At its 14th meeting, the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC) emphasized that measles and rubella elimination and verification remain priorities for the WHO European Region and globally.
Based on reports submitted for 2024 and previous years, the RVC concluded that:
32 (60%) Member States provided evidence to demonstrate the elimination of endemic measles (interruption for at least 36 months) and 49 (92%) to demonstrate the elimination of endemic rubella, and 32 (60%) Member States provided evidence of the elimination of both measles and rubella;
one Member State interrupted measles transmission for 12 months;
13 (25%) Member States were considered endemic for measles;
6 (11%) Member States were considered to have re-established measles transmission; and
the rubella elimination status of 3 (6%) Member States is subject to the provision of additional data.
The RVC noted with concern the loss of measles elimination status in some Member States, including some with high-performing immunization programmes. The situation in 2024 highlighted the urgent need for increased political and financial commitment from countries and international organizations.
Considering the vast majority of reported cases were among unimmunized individuals, the RVC reiterated that to achieve measles and rubella elimination, as recommended by WHO, sustained coverage of at least 95% with 2 doses of measles- and rubella-containing vaccines is needed.
The RVC encouraged all Member States to increase activities to achieve sufficient immunization coverage and close all remaining immunity gaps, focusing especially on vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. The RVC also encouraged all Member States to enhance surveillance systems to improve case detection and capture more epidemiological and laboratory data to allow adequate analysis and the identification of transmission chains and outbreak sources.
The RVC is also concerned with the absence of the timely detection of and adequate immunization response to measles outbreaks, which are critical to stop measles virus transmission once the virus has been imported into a population with susceptible individuals.
The further building of response capacities, and understanding of the consequences if adequate response measures, including immunization, are not taken on time, must be priorities for health systems and decision-makers in all Member States.
The 14th RVC meeting report, including the full text of conclusions and recommendations, is pending publication.
Table: RVC conclusions on measles and rubella elimination status per Member State for 2024
Member State
Measles
Rubella
Albania
Eliminated
Eliminated
Andorra
Eliminated
Eliminated
Armenia
Re-established
Eliminated
Austria
Re-established
Eliminated
Azerbaijan
Re-established
Eliminated
Belarus
Eliminated
Eliminated
Belgium
Eliminated
Eliminated
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Endemic
Subject to provision of additional data
Bulgaria
Eliminated
Eliminated
Croatia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Cyprus
Eliminated
Eliminated
Czechia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Denmark
Eliminated
Eliminated
Estonia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Finland
Eliminated
Eliminated
France
Endemic
Eliminated
Georgia
Endemic
Eliminated
Germany
Endemic
Eliminated
Greece
Eliminated
Eliminated
Hungary
Eliminated
Eliminated
Iceland
Eliminated
Eliminated
Ireland
Eliminated
Eliminated
Israel
No report
No report
Italy
Endemic
Eliminated
Kazakhstan
Endemic
Eliminated
Kyrgyzstan
Endemic
Eliminated
Latvia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Lithuania
Eliminated
Eliminated
Luxembourg
Eliminated
Eliminated
Malta
Eliminated
Eliminated
Monaco
Eliminated
Eliminated
Montenegro
Eliminated
Eliminated
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Eliminated
Eliminated
North Macedonia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Norway
Eliminated
Eliminated
Poland
Endemic
Subject to provision of additional data
Portugal
Eliminated
Eliminated
Republic of Moldova
Eliminated
Eliminated
Romania
Endemic
Eliminated
Russian Federation
Endemic
Eliminated
San Marino
Eliminated
Eliminated
Serbia
Endemic
Eliminated
Slovakia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Slovenia
Eliminated
Eliminated
Spain
Re-established
Eliminated
Sweden
Eliminated
Eliminated
Switzerland
Eliminated
Eliminated
Tajikistan
Interrupted 12 months
Eliminated
Türkiye
Endemic
Eliminated
Turkmenistan
Eliminated
Eliminated
Ukraine
Endemic
Subject to provision of additional data
United Kingdom
Re-established
Eliminated
Uzbekistan
Re-established
Eliminated
UKHSA responds to the confirmation from @WHO that the UK has lost its measles elimination status:
Aldi commits to supporting families with the return of its Mamia New Parent Fund for 2026, following the success of the programme last year, which saw thousands of parents apply.
