Babak Belurs

Jumat, 16 Juni 2023

Former police watchdog chief Michael Lockwood charged with rape of girl - The Guardian

The former head of the police watchdog has been charged with raping a girl in the 1980s.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Michael Lockwood, 64, who headed the Independent Office for Police Conduct until last year, had been charged with nine sexual offences.

They include six counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape against a girl under the age of 16. The offences are alleged to have taken place between October 1985 and March 1986. He is due to appear before magistrates in Hull on 28 June.

Lockwood was forced to resign last year, when it emerged he was being investigated for alleged historical offences.

Rosemary Ainslie, the head of the special crime division at the CPS, said: “After carefully considering all of the evidence provided to us by Humberside police, we have authorised charges against Michael Lockwood, 64, for nine offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

“Mr Lockwood has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a girl under the age of 16, alleged to have been committed during the 1980s. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”

Lockwood was the first director general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in 2018.

Last December, the home secretary, Suella Braverman, said she had requested Lockwood’s resignation because of the investigation. At the time, she said: “I took immediate action upon being made aware that Mr Lockwood was the subject of a police investigation into an historic allegation, and instructed my officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension from his role.”

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2023-06-16 09:00:00Z
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Hosepipe ban to be introduced in Kent and Sussex - Sky News

A hosepipe ban is to be introduced for more than two million people in Kent and Sussex as the country swelters during the current heatwave.

South East Water said it was bringing in the restriction amid shortages in those regions.

Schools have been forced to close during the hot weather and bottled water stations have been set up as the utility firm said demand for drinking water has reached "record levels".

UK weather: The latest Sky News forecast

The company said the temporary hosepipe restrictions will come into force from 26 June and means customers cannot water their gardens, wash cars, boats or patios and are banned from filling paddling or swimming pools.

It comes as the NHS warned soaring temperatures, which are forecast to climb into the 30s in some areas, had contributed to one of the "busiest days ever" in A&E departments.

The Met Office has also raised the wildfire risk to 'very high' over much of England and parts of Wales.

South East Water's chief executive David Hinton said: "This situation has developed much more rapidly than last year.

"Understandably, we've seen customer demand increase in line with the hotter weather, however this has impacted our ability to keep all customers in supply at all times.

"Despite asking for customers help to use water for essential uses only, regrettably we've now been left with no choice but to introduce this temporary use ban restriction to protect customers supplies across Kent and Sussex."

He added: "The long-term forecast for the rest of the summer is for a dry period with little rainfall, although temperatures may reduce slightly.

"Restricting the use of hosepipes and sprinklers to make sure we have enough water for our customers' essential use, will ensure we can serve our vulnerable customers and to protect the local environment."

Watch The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm and 7.30pm on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, and on YouTube and Twitter.

The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis.

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2023-06-16 09:14:00Z
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Boris Johnson: Conservative MPs face dilemma on Partygate vote - BBC

Prime Minister Boris Johnson places his hand on his head as he is deep in thought at a news conference inside No 10 Downing Street, London

By Damian Grammaticas, Ione Wells & Kate Whannel

BBC News

Some of Boris Johnson's closest allies are rallying behind the former PM before a vote on a damning report which found he had misled MPs over Partygate.

Nadine Dorries is among a small group of Johnson loyalists planning to oppose the Privileges Committee's report in a Commons vote on Monday.

Many other Tory MPs have yet to decide how to vote - or whether to abstain.

The motion - which would see Mr Johnson stripped of his right to a parliament pass - is likely to pass comfortably.

The committee's main recommendation is that Mr Johnson should be suspended from Parliament for 90 days, but he has already stood down as an MP.

The report, which was published on Thursday morning, said the former PM had deliberately misled Parliament over lockdown parties and had committed repeated offences with his denials.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - who was Mr Johnson's chancellor - has not said whether he will vote on the report.

Johnson loyalists - including former ministers Sir Simon Clarke, Nadine Dorries and Sir Jake Berry - have said they will vote against the report's findings.

It is likely that many more Conservative MPs could abstain, or simply not turn up to the vote, while Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are all expected to support the committee's findings.

But Conservative MPs still face a dilemma over Monday's vote.

