EVERY TUESDAY from 12.30 – 2pm at FRESH START
TODAY: English Conversation Cafe at Fresh Start
Month: April 2024
Supporting vulnerable witnesses
Investment in specialist evidence suites to reduce trauma
More child and vulnerable adult witnesses involved in serious criminal trials will have access to specialist suites to pre-record evidence, away from the courtroom, following a further £2 million investment from the Scottish Government.
The funding means dedicated facilities – known as Evidence by Commissioner (EBC) suites – will be established in areas covered by two sheriffdoms which don’t currently have their own designated facilities.
The suites create safe, managed, trauma-informed environments where witnesses are supported to provide their best evidence as early as possible. Evidence shows that allowing children and vulnerable witnesses to pre-record evidence reduces stress and the risk of re-traumatisation.
The two new suites will cover the North Strathclyde and South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway Sheriffdoms.
They will add to the Scottish Court and Tribunal Service’s (SCTS) four existing bespoke EBC suites (located in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness), and a fifth one due to open in Dundee this summer – meaning there will be country-wide provision by April 2026.
The total investment from Government for the existing suites and the two new facilities being established is more than £4 million. Hundreds of children and vulnerable adult witnesses have already benefitted from using the suites and the additional funding means many more will get access to such facilities.
The Scottish Government is also providing a further £500,000 to Victim Support Scotland to develop access to their remote evidence suites in Edinburgh, increasing the support they already provide to victims and witnesses of crime in their suite in Glasgow.
Speaking on a visit to Victim Support Scotland’s remote evidence suite in Glasgow, Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “This significant investment in our court estate means that children and those who have been victims of some of the most traumatic crimes are supported to give their best evidence as early as possible in the process, and in advance of trial.
“Vulnerable witnesses across the country will have access to specialist, modern and purpose-built suites to pre-record their evidence, helping to reduce the risk of re-traumatisation. This, and other support available, will help victims and witnesses to start on the path to recovery at the earliest possible stage.
“Putting victims and witnesses at the heart of the justice system is part of our Vision for Justice. The EBC suites, along with landmark reforms proposed in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill, which Parliament is considering at Stage 1 this week, will build a trauma-informed justice system that victims and witnesses can have confidence in.”
Danielle McLaughlin, The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service’s Head of Implementation said: “The judicially led Evidence and Procedure Review, supported by the SCTS, made clear the importance of taking a new approach to ensuring children and vulnerable adult witnesses can give the best quality of evidence as early as possible, while minimising further trauma.
“Today’s announcement, confirming the next steps in the implementation of a statutory pre-recorded evidence presumption is a key step in ensuring that vision.
“An essential part in minimising trauma when giving evidence is by securing and using the best environment available. SCTS is committed to the further development and expansion of trauma informed evidence by commission facilities across a wider geographical reach.
“We welcome this additional £2 million funding which will help us to take the next initial steps to create additional commission facilities ensuring that we have at least one commission facility within the geographical reach of each sheriffdom.”
Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, welcomed the extra £500,000 funding for its remote evidence facilities. She said: “We at Victim Support Scotland are entirely committed to supporting victims and witnesses to give their best evidence.
“Victims consistently tell us about the traumatic impact of giving evidence, including the anxiety of attending an often-intimidating court building. Being able to give evidence in a location different to the court, known as remote evidence, can help reduce this dramatically.
“This welcome funding from the Scottish Government will allow us to extend remote evidence suites to our new office facility in Edinburgh to complement the remote evidence suites at our Glasgow offices.
“We’re delighted to be able to embrace available technology to offer more choice and control to victims and witnesses.”
Rwanda Bill to become law in ‘major illegal migration milestone’
Final phase of implementing the flagship policy WILL commence
UK government efforts to stop the boats and tackle illegal migration took a major step forward, after the Safety of Rwanda Bill completed its passage through Parliament overnight.
The Bill’s passing means the government can enter the final phase of operational planning to get flights off the ground to Rwanda, pioneering a new response to the global challenge of illegal migration.
Robust operational plans are in place to ensure a first flight to Rwanda can be delivered within 10-12 weeks, with multiple flights set to take off after this.
The landmark legislation means that going forward, Rwanda should be deemed a safe country for the purposes of relocating people, including in UK courts and tribunals.
It will prevent legal challenges from being used to delay or halt a person’s removal to Rwanda on the grounds that Rwanda is generally unsafe, or that an individual will be returned to an unsafe country after removal to Rwanda – an act known as refoulement.
