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Jumat, 12 Februari 2021

Libby Squire: Pawel Relowicz jailed for student's murder - BBC News

A serial sex offender who raped and murdered a student before dumping her body in a river has been jailed for at least 27 years.

Pawel Relowicz, 26, prowled the streets of Hull before attacking "vulnerable" 21-year-old Libby Squire.

During sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court, Ms Squire's parent's Lisa and Russ gave emotional statements about the loss of their daughter.

Mrs Justice Lambert praised their "quiet dignity" through the trial.

She said the family had suffered "unimaginable loss" and spoke of the "anguish" that Relowicz had condemned them to for the rest of their lives.

Addressing the court, Lisa Squire said no words could "explain the torture of living without my Libby".

"Not only have I lost my first-born child with whom I had an amazing bond, but I've also lost the possibility of being a grandmother to her children," she said.

"Knowing that in Libby's last hour of life she wanted me and needed me but I wasn't there for her will haunt me for the rest of my life.

"Because of what happened that night to Libby, I now live in two worlds - one where I'm a mother, wife and employee, but then there is a dark and lonely world.

"In this world I long to die so I can be with my girl one more time."

Libby Squire's parents, Lisa and Russ Squire

Relowicz's trial heard University of Hull philosophy student Ms Squire had been turned away from a nightclub when he "intercepted" her.

He drove her to Oak Road playing fields, where he attacked her before putting her in the River Hull on 1 February 2019.

The Polish national, who had a string of previous convictions for sexual offences, repeatedly lied about what happened on the night of Ms Squire's disappearance.

Mrs Justice Lambert, sentencing, told him Ms Squire "did not stand a chance" from the moment they crossed paths.

"She had no way of protecting herself from you either physically or mentally," she said.

A "malignant twist of fate" led the pair's paths to cross, the judge said, when Relowicz spotted Ms Squire "weaving her precarious way" around Hull's student area.

"You were guarding your prey, waiting and watching," she said.

Referring to Relowicz's previous convictions for a "perverted campaign of sexually deviant behaviour", Mrs Justice Lambert said another judge was correct to describe him as a potentially "very dangerous individual".

Prior to the murder, she told him: "Your offending escalated, you grew increasingly emboldened, no doubt you were increasingly confident you would not and could not be caught".

Relowicz showed no emotion as the sentence, which included a concurrent 18-year term for rape, was handed down.

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COVID-19: UK's R number falls to below one for the first time since July - Sky News

The UK's coronavirus reproduction number - or 'R' number - has fallen to below one for the first time since July.

The figure is now between 0.7 and 0.9, according to the latest estimate.

The R refers to the number of people an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to, and when the figure is above 1 an outbreak can grow exponentially.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

An R number between 0.7 and 0.9 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will pass on the virus to between seven and nine other people - a sign the epidemic is shrinking.

Last week's R number was between 0.7 and 1.0, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said.

The government scientists have also estimated the UK's growth rate is between minus 5% and minus 2%, meaning the number of new infections is shrinking between 2% and 5% each day.

These estimates are based on the latest data available up until 8 February, which includes hospital admissions, deaths, symptomatic testing and prevalence studies.

Although a lagging indicator, it is the latest sign that infections are slowing.

The R remains below 1 in all regions of England but the number of cases is still high.

It appears lowest in London, which has seen a rapid decline in infections after lockdown was imposed, with the R falling to between 0.6 and 0.8.

New data also shows there has been a drop in infections, with around one in 80 people in private households in England having COVID-19 between 31 January and 6 February.

This is down from around one in 65 the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The latest figures also show the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 is at its lowest level since 29 December, suggesting the UK has passed the peak.

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Some 25,621 people were in hospital with the virus on 9 February, down from 39,236 on 18 January.

However, scientists have said case numbers are still too high for any significant loosening of restrictions.

NHS Test and Trace and surge testing will only be able to work efficiently when case numbers are at much lower levels, one government scientific adviser said.

If cases continue to fall at the same rate, aided by the rollout of vaccines, it is thought low case numbers can be achieved in the next two to three months.

Meanwhile, NHS England has said people aged between 65 and 69 can now have a COVID-19 vaccine in England if GPs have done all they can to reach the higher priority groups.

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2021-02-12 14:15:00Z
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Roadmap out of lockdown WILL be announced on February 22 - Metro.co.uk

Boris Johnson will unveil his lockdown roadmap on February 22, it was claimed this morning – just hours after the deadline for the announcement seemed to be pushed back.

The Prime Minister promised he would reveal his plan to lift restrictions in 10 days – but yesterday his official spokesperson insisted the roadmap would be published on the week beginning February 22, instead of that specific day.

Today, the timeline appeared to have changed yet again when Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said Johnson will in fact outline the roadmap a week on Monday with a statement in the Commons.

‘On February 22 the Prime Minister will make a statement to the House of Commons where he will set out our road map to ease lockdown,’ Atkins told Sky News.

It comes despite the PM’s spokesperson saying yesterday: ‘We’ve been clear we will publish the roadmap on the week of the 22^nd.

‘We will set out the roadmap that week but you’ve got what we’ve said previously about trying to give schools as much notice as possible and we’ve said we’ll give at least two weeks.’

If the roadmap is unveiled on Friday, February 26, schools reopening, currently earmarked for Monday, March 8, could be delayed to Friday, March 12.

Johnson also faces pressure from fellow Conservatives not to delay the timetable for easing lockdown.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wearing a face covering, leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on February 10, 2021, to take part in the weekly session of Prime Minister Questions (PMQs) at the House of Commons. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) — Boris Johnson is under pressure to announce Britain’s future after the lockdown (Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas//AFP via Getty Images)

Mark Harper, the former chief whip who chairs the Covid Recovery Group of lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs, warned it is ‘crucial we don’t backslide on this’.

Professor Neil Ferguson, of the Government’s SAGE advisory group, said Johnson will have ‘some bandwidth’ to start reopening schools in March.

‘The lockdown has really driven down cases quite fast’, Professor Ferguson told Politico’s Westminster Insider podcast this week.

Victoria Atkins on Sky News — Home Office minister Victoria Atkins appearing on Sky News this morning

‘They’re basically halving about every 17 days at the moment or so, and that means in a month’s time – the Prime Minister’s talked about potentially reopening schools, we might have some bandwidth to do that, at least primary schools.

‘And if we continue to see then a continued decline without large outbreaks, then perhaps starting to relax other aspects of society the following month.’

Professor Ferguson said he hoped this would be the final lockdown for Britain – but urged caution, warning how relaxing measures too quickly could lead to a ‘surge in case numbers’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-02-12 12:34:00Z
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COVID-19: One in 80 people had coronavirus in England last week - as infection rates fall in all UK nations - Sky News

COVID infection rates in all four UK nations fell in the week to 6 February, new figures reveal.

Around one in 80 people in private households in England had COVID-19 between 31 January and 6 February, according to estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - the equivalent of 695,400 people.

This is down from around one in 65 people for the period 24 January to 30.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

Infections were also down in Wales where around 1 in 85 people (35,300) had the virus, and Scotland too, with 1 in 150 there testing positive during the same period, the equivalent of 35,400 people.

The percentage of people testing positive for COVID also decreased in Northern Ireland, where around 1 in 75 had the virus - equating to 24,400 people.

London continues to have the highest proportion of people testing positive for coronavirus in England, with around one in 60 estimated to have had the virus. Though this is down from one in 45, previously.

One in 70 had coronavirus in eastern England, the East Midlands, north-west England and the West Midlands.

The other estimates are one in 95 for Yorkshire and the Humber; one in 100 for north-east England and south-west England; and one in 105 for south-east England.

The figures from the ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey do not include people in care homes, hospitals or other institutions.

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The study comes with the UK set to begin the next phase of its vaccination programme.

The over-65s will begin receiving letters inviting them to get COVID vaccines from early next week, Sky News understands.

So far, more than 13.5 million people in the UK have received a first dose of a COVID vaccine, with nearly 525,000 having also had a second dose.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins told Sky News on Friday that the government was "absolutely confident" of meeting its target of offering jabs to the 15 million people in the four most vulnerable groups by Monday 15 February.

Downing Street has said the plan to ease the lockdown in England will be set out on 22 February.

However, a Number 10 spokesman on Friday did not rule out that one option being considered is social distancing being maintained until the autumn.

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2021-02-12 12:33:45Z
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Covid hotel quarantine less strict than Australia's - BBC News

A member of the cleaning staff cleans surfaces as she prepares a room for a guest at the St Giles Hotel, near Heathrow Airport

England's hotel quarantine system could be less stringent than Australia's scheme, a BBC analysis has found.

A copy of the government's official requirements for hotel operators, ahead of the launch on Monday, showed rules were looser in several key areas.