Voting against the recommendations risks alienating local party activists who want Mr Johnson gone, voting for it risks angering his fans, who believe he has been hounded out of Parliament.

Allies of Mr Johnson warned Tory MPs they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told the BBC that "deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion".

The former cabinet minister under Theresa May said he intended to vote to approve the report with a "heavy heart".

Sir Jake - an ally of Mr Johnson - said he was "almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour" of the report on Monday.

But Sir Jake said he would "certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, whose conclusions he called "wrong".

So far, 16 Conservatives have publicly criticised the committee:

Johnson ally Ms Dorries suggested Tories who vote for the report should be kicked out of the party

Sir James Duddridge tweeted: "Why not go the full way, put Boris in the stocks and provide rotten food to throw at him?"

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss told GB News she would not question the integrity of the committee, but added their decision seemed "very harsh".

Liberal Democrats say the report "speaks for itself" and should be approved without a debate.

Sir Ed Davey criticised the amount of time the government is spending debating Mr Johnson's conduct, and said the Conservative party is operating "in absolute chaos".

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Following a year-long investigation, the seven-person Privileges Committee found Mr Johnson had had "personal knowledge" of Covid-rule breaches in Downing Street but had repeatedly failed to "pro-actively investigate" the facts.

The committee said officials had not advised Mr Johnson that social distancing guidelines were followed at all times, contrary to what he said in the House of Commons at the time.

In key evidence, Martin Reynolds - one of Mr Johnson's most senior officials - said he had advised the PM against making the claim, questioning whether it was "realistic".

Mr Johnson announced last Friday that he was standing down as an MP with immediate effect after being shown a draft of the report.

A by-election will be held on 20 July in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

In an eviscerating statement he branded the committee a "kangaroo court" and its findings "deranged", accusing Harriet Harman, the Labour chairwoman of the committee, of bias.

The committee said the initial proposed sanction was increased "in light of Mr Johnson's conduct" in recent days - including breaching confidentiality rules and "being complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee".

Mr Johnson's statement was "completely unacceptable", they said.

Responding to the report, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson had "disgraced himself", and the Liberal Democrats' Daisy Cooper said he had treated Parliament with "total disdain". SNP leader Humza Yousaf called it a "dark day" for Westminster.

Kamis, 15 Juni 2023

Boris Johnson faced 90-day suspension for misleading MPs before he quit – UK politics live - The Guardian

From 6h ago

The committee says, if Boris Johnson were still an MP, it would recommend a suspension for 90 days. It says that last week it was set to recommend a suspension for more than 10 sitting days, enough to trigger the recall election process. But it says it increased the hypothetical punishment in the light of his statement on Friday night, attacking the committee and its draft findings, which itself was “a very serious contempt”.

Johnson is now an ex-MP, and so a suspension punishment can no longer apply. But the committee says Johnson should not be entitled the pass normally given to former MPs allowing them access to parliament.

In its summary the committee says:

The question which the house asked the committee is whether the house had been misled by Mr Johnson and, if so, whether that conduct amounted to contempt. It is for the house to decide whether it agrees with the committee. The house as a whole makes that decision. Motions arising from reports from this committee are debatable and amendable. The committee had provisionally concluded that Mr Johnson deliberately misled the house and should be sanctioned for it by being suspended for a period that would trigger the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015. In light of Mr Johnson’s conduct in committing a further contempt on 9 June 2023, the committee now considers that if Mr Johnson were still a member he should be suspended from the service of the House for 90 days for repeated contempts and for seeking to undermine the parliamentary process, by:

a) Deliberately misleading the house.

b) Deliberately misleading the committee.

c) Breaching confidence.

d) Impugning the committee and thereby undermining the democratic process of the house.

e) Being complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee.

We recommend that he should not be entitled to a former member’s pass.

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Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says that Boris Johnson is a liar, and that Rishi Sunak should call an early general election.

At Holyrood Humza Yousaf accused Boris Johnson of “betraying the people of the UK” during first minister’s questions.

During questions about delays to road improvements across the Highlands, Yousaf accused Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross of trying to “dodge” the scandal. Yousaf said Johnson was “not just lying to the House of Commons, but betraying the people of this country and of the UK”. He went on:

When they couldn’t visit a loved one, when they couldn’t attend funerals of loved ones, Boris Johnson was breaking the rules and having parties in Number 10.

