Latest news with #DianaJohnson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Phone thieves' e-bikes to be crushed hours after they are caught
Police will receive powers to destroy e-bikes and e-scooters hours after they are seized in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and snatch thefts. Officers will no longer have to give a warning to an offender before seizing and destroying a bike, scooter or car that has been driven in an anti-social way or used to perpetrate the theft of a mobile phone or bag. Instead of waiting 14 days before being able to dispose of them, police will have powers to destroy them within 48 hours. Ministers said the current 14-day deadline made it easier for offenders to reclaim their bikes, scooters or vehicles, which provided a limited deterrent to repeat offending. While e-bikes and scooters have become an increasing source of irritation for pedestrians, they are, along with mopeds and scooters, being increasingly used in snatch thefts. The number of snatch thefts, where devices or personal items are grabbed from a person by a thief, rose from 58,000 in 2023 to 99,000 last year – the highest level since 2003, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said: 'Anti-social and reckless driving brings misery to communities across the country, from dangerous street racing to off-road bikes tearing through local parks. 'By enabling police to seize and dispose of these vehicles within just 48 hours, we're giving our officers the tools they need to deliver immediate results and providing communities the swift justice they deserve. 'As part of our Plan for Change, these new powers send a clear message that anti-social behaviour, whatever form it takes, will not be tolerated in our local communities.' Labour is also looking to increase the fines for the cost of seizing, towing and crushing vehicles. A previous consultation recommended that it should be increased by the rate of inflation since the fees were last raised in 2008. This would cover the cost of recovering vehicles. The problem of nuisance driving has become so bad that some forces have launched dedicated operations to combat it. Operation Vulcan in Oldham has been targeting e-bikes, four of which were seized after their drivers were arrested for drug supply. Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council's lead for roads policing, said: 'Anti-social use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution. 'It can have long-term effects on a neighbourhood, with the criminal damage of roads, other vehicles and surrounding property.' Edmund King, the AA president, said: 'Illegal car meets and street racing are not just anti-social, but also present road safety problems which have resulted in needless injuries and fatalities. 'This is a positive step that should make people think again before joining illegal car cruises.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Government would support knife arches in schools
Installing metal detecting knife arches in schools and nightclubs would be supported by the government if they were "appropriate", the policing minister has Johnson, however, said those decisions should be "made locally".She was speaking during a visit to Coventry as part of Knife Crime Awareness West Midlands Police area recently saw a drop in the number of knife crime incidents - meaning it no longer has the highest rate of knife crime in the country. The minister discussed how the government would be working with the force to help meet a national target of halving knife crime over the next decade. Asked about installing knife arches in nightclubs and schools after several incidents involving young people in the region over recent years, she said: "I'm open to looking at anything that keeps the public safe."I think in schools, if schools if head teachers think that's appropriate then I would support them in that. "But I think it is very much down to what actions are most appropriate for the setting you're talking about." It was recently announced that the number of weapon surrender bins in the West Midlands is to are able to dispose of knives and weapons in the metal containers, with 1,705 weapons surrendered in the West Midlands Police area between January and March, which were later equates to 142 weapons deposited each week, or more than 20 per day. The recent haul included hundreds of flick knives, zombie knives, kitchen knives, knuckle dusters, machetes and even Supt Paul Joyce, who is responsible for policing across the whole of Coventry, told the BBC that part of the success was down to working with schoolchildren and tackling gang-related said: "We've got really good processes in place to identify gang members and proactively target them to ensure that they are not a risk to each other and to the wider community." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Infected blood compensation needs to be faster, campaigners say
Compensation for infected blood victims needs to be delivered faster, campaigners have said on the first anniversary of a public inquiry report into what has been described as the worst treatment disaster in NHS history."We are dying at pace, the government needs to be working at pace, not just talking about it," one campaigner said on Tuesday as a letter calling for action was handed in to the prime Johnson, a minister who for years as a Labour MP supported victims of the scandal, said it was "disappointing" to hear how slow process had Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas Symonds said the government was "committed to delivering compensation as swiftly as possible". More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV or hepatitis C or both after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. Around 3,000 people have his final report released one year ago, inquiry chair Sir Brian Langstaff said the scandal had been largely avoidable and involved systemic had expected rapid compensation, but so far only 100 people have received payouts. They gathered at Westminster on Tuesday to hand in a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, stating their concern at the lack of progress. "Twelve months on from the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry's devastating report, there remains deep concern from the contaminated blood community that politics is continuing to fail them," the letter said."As the Infected Blood Inquiry heard when it reconvened hearings on 7 May 2025, the community's voice was absent when the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme was drawn up. The resulting scheme contains fundamental flaws, which could and would have been foreseen." Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Diana Johnson MP, who is now a Home Office Minister, told BBC News that she appreciated the concerns of campaigners and sympathised with their argument."It's disappointing to hear just how slow the process is though, and I fully appreciate the concerns that so many people who are gathered today are making about wanting to get those payments out to people," she said."We know on average someone dies every couple of weeks, so this has to be paid. But the money is there."When asked whether she could use her position as minister to make their case she said she was speaking to the BBC as a constituency Wrixton, who was infected with hepatitis C as the result of a blood transfusion, said: "It's been a year since the euphoria of the recommendations, and yet, as an infected person... the statistics that roughly two a week are dying, we've still not got payment."We are dying at pace, the government needs to be working at pace, not just talking about it. We need to see the actions."Cabinet Office minister Thomas–Symonds said: "The victims of this scandal have suffered unspeakably."After decades of delay, it has fallen to this government to act. We are acting on the inquiry's 12 recommendations, so that this never happens again, and to get justice for victims."While no amount of compensation will make up for the suffering people have endured, we are committed to delivering compensation as swiftly as possible."