Now in its second year, the Mamia New Parent Fund will continue supporting new parents with the cost of everyday essentials after welcoming a new baby, with nearly a fifth (17%) of new parents saying recurring nappy purchases are among the biggest, unexpected costs.
The supermarket is giving away £100 Aldi vouchers every week in Edinburgh throughout 2026, totalling £5,200 to be used on everything from nappies and wipes to baby food and toiletries.
The news comes as Aldi unveils new data showing the significant savings available to parents who choose Mamia nappies. Parents using Mamia nappies could save up to £380 over the first year compared with leading branded equivalents*.
The return of the fund reinforces the UK’s fourth largest supermarket’s ongoing commitment to helping families make their money go further through the Mamia range, which offers award-winning quality at unbeatable prices.
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “We know that welcoming a baby brings immense joy, but it can also bring unexpected financial challenges at a time when every penny counts.
“The response to last year’s Fund showed us just how much parents value this support, with thousands applying. That’s why we’re bringing the Mamia New Parent Fund back for 2026 to continue giving families a helping hand with those everyday essentials.”
Aldi’s Mamia range includes nappies, wipes, baby food and toiletries, all rigorously tested to meet the same high standards as branded equivalents but at a fraction of the cost.
Aldi was named Supermarket of the Year by Mother&Baby, confirming that families can trust Aldi to deliver unbeatable value across their entire shop.
New parents who want to apply for Aldi’s Mamia New Parent Fund should email mamiaparentfund@aldi.co.ukwith a receipt showing their latest Mamia purchase. One family will be chosen each week throughout 2026 to receive a £100 voucher to spend in any UK Aldi store.
UK Poverty 2026: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK
This report sets out the nature of poverty in the UK, and evaluates changes under the last Conservative-led Government.
It also sets out the scale of action necessary for the current Government to deliver the change it has promised.
Today, we’ve launched our annual state of the nation report, UK Poverty 2026. The report, which accounts for the time just before the current government took power and clearly shows the depth of the problem and the scale of the challenge.
Some of the key findings of the report include:
More than one in five people in the UK, around 14.2 million, were living in poverty. Britain’s poorest are getting poorer: 6.8 million people are now living in very deep poverty, almost half of everyone in poverty, the highest level on record.
Poverty has hardened, not eased: the average person in poverty now lives 29% below the poverty line, compared with 23% in the mid-1990s.
Child poverty has climbed again: 4.5 million children are in poverty, rising for the third year in a row.
Hunger is spreading fast: 1.1 million more people in poverty cannot afford enough food than two years ago bringing the total to 3.5 million, while 2.8 million more people overall are now food insecure bringing the total to 7.5 million.
Work doesn’t guarantee security: around two-thirds of working-age adults in poverty, 5.4 million people, live in households where someone is in work.
New JRF analysis shows that, under central Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projections, the headline poverty rate will remain broadly unchanged (21.3% to 21.1%) between 2026 and 2029.
Current policies will see little progress towards meeting the government’s manifesto commitment to end the mass dependence on food banks.
People in very deep poverty now make up the biggest group of people in poverty, at 6.8 million people.
This is unacceptable for the fifth richest country in the world, and it has consequences.
Overall poverty rates have flatlined since 2005/06 at just over a fifth. The longer a family spends in poverty, the worse the effects on that family.
The longer we tolerate unacceptably high levels of poverty, the worse it is for our country.
THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.
We found that Britain’s poorest people are getting poorer. And poverty is hardening, not easing.
Almost 1/2 of all people in poverty in very deep poverty
More than 1/4 disabled people living in poverty
Around 2/3 of working-age adults in poverty live in a household where someone is in work
Feelings of frustration – and the need for urgent action – were evident
The lives behind the numbers — unacceptably tough, and getting harder
With a foreward from our Grassroots Poverty Action Group (GPAG), this report speaks to some of the policies that would lift hundreds of thousands of children, disabled people and other families out of poverty.