Yousaf said that Ross “backed Boris Johnson to the very hilt” and later called on the Scottish Conservatives to apologise for backing Johnson and for all their MPs to vote for the report when it’s brought to the Commons.

Speaking to media after FMQs, Ross said the report was “significant” and “very thorough”. Ross was one of the first senior Tories to call for Johnson to quit in the wake of the revelations, but later revised his position after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He said he would support the committee’s recommendations and called on fellow MPs to accept that the committee was doing the job asked of them. He said:

Not everyone will agree with the outcome of their deliberations but it was the parliament as a whole who asked for this.

Any MP found to have deliberately misled parliament is guilty of a grave incident and for a former prime minister that is even worse.

Ross also described Johnson’s behaviour in presiding over parties while people were dying and unable to visit sick relatives as “unforgivable”.

The privileges committee’s findings on Boris Johnson “is in danger of making the House of Commons look foolish”, the former business secretary Jacob Rees Mogg has said.

In an interview with GB News, the Johnson ultra-loyalist slammed the inquiry’s report, which he said contained “no real sanction”, while its recommendation that Johnson be suspended for 90 days was “merely trying to make a point”.

Rees-Mogg said the report had failed to address Johnson’s allegations that “most of the members of the committee” had already expressed deeply prejudiced remarks about the former prime minister’s guilt before they had seen the evidence and they should have recused themselves. He said:

Chris Bryant behaved absolutely properly and recused himself [from the committee’s investigation] because he had prejudged it. Harriet Harman did not and the problem with that is that the chairman of committees is extremely influential and important.

The first draft that goes to the committee to vote on is prepared by the chairman of the committee and that level of power or authority of influence is one that needs to be exercised by somebody who has not judged the case before the committee. And I think this is a fundamental flaw, which undermines all the work of the committee.

I think if you look back over the history of parliament, parliament sometimes makes great mistakes when it tries to stand on its dignity. I think that this report is in danger of making the House of Commons look foolish.

Rees-Mogg was referring to some tweets posted by Harman in April 2022, including one in which she commented, seemingly approvingly, on an Alastair Campbell tweet saying Johnson and other ministers lied repeatedly about Partygate.

Another question from a reader.

I note that in the minutes it was a 2-4 split on whether the committee would recommend Boris Johnson be expelled from the house. If that had gone the other way, would that be the harshest sanction placed on an MP in modern times?

It depends how you define modern. The last MP expelled from the Commons was Garry Allighan, a Labour MP who was expelled in 1947 because he had sold information about private Labour meetings to journalists, and then lied about it, and blamed others, when investigated by the privileges committee.

Boris Johnson’s supporters in the parliamentary Conservative party have been speaking out against the privileges committee’s report. They are a minority in parliament – a very small minority now, it appears – but they have not gone quiet. Here are some of their comments.

Nadine Dorries, the former culture secretary, says any MP who votes for the report is “fundamentally not a Conservative” and will be at risk of deselection.

This report has overreached and revealed it’s true pre determined intentions. It’s quite bizarre. Harman declared her position before it began. Jenkins, the most senior MP on committee attended an ACTUAL party. Any Conservative MP who would vote for this report is fundamentally not a Conservative and will be held to account by members and the public. Deselections may follow. It’s serious. MPs will now have to show this committee what real justice looks like and how it’s done.

And here are some more comments from Johnson allies.

From Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary:

I think [the committee] have come to conclusions that are not fully supported by the evidence. I think their fundamental judgment is wrong because I don’t think he deliberately misled parliament.

From Simon Clarke, the former levelling up secretary:

From Brendan Clarke-Smith:

From Paul Bristow:

From Mark Jenkinson

Here is a question from a reader.

Is the privileges committee unanimous in its findings? i.e. Did all the Tory MPs on the committee agree with the non-Tory? Is it a requirement that all MPs on a committee should agree with the final outcomes/opinions?

