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☆ U.K. Plans to Invest $495 Million in Economic Crime Crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

“Economic crime undermines the integrity of our financial system and weakens our national security,” said U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman. The U.K. government said it would hire 475 financial crime investigators and change laws around corporate crime as part of a new plan to crack down on economic crime. The three-year plan, unveiled Thursday, calls for new spending of £400 million, equivalent to $495 million, at several government agencies—£200 million of which will come from the government and £200 million from a levy on the private sector. The government will make a £100 million investment in data analytics and other technology to aid law enforcement.

The contracted use of hotels was envisioned as a temporary measure, but adds strain to the asylum accommodation system. The cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels has increased over the past year, now exceeding £6 million ($7.4 million) a day, the Home Office told CNN in a statement. On Tuesday, the UK Home Office also said Afghans who have been living in temporary UK accommodation for 18 months will be given three months’ notice to move out of so-called bridging hotels. There are currently around 8,000 Afghans living in 59 bridging hotels in the UK, according to the Home Office. But campaigners also warned that the plan could exacerbate the trauma experienced by people displaced by political strife and conflict in Afghanistan.

☆ Fact Check-Image of Suella Braverman overlooking model of Auschwitz concentration camp is digitally altered
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A cropped picture of Suella Braverman has been digitally added to a photo of a model of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The digitally altered image appears to show the British interior minister overlooking the replica site. However, Braverman and a masked man have both been digitally added to the photo of the Auschwitz model. It shows a Jewish boy sitting in front of a replica concentration camp that he built to honour his great-grandfather, who was held captive there. Suella Braverman’s image was added to an old photo of a model of Auschwitz concentration camp.

☆ Israel's Netanyahu met by protests on London visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Muvija M | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Demonstrators protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Britain, in London, Britain March 24, 2023. Netanyahu shook hands with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the steps of Downing Street while nearby protesters held up Israeli flags and shouted "Netanyahu go to jail, you can't speak for Israel". "We're here to protest against Netanyahu, to protest against his attacks on democracy," said Amnon Cohn, who described himself as an Israeli living in London since 2005. Outside Downing Street protesters, surrounded by British police and restricted by metal barricades, waved signs saying "You can't enjoy a weekend in London when you're bringing down a democracy!". "We are more determined than Bibi is," said Liron Rosiner Reshef, an Israeli-born protester in London using a popular nickname for Netanyahu.

"We have found widespread bullying, discrimination, institutional homophobia, misogyny and racism," the report said, adding "women and children do not get the protection and support they deserve". [1/4] A Metropolitan Police officer stands on duty in Westminster, London, Britain, October 1, 2021. The review said the biggest barrier was the Met's culture of defensiveness and denial about the scale of its problems. Met Commissioner Mark Rowley, Britain's most senior police officer, told reporters: "We've let Londoners down and we've let our own frontline down ... The 360-page report listed strong leadership, a women's protection service, and a new children's strategy as some of its recommendations.

☆ BBC soccer commentator Lineker returns after suspension for criticising government
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Former England football captain Gary Lineker returned to host the BBC's flagship soccer show on Saturday, a week after his suspension for criticising government immigration policy caused a row over the broadcaster's impartiality rules. loadingBBC managers reversed their decision to suspend Lineker, the broadcaster's highest-paid presenter, after his colleagues refused to work in solidarity last weekend, forcing it to air soccer matches without normal commentary. So it's good to get back to some sort of normality and be talking about football again," Shearer said. After reinstating Lineker, the BBC said it would review how its impartiality guidelines applied to freelance presenters' use of social media. Interior minister Suella Braverman has described these arrivals as an "invasion" and is seeking to deport thousands of migrants to Rwanda.

☆ UK interior minister visits Rwanda to discuss deportation plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Philbert Girinema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KIGALI, March 18 (Reuters) - British interior minister Suella Braverman visited Rwanda on Saturday to discuss a deal under which the east African country will accept migrants who arrive in Britain without permission, if British courts confirm that the proposals are legal. Britain's government wants to send tens of thousands of migrants more than 4,000 miles away (6,400 km) to Rwanda as part of a 120 million pound ($146 million) deal agreed with Rwanda last year. British Home Secretary Suella Braverman walks at Downing Street in London, Britain March 15, 2023. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that finding a solution is one of his top priorities for 2023. Britain spends more than 2 billion pounds a year to accommodate migrants and has tendered a $95 million contract to transport them to countries like Rwanda instead.

☆ BBC seeks to end crisis by reinstating Gary Lineker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, March 13 (Reuters) - Britain's BBC said sports presenter Gary Lineker would return on air after the corporation agreed to review its social media guidelines to settle an escalating row over its impartiality. The BBC said Lineker had breached its impartiality rules by comparing the rhetoric of Britain's interior minister Suella Braverman to the language used in 1930s Germany. But its decision to take him off air led to charges that it had bowed to pressure from the government. "Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend," BBC Director General Tim Davie said in a statement on Monday. Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Britain's BBC battles mutiny in its sports department after social media clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gary Lineker's tweets and the BBC's response caused public backlash and a weekend of disrupted sports programing as fellow presenters walked out in protest. LONDON — The BBC, Britain's public service broadcaster, is trying to navigate itself out of crisis mode following a mutiny within its sports department regarding social media usage. The BBC suspended Lineker, who is employed by the broadcaster on a freelance basis, on Friday. "We consider [Lineker's] recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines," a BBC statement read. The BBC's response led to walkouts among Lineker's colleagues, which disrupted sports programing across Saturday and Sunday.

