Latest news with #FredThomas
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Now British drone troops destined to aid Ukraine's war effort face new enemy: Health and safety!
British soldiers destined to aid Ukraine 's war effort are facing a fearsome foe closer to home – health and safety rules that hamper their training for drone warfare. Troops have been told to stop flying drones that weigh more than 250g (9oz) – the weight of a cucumber – over their comrades while training on Salisbury Plain, even if they are in heavily armoured tanks at the time. They have also been prevented from using signal-jamming equipment to stop drone pilots controlling the deadly devices due to fears it might interfere with satnavs and other gadgets used by residents near the Wiltshire site. It has prompted concerns that troops at the base will be under-prepared when dispatched to the Russian border to help Volodymyr Zelensky 's soldiers defend their homeland. Labour MP Fred Thomas, who sits on the Commons' Defence Committee, said: 'British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going out without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or in Ukraine.' 'They are taking steps to try to protect themselves by going online and buying kit to then tinker around with, to see if they can jam frequencies themselves,' he told the Financial Times. According to the newspaper, soldiers complained they had to make repeated requests to the Military Aviation Authority – part of the Ministry of Defence – for permission to fly a drone over a tank during a training exercise in March. This was despite the tank not having any personnel inside at the time. Rules are in place to stop the devices from being flown near airports, buildings or above members of the public. They were cited as the reason why soldiers had been prevented from practising electronic warfare, including using signals data to jam drones. But drones have become a crucial facet of modern warfare. Both Russian and Ukrainian troops jam radio control frequencies and video links between drones and pilots to down the devices. Last month Defence Secretary John Healey announced that Britain would send hundreds of thousands of drones to the Ukrainian frontline as part of a £450million aid package. The devices being supplied include 'first-person view' or FPV drones, to attack targets, and aerial devices, which can drop explosives on Russian positions. These types of drones are reported to be responsible for 60 to 70 per cent of damage caused to Russian equipment. But there are concerns that a lack of 'real-life' training will restrict British soldiers' ability when they reach the front-line. An MoD spokesman said: 'While operating within the UK, it's right that we balance safety with the need to train, innovate and operate new drone systems. To protect operational security and non-military environments, people would also expect us to ensure that electronic warfare capabilities have some restrictions.'
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Fury as British soldiers BANNED from flying drones over people in training due to health and safety rules
Troops had to file multiple requests just to fly a drone over an empty tank, soldiers told the House of Commons WORLD FLOOR 3 Fury as British soldiers BANNED from flying drones over people in training due to health and safety rules Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SOLDIERS have been banned from flying drones over people during training due to health and safety rules. The strict regulations mean troops may be ill-prepared for modern warfare, experts have warned. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Soldiers training on Salisbury Plain, Wilts, have been barred from flying pilotless aircraft weighing similar to a packet of biscuits over colleagues' heads — even if they are sitting in a tank. Troops had to file multiple requests just to fly a drone over an empty tank, soldiers told the House of Commons. Soldiers gearing up for possible conflict with Russia are also barred from using signal jammers or practising other electronic warfare in case they breach data collection rules by intercepting information or set off local residents' devices. Defence chiefs insist the rules are there to protect people. But MPs say the red tape is actually putting lives at risk. Labour MP Fred Thomas told the Financial Times: 'British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or Ukraine.' Ukraine says drones account for up to 80 per cent of casualties. The Ministry of Defence admitted there are restrictions, but claimed data rules are not directly stopping training.