There are seven MPs on the committee and none of them have dissented from the report, and so in that sense it is unanimous. But, as the minutes reveal (on page 103 of the report), at a meeting on Tuesday, where the final version was agreed, the SNP MP Allan Dorans proposed an amendment to the final paragraph. Instead of it saying that if Johnson were still an MP they would be recommending a 90-day suspension, he wanted it to say that if Johnson were still an MP, they would be recommending his expulsion from the Commons. In a vote on the amendment, the Labour MP Yvonne Fovargue also backed the idea. But they were outvoted by the four Tories on the committee, Andy Carter, Alberto Costa, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Sir Charles Walker, who stuck with the 90-day proposals. Harriet Harman, the Labour chair, did not vote (which is normal practice for a committee chair, unless a vote is tied).

Downing Street has rejected call’s for Boris Johnson’s honours list to be rescinded in the light of the privileges committee’s report. Asked about this proposals, the PM’s spokesperson told journalists at the morning lobby briefing:

When it comes to honours, that’s a longstanding convention. The prime minister has abided by convention, that’s not going to change.

The spokesperson also said there were “no plans” either to force Johnson to repay the money spent by the government on his legal advice during the privileges inquiry (the Labour proposal – see 11am) or to remove his allowance as an ex-PM (the Lib Dem proposal – see 10.06am.)

On the allowance, the spokesperson said:

These arrangements are fairly longstanding – it’s not a personal salary or allowance, it’s the reimbursement of expenses for office and secretarial costs.

The Commons vote on the privileges committee report on Boris Johnson will take place on his birthday, Michael Savage from the Observer reports. He will be 59.

Downing Street won’t say whether Rishi Sunak will be in the Commons on Monday for the vote on the privileges committee report, John Stevens from the Mirror reports. He suspects Sunak might discover a diary appointment elsewhere.

Alongside its main report, the privileges committee has this morning published a short document with additional evidence and material, not previously published, that it relied upon when coming to its conclusions.

The new material includes this written submission from a No 10 official who explains how Covid guidance was regularly ignored in Downing Street in 2020. There was a culture of “not adhering to any rules”, they say.

Staff were even warned, before they went outside the front door, not to go outside in groups because outside No 10 they would be expected to observe social distancing.

The privileges committee report does not actually say that Boris Johnson “lied” to MPs. But it says he “deliberately misled” MPs (see 9.13am), which would match the definition of lying to most of us.

But Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has used the term. She told the BBC:

Boris Johnson is not only a law breaker but he’s a liar …

He needs to apologise for what he’s put the public through – he won’t though because Boris Johnson never accepts responsibility for what he does.

Harry Cole, the political editor of the Sun, has also spoken to a “senior Tory” who thinks colleagues who vote for the privileges committee report risk being deselected.

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2023-06-15 13:18:00Z
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Suspect in Nottingham horror killings went to same university as victims - The Independent

Police prepare to raid Nottingham property following 'major incident'

The suspect in a triple murder in Nottingham is a former University of Nottingham student, police have revealed.

Nottinghamshire Police said the suspect in the triple murder is a former University of Nottingham student although officers do not believe that to be connected with the attack.

The man was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murdering 19-year-olds Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both University of Nottingham students, and primary school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

The force added the suspect is believed to have made his way to a supported living complex in Mapperley Road after the attack on the students but was denied entry, an incident which had not been reported to police at the time.

He then allegedly continued on foot to Magdala Road where Mr Coates was killed and had his van stolen.

The force said in a statement: “We are still working alongside Counter-Terrorism Policing and keeping an open mind on the motives behind these attacks.”

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Suella Braverman visits tribute site

Suella Braverman has visited the site of tributes to the victims of the knife and van attack in Nottingham.

My colleague Holly Evans reports that the home secretary took no questions and spent around five minutes reading cards and notes on floral tributes.

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 15:02

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Police vehicle was following van which collided with pedestrians, watchdog says

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed that a Nottinghamshire Police vehicle was following a van that collided with pedestrians in Nottingham on Tuesday morning, shortly after the attack which left three people dead.

The spokesperson said: “We received a referral from Nottinghamshire Police on Wednesday informing us that a marked police car had been following behind the suspect’s van for a short distance at the time it collided with two pedestrians in the area of Sherwood Street in the city centre on Tuesday morning.

“We are assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required of the IOPC.”

