graphic and disturbing material that it became apparent that he had not only committed offences in London, but also in his home country of China too.

    The prosecution team were unable to identify all of the victim-survivors captured, so relied on this video evidence to present a compelling case during the trial. Officers also meticulously pulled together over 4000 documents to leave no doubt in the jury’s mind about Zou’s guilt.

    Alongside this, they downloaded around six and a half terabytes worth of data from Zou’s phones and laptops, which included around nine million messages. This is the equivalent to 1,664 hours of footage and is one of the biggest cases the Met’s digital forensics lab has ever dealt with.

    Met officers spent months trawling through messages to understand Zou’s pattern of offending, scrupulously translating them into English from Simplified Chinese.

    The appeal

    Following Zou’s conviction, investigators shared that they believed Zou’s offending was much wider than the eleven rapes he was convicted of. They made a direct appeal to unidentified victim-survivors to come forward and seek specialist support.

    Securing justice for the victim-survivors of Zou and putting him behind bars has been at the forefront of detective’s minds since the start of the investigation. To secure a conviction through a fair trial, officers made the decision not to appeal for further victim-survivors ahead of conviction. Sharing specific information relating to his offending may have caused the case to collapse, leaving Zou to offend again. By appealing post-conviction, the Met was able to share the fullest details to support potential victim-survivors coming forward.

    Since the appeal in March 2025, 24 women have made reports to the police. These continue to be investigated thoroughly by a dedicated team of officers. Following the sentencing hearing, the team will continue to liaise with the Crown Prosecution Services around potential future charges.

    Detectives continue to keep an open mind about the identities of unidentified victim-survivors but have been keen to speak to women from the Chinese student community – they may have been living in London between 2019-2024 or met Zou while he was living in China.

    So far, investigators have not received any reports from women who met Zou while he was living in Belfast but remain in contact with Police Service Northern Ireland. They continue to encourage any current or former Northern Ireland residents who have concerns to come forward and speak to officers.

    Saira Pike, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Zou is a serial rapist and a danger to women. His life sentence reflects the heinous acts and harm he caused to women and the danger he posed to society.

    “We have always been determined to seek justice for both the unidentified and identified victims in this case. We used an evidence-led approach that relied on the video recordings of Zou to ensure this dangerous predator faced justice.

    “The prosecution team worked with the police for over a year to pick apart an unprecedented amount of footage and web chats showing his meticulous planning and the horrifying execution of his crimes.

    “Following the police appeal, we will continue to review and consider any further charges to ensure that he is held accountable and seek justice for all victims.

    “I’d like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the courageous women who came forward to report Zou’s horrific crimes. They have been incredibly strong and brave – there is no doubt that their evidence helped us to secure his conviction, and the life sentence handed to him today.”

    How to contact the police and independent support agencies:

    Reports relating to Zhenhao Zou can be made online via the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP): https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO1 . The MIPP is also available in Simplified Chinese https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS25X38-PO2, so it is as accessible as possible for potential victim-survivors.

    If you wish to speak to Met detectives or make a report relating to Zou, you can also contact police via email on survivors@met.police.uk

    You can also make a report to police by calling 101 from within the UK, quoting reference 2904/04FEB25.

    If you live in England or Wales and have been affected by this case and would like to seek support from specialist agencies, please contact the independent charity Rape Crisis via their 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line or call them on 0808 500 2222. Specially trained staff are there to listen, answer questions and offer emotional support.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Victoria and Albert Street completion concludes major highway and transport upgrades

    Source: City of Derby

    One of Derby City Centre’s key routes has completed a major overhaul, connecting key city centre sites like Becketwell Live, The Condor apartment complex and Derby Market Hall.

    The transport improvements – which will enhance appearance, improve air quality, and encourage more sustainable journeys – concluded with the resurfacing of Corporation Street, Victoria Street and Albert Street

    Among the improvements are wider footpaths and a new segregated cycle lane, making it much easier for residents and visitors to choose low-emission, active travel options to move through the heart of the city centre.

    Improved bus bays, coupled with the segregated cycle lane and a permanent one-way system will allow for improved traffic flow and lower emissions, benefitting the health of visitors and residents alike. Bus users will also benefit from new street lighting around bus stops, making them a safer, more comfortable place to wait.

    New living roof bus shelters will be installed, making the area more visually appealing and providing food sources and habitats for a wide variety of pollinating insects.

    On top of the green bus shelters, the area will also benefit from an extensive greening programme, with new planters being installed to give a fresh, vibrant feel to this vital city centre route. The public realm enhancements will also complement the proposed improvements on Osnabruck Square.

    A number of benches have been incorporated into these new planters, giving visitors a place to sit and enjoy a greener city centre.

    The completion of this scheme also marks the end of Transforming Cities programme in Derby, after Derby and Nottingham City Councils secured £161m from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund. This project has seen improvements made to local transport infrastructure around the city. improving sustainable transport, supporting growth and encouraging more low carbon journeys.

    Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said: 

    I’m delighted that work on Corporation Street, Victoria Street and Albert Street is now complete. This has been a very visible scheme for the city and now people will be able to see the benefits.

    A vital element of the Transforming Cities schemes, is creating an environment where we can make the city centre a healthier place for our communities to live, work and enjoy.

    We can also now celebrate the completion of the Transforming Cities programme, which has delivered infrastructure improvements across the city. I’m proud of all that we have achieved throughout this project, but rest assured we will continue to champion sustainable and active travel as we continue to deliver a greener Derby.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict: Joint Statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict: Joint Statement to the OSCE

    Acting Ambassador Deirdre Brown delivers a joint statement marking the 2025 International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine and my own country the United Kingdom.

    Today, on 19 June, we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. We pay tribute to victims, survivors and those around the world who dedicate their lives to ending conflict-related sexual violence.

    Madam Chair, the global scale and trajectory of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) cases in recent years is deeply concerning. In the OSCE region, we have continued to see evidence of conflict-related sexual violence committed by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war, indicating its potential use as a tactic of war. This has been documented by successive Moscow Mechanism reports, ODIHR Interim Reports and other independent monitoring.

    It is vital that we, the international community, take effective action to end impunity for conflict-related sexual violence. Sexual violence in all forms must stop, all perpetrators must be held accountable, and survivors must be supported.

    The UN Security Council’s resolutions on prevention and response to CRSV are important mechanisms in this regard. Multilateral cooperation and international initiatives such as the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and the OSCE’s mandated work on prevention and accountability for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Armed Conflict highlight the importance of working together towards internationally agreed standards on accountability and support to survivors.

    We strongly support the priorities of Ukraine’s 2025 chairpersonship of the International Alliance, and its specific focus on raising awareness of sexual violence in conflict settings, strengthening international support for survivors, and mobilising global efforts towards justice.

    It is important that conflict-related sexual violence is tackled as part of wider global action to end all forms of gender-based violence, achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity, implement global Women, Peace and Security commitments, empower women’s rights organisations, and promote and defend comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

    Madam Chair, participating States must continue to work together to promote international action to address and prevent conflict-related sexual violence. We must work to ensure that survivor-centred approaches are at the heart of our collective international response, and that survivors including children born of conflict-related sexual violence receive the support and protection they need.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –