U.K. to Collect Ethnicity Data on All Suspects in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
The ethnicity and nationality of all suspects in child sexual abuse and exploitation cases in Britain will be recorded by the police under new mandatory reporting rules, the British home secretary told Parliament on Monday.
The requirement was one of the recommendations of a government-commissioned review into a decades-long scandal in Britain involving so-called grooming gangs. The term refers to the sexual exploitation of young girls by groups of men in several towns and cities, which first came to widespread public attention in the early 2010s.
Most of the perpetrators in the largest criminal prosecutions so far have been of Pakistani heritage. The author of the review, Louise Casey, a member of the House of Lords who has conducted several inquiries into institutional failings, said that instead of investigating the ethnicity issue, many organizations had avoided the topic 'for fear of appearing racist' or raising community tensions.
She added that while 'a lot of attention' had been given to the issue of grooming gangs and 'reviews, inquiries and reports have made recommendations,' they had not been acted on forcefully enough, and victims had been repeatedly failed.
Ms. Casey's review made 12 recommendations, which she said would allow the country 'to draw a line in the sand' and 'make sure we do not end up back here again in a few years' time.'
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
28 minutes ago
- Forbes
Dedrone By Axon Provides Insights On Protecting Against Small Drones
Images posted on social media showing Ukrainian drones packaged in containers for shipping (left) ... More and the video feed from the drones as they attack Russian bombers. Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web, which reportedly destroyed a third of Russia's strategic air assets, shifted the paradigm of where the front line exists. Previously, small drones, with their limited range, were used primarily close to the front lines. Meanwhile, key locations farther in the rear were either considered unlikely targets, out of range, or had air-defense systems to protect them against larger drones and missiles. However, as Ukraine demonstrated, small drone technology, coupled with an innovative mindset, can be used to cripple targets that were previously considered immune. Israel reportedly followed suit last week, smuggling small drones into Iran for strikes on Tehran. As such, many countries have taken notice and have started trying to figure out how to protect these targets. While this issue is complex and difficult to solve, Dedrone by Axon, a company that specializes in counter-drone systems, has been trying to tackle this problem for years. Their platforms are used in more than 30 countries, including six of the G7 nations and 17 federal entities, to protect airports, stadiums, correctional facilities, critical infrastructure, corporate campuses, and major events. Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE, a Vice President at Dedrone by Axon and counter-terrorism expert, provided insight into the challenges and what is necessary to solve these problems. Mr. Alexander-Cooper explained that the challenge in protecting against small drones lies in their commercial availability, which makes them an accessible weapon that can be deployed in large quantities. Further, the technology behind these drones continues to evolve rapidly driven by advances in the commercial sector. In turn, this allows users to develop new tactics leveraging increasing levels of autonomy, navigation, and stealth. Social media post from 2022 of a Ukrainian soldier using a Dedrone by Axon system. This rapid evolution of small drone technology creates persistent challenges for counter-drone systems. These defenses are inherently reactive, designed to exploit the vulnerabilities in the latest drone technology. Once fielded, the effectiveness of these systems quickly diminishes as drones are modified or redesigned to evade them. This cycle gives each new generation of drones a window of operational freedom before the next iteration of countermeasures is developed. Additionally, the dynamic evolution of small drone technology has created a diverse fleet, further complicating counter-drone systems. For example, while radio frequency detection might work well for traditional drones, fiber-optic drones emit no signals and require other methods. Meanwhile, radar works well for many of the larger, slower-moving, high-flying drones, but struggles against smaller, faster, low-flying drones. This variety makes it difficult for counter-drone systems to reliably detect and defeat all threats, especially as new drones are constantly being developed to evade existing defenses. While small drones are useful, they inherently have their weaknesses, especially with their payload capacity. This limited payload capacity restricts the amount of explosives that can be carried on the drone. This limited payload also reduces the size of the battery that can be carried, reducing the flight time of the drone and the power of the transmitter on the drone, substantially limiting the range. However, Mr. Alexander-Cooper pointed out, an 'entrepreneurial mindset coupled with bright people thinking outside the box' can overcome these issues. This was demonstrated in Operation Spider's Web, where Ukraine smuggled small drones deep into Russia and then deployed them with precision to maximize their impact. These small