The Bill makes it unambiguously clear that UK Parliament is sovereign, and the validity of any Act of Parliament is unaffected by international law. Ministers will be able to retain the decision on whether to comply with interim measures from the European Court of Human Rights, for example, a Rule 39 injunction.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: ”This vital legislation means we can now proceed with our Rwanda plan and begin removing people with no right to be here.
“The only way to stop the boats is to eliminate the incentive to come – by making clear that if you are here illegally, you will not be allowed to stay.
“Our policy does exactly that and plans are well under way to begin flights within 10-12 weeks.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The passing of this landmark legislation it not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration.
“We introduced the Rwanda Bill to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit them. The passing of this legislation will allow us to do that and make it very clear that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay.
“Our focus is to now get flights off the ground, and I am clear that nothing will stand in our way of doing that and saving lives.”
The Westminster government is ready to deliver a first relocation flight and teams are working at pace to prepare. This includes:
- an airfield on standby and commercial charter planes booked for specific slots
- detention spaces increased to 2,200
- 200 trained dedicated caseworkers are ready and waiting to quickly process claims
- the judiciary have made available 25 courtrooms to deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively
- to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda, we have 500 highly trained individuals ready, with 300 more trained in the coming weeks.
Responding to the concerns raised by the Supreme Court, the Safety of Rwanda Bill was introduced in December last year and builds upon the UK-Rwanda Treaty.
Together, these measures and evidence of changes in Rwanda since summer 2022, will allow government to implement the policy, supporting the wider plan to stop the boats by removing the incentive to come here illegally.
The new law, which is one of the toughest pieces of legislation ever introduced, builds upon the Treaty, reflecting the strength of the Government of Rwanda’s protections and commitments relocated to Rwanda in accordance with the Treaty. It also:
- confirms that, with the new Treaty, Rwanda is safe
- prevents UK courts and tribunals from delaying or preventing a person’s removal to Rwanda on matters relating only to the general safety of Rwanda
- allows for an exceptionally narrow route to individual challenge to ensure that the courts will interpret the relevant provisions in accordance with the will of Parliament
- disapplies relevant sections of the Human Rights Act 1998
- confirms that only a Minister of the Crown can decide whether to comply with an interim measure issued by the European Court of Human Rights.
In November 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the lawfulness of resettling illegal migrants for the purposes of determining their asylum claims, but required more assurance that they would not be refouled.
The internationally binding Treaty between Rwanda and the UK was announced by the Government in response to this finding and introduces measures to make clear Rwanda will not return anyone to an unsafe country.
Under the Treaty, Rwanda has also introduced a strengthened end-to-end asylum system, including a new, specialist asylum appeals tribunal to consider individual appeals against any refused claims. It will have two co-presidents, from Rwanda and from another Commonwealth country, and be made up of judges from a mix of nations.
The Treaty also enhances the role of the independent Monitoring Committee, which will ensure adherence to obligations under the Treaty and have the power to set its own priority areas for monitoring.
But this ‘significant step forward’ remains just one part of the government’s wider plan to stop the boats. Solid progress has been made, with the number of small boat arrivals falling by more than a third in 2023. UK Government work with international partners prevented more than 26,000 crossings last year, as well as helping to dismantle 82 organised crime groups since July 2020.
Westminster’s new agreement with Albania has cut Albanian small boat arrivals by more than 90 per cent; and we recently signed a ground-breaking deal with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, marking another crucial step in securing our borders.
The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent in the coming days.
In a statement on X, Migrant Voice campaigners said: “You cannot legislate to say that some people deserve fewer human rights than others.
“We remain absolutely opposed to the #RwandaBill, and stand in solidarity and support with all those who have been left more fearful for the future this morning, having come here seeking safety.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn commented: “The Rwanda Bill is a disgusting piece of legislation designed to demonise the world’s most vulnerable people.
“This government has done everything it can to make the lives of refugees even harder. What a sorry and shameful legacy to leave behind.”
Commenting on the passing of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, Edinburgh North and Leith MP Deidre Brock said: “I’m saddened by the UK Government’s actions in forcing through the Rwanda Bill last night.
“This shameful bill doesn’t just defy international law, it flies in the face of basic human decency. The UK which once proudly helped pen the refugee convention is now choosing to ignore its obligations. It has descended into gutter politics.
“My thoughts are with all those fleeing war and persecution who seek refuge on our shores. They should be met with empathy and compassion, not hostility. I will continue to stand by them and do all I can to assist.