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Fury as British soldiers BANNED from flying drones over people in training due to health and safety rules
SOLDIERS have been banned from flying drones over people during training due to health and safety rules. The strict regulations mean troops may be ill-prepared for modern warfare, experts have warned. Advertisement Soldiers training on Troops had to file multiple requests just to fly a drone over an empty tank, soldiers told the House of Commons. Soldiers gearing up for possible conflict with Russia are also barred from using signal jammers or practising other electronic warfare in case they breach data collection rules by intercepting information or set off local residents' devices. Defence chiefs insist the rules are there to protect people. Advertisement Read More on UK News But MPs say the red tape is actually putting lives at risk. Labour MP Fred Thomas told the Financial Times: 'British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or Ukraine.' Ukraine says drones account for up to The Ministry of Defence admitted there are restrictions, but claimed data rules are not directly stopping training. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive 1 Soldiers have been banned from flying drones over people during training due to health and safety rules Credit: Getty
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Fury as British soldiers BANNED from flying drones over people in training due to health and safety rules
SOLDIERS have been banned from flying drones over people during training due to health and safety rules. The strict regulations mean troops may be ill-prepared for modern warfare, experts have warned. Soldiers training on Salisbury Plain, Wilts, have been barred from flying pilotless aircraft weighing similar to a packet of biscuits over colleagues' heads — even if they are sitting in a tank. Troops had to file multiple requests just to fly a drone over an empty tank, soldiers told the House of Commons. Soldiers gearing up for possible conflict with Russia are also barred from using signal jammers or practising other electronic warfare in case they breach data collection rules by intercepting information or set off local residents' devices. Defence chiefs insist the rules are there to protect people. But MPs say the red tape is actually putting lives at risk. Labour MP Fred Thomas told the Financial Times: 'British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or Ukraine.' The Ministry of Defence admitted there are restrictions, but claimed data rules are not directly stopping training. 1
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Water back for some but schools closed after burst
Water supplies have been successfully restored for some properties across west Devon following a burst main, South West Water (SWW) has said. The water company said at about 07:30 BST on Wednesday its customers should now be back in supply, but some schools and businesses said they were still not restored. Thousands of properties in Plymouth, Bere Alston, Yelverton, and Tavistock lost supplies following a burst water main on Sunday. On Tuesday, SWW said the 13,000 properties who experienced a loss of water supply would receive £200 compensation. A spokesperson for SWW said: "We are pleased to say that customers should now be back in supply. "We want to apologise again for the inconvenience this has caused, but we would also like to thank all of our customers for their patience and kindness to our teams on the ground providing bottled water." Whitchurch Community Primary School said it had taken the decision to close for the second day in a row as it was experiencing "water issues". On social media, the school said: "I apologise in advance for any disruption caused. "I hope you all manage to access some water today and hopefully see everyone back at school tomorrow." Devon County Council also confirmed Bickleigh Down Church Of England Primary School, in Plymouth, was closed on Wednesday due to the lack of water. Horrabridge Primary School, which was closed due to having no water on Tuesday, said it still did not have supplies on Wednesday but would be opening to its students. The head teacher said SWW was providing the school with 12 portable toilets which were due to arrive before 09:00 GMT. Nuffield Health Devonshire leisure centre in Derriford, Plymouth said it remained closed due to the issues, as well as Plymouth Marjon University, including the Marjon Sport and Health Centre. South West Water said every part of its water network was "back in operation". It said: "It can take time for water to flow throughout the network due to topography and increasing demand, but we are monitoring our systems carefully and can confirm water is flowing throughout the network." Customers still experiencing ongoing problems as isolated issues are likely to be due to an air lock, SWW said, and are encouraged to contact them. The four bottled water stations it had set up will remain open until 10:00 GMT on Wednesday, and the team would continue to make deliveries to its priority service customers. The stations are located at The George Park and Ride, Bere Alston Bowling Club, Knightstone Tearooms in Yelverton and Morrisons in Tavistock. Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said oN Wednesday residents were "furious" and could not understand why SWW had communicated "so poorly". He said: "Despite assurances from SWW yesterday it would be back this morning, schools and businesses [are] deciding this morning they cannot open." Thomas said he had also "demanded an improved compensation package". He said in the company has told him the total payment for household customers is expected to be £250, and the figure for business customers is expected to be £500. On Tuesday, the company said household customers would receive £200, and businesses £400. SWW said: "Recognising the impact on customers and communities, we will credit impacted customers as set out in our revised Customer Promise for 2025, guaranteeing a £50 payment per 12 hours without service, and £50 for each subsequent 12-hour period. "This is over and above the current statutory amounts of £20 per 12 hours, and £10 per subsequent 24-hour period. The total payment to household customers is expected to be £250. "Business customers will receive a £100 payment per 12 hours and £100 for each subsequent 12-hour period, again over and above the current statutory payments of £50 per 12 hours and £25 for each subsequent 12-hour period." The company said as water comes back into service, it is normal to expect discolouration, which should clear after running your cold kitchen tap. "It is also common for air to become trapped in the supply, or within the internal plumbing," SWW said. Customers who are still experiencing no water have been advised by the water company to follow "simple steps" to check for airlocks. It said to turn on the internal stop-tap on and off three times to release any air whilst the cold kitchen tap is running, and to check the external stop-tap was open, if safe to do so. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Water outage households to get £200 compensation 13,000 homes affected by burst water main South West Water