drones are clearly a complex problem. According to Mr. Alexander-Cooper, the answer lies in 'a layered defense with multi-sensor fusion.' Since drones vary widely in size, speed, altitude, and signature, relying on a single detection mechanism is inadequate. Detecting the radio frequency signature of a drone is one of the most common techniques and is effective against the majority of commercial systems. Meanwhile, more advanced or hardened drones may operate with reduced or spoofed emissions or avoid emitting radio signals altogether. These threats require detection through alternative means such as electro optical, infrared, radar, or LIDAR. As drones become more advanced, fusing data from multiple sensor types becomes essential to create a comprehensive picture of the airspace without relying on single source reporting. has the ability to integrate a number of different sensors together and provides ... More end-to-end defeat mechanisms for drones. (© Dedrone Inc.) As more sensors enter the mix, there is a growing need for an open architecture that allows new sensors to be quickly integrated into the detection network. This modular plug-and-play approach enables operators to upgrade individual sensors without overhauling the entire system. It also allows the system to be tailored to different operational environments, where specific sensors may be more effective than others depending on the threat landscape. With this increase in sensor diversity comes a rise in computational demands. Managing the data flow from multiple sources and fusing it into a coherent operational picture requires robust processing capability. The key to enabling this fusion lies in artificial intelligence algorithms that can analyze, learn from, and adapt to new types of drones as they are developed. These algorithms must be continuously refined to ensure that the system remains responsive to emerging threats. Once a drone is identified as adversarial, it must be neutralized. Mr. Alexander-Cooper emphasized the importance of counter-drone systems incorporating the full 'end to end defeat chain,' which includes detection, identification, tracking, decision-making, and ultimately defeat. As small drones become more advanced through improvements in computing and autonomy, the time available for counter-drone systems to respond continues to shrink. Michael Dyballa from the company Dedrone demonstrates how a company's premises can be secured ... More against drones in Langen, Germany, 5 July 2017. The German Air Navigation Service (DFS) hosted an event providing information on the uses and dangers of drones. German Telecom co-hosted the event. Photo: Andreas Arnold/dpa (Photo by Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images) Just as with detection, tracking and identification, there is no single solution for drone defeat. An effective counter-drone system must offer a range of defeat mechanisms, both kinetic and non-kinetic. This flexibility allows operators to respond in line with mission constraints and rules of engagement. Non-kinetic tools such as radio frequency and GNSS jamming or signal spoofing remain effective against many commercial drones. However, more sophisticated threats are often hardened against jamming and require kinetic solutions such as directed energy weapons, nets, lasers, or mobile interceptors to be neutralized effectively. Over the past decade, there has been an ongoing cat and mouse game between drone and counter-drone technology, which has been accelerated by the Russia-Ukraine War. According to Mr. Alexander-Cooper, the future of counter-drone technology will be shaped by speed. Advances in AI and machine learning are reducing the time systems need to react to the point where counter-drone systems will soon need to operate without humans in the loop. This will become especially important as swarm technology advances, requiring systems to handle multiple simultaneous threats. Mr. Alexander-Cooper also highlighted the paradigm shift following Operation Spider's Web. The number of potential targets has become virtually unlimited, with small drones capable of inflicting significant damage, making it effectively impossible to fully protect all assets. Effective defense will require not only new tools, but integrated systems, rapid data sharing, and a willingness across industry and government to adapt together. The small drone threat is evolving. The response must evolve faster.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch' reform, MPs say
The water sector is in need of 'root-and-branch reform', a committee of MPs has said as it called for 'much more regulated management' of bonuses for senior bosses. The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has said that the industry is 'failing', but that water companies are 'deaf to the crisis' that it is facing. In their report, Priorities For Water Sector Reform released on Monday, the MPs argue that the Government 'should feel able to use its temporary nationalisation powers' when needed. They also said the system should 'ensure that more money gained from investors and through customer bills is directed towards investment in water infrastructure and service delivery' and less towards debt repayment or financial rewards for executives. The system of fines and rewards should also focus on a reduction in pollution incidents, responsible ownership and the need for the sector to have long-term resilience, the MPs said. 'Despite some initial success after privatisation in 1989, root-and-branch reform of the water sector is now needed to improve the sector's culture,' the committee said. As part of their investigation, the MPs found that 'public disquiet has increasingly turned to outrage' at the way water companies and their bosses are benefiting from the sector. 'Over hearings with 10 of the largest water companies and Ofwat, we regularly encountered a culture that is deaf to the crisis thesector is facing,' they said. Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael, a Liberal Democrat MP, said the sector 'must not shy away from bold proposals' and that it has a 'serious culture problem'. He said: 'Water companies' complex and sometimes impenetrable financial structures, with their myriad subsidiaries, holding companies and parent organisations, seem to suggest that their purpose is less to provide a good service to their customers and more to allow them to juggle their finances and their increasingly unsustainable levels of debt. 'Meanwhile, an ineffective regulatory system has failed to protect customers, the environment and the financial stability of the sector. 'It has failed to ensure that companies invest in essential infrastructure and it has not encouraged long-term thinking. 'This has got to stop now. Trust and accountability in the water sector are very low. 'It is not acceptable that it has fallen to commendable citizen scientists to expose issues with local water resources. 'Environmental protection and the delivery of reliable and safe water must be the first priorities of water companies and regulators.' A Defra spokesperson said: 'Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted, and our water system is broken. 'As part of the plan for change, new legislation has banned unfair multimillion-pound bonuses for bosses at six water companies and launched a record 81 criminal investigations. 'This Government has also secured the largest investment into the water sector in history, with £104 bn in private sector investment to clean up rivers, lakes and seas and cut sewage by nearly half by 2030.' A Water UK spokesperson said: 'Everyone agrees that the water system is not working, and we have been calling for fundamental reforms which allow investment to get quickly to where it needs to go. 'In the meantime, companies are focused on investing a record £104 billion over the next five years to secure our water supplies, end sewage entering our rivers and seas and support economic growth.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hydrogen giant abandons £2bn British factory plans Labour refused to back
The world's largest hydrogen producer has abandoned plans to build a £2bn green energy factory in Britain, dealing a blow to the Government's bid to attract foreign investment. US-based Air Products has pulled the proposed green hydrogen project in Humberside over claims of government foot-dragging, as bosses attacked a 'lack of commitment' by ministers. Air Products first announced details of the proposed plant in Immingham three years ago, which was set to convert imported ammonia into green hydrogen and employ around 3,000 people. At the time, it said it was in 'positive talks' with ministers and officials, as it vowed to be 'an important contributor to the Government's plans to make the UK a global leader in low-carbon hydrogen'. However, in a letter seen by The Times to Martin Vickers, Tory MP for Immingham, Air Products revealed it was walking away from the project in protest at a lack of ministerial support. Suzanne Lowe, the company's UK boss, wrote: 'Current government policy supports a number of blue and green hydrogen production processes but specifically excludes hydrogen production from imported renewable ammonia. 'This is in stark contrast with the EU, which has embraced the import of renewable energy through a range of policy incentives. 'The decision not to open up key support measures to our hydrogen production pathway leaves us with no viable path to build and operate a large-scale hydrogen production facility in the UK.' It marks an end to the project, which appeared to have been given the go-ahead in February when planning permission for an accompanying terminal was approved. However, Air Products has pulled the project just months after also exiting three green hydrogen plants in the US. Whitehall sources said Air Products' decision was a commercial one, claiming the company's ammonia-based plant did not meet its hydrogen production business model. A government spokesman said: 'We will not be financially supporting any ammonia cracking projects at this time, as we are prioritising support for primary hydrogen production in the UK. 'We are already providing £2bn to support 11 British green hydrogen projects, in addition to £500m to create the UK's first regional hydrogen transport and storage network, creating thousands of clean energy jobs and ensuring communities across the country feel the benefits of Britain's renewal.' Meanwhile, it comes weeks after warnings that a giant hydrogen project in Teesside was also at risk. BP's H2Teesside scheme, announced in 2021 by Bernard Looney, then the oil giant's chief executive, was designed to produce 'blue' hydrogen from natural gas, and then capture and store the carbon emissions. But sources warned that BP was set to scale back or even cancel the project as it struggled to secure enough customers to make the investment worthwhile. BP said: 'We continue to work with [the] Government to progress H2Teesside.' Air Products was contacted for comment. Sign in to access your portfolio