“We need to look at where the asylum system is failing and improve the safe legal routes into our country, to cut out the people smuggling gangs. Instead, the UK is stooping to their level with something akin to state sponsored people trafficking.
“As Burns put it, Man’s inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn.”
Council commits to record spending on Edinburgh’s broken roads
A record funding boost will see the biggest spend on improvements to the Capital’s roads and infrastructure projects in nearly a decade.
The Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2024/25 report, to be considered by Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday (25 April), allocates an additional £12.5m approved in February as part of the Council’s budget-setting process.
The extra investment brings the total roads and infrastructure capital budget to £22.986m.
The additional £12.5m of funding will be used to improve the road conditions, pavements and improve paths, and is part of the council’s capital budget allocated across six different workstreams, including: road operations and structures, street lighting and traffic signals, carriageways and footways.
These schemes have been prioritised to the areas based on agreed criteria and weighting. 5% is applied to roads on the cycle network, promoting renewal schemes most used by cyclists. Edinburgh is the only local authority in Scotland to include such a weighting and reinforces the Council’s commitment to active travel.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: ““We’re committed to improving our roads, pavements and infrastructure. The latest injection in funding will allow us to significantly increase the number of improvement schemes to enhance the condition of our roads and pavements.
“In total, we will resurface over 400,000 square metres of roads and footpaths. Additionally, will spend £500,000 on reinforcing the carriageway at bus stops and will double our spending on dropping kerbs.
“This funding builds on last year’s record spend of £11m which saw improvements to more square metres of roads and pavements than in any other financial year.
“Residents have shared their concerns regarding the state of our roads and footpaths, and we have listened. We need to get the basics right, and this intensive programme of investment is essential for a safe, usable network. While we won’t get footpaths and roads back to where we want them to be in one year, this investment will help get out capital back on track. Indeed, we hope to maintain this level of activity for at least three years.”
Other areas for investment are street lighting and traffic signals, for which £1.120m is being proposed for upgrades, and the city’s 3,366 bridges and road structures – £0.845m has been set aside for their maintenance, in addition to the major North Bridge refurbishment project which is due to complete in 2025.
Read the full report, Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2024/25.
Watch Transport and Environment Committee live via webcast from 10am on Thursday, 25 April.
RAC: Pothole-related breakdowns ‘spring’ forward by 50% in 2024
The RAC attended nearly 8,000 (7,904) breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 due to bad road surfaces, up 53% on the last three months of 2023, a clear sign that the UK is suffering a pothole epidemic as roads continue to crumble.
Analysis from the driving services company shows it’s been far from a smooth start to the year for the nation’s drivers, with pothole-related breakdown numbers up by 10% in the last 12 months from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. In this period, the RAC went out to 27,205 breakdowns, 2,299 more than the 24,906 incidents it attended between 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023.
But the RAC believes drivers may have actually ‘dodged the pothole bullet’ in what is normally the worst three months of the year for them. Milder weather led to patrol call-out rates dropping by 22% from 10,076 last year to 7,094 in 2024.
During the winter months, sub-zero temperatures normally cause more surface deterioration as water gets into cracks in the road, freezes and expands. In the first three months of 2024, while there was an average of 121mm of rain – 22% more than normal – the milder weather meant there were only seven days of frost, against the usual average of nine. This potentially limited the number of brand new potholes forming.
For this reason, the RAC doesn’t believe the decrease in pothole-related breakdowns – damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels – is a sign of road conditions improving.
In fact the RAC Pothole Index, which measures the likelihood of suffering one of these call-outs, increased, meaning drivers are even more likely to experience damage now than they were 12 months ago.
And compared to 2006 when the RAC first began tracking these faults, drivers are now nearly twice as likely (1.76 or 76% more likely than 2006) to experience pothole damage.
Shortlist revealed for 45th Scottish Press Awards
Over 100 entries have been shortlisted for the 45th Scottish Press Awards, it has been announced. The awards recognise excellence in national, regional, and digital journalism from across the country.
With 26 categories featuring a mix of several long-standing award titles complemented by a range of new-look categories, the judges have received a flood of entries, representing the finest talent from across the industry.
The finalists will be hoping to scoop an award from a range of categories including politics, business, sport, and the arts.