It can be done, and it has been done before. The alternative is a reality that feels harder to thrive in.
Edinburgh restaurant, Bombay Bistro, is spotlighting the naturally nourishing power of Indian cuisine with dishes designed to support modern wellness goals without sacrificing flavour.
Led by Chef Mandeep Saini, former head chef at Gleneagles, the restaurant is showcasing a range of dishes built around Indian ‘superfoods’, ingredients long valued for their health benefits from fibre-rich pulses and antioxidant-packed vegetables to warming spices known to support digestion and immunity.
Drawing on his experience in some of Scotland’s most prestigious kitchens, Chef Mandeep has created a selection of dishes that reframe healthy eating as vibrant and comforting, while still deeply satisfying, offering a welcome alternative to restrictive ‘clean eating’.
A stand-out dish is the masala broccoli & pumpkin superfood salad, combining roasted pumpkin, tender broccoli florets and a fragrant masala dressing. Naturally high in fibre and antioxidants, the dish supports gut health and immunity, while delivering the bold comforting flavours Bombay Bistro is well-known for.
Chef Mandeep Saini, said: “Indian cuisine has always been rooted in balance, using spices and ingredients that nourish the body as well as excite the palate. At Bombay Bistro, I want to highlight how naturally healthy Indian food can be, without it ever feeling restrictive. These are dishes designed to support wellbeing and still feel indulgent.”
Other superfood-led dishes include:
Chana Jor Salad – a vibrant Indian-style salad of roasted, flattened gram chickpeas, boiled potatoes, mango and fresh coriander, finished with a jaggery and lemon coconut dressing.
Undhiyu Chaat – drawing on traditional Gujarati flavours through a mix of sweet potato, banana, spinach, noodles and pomegranate seeds, balancing sweet and spicy notes.
Chicken Shorba – a classic Indian soup of lightly spiced masala chicken broth and chunky vegetables.
Spices used across the menu, including turmeric, cumin, ginger and coriander, are celebrated for their anti-inflammatory properties and role in supporting digestion, heart health and overall vitality.
Chef Mandeep Saini has set out to not only deliver a range of thoughtfully prepared dishes, but with incredible, vibrant flavours, proving that food designed with wellness in mind can be just as delicious.
Bombay Bistro’s superfood focused dishes are now available, offering diners a flavour led way to eat well, feel good and enjoy food that is nourishing as it is delicious.
Bombay Bistro is located at 14-17 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4HN. To book, please click here.
Social Work Scotland is a membership organisation which represents social workers and other professionals who lead and support social work across all sectors.
In October 2025, after reports of reductions to SDS personal budgets (options 1 direct payments), Social Work Scotland facilitated two separate surveys for disabled people and carers and social workers.
Survey analysis was completed by Three Sisters Consultancy (disabled people and carers) and Dr Gillian MacIntyre and Dr Ailsa E Stewart (social workers).
In addition, Social Work Scotland are proud to publish a bridging paper collating both perspectives to discuss the state and future of social work and social care in Scotland, and pleased to be able to bring lived experience and workforce voices together.
This report is published alongside two complementary research studies: one capturing the lived experience of people who draw on social work and social care support, and another exploring the experiences of social workers operating within the current system.
Its purpose is to connect these perspectives – to show how funding decisions, governance arrangements, and policy choices shape both what people experience and what practitioners are asked to do.
By bringing lived experience, workforce reality, and financial analysis into the same frame, this paper aims to support informed, constructive discussion about how Scotland can build a more sustainable, rights-based, and trusted system of care and support. It is intended as a contribution to collective problem-solving, not an attribution of blame to individuals or organisations working within significant structural constraints.