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 14:51

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Nottinghamshire Police said the suspect in the triple murder is a former University of Nottingham student although officers do not believe that to be connected with the attack.

The force applied to magistrates for an extension to question the 31-year-old man on Wednesday and were granted another 36 hours.

He was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murdering 19-year-olds Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both University of Nottingham students, and primary school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

He then allegedly continued on foot to Magdala Road where Mr Coates was killed and had his van stolen.

The force said in a statement: “We are still working alongside Counter-Terrorism Policing and keeping an open mind on the motives behind these attacks.”

A University of Nottingham statement added: “We are devastated that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student. The police have confirmed that this is not believed to be connected with the attack.

“Our focus remains on supporting the family and friends of Barney and Grace and our wider community. You will understand that we are unable to comment on a live investigation, however we will continue to support the police in any way we can.”

Rich Booth15 June 2023 13:49

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Watch: Nottingham MP pays tribute to victims of attack

'My heart goes out to the families': Nottingham MP pays tribute to victims of attack

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 13:47

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Assailant may have tried to gain access to care home

It has since emerged that a man thought to be the assailant is believed to have tried to gain access to a residential care home on Mapperley Road, just a short distance from where Mr Coates was killed.

After peering through the window, a pensioner residing in the ground floor bedroom “punched” the glass and security were alerted. CCTV has since been provided to the police.

A 31-year-old mal suspect, remains in police custody with investigating officers maintaining an “open mind” as to the motive behind the attacks.

Holly Evans15 June 2023 13:16

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Barnsley resident drives 50 miles to pay respects

After seeing the news, Mick Woods, 63, felt compelled to drive from Barnsley to the city centre this morning, to deliver a bouquet of flowers from the Yorkshire Miners.

“About 38 or 40 years ago there was big conflict between us and Nottingham,” he said. “None of that matters now. We wanted to come and pay our respects after what’s happened.”

Holly Evans15 June 2023 12:44

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Nottingham Forest fans to pay tribute to Ian Coates

Speaking to The Independent, Nottingham local Daniel Hilton said: “[Ian Coates] was the caretaker at my old primary school. I found out on the news. You don’t expect something like this to happen on your doorstep, the fact it could’ve happened to anyone. It’s too close to home.

Wearing his Nottingham Forest away shirt, Alan Pallett added: “It should never have happened. I love this city and I hate it, there’s too much knife crime going on and the police aren’t doing enough.”

Both men are hoping to attend the vigil this evening to join fellow Forest fans in paying tribute to Ian Coates.

Holly Evans15 June 2023 12:09

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Flowers laid in Nottingham city centre ahead of this evening’s vigil

My colleague Holly Evans is reporting from Nottingham again today, where another vigil is due to take place in the city centre this evening:

At Nottingham’s Old Market Square, large numbers of flowers are being laid on the steps of Council House in preparation for this evening’s event.

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 11:34

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Watch: Family of Nottingham victims lay flowers at vigil attended by thousands

Family of Nottingham victims lay flowers at vigil attended by thousands

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 10:47

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Medical student killed in attack had volunteered during Covid pandemic

As tributes towards the two teenagers flooded in all day, the vigil heard that Grace had been a promising medical student, who had previously volunteered during the Covid pandemic. Barnaby meanwhile had shown a keen interest in geopolitics, and had an impact on “everyone that he met”.

The two were found unresponsive at 4.04am by police outside a takeaway on Tuesday, having suffered fatal injuries.

Holly Evans15 June 2023 10:17

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2023-06-15 13:57:11Z
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Father of killed student Grace Kumar makes emotional plea at Nottingham vigil - The Independent

Police prepare to raid Nottingham property following 'major incident'

The father of a student killed in Nottingham has made an emotional plea at a vigil held by the university.

The families of medical student Grace O’Malley-Kumar and history student Barnaby Webber stood together as they addressed the thousands who gathered to pay their respects.

Barnaby’s father David told those gathered that “his heart will be with you guys forever” while Grace’s father Sanjoy told the students to look after each other.

Mr Kumar said: “The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. So, look after each other is the big thing. Look after your friends and look after people around you. It is so important.”

The third victim of the attacks was revealed yesterday as school caretaker Ian Coates, a father to three as well as a grandfather.