In England, the rules allow guests time outside with security staff, seen in Australia as putting workers at risk.

The UK government said its hotel quarantine measures "are in line with those in other countries".

Updated guidance for hotels will be released "imminently", the Department of Health and Social Care said.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said the rules would be "amongst the strongest in the world".

She told the BBC those arriving from "red list" countries - deemed high-risk due to new virus variants - would face strict measures even before they departed for the UK.

The requirement to quarantine in a hotel applies to British and Irish citizens, and UK residents arriving in England from such countries - including Portugal, Brazil and South Africa.

In Scotland, all those arriving internationally by air will have to isolate in hotels.

The scheme begins on Monday at a cost of £1,750 for an individual.

It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel urged people to "persevere" with England's booking website, where travellers secure rooms and new mandatory tests, after it was hit by technical issues.

Ms Atkins told the BBC the measures would be "kept under review" and that the government was confident the rules "are strong".

"We have some of the strongest border measures in the world and, as of Monday, with the introduction of the red list, these measures will be even stronger," she told BBC Breakfast.

Asked about differences between England and Australia's systems, including fewer restrictions on hotel guests' movements for those in England, she said: "We are following the data in our own country and applying the measures that apply in our own country."

"Our standards are amongst the strongest in the world," she added.

International travel is currently banned, other than for a small number of permitted reasons, including for essential work, medical appointments and education. Holidays are not allowed.

'Looser rules'

BBC science editor David Shukman found the rules in England would be looser than Australia's system, which is seen as among the best in the world.

A copy of the guidance for hotels in England's system suggested:

Guests will be allowed access to fresh air outside, escorted by a security guard, whereas in Australia the view is that staff should not be put at risk by escorting people outside
There is no guidance on the timing of meal deliveries, potentially leading to cross-infections between guests as room doors are opened at the same time
Surgical masks will be required for staff, providing less protection than the masks required in Australia's system

The government said staff would be able to access regular testing and appropriate personal protective equipment.

One Australian epidemiologist described allowing travellers quarantining in hotels to leave their rooms for fresh air as "very risky".

Prof Michael Toole said there was evidence of transmission when guests opened doors, and "with the positive pressure this kind of fog of virus went out into the corridor, travelled down and infected hotel staff".

Prof Nancy Baxter, of the University of Melbourne, said governments had a duty to protect those working inside quarantine hotel systems.

She added "there's a duty of care that those people have the highest possible protection from infection".

It comes as the Australian state of Victoria enters a five-day "circuit breaker" lockdown in a bid to suppress an outbreak linked to its hotel quarantine system.

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The UK has secured an initial 4,700 rooms for its quarantine system, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

He added that, at present, around 1,300 people per week arrived in the UK from red list countries, and that this figure was expected to fall much further.

The new system also introduces tougher penalties, with avoiding quarantine in a designated hotel attracting a fine of between £5,000 and £10,000.

Anyone found to have falsified their travel history on the mandatory passenger locator form filled in on arrival risks up to 10 years in prison.

All international arrivals must book and pay in advance for two additional tests during their quarantine period, or face fines up to £2,000.

Sudden ban

In a further development, government sources confirmed reports that countries could be added to the red list with just a few hours' notice.

Rather than previous weekly reviews of travel corridor arrangements, there will now be a "fast track" system allowing ministers to quickly curb travel from virus hotspots.

Elsewhere, the prospect of summer holidays was questioned after Mr Shapps urged people not to book getaways for later in the year - either at home or abroad.

No 10 said it was up to individuals whether they wanted to book potential future breaks, in view of the risk that they may not take place due to coronavirus restrictions.

Downing Street has said Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a roadmap for easing restrictions - potentially including travel - in the week beginning 22 February.

In other developments on Friday:

Levels of coronavirus are going down in all four nations of the UK, latest figures show
The UK economy shrank by a record 9.9% last year amid coronavirus restrictions, according to official data
Wales will be the first UK nation to have offered the top four priority groups a Covid jab, the Welsh Government says
Online holidays giant Lastminute.com faces legal action over delays to refunds for cancelled breaks

39 WAYS TO SAVE THE PLANET: Tom Heap offers up fresh and fascinating ideas to cut carbon
ARE PEOPLE BORN EVIL?: Learn new things with Greg James and Bella Mackie from Britain's most inspiring teachers

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2021-02-12 12:23:00Z
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Jumat, 12 Februari 2021

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