Report 1: The State and Future of Social Work and Social Care in Scotland Part 1 (written by Laura Kerr, Head of Policy and Workforce, Social Work Scotland)
Report 2: Impacts of SDS budget reductions on social workers – Survey analysis (written by Dr Gillian MacIntyre and Dr Ailsa E Stewart)
Report 3: Impacts of SDS budget reductions on disabled people and unpaid carers – Survey analysis (written by Rhiann McLean Three Sisters Consultancy)
COSLA’s Health & Social Care Spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said:“This report serves as a collective call to action for meaningful and sustainable change in social work and social care in Scotland, to deliver the system we aspire to have; one centred around human rights and dignity, where both the people delivering and accessing support feel valued. I offer Local Government’s commitment to work with partners on realising change.
“Scotland’s social work and social care sector faces complex funding, policy and system challenges, and this report makes clear the impacts these can have on people, carers and frontline workers. It is deeply troubling that frontline workers talk about the moral and ethical dilemmas they face as a result of having to balance financial considerations with the care that can be delivered to citizens.
“In collectively considering the reports and working through system challenges, we cannot allow further cuts to be inflicted upon vital social care services at this pivotal time. As it currently stands, the Scottish Budget would represent a further cut to social care funding in Scotland, and risks compounding the very real system pressures which will directly impact people and communities.
“Social work and social care are essential to the fabric of Scottish society. We know that by investing in these services, and by working together to change them for the better, we can make a real difference to people’s lives, to local economies and to our communities.”
People in Scotland are less likely to die from cancer, with the risk falling by 12% over the past decade, according to new figures published today by Public Health Scotland (PHS).
The new report, which provides the latest insights in cancer mortality in Scotland, highlights that there was a small increase in the number of deaths due to cancer, from 16,011 in 2015 to 16,352 in 2024. This is caused by Scotland’s by Scotland’s ageing population, and older people are at higher risk of cancer.
It also shows that those who die from cancer are now older than in the past. In 2024, 70% of all cancer deaths occurred in people aged 70 and over, up from 66% in 2015. The average age at death also increased between 2000 and 2024, rising from 71 to 74 years for males, and from 72 to 74 years for females.
Lung, colorectal (bowel), prostate, and breast cancers together accounted for 46% of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer remained the leading cause, with 3,651 deaths in 2024, making up 22% of all cancer deaths. Most lung cancer deaths could be avoided by eliminating smoking.
Professor David Morrison, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Scotland, Scotland, said:“Cancer remains the most common cause of death in Scotland, but the risk has been falling over time.
“Deaths from lung cancer have fallen by a quarter over the past 10 years, and oesophageal and bladder cancer deaths have also gone down. We can see the huge benefits of fewer people smoking and more successful treatment of cancer in these latest figures.
“Among women, the chances of dying from breast cancer have fallen by 11% over the last decade. Breast screening picks up cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage and new treatment options have become available.
“I would encourage anyone invited for cancer screening or offered HPV vaccination to take up the offers.”
Reducing harm from tobacco by creating a smoke-free generation remains a priority for PHS, particularly given lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Scotland. This, together with reducing harm from alcohol, drugs and unhealthy foods, is one of the key actions outlined in our ten-year strategy, also published today, which sets out how we will work to improve Scotland’s health outcomes.
A second cancer-focussed report published by PHS today, the Place of Death from Cancer in Scotland report, examines the place of death for people who died from cancer between 2015 and 2024.
Of the 49,474 cancer deaths in Scotland during 2015–2024, 39% occurred in NHS hospitals, 37% occurred at home or a private address and 15% occurred in hospices.
The Cancer Mortality in Scotland Annual Update 2024 report can be read here:
More information on identifying, treating and managing cancers can be found on NHS Inform: Cancer | NHS inform
Last year, we published a joint blog by Consultants in Public Health Medicine, Professor David Morrison, Director of the Scottish Cancer Registry and Dr Fatim Lakha, exploring the seemingly paradoxical good news within Scotland’s rising cancer statistics – and what it means for our future health and care system.
Employee wages in Scotland’s small businesses have risen by 5.7% since November 2024, according to a new report published by Sage.
This was the second largest year-on-year increase across the UK, with Wales also at 5.7% and the West Midlands at 5.8%.