This full list of categories for 2024 includes:
- Arts and Entertainment Journalist of the Year
- Best Coverage of a Live Event
- Campaign of the Year
- Columnist of the Year
- Feature Writer of the Year
- Financial/Business Journalist of the Year
- Food and Drink Writer of the Year
- Front Page of the Year
- Journalism Team of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award (not applicable for entry, chosen by the editors’ committee)
- Scottish Newsbrand of the Year
- News Photographer of the Year
- Nicola Barry Award
- Podcast of the Year
- Political Journalist of the Year
- Regional Journalist of the Year
- Reporter of the Year
- Specialist Reporter of the Year
- Sports Columnist of the Year
- Sports Feature Writer of the Year
- Sports News Writer of the Year
- Sports Photographer of the Year
- Weekly Journalist of the Year
- Weekly Newsbrand of the Year
- Young Journalist of the Year
- Journalist of the Year (not applicable for entry, chosen by the judges)
Shortlists for the sought-after Scottish Newsbrand of the Year, Journalist of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award have not been revealed as winners will be announced on the night of the ceremony. The shortlist for Weekly Newsbrand of the Year will be revealed in May.
This year’s judging panel was led by Richard Neville, former Head of News Brands at DC Thomson, and current Director of Neville Robertson Communications.
Richard Neville, chair of the Scottish Press Awards judges, said: “It has been fantastic to see the quality of entries to this year’s awards. The talent in this industry stretches right across the spectrum of digital and print publishing and across every region of the country.
“The need for incisive, challenging journalism grows every year and Scotland’s journalists have risen to the task in the past 12 months.
“Telling good stories will always be at the heart of what the industry does but holding the rich, powerful, and opportunistic chancers to account is of equal importance. It is clear from this year’s shortlist that Scotland is not a place to come to avoid scrutiny.”
The 45th Scottish Press Awards are sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, Diageo, VisitScotland, Edrington, Openreach, Glenmorangie, The Law Society of Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, Registers of Scotland, Muckle Media, Amazon, Women in Journalism Scotland, BIG Partnership, Weber Shandwick, Event Consultants Scotland and Newsbrands Scotland.
Overseen by Newsbrands Scotland (formerly the Scottish Newspaper Society), the awards ceremony and dinner will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on 29 May 2024.
For more information and to view the shortlist, visit:
Corgi Derby: Beckett crowned king!
Racegoers go corgi crazy at Musselburgh Racecourse
A NEW four-legged champion has been crowned for the Corgi Derby at The Sky Bet Sunday Series Raceday, Musselburgh Racecourse.
Amidst the revelry, racegoers went wild for the 12 competing Pembroke Welsh Corgis dashing down the grassy 70 metre course, in what was the biggest race to date.
In a thrilling photo finish that had spectators on the edge of their seats, it was four-year-old Beckett who nosed ahead of the pack to capture the coveted title of Fastest Corgi of 2024.
The chestnut, black and white pup edged out ahead of the competition beating year one winner Georgie by a nose, taking his claim as the new king of the racetrack.
Renowned ITV racing presenter Oli Bell had the honour of officiating the third edition of the event and presenting Beckett and his owner Heather Sliman with his winner’s trophy and treats.
The Corgi Derby, first launched in 2022 for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, has quickly become one of the most anticipated and beloved traditions at Musselburgh’s Easter Saturday festivities – which was rescheduled this year due to inclement weather.
Aisling Johnston, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Musselburgh Racecourse said: “The Corgi Derby is such a unique and fun tradition that keeps growing every year, attracting media attention from across the globe.
“We’re thrilled that the Corgi Derby could be rescheduled. Kicking off a day of high-quality racing with these adorable corgis always provides an unbeatable atmosphere.”
Following the exhilarating Corgi Derby, the event transitioned to a seven-card of top horse racing action broadcasted on ITV 4. With a staggering £225,200 prize money up for grabs, this is one of the richest racedays at Musselburgh course with the feature race of the day, The Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap Stakes, worth £75,000.
The next sensational raceday at Musselburgh Racecourse will be one of the most prestigious days of the Scottish Summer racing calendar. The Edinburgh Cup Raceday sponsored by Edinburgh Gin will take place on Saturday 1st June 2024, a celebration of Edinburgh with a day full of entertainment, music, food and competitive horse racing.
To find out more about the Edinburgh Cup, please visit: https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/sensational-7-highlights/highlight/the-edinburgh-cup-raceday
For more information and to book tickets for other race-days at Musselburgh Racecourse, please visit: https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/
Casket believed to have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots to go on tour
A silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots and which was acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2022 has undergone fresh conservation work ahead of going on tour to Kirkcudbright and Stirling.
An iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the casket will go on display at Kirkcudbright Galleries from 2 November 2024 – 27 April 2025 then at Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum from 30 April – 31 August 2025. Its display at both venues is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.