Mr Coates’ sons left tributes at the scene of his death on Wednesday, telling reporters he was “a die-hard Forest fan” and a keen fisherman who took young people from deprived backgrounds fishing to try to divert them from crime.

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Ian Coates ‘was everyone’s friend’, says son

The sons of third victim Ian Coates left tributes at the scene of his death yesterday, telling reporters he was “a die-hard Forest fan” and a keen fisherman who took young people from deprived backgrounds fishing to try to divert them from crime.

Lee Coates said the death of his father, who was four months from retirement, had “rocked everyone’s world”, adding: “If we had to think about it, he’d be lying in a bed with us holding his hand, him dying naturally in 20 to 30 years’ time.”

“Not dying on a street because some guy decided it’s not his day today,” Lee’s brother James added.

He went on: “He was everyone’s friend, always willing to help. Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn’t. None of them did, it’s a tragedy.”

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 09:43

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Student says vigil has ‘brought us all together'

Nottingham remained in shock on Tuesday as thousands of students attended a vigil for Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, two of friends taken from them too soon.

Speaking to The Independent, third-year student Clodagh Murray said that she and her friends were “in shock”.

“I think it’s brought us all together really, especially today,” she said. “I’ve never not felt safe in Nottingham and I still do feel safe. We’re all together and the university has been really supportive.”

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 09:07

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Another vigil to be held in city centre this evening

Nottingham is preparing for another vigil after the heartbroken families of the two students killed in the knife and van attack in the city were joined by thousands of people in their grief at the university’s main campus.

Relatives of medical student Grace O’Malley-Kumar and history student Barnaby Webber could be seen embracing at the vigil on Wednesday, as Barnaby’s father David told those gathered that “his heart will be with you guys forever”.

Nottingham City Council has now announced that a vigil will be held in the Old Market Square on Thursday from 5.30pm, with a minute’s silence at 6pm from the steps of the Council House.

Andy Gregory15 June 2023 08:50

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Father of killed student Grace Kumar makes emotional plea at vigil

Relatives of medical student Grace O’Malley-Kumar and history student Barnaby Webber could be seen embracing at the vigil on Wednesday.

Barnaby’s father David told those gathered that “his heart will be with you guys forever” while Grace’s father Sanjoy told the students to look after each other.

Nottingham City Council announced that a vigil will be held in the Old Market Square on Thursday from 5.30pm, with a minute’s silence at 6pm from the steps of the Council House.

Speaking on Wednesday with David Webber’s hand on his shoulder, Mr Kumar said: “Everyone here I really, really want to thank you for your support, for taking the time to be here.

“All of you guys, everywhere that I see, a sea of people, such a lovely sign of the university and the bond you have.

“Grace was also like Barney, she loved coming up to Nottingham. In fact, we couldn’t get her down.

“I said to her last week, ‘come down’, she said ‘well, after she’s had a few more sessions’. I used to call them her crisis meetings.

“The love that we have out here, I just wish we had it everywhere. So, look after each other is the big thing.

“Look after your friends and look after people around you. It is so important.”

<p>Family of Nottingham victims lay flowers at vigil attended by thousands</p> — Family of Nottingham victims lay flowers at vigil attended by thousands

Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2023 07:51

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Watch: University of Nottingham cricket team hold two-minute silence for murdered students

The University of Nottingham’s cricket team held a two-minutes silence for Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar who were fatally stabbed on Tuesday.

University of Nottingham cricket team hold two-minute silence for murdered students

Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 June 2023 07:37

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Nottingham attacks: A timeline of how the incident unfolded

Three people – Barnaby Webber, Grace Kumar and Ian Coates – were killed in the Nottingham attacks.

A 31-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Here is how the incident unfolded:

Joe Middleton15 June 2023 02:00

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‘My heart goes out to the families’: Nottingham MP pays tribute to victims of attack

Nottingham MP Lilian Greenwood has paid tribute to those who died in attacks in the city in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 June.

Ian Coates, a “beloved and respected” academy site manager, and two University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, have been named as victims of the deadly rampage.

Three others, one of whom is in a critical condition in hospital, were injured.

“There’s nothing really I can say that’s going to make this right. It’s absolutely, desperately sad,” the Labour politician said.