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Pubs to open late for England or Wales in Women's Euros
The Home Office has announced that football fans will get extra time to celebrate if either home nation reaches the final stages of the Women's Euros in July. It would see closing hours of pubs put back from the usual 11pm cut off. Licensing hours can be relaxed to mark an occasion of 'exceptional national significance'. England's Lionesses are defending champions while Wales have qualified for the competition for the first time. Both teams have been drawn in the same group, alongside France and the Netherlands. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson, said: 'Nothing quite brings people together like watching our national football teams, which is why we want fans to be able to enjoy every minute of these matches. 'We will extend licensing hours should either team progress through the tournament, to allow supporters to watch and celebrate together for longer. 'I want to wish the best of luck to both teams and let's hope for some more memorable nights this summer.' The semi-finals take place on July 22 and July 23 while the final kicks off on July 27. Any home nation glory on the pitch could also see success for the hospitality industry which has welcomed the move to keep the doors open for longer. The announcement is being made now ahead of the tournament – in Switzerland from July 2 to 27 – so pubs can sort out stock and staffing. A post shared by Angharad james (@angharadjames10) It also gives enough time to arrange the statutory instruments needed potentially to extend opening hours before Parliament's summer recess. Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill described the extended hours as 'a positive and progressive move that recognises the growing popularity of women's football and its cultural significance across the UK'. He said: 'Much like previous extensions for national celebrations, this decision will give communities the opportunity to come together and celebrate in a safe and responsible way, while also providing a welcome boost to the night-time economy. 'It represents a valuable opportunity for hospitality businesses to maximise trade during a major event – particularly important in today's extremely challenging economic climate.' England will be hoping to defend the title they won at Wembley Stadium in July 2022 when they beat Germany in the final. Recommended reading: The two home nations will face off during this year's tournament group stages on Sunday, July 13 in St Gallen. England will face France on July 5 when Wales will play the Netherlands. On July 9 England will play the Netherlands while Wales's opponents will be the Netherlands. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate licensing regimes.
Powys County Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Pubs to open late for England or Wales in Women's Euros
Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am if England or Wales reach the semi-finals or final of the Uefa Women's European Championships. The Home Office has announced that football fans will get extra time to celebrate if either home nation reaches the final stages of the Women's Euros in July. It would see closing hours of pubs put back from the usual 11pm cut off. Licensing hours can be relaxed to mark an occasion of 'exceptional national significance'. England's Lionesses are defending champions while Wales have qualified for the competition for the first time. Both teams have been drawn in the same group, alongside France and the Netherlands. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson, said: 'Nothing quite brings people together like watching our national football teams, which is why we want fans to be able to enjoy every minute of these matches. 'We will extend licensing hours should either team progress through the tournament, to allow supporters to watch and celebrate together for longer. 'I want to wish the best of luck to both teams and let's hope for some more memorable nights this summer.' The semi-finals take place on July 22 and July 23 while the final kicks off on July 27. Any home nation glory on the pitch could also see success for the hospitality industry which has welcomed the move to keep the doors open for longer. The announcement is being made now ahead of the tournament – in Switzerland from July 2 to 27 – so pubs can sort out stock and staffing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Angharad james (@angharadjames10) It also gives enough time to arrange the statutory instruments needed potentially to extend opening hours before Parliament's summer recess. Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill described the extended hours as 'a positive and progressive move that recognises the growing popularity of women's football and its cultural significance across the UK'. He said: 'Much like previous extensions for national celebrations, this decision will give communities the opportunity to come together and celebrate in a safe and responsible way, while also providing a welcome boost to the night-time economy. 'It represents a valuable opportunity for hospitality businesses to maximise trade during a major event – particularly important in today's extremely challenging economic climate.' England will be hoping to defend the title they won at Wembley Stadium in July 2022 when they beat Germany in the final. The two home nations will face off during this year's tournament group stages on Sunday, July 13 in St Gallen. England will face France on July 5 when Wales will play the Netherlands. On July 9 England will play the Netherlands while Wales's opponents will be the Netherlands.