To prepare the casket for the tour, centuries of tarnish and corrosion have been removed. The technique of electrolytic reduction was used via a pen-like device, allowing the delicate gold and silver surfaces to be cleaned in a highly controlled and targeted manner without the need for any abrasive polishing.
Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver, very little of which survives, even in France. It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary has kept it preserved for over 450 years.
For three centuries, it was owned by the family of the Dukes of Hamilton, following its acquisition, around 1674, by Anne, Duchess of Hamilton. According to a handwritten note stored with it from the late 17th century, she bought the casket, previously owned by Mary, Marchioness of Douglas, on the understanding that it had belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots.
The note records the belief that this is the casket which played a dramatic role in Mary’s downfall when, in December 1568, a similar casket was produced at a hearing ordered by Elizabeth I against Mary at Westminster.
This contained what have become known as the Casket Letters. These love poems and letters, allegedly from Mary to her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, implicated them both in a conspiracy to murder her second husband, Lord Darnley.
Dr Anna Groundwater, Acting Keeper of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland said: ” One of Scotland’s national treasures, this extraordinary casket has been venerated as a relic of Mary, Queen of Scots for centuries, and I’m delighted that more people will have the opportunity to see it up close when it goes on tour later this year.
“Beyond its connections to one of Scotland’s most famous figures, it is a rare and spectacular piece of historic silver in its own right.”
A casket first appears in the records following Mary’s arrest in 1567 by the rebellious Confederate Lords, when it is discovered in the hands of Lord Bothwell’s servant.
It was brought before the Scottish Privy Council where its lock was struck off to reveal its contents. Precisely what these were at that moment is unknown. However, a year later, when the Earl of Moray dramatically produced the same casket at Westminster, it now contained the damning Casket Letters.
The authorship of the letters remains a subject of debate, but it is widely thought that they were doctored. Following the hearing at Westminster, Mary remained in English captivity for 19 years, until she was executed in 1587 for her involvement in the Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth I, and place Mary on the English throne.
Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of Communities Committee and speaking on behalf of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “This is such an exciting loan.
“We are pleased to be working with the National Museums Scotland once more, a key partner for Kirkcudbright Galleries over the years, and have no doubt this will be an emotional and stirring exhibition. I personally can’t wait to see it”
Caroline Mathers, Director of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum said: “The Smith Art Gallery and Museum is delighted to be partnering with the National Museum of Scotland to bring the Mary, Queen of Scots Casket to Stirling.
“This extraordinary treasure gives us a glimpse into the life of a Queen who has captured imaginations around the world for hundreds of years. A story of power, oppression and ultimately, betrayed. It’s as good a story as it gets.”
The casket was acquired for the nation in 2022 for £1.8 million thanks to support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, the Scottish Government and several trusts, foundations and individual donors.
Its display in Kirkcudbright and Stirling is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.
Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “One of the key aims of the Weston Loan Programme is to bring world class objects to regional museums so that they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
“We are delighted to support the display of this very special piece of Scottish history in Kirkcudbright and Stirling where it can be seen in a new context by local audiences.”
The tour of the Mary, Queen of Scots casket is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland.
Over 2500 objects are currently on loan to Scottish organisations, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country. These include two rare, decorative panels dating from the 16th and 17th centuries which feature in Perth Museum’s debut exhibition Unicorn and an 800-year-old Bishop’s crook, or crozier – made from gilt bronze and adorned with enamel inlay – which has recently gone on display in Whithorn Priory Museum.
Find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots and some of the objects associated with her in National Museums Scotland’s collection here.
Video can be downloaded here.
A 3D model of the casket can be viewed here.
Cadenza concert in support of Kindred
Cadenza Spring Serenade in support of Kindred
Date: Saturday 11th May 2024
Time: 7.30 pm
Tickets: £12 (Children free) available on
Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cadenza-spring-serenade-tickets-862646728587?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or on the door
Venue: Inverleith St Serf’s Parish Church, 280 Ferry Road, EH5 3NP
One of Edinburgh’s leading mixed voice choirs, Cadenza, celebrates sunny days, starry nights and air filled with birdsong, in works by Ravel, Elgar, Saint-Saens and more …
Southhouse incident: Six men charged
Six men have been charged with attempted murder following an incident at Southhouse Square, Edinburgh, in January.
Around 8.35pm on Friday, 26 January 2024, emergency services attended Southhouse Square, following reports of a disturbance involving several men.
One man, aged 25, was found seriously injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. A second man, aged 24, was also injured in the altercation and sought medical treatment.
A black BMW car was also stolen during the incident.
Extensive enquiries were carried out and six men, aged between 20 and 58, were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “I would like to thank the members of the public who responded to our appeal for information and came forward with information.”
Sunak: Stopping the Boats
PM Rishi Sunak’s press statement on the next stage of the plan to stop the boats
Last week – yet again – Peers in the House of Lords contrived to stop the Safety of Rwanda Bill.
For almost two years our opponents have used every trick in the book to block flights and keep the boats coming.
But enough is enough.
No more prevarication. No more delay.
Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes.
No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda.
We are going to deliver this indispensable deterrent so that we finally break the business model of the criminal gangs and save lives.
Starting from the moment that the Bill passes we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight.
We have prepared for this moment.
To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.
To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting.
To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary have made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.
The Strasbourg Court have amended their Rule 39 procedures in line with the tests set out in our Illegal Migration Act and we’ve put beyond all doubt that Ministers can disregard these injunctions with clear guidance that if they decide to do so, civil servants must deliver that instruction.
And most importantly, once the processing is complete, we will physically remove people.
To do that, I can confirm that we’ve put an airfield on standby booked commercial charter planes for specific slots…
…and we have 500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda, with 300 more trained in the coming weeks.
This is one of the most complex operational endeavours the Home Office has carried out.
But we are ready. Plans are in place.
And these flights will go come what may.
No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.
Rwanda is ready too.
And I would like to thank the government of Rwanda for their work in strengthening their asylum system, passing legislation, and setting up a new appeals tribunal.
The next few weeks will be about action.
But whilst I’m conscious people want deeds not words I’m not going to outline now exactly what will happen when.
There are good operational reasons for this.
There is a loud minority who will do anything to disrupt our plan so we will not be giving away sensitive operational detail which could hinder all the progress made to date.
Teams across government need to be able to get on and deliver without interference.
They are working flat out to deliver this genuine game changer.
The first flight will leave in 10 to 12 weeks.
Now of course, that is later than we wanted.
But we have always been clear that processing will take time and if Peers had not spent weeks holding up the Bill in the House of Lords to try to block flights altogether, we would have begun this process weeks ago.
And the success of this deterrent doesn’t rest on one flight alone.
It rests on the relentless, continual process of successfully and permanently removing people to Rwanda with a regular rhythm of multiple flights every month over the summer and beyond until the boats are stopped.
Now I know there are some who will hear all of this and accuse me of lacking compassion.
But the truth is the opposite.
We are in a battle with callous, sophisticated, and global criminal gangs who care nothing for the lives they risk in unseaworthy dinghies.
Nine people have died already attempting to cross the Channel just this year – including a seven-year-old girl.
That’s why we secured the largest ever deal with France to strengthen interceptions on the French coastline.
And because a third of all arrivals were coming from Albania we struck a deal that reduced illegal Albanian migrants by 90 per cent.
Taken together we’re doubling illegal working raids and returning 150 hotels back to our communities.
We got the number of small boat arrivals last year down by more than a third the first time they had fallen since this phenomenon began, and at a time when European countries were seeing numbers rise exponentially.
But these sophisticated gangs are changing tactics once again.
As well as piling twice as many people into small dinghies and increasing violence against French police they have shifted their attentions towards vulnerable Vietnamese migrants.
Vietnamese arrivals have increased ten-fold and account for almost all of the increase in small boat numbers we have seen this year.
And just as we succeeded in reducing Albanian arrivals dramatically, so I’m confident we will do the same when it comes to the Vietnamese.
President Macron and I have agreed to work with European partners on closing loopholes to enter Europe in the first place.
The Home Office have signed a Joint Statement with the Vietnamese Government committing to deepen our already very strong migration relationship.
And just last week officials from the Government of Vietnam were at Western Jetfoil and Manston to observe Border Force operations on the front line as they continue to manage small boat arrivals.
But we can’t keep reacting to the changing tactics of these gangs. The truth is we need innovative solutions to address what is a global migration crisis to disrupt the business model of people smuggling gangs and save lives.
And that means a systematic deterrent.
The only way to stop the boats is to eliminate the incentive to come by making it clear that if you are here illegally, you will not be able to stay.
This policy does exactly that.
I believe it should be this country and your government who decides who comes here, not criminal gangs. And I have the plan to deliver it.
So we will start the flights – and stop the boats.
Thank you.