‘My heart goes out to the families’: Nottingham MP pays tribute to victims of attack

Nottingham MP Lilian Greenwood has paid tribute to those who died in attacks in the city in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 June. Ian Coates, a “beloved and respected” academy site manager, and two University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, have been named as victims of the deadly rampage. Three others, one of whom is in a critical condition in hospital, were injured. “There’s nothing really I can say that’s going to make this right. It’s absolutely, desperately sad,” the Labour politician said.

Joe Middleton15 June 2023 01:00

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Pensioner came face to face with suspect behind Nottingham killings who tried to break into his home

A pensioner came face to face with a man suspected to be behind the triple murders in Nottingham as he attempted to break into his bedroom.

The resident of the care home on Mapperley Road told The Independent that he “punched” his glass bay window and added: “No one’s coming in my room.”

CCTV shows a man peering through the ground floor window before being shooed away by a staff member. The incident happened at around 4am and form part of a series of deadly incidents across Nottingham.

Joe Middleton14 June 2023 23:59

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Suella Braverman 'shocked and saddened' after Nottingham incident

Joe Middleton14 June 2023 23:00

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‘You couldn’t find a nicer guy’: Sons of Ian Coates pay tribute to father

Two of Ian Coates’ sons have paid tribute to their father who was killed in a fatal stabbing in Nottingham on Tuesday.

Speaking of his dad, Lee Coates said: “If we had to think about it, he’d be lying in a bed with us holding his hand.

“He was due to retire in four months, he was still grafting. He wasn’t a big fella, it’s rocked everyone’s world. He would have been on his way into work.

“He was a massive Forest fan, a die hard fan - he tattooed the Forest badge on himself when he was younger.

“He was an avid fisher, a Notts angler and he was teaching underprivileged kids to try and get them away from a life of crime. You genuinely couldn’t find a nicer guy.”

His brother James added: “He was everyone’s friend, always willing to help. Nobody deserves this but he definitely didn’t.

“None of them did, it’s a tragedy. Him dying naturally in 20 to 30 years time, not dying on a street because some guy decided it’s not his day today.”

Joe Middleton14 June 2023 22:00

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Where £58m will be spent on active travel routes as minister says 'small changes' can make difference - North Wales Live

'Small changes' can make big differences says Wales's Deputy Climate Change Minister as he unveiled where £58m would be spent on active travel routes. Welsh Government has been under fire in North Wales in recent months after scrapping a number of road projects.

But the Government says it wants to help move people onto public transport and active travel (cycling and walking) - although minister Lee Waters admits services are not yet to scratch. More on that here.

To get more people walking and cycling the Government has announced an extra £58m into routes. A full list of how that will be spent in North Wales in 2023/24 is at the bottom of the story.

The Deputy Minister was speaking on a visit to Flintshire where he saw first-hand how people were making the most of the new Sandy Lane to Saltney Ferry active travel route.

He said: "It is about making small changes to encourage people to think about jumping on a bike for short local journeys. If we keep going through the barriers people face, one by one, then cumulatively that will help create the change in culture.

"We are spending 20 times more per head on this than in England, we are putting our money where our mouth is. We believe it will help reduce congestion, as well as reduce emissions. It will help cut out some everyday car journeys people make as 10% of all car journeys are under a mile. If we can get 10% of people to change the way they behave that could make a real difference.

"We appreciate not every journey can be done by public transport or active travel but some are, let's look at these first and then learn about what the barriers are to going further. We know one barrier to cycling is about people feeling safe, routes that are traffic free are shown to be effective at driving up cycling and walking, particularly for those that are less confident on a bike.

"If we all start to make little changes to our everyday lives then over time that makes a big difference. It has taken 40 years to get the situation to the way it is now so this is not going to happen in a couple of years, it is about a significant long term change."

He added: “The Active Travel (Wales) Act puts pressure on us to deliver on high-quality active travel networks that encourage more and more people to regularly walk and cycle for journeys instead of using a car. Today’s funding is another substantial investment that will help us deliver ambitious plans across Wales that have all been designed to connect people with where they love and where they need to go.”