The findings come from the second edition of the Sage UK Workforce Tracker, developed in partnership with Edinburgh’s Smart Data Foundry and The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The tracker draws on monthly data from around 200,000 small businesses and millions of employees nationwide.
Across the UK, median gross earnings are up 5.3% year-on-year to £2,170, with take home (net) pay of £1,767 up 3.1% year-on-year.
Highest salary rises were in information and communication at 6.4%, followed by other services, wholesale and retail trade, and construction, with the lowest rises in the arts and entertainment industry at just 1.4%.
Headcount growth in general has slowed however, with changes ranging from -1% to 0.1%, suggesting that businesses are not investing in new people.
Nationally, the total headcount decreased 0.4% from November 2024 but regionally there was more variability. South West, London, and the North East are among the lowest in terms of headcount growth while East Midlands, East of England, and South East are among the highest.
Liam Daly, Senior Economist at Cebr, as quoted in the tracker said: “The Sage UK Workforce Tracker reveals that the headcount among the sample of small businesses contracted in November, compared to the same month a year ago.
“Meanwhile, median earnings growth decelerated year-on-year, reflecting the shifting demand–supply dynamics in the labour market. Looking ahead, the near-term economic outlook remains modest, reflecting weak consumer spending growth and still fragile business confidence.
“On the upside, easing inflationary pressures should set the stage for further interest rate cuts, helping to reduce borrowing costs. Meanwhile, a sustained deceleration in earnings growth will be welcomed by employers as labour costs remain stubbornly high. Measures announced in the Autumn Budget are likely to do little to materially improve the economy’s tepid growth and productivity performance nor spur greater hiring appetite among businesses.”
Year-on-year changes in headcount have varied widely by industry. Public administration and defence headcount had the highest growth of 3.0%while accommodation and food services experienced the largest drop of 3.0%.
Pairing this new report together with the Sage Small Business Tracker (SMB Tracker) shows that this reduction in headcount for accommodation and food services is matched by the largest annual decrease in revenue, a 4.2% decrease. This combination of data ties workforce changes to broader economic conditions affecting revenues.
Dougie Robb, CEO of Smart Data Foundry, said: “It’s great to be supplying data for The Workforce Tracker which gives fresh insight into regional and industry activity for both earning and headcount.
“The statistics can be used alongside the Small Business Tracker to help reveal hurdles and opportunities to businesses, guiding decision-makers toward an impactful, sustainable future.”
The government will launch a review into dramatically reducing the number of police forces in England and Wales.
Consolidating the current model will make the police more cost-efficient, giving the taxpayer more value for money, while also ensuring a less fragmented system that will better serve the public and make them safer.
This is a moment to reset policing’s focus and return to its core principles – restoring neighbourhood policing and tackling local crime by delivering a structural overhaul to meet the demands of the modern world.
National Police Service
A new nationwide police force will be established to fight the most complex and serious crimes.
The new National Police Service will attract world-class talent and use state of the art technology to fight complex and serious crimes, lifting the burden on overstretched local forces and allowing them to focus on catching local criminals.
The service will bring the capabilities of the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, regional organised crime units, police helicopters and national roads policing under a single organisation.
As one force, it will be better equipped to share technology, intelligence and resources to stop the growing threat from crime that has become increasingly complex, digital, online and with no respect for constabulary borders.
A national police commissioner will be appointed to lead the force and will serve as the most senior police officer in the country.
It will enable local officers to spend more time supporting victims of crime and delivering neighbourhood policing, rather than navigating the forensics system.
This will give victims confidence as their case will be supported by world‑class specialist expertise, and the latest technology, no matter where they live.
Part of the new National Police Service’s remit will be to take on responsibility for forensics from the 43 local forces with direction set centrally from the new organisation.
Demand for specialist digital forensics means there are 20,000 devices awaiting analysis at any time. The service will deal with these backlogs and help the police keep up with the ever-increasing pace of change in technology.
Frontline policing will save £350 million by scrapping outdated procurement approaches, which will instead be used to fight crime.
Under the current localised model, each of the 43 forces often procure technology, equipment and clothing themselves, meaning 43 different teams undertaking the same work.
The new National Police Service will end this inefficiency, taking on the responsibility for shared services, equipment and IT.
The National Police Service will buy equipment once on behalf of all, saving money through economies of scale and reinvesting the savings back into frontline policing to go after criminals.
Accountability and standards
Ministers will be handed new powers to intervene directly in failing forces, sending in specialist teams to turn them around so they fight crime more effectively.
If crime solving rates or police response times are poor, the Home Secretary will be able to send in experts from the best performing forces to improve their performance, so they catch more criminals.
The Home Secretary will restore the power to sack failing chief constables. New laws will hand ministers statutory powers to force the retirement, resignation or suspension of chief constables if they are poorly performing.
The forces will also be directly accountable to the public, with new targets on 999 response times, victim satisfaction, public trust and confidence. These results will be published and forces graded so communities can compare.
To further reinforce accountability, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire & Rescue Services will gain statutory powers to issue directions when forces fail to act on its recommendations.
Alongside these force-wide measures, the government will also ensure the highest standards from individual officers. To strengthen safeguards and ensure those unfit for policing are kept out of the profession, the government will introduce laws to impose robust, mandatory vetting standards for all police forces, ensuring the public is protected.
These new standards will enable forces to exclude those with a caution or conviction for violence against women and girls offences from policing.
Stronger requirements on forces to suspend officers who are under investigation for these crimes will also be introduced.
Police officers will be required to hold and renew a licence throughout their career so they learn new skills as criminal techniques evolve.
The Licence to Practise will ensure officers are best equipped with problem solving and technological skills they need to catch more criminals.
Drawn from other professions such as lawyers and doctors, officers will have to demonstrate that they have the skills needed to fight crime. Those who fail to reach the required standard, following opportunities to try again, will be removed from the profession.
Neighbourhood policing
Under new reforms, response officers will be expected to reach the scene of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in cities and 20 minutes in rural areas, and forces will be expected to answer 999 phone calls within 10 seconds.
These new targets will ensure that all forces provide the same level of police response to crimes.
Currently, data on response times is collected differently across forces, and police are not held accountable if targets are not met. Reforming the system will create more transparency and consistency across the country.
Where forces fail to deliver, the Home Secretary will send in experts from the best performing forces to improve their performance, including when unmet response‑time targets are part of broader systemic failing.
To fight everyday crime, the government will ramp up its pledge to restore visible neighbourhood policing and patrols in communities through an extension of its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
This has already placed named, contactable officers in each neighbourhood. Under the extension, every council ward in England and Wales will have its own named, contactable officers, creating more local points of contact and giving officers a deeper understanding of the issues in their area.
Police forces will also recruit the brightest and best from universities in a new recruitment drive to cut crime and catch more criminals.
Modelled on Teach First, the government is investing up to £7 million to attract top students from universities into specially trained graduate neighbourhood police officer roles in England and Wales.
Retailers across the country will see a major crackdown on organised crime gangs thanks to £7 million in new government investment aimed at dismantling criminal networks from the ground up.
This funding will supercharge intelligence-led policing to identify offenders, disrupt the tactics used to target shops, and bring more criminals to justice.
Technology
The government is making the largest investment into state-of-the-art police technology in history, with over £140 million to be invested to roll out technologies to catch more criminals and keep our communities safe
The number of live facial recognition vans will increase five-fold, with 50 vans available to every police force in England and Wales to catch violent and sexual offenders.
The government will also roll out new artificial intelligence (AI) tools which will help forces identify suspects from CCTV, doorbell and mobile phone footage that has been submitted as evidence by the public.
A new national centre on AI – Police.AI – will be set up to roll out AI to all forces to free officers from paperwork, delivering up to 6 million hours back to the frontline every year – the equivalent of 3,000 police officers. This means more police on the streets fighting crime and catching criminals.
More tech specialists will work in police forces to outsmart modern criminals and put more fraudsters and organised crime bosses behind bars.
The move will enable police forces to uncover more vital hidden evidence on phones and laptops to secure more convictions of professional criminals and keep people safer from crimes such as child sexual abuse.
Public order
A new senior policing role will be introduced to lead the police’s nationwide response to public disorder, and galvanise and co-ordinate responses to major incidents.
The senior national co-ordinator role for public order policing will sit within the new National Police Service. They will not be responsible for local public order responses, which remain within the remit of chief constables, and instead sit at a higher strategic level of oversight, with responsibility for decision-making over the most significant national public disorder, such as the widespread disorder seen in the summer of 2024 and the riots that started in London in 2011.
While local policing responses will stay the responsibility of chief constables, the new role will provide national oversight and decision-making on mobilisation and resourcing, with enhanced powers to:
direct resources under mutual aid arrangements and require forces to contribute during major disorder
ensure mandatory data sharing between forces
set a national strategy for public order policing
monitor and implement relevant recommendations from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services
Officer wellbeing
The government will expand the roll out of the dedicated Mental Health Crisis Line so all officers and staff can access mental health support, and have committed to its funding long term.
Officers and staff in front-facing and high-risk roles will also be offered psychological risk screenings each year so officers suffering can be signposted to the best support when they need it most.
Trauma tracker software will be made available to every force and ensure senior leaders can identify and support staff at the highest risk and intervene at an earlier stage.
Mandatory training around resilience and mental health for new recruits and supervisors will be introduced and treated as protected learning time.
Special constables
Experts in cybersecurity and technology are being encouraged to join the Special Constabulary, as police forces across England and Wales ramp up their efforts to tackle modern crime.
Since 2012, the number of special constables in England and Wales has fallen year-on-year to just 5,534 as of March 2025. This is down 73% from 20,343 in 2012.
To reverse this decline, the Home Office will work with policing to streamline the recruitment process for Specials, making it easier for people to volunteer, while maintaining consistent high standards of vetting and training. Steps will also be taken to ensure existing Specials are incentivised to remain in the role, by better integrating them into the wider police force.
75 Participants Sought for Charity Challenge Across Five Victorian Pools This Easter Monday
Who’s ready for their next adventure? Edinburgh Leisure is calling on spirited individuals for the 2026 Victorian Pool Crawl!
It’s a one-of-a-kind aquathlon-style charity fundraiser, taking place on Easter Monday, 6th April 2026, across the city’s five beautiful Victorian swimming pools. Challengers will swim in each pool and then walk to the next, in doing so covering a half-marathon distance whilst raising essential funds for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme.
Applications are now open for one of the 75 available places.
Event Details & Registration
Participants will swim up to 1 km at each of the five Victorian pools walk a total of 16 km, in one challenging, inspiring day. Each applicant is asked to secure a minimum of £350 in donations, with all proceeds supporting Active Communities, Edinburgh Leisure’s charity programme which supports people with barriers to being active.
Once accepted, a £20 registration fee secures your spot on the Pool Crawl. Every participant will receive an exclusive event t-shirt, swim cap, locker token, swim training plan, finisher’s goody bag, and entry to a prize draw for a year’s Edinburgh Leisure Swim Membership.
Why Support Active Communities?
Yearly, over 14,700 local people benefit from Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme, which offers activities and support to those facing poverty, disabilities, health challenges, and other inequalities.
This Easter Monday, your efforts will help create healthier, more active lives for our neighbours who need it most.
“Active Communities is at the heart of our mission to transform Edinburgh’s health and wellbeing. Every year we help thousands of people across the city overcome barriers to being active by accessing the support and activities they need for a healthier life” says Rachael McCrea, Head of Funding.
“The Victorian Pool Crawl is not only a celebration of our city’s heritage pools, but also a vital fundraiser. We’re excited to welcome a new group of participants to make a real difference this year.”
Returning participant Marek Bernat told us, “Completing the final lane last year was tough, but extremely rewarding.
“We all knew our efforts would help fund local community programmes, and that was a true highlight. It’s an unforgettable challenge.”