The row overshadowed a migration deal struck between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron, with the BBC accused of bowing to political pressure. "Gary Lineker off air is an assault on free speech in the face of political pressure," the opposition Labour party said, calling for the BBC to re-think its decision. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "Individual cases are a matter for the BBC." MOTD commentator Steve Wilson later tweeted that the show's commentators had also pulled out from Saturday's broadcast, leaving BBC management reliant on World Feed commentary. But the BBC said it considered his recent social media activity to be a breach of its guidelines.

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - Former England soccer captain Gary Lineker will step back from his role at the BBC following his criticism of the country's migration policy that has sparked a furious row between the government and the corporation's highest paid presenter. Lineker recently likened the government's language on asylum seekers to that used by Germany in the 1930s. Lineker has hosted Match of the Day for more than 20 years and the charismatic 62-year-old has never been afraid to voice his opinions about political issues. The BBC said it considered Lineker's recent social media activity to be a breach of its guidelines. Reporting by James Davey; writing by Kate Holton; editing by Muvija MOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ BBC's Lineker refuses to budge in conflict of ideals over refugees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

As the BBC's highest-paid employee, Lineker is the face of its sports coverage. Although the corporation has strict impartiality guidelines, that has not stopped Lineker from airing his views on Twitter where he has over 8.7 million followers. "I have never known such love and support in my life than I'm getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly). Lineker played 80 times for his country and his four goals at the 1990 World Cup despite being unwell propelled England to the semi-finals. Midway through the 2015-16 campaign, Lineker went viral on social media when he promised to present Match of the Day wearing just his underwear if his former club Leicester went on to win the Premier League title.

☆ Britain denies plan to expel asylum seekers breaks law
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We are confident that we are complying with the law, domestic and international," she told the BBC. Under the government's plans, almost all asylum seekers who reach Britain in small boats will be detained without bail before they are deported to their home country or, if this is not safe, another destination such as Rwanda. They will also lose the right to challenge their deportation while in Britain, and once deported will be automatically banned from returning. Last year, a record 45,000 people came to Britain in small boats across the Channel, mainly from France. If everyone who arrived in small boats last year were detained, this would be equal to about half of Britain's total prison population.

☆ Britain to stop those arriving illegally from staying
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - Anyone arriving illegally in Britain will be prevented from staying, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in an interview published on Sunday, ahead of new legislation which is expected to be set out next week. Under pressure from his own lawmakers to find a solution to the flow of migrants arriving in Britain across the channel from Europe, Sunak has made stopping small boats one of his five key priorities. "Make no mistake, if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay," Sunak told the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Under current practice, asylum seekers who reach Britain are often able to remain in the country to have their case heard. Asked on Sky News whether those arriving in Britain illegally would be banned from claiming asylum, government minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "I believe so, yes."

☆ UK to unveil new law to stop Channel migrants on Tuesday - paper
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The British government has been promising to step up action to tackle the issue after the numbers making the perilous crossing soared to more than 45,000 last year. The British people want this solved," Home Secretary (interior minister Suella Braverman told the paper. London's High Court subsequently ruled it lawful in December, but opponents are seeking to appeal that verdict. It is expected the legal battle will end up in the UK Supreme Court and so may not be resolved for months. The policy has been denounced by human rights groups and even reportedly by King Charles.

☆ Fact Check-Tweet about UK Home Office repatriating British twins who left home to fight in Ukraine stems from satire account
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A satirical tweet about the UK Home Office trying to repatriate 15-year-old British twins, who left the country to fight in Ukraine, is being taken seriously by people online. The post also includes an image from at least six years ago which has been digitally altered. Comments on the Facebook post suggest other people have taken it seriously, with one user replying: “Disgusting! However, the tweet stems from an account which appears to produce satirical content. ‘News’ articles on the account’s website, which was described as a satire website by Indy100 (here), also appear satirical in nature (www.bazake.co.uk/news).

☆ British police face struggle to clean up sexist culture after scandals
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

London's Metropolitan Police has been hardest hit: After years of saying serious misconduct cases were isolated incidents, it now says it must change its culture. "We have failed and I'm sorry," Mark Rowley, the Met's new chief and Britain's most senior officer, said in January. According to an official report, officers had passed off the conversations as 'banter'. RISING CRIMESome officers officers think the government needs to look at itself. Braverman was reported last year as having told police chiefs to prioritise "common-sense policing" over diversity efforts and virtue-signalling "woke" messaging.

☆ London police officer jailed for at least 30 years for serial rape
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Carrick’s offences, which included 24 counts of rape, were all committed while serving in the Metropolitan Police – piling further pressure on Britain’s biggest police force, which is already reeling from a series of scandals in recent years. The London force, which dismissed Carrick last month, has previously apologised for failing to spot his pattern of abuse earlier. Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gray said in a statement on Sunday evening that she was “truly sorry for the harm and devastation” caused to Carrick’s victims. Carrick pleaded guilty to a total of 49 offences, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment and coercive and controlling behaviour. The judge told Carrick: "You have lost your liberty, your job and your status.

☆ Britain considers allowing foreign students to work longer hours -The Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A cyclist rides past a sign on the side of a delivery lorry advertising for jobs, in London, Britain, October 13, 2021. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleJan 27 (Reuters) - The British government is looking at plans to allow foreign students to work longer hours to boost the economy by plugging vacancies, The Times reported on Thursday. Discussions have begun within the government about either raising the cap on paid work hours on foreign students to 30 hours per week from 20 hours currently or removing it entirely, the report added. Government sources told The Times that ministers were looking at "what more we can do to remove barriers and encourage students to work" and lifting the cap on foreign students' hours was "part of a swathe of ideas being considered". The idea is at an early stage and has yet to be agreed across government, the report said.

☆ UK review of 'golden' visas for millionaires finds links to corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The government first commissioned the visa's review in 2018 after the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. Russian oligarchs and newly-minted Chinese entrepreneurs have flocked to London over the past two decades, snapping up everything from opulent homes to soccer clubs. Under the programme, foreigners who invested 2 million pounds in assets in Britain could apply for permanent residency after five years in the country. Investing 10 million pounds allowed an application after two years. In total, more than 12,000 golden visas have been granted, including more than 2,500 to Russians, according to government data.

☆ Britain to proscribe Iran's Revolutionary Guard as terror group - Telegraph
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat walks outside Downing Street in London, Britain December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Peter NichollsJan 2 (Reuters) - Britain will officially declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which has arrested seven people with links to the United Kingdom over anti-government protests, as a terrorist group, the Telegraph reported on Monday, citing sources. The move, which will be announced within weeks, is supported by Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the report said. Proscribing Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group would mean that it would become a criminal offence to belong to the group, attend its meetings, and carry its logo in public. The UK Home Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Telegraph report.

Announcing the court's decision, judges Clive Lewis and Jonathan Swift said it was lawful for Britain to make arrangements with the Rwanda government to send asylum seekers to the country for their asylum claims to be determined there. "The (British) government has made arrangements with the government of Rwanda which are intended to ensure that asylum claims of people relocated to Rwanda are properly determined there," the judges said. "In those circumstances, the relocation of asylum seekers to Rwanda is consistent with the Refugee Convention and with the statutory and other legal obligations on the government." Lawyers representing asylum seekers – from Syria, Iraq and Iran, as well as Albania and Vietnam – challenged the Rwanda policy at a hearing this year, alongside campaign groups Detention Action, Care4Calais and Asylum Aid. "The court has made it very clear that the (Home Secretary's) approach to individual decisions has been unlawful and they need to review that."

☆ Four dead after migrant boat capsizes off English coast
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Peter Nicholls | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"At 0305 (GMT) today, authorities were alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress," a government spokesperson said in a statement. Some British politicians say migrants from Albania - a European Union candidate - have not suffered persecution but are moving for economic reasons. "I'm sure the whole House will share my sorrow at the capsizing of a small boat in the Channel in the early hours of this morning and the tragic loss of human life," Sunak said. The refugee charity Care4Calais accused the government of doing nothing to prevent migrant deaths, which it said were "wholly unnecessary and preventable". Data compiled by the Missing Migrants Project showed 205 migrants had been recorded dead or missing in the English Channel since 2014.

Meanwhile, sea temperatures were around 11-12 degrees Celsius (52-54 degrees Fahrenheit) near Kent overnight, according to CNN Weather. The English Channel, a waterway just over 20 miles (32 km) at its narrowest between Britain and France, is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. “It is just over a year since 32 lives were lost in a similar incident,” Solomon said in a statement sent to CNN. Last November, 27 people drowned in bitterly cold waters off the coast of France after an inflatable boat carrying migrants bound for Britain capsized, in one of the deadliest incidents in the English Channel in recent years. Braverman has previously referred to illegal crossings of the English Channel as “an invasion.”“Crossing the Channel in unseaworthy vessels is a lethally dangerous endeavor,” Braverman told parliament Wednesday.

☆ Heathrow sees minimal impact from planned Border Force strikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Border Force workers due to strike from Dec. 23Heathrow working to protect full flight scheduleLONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Heathrow Airport said on Monday that it expected the vast majority of travellers will be unaffected by this month's planned strikes by Border Force workers. British Border Force workers plan to strike for several days from Dec. 23 at airports including Heathrow, Britain's busiest, and Gatwick due to a dispute over pay. Border Force has contingency measures to ensure other arriving passengers are cleared safely and as quickly as possible, Heathrow said. Interior minister Suella Braverman warned last Thursday that Border Force strikes may cause travel delays, adding that people should think carefully about their plans to fly abroad. It said over 55 million people had travelled through Heathrow so far this year -- nearly 70% of 2019 levels.

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