Sign up for our twice daily North Wales Live newsletter here

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and the regional transport strategy, Councillor Dave Hughes said: "I am delighted to receive confirmation of Welsh Government’s further funding for two very important Safe Routes in Communities schemes which aim to improve accessibility within Holywell and Flint. With these proposals we aim to improve conditions for walking and cycling by reducing traffic speeds, improving pedestrian priority and widening footways. With the addition of green infrastructure these areas will provide an attractive and safe environment, encouraging more people to walk and cycle more frequently.”

The new £58m will see the construction of 37 new active travel routes and the detailed development of a further 22. It will also be spent on 30 local authority Safe Routes in Communities schemes, with £3m for the Strategic Road Network.

Additionally, as part of this pot all 22 local authorities will receive a minimum of £500k which can be used for future scheme developments and minor works such as new crossing points, promotional work and new cycle parking.

How the latest cash will be spent:

Conwy

Active Travel Fund

Marl Lane phase 2, Llandudno Junction: £490,500

Llandudno Station Active Travel Connections (Route 10 Craig Y Don): £1,038,200

Dolgarrog Phase 1: £85,000

Core allocation: £582,000

Denbighshire

Active travel fund

Grove Road to Colomendy Industrial Estate, Denbigh (Phase 3): £500,000

Penisadre Road, Prestatyn: £150,000

Core allocation: £500,000

Safe Routes in Communities

Ysgol Llewelyn: £100,000

School Streets Feasibility Study: £50,000

Flintshire

Active Travel Fund

Lower Aston Hall - Shared Use Path: £25,000

Sandycroft to Broughton shared use path: £55,000

Core allocation: £712,000

Safe Routes in Communities

6 Flint Schools: £300,000

Holywell Urban Area: £487,800

Gwynedd

Active Travel Fund

Tywyn to Aberdyfi: £28,000

Penrhos/Penchwintan Road: £1,200,000

Core allocation: £500,000

Safe Routes in Communities

Bala: £280,000

School Streets Feasibility Study: £50,000

Isle of Anglesey

Active Travel Fund

Malltraeth - Newborough (A4080): £250,000

Holyhead – Trearddur Bay (North Wales Metro): £1,344,662

Llanfairpwll Package: £158,441

Core allocation: £500,000

Wrexham

Active Travel Fund

Mold Road Corridor Active Travel Enhancements (Phase 1): £121,000

Wrexham Town Connections / Transforming Towns – Holt Road and Borras Road: £200,000

Rhostyllen Shared use Path: £520,500

Core allocation: £649,000

Safe Routes in Communities

School Streets Feasibility Study: £50,000

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https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5cG9zdC5jby51ay9uZXdzL25vcnRoLXdhbGVzLW5ld3MvNThtLXNwZW50LWFjdGl2ZS10cmF2ZWwtcm91dGVzLTI3MTIzNTUz0gFdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHlwb3N0LmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvbm9ydGgtd2FsZXMtbmV3cy81OG0tc3BlbnQtYWN0aXZlLXRyYXZlbC1yb3V0ZXMtMjcxMjM1NTMuYW1w?oc=5

2023-06-14 23:01:00Z
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Suella Braverman visits tribute site

Police vehicle was following van which collided with pedestrians, watchdog says

Watch: Nottingham MP pays tribute to victims of attack

Assailant may have tried to gain access to care home

Barnsley resident drives 50 miles to pay respects

Nottingham Forest fans to pay tribute to Ian Coates

Flowers laid in Nottingham city centre ahead of this evening’s vigil

Watch: Family of Nottingham victims lay flowers at vigil attended by thousands

Medical student killed in attack had volunteered during Covid pandemic

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Ian Coates ‘was everyone’s friend’, says son

Student says vigil has ‘brought us all together'

Another vigil to be held in city centre this evening

Father of killed student Grace Kumar makes emotional plea at vigil

Watch: University of Nottingham cricket team hold two-minute silence for murdered students

Nottingham attacks: A timeline of how the incident unfolded

‘My heart goes out to the families’: Nottingham MP pays tribute to victims of attack

Pensioner came face to face with suspect behind Nottingham killings who tried to break into his home

Suella Braverman 'shocked and saddened' after Nottingham incident

‘You couldn’t find a nicer guy’: Sons of Ian Coates pay tribute to father

How the latest cash will be spent: