The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has today [22 June] unveiled an ambitious plan to bring together all of the Government’s international oceans work under a single strategy for the first time.

The Government will agree and implement a new oceans strategy, under the aegis of the FCO, which will cover work from departments including Defra, BEIS, DfT and DIT. The strategy will be developed over the coming months. Responding to the recommendation from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser to develop a more strategic approach to marine and maritime policy, it will provide a blueprint for international action by HMG towards the oceans that supports the long-term prosperity of the UK and the long-term health of the marine environment.

Speaking on a visit to the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), the Foreign Secretary said:

Britain has a proud and ancient maritime history, but our commitment to the oceans must be enshrined in our future. Today in Southampton I’ve heard from world-leading UK experts on marine protection, and what more the UK can do to help.

We need to improve and energise international ocean governance to protect the world’s seas and their ecosystems, to keep our people and goods safe, and to support sustainable economic growth, as well as to deliver our ambitious environmental commitments. Utilising expertise across government, Britain will stay at the leading edge of international marine excellence.

At the NOC, the Foreign Secretary met scientists working on Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded marine protection programmes, including the flagship Blue Belt programme, which will protect over four million square kilometres of British waters by 2020.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit builds on commitments made during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in April, where the FCO announced additional funding for the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme and a number of Government commitments to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the oceans.

Notes to editors

• The Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme is a £23 million programme over 4 years (from 2016) to assist Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean to develop maritime economy plans for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

• The Government Office for Science issued a Foresight report on 21 March 2018 entitled ‘Future of the Sea’, which sets out the important role that the oceans play in the life of the UK and its Overseas Territories. It highlighted an opportunity for the UK to develop a “thriving 21st Century marine and maritime economy and leading the global response to environmental change.”

• The Blue Belt programme aims to deliver demonstrable increases in the protection of marine biodiversity across the combined maritime zones of the UK and the UK Overseas Territories, taking into account local views and supporting the development of sustainable economies. The Blue Belt programme is on course to deliver over 4 million square kilometres of protected ocean around the UKOTs by 2020, with funding of up to £20m to support scientific assessment, implementation, management, monitoring and surveillance of these areas.

Further information

The LAA annual report & accounts for 2017 to 2018 and the DLAC report for the same period are both now available on GOV.UK.

These are the fifth such reports for the agency since it came into being in April 2013.

The LAA and the DLAC role were both created by the LASPO Act 2012. The reports document the work carried out under these functions.

Further information

Legal Aid Agency annual report and accounts 2017 to 2018

Director of Legal Aid Casework annual report 2017 to 2018

Building a Stronger Britain Together, the government campaign to support organisations helping to protect their communities from extremism, has today (Friday 22 June) awarded a funding boost to sports community groups.

The organisations, including England Netball, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and Southend United Community and Education Trust, will receive a share of £400,000 funding to create year-long sports-based schemes and support people who may be vulnerable to extremism. These range from boxing classes and football workshops to community engagement projects and table tennis sessions.

Baroness Williams, the Minister for Countering Extremism, made the announcement as the BSBT network met at St Andrew’s – the home of Birmingham City Football Club – to discuss how their work has helped counter extremists’ narratives.

Baroness Williams, Minister for Countering-Extremism, said:

Whether it is cricket, football, netball or boxing, sport is a uniquely powerful way to break down barriers and provide a common platform to unite us all.

The Building a Stronger Britain Together programme is all about strengthening communities so that they can stand against those who seek to divide us with extremist views. We want to create more opportunities to bring people from a wide range of backgrounds together.

Since 2015, the BSBT programme has supported more than 130 organisations, including the EFL Trust and Show Racism the Red Card, for innovative projects to stand up against extremism. It was set up as part of the government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy.

The BSBT network includes grassroots campaigns that bring together young people from segregated communities, build resilience to extremism and challenge extremist narratives.

One group to have received funding from BSBT in the past is Lord Taverners, who run Wicketz, a community cricket programme targeting young people aged 8 to 16 living in areas of deprivation.

Abdus Salaam, 18, joined the club in Summer 2016, having struggled with anger management issues after witnessing domestic abuse. He admits that he was going down a path of violence before joining the club. Now he has become assistant coach for the Luton-based project and backed the further BSBT funding.

Abdus said:

Sport absolutely saved me. Sport kept me off the street and if I was not introduced to Wicketz I don’t like to think what road I would be on.

This kind of funding is amazing. It is so important that these vulnerable kids have role models and have a chance to become a good role models themselves. This is what it is all about – spreading these positive messages by word of mouth one person at a time and letting people know there is a different route.

I work with people from all backgrounds and I have learnt that there are good people everywhere.

The full list of groups that received funding are: Brighton Table Tennis Club (Brighton); Centre West, Foundation of Light, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation (North East); England Netball, Dagenham & Redbridge FC Community Trust; Club Cricket Conference (London); Small Heath Boxing Club (Birmingham); Colchester United Football in the Community (Essex); Southend United Community and Education Trust (Essex).

Further groups receiving funding will be announced in due course.

The annual Prison Officer of the Year and Probation Awards celebrate those extraordinary individuals who put in the extra dedication, passion and understanding to their jobs to ultimately change lives.

There are 7 categories in both awards, plus a Team of the Year Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award. These all look to reward those with outstanding achievements in areas such as public safety, changing lives, and staff support.

Both the Probation and Prison Officer of the Year Awards were handed out by Rory Stewart, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Sentencing.

The Probation Awards 2018

Anna Whateley from the Bristol team was given the overall title of Probation Champion of the Year on Wednesday. Anna’s described as being proactive, diligent and thorough, as well as being patient, kind and compassionate.

She was nominated by her manager for her positive influence to the service, playing an instrumental role in both mentoring new staff and shaping new victims’ services in the South West and South Central division.

On winning her award, Anna said:

It feels absolutely amazing. To be a category winner was enough but to be the champion, especially alongside all the other winners tonight? Stunned.

Talking about why he chose Anna, Michael Spurr, HMPPS Chief Executive Officer said:

Anna is an extraordinary victim liaison officer whose compassion and professionalism is inspirational. She goes well beyond what is required and is a champion for probation in all she does.

The category winners were:

• Team of the Year: Hackney Women’s Team London CRC
• Lifetime Achievement: Eddie Simon
• Changing Lives: Matthew Smith from NPS Taunton
• Change and Innovation: Angela Oakley from HMP Buckley Hall
• Fairness. Decency and Respect: Megan Key from NPS Midlands
• Supporting Victims: Anna Whateley from NPS Bristol
• Public Safety: Angie from NPS Midlands
• Staff Support: Stacey Johns from NPS Bridgend
• Partnership Working: Angie Powell from HMP Exeter

The Prison Officer of the Year Awards 2018

Keith Potter, Youth Custody Prison Officer HMYOI Feltham was awarded the title of Prison Officer of the Year 2018 on Thursday. Keith was nominated by his line manager Paul Barney, the Head of Offender Management as his services towards rehabilitating young people is unmatched.

Keith runs numerous constructive activities that help young people’s rehabilitation and resettlement, such as successfully reintroducing the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at HMP Feltham, extending the Fire Brigade LiFE course as a ROTL opportunity and has created community partnerships with local football clubs.

Keith has managed to find an effective way to get through to young people helping them to turn their lives around. On winning his award, Keith said:

I’m not sure it’s really sunk in yet but it feels great. I’ve never thought that I was ever doing any more than just my job, so to be recognised for that is really fantastic.

Talking about why he chose Keith, Michael Spurr, HMPPS Chief Executive Officer said:

Keith has done phenomenal work with a huge range of officers to support young people at Feltham, much of it in his own time and all of it with passion and commitment.

The category winners were:

• Team of the Year: Early Days in Custody Team, HMP Woodhill
• Lifetime Achievement: Trevor Lewis from HMP Exeter
• Changing Lives: Donna Taylor from HMP Wormwood Scrubs
• Change and Innovation: Brian Greig from HMP Standford Hill
• Fairness. Decency and Respect: Jim King from HMP/YOI Feltham
• Safety, Security and Care: Rae Carter from HMP Winchester
• Public Safety: Stuart McBride from HMP Swaleside
• Staff Support: Kerrie Stott from HMP Isle of Wight
• Partnership Working: Keith Potter from HM/YOI Feltham

On the awards, Prisons and Probation Minister, Rory Stewart said:

I want to pay tribute to our prison and probation staff for their extraordinary service, commitment, and resilience.

They are true heroes and I have been staggered – day in, day out – by the quality and dedication shown by so many of our staff.

These awards give us the opportunity to reflect on their contribution, and to recognise those individual staff who have gone above and beyond. They are true role models, and show the impact staff can have in helping offenders turn their lives around, thereby reducing reoffending and protecting the public.

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of HMPPS said:

The staff working in our prisons do vitally important work every day but it often goes unseen so these awards are the perfect opportunity to recognise this work and to say thank you.

Our nominees represent the best of a service where professionals are dedicated to changing lives and making their communities safer.

I feel privileged to lead the service and I am extremely proud of the work our finalists are doing.

HMPPS awards are an opportunity to celebrate success, share best practice and shine a light on the great work being done across England and Wales in the prison and probation services.

Working with offenders in prison and in the community presents daily challenges but it is a vital public service with great opportunities to make a difference and to prevent victims and better protect the public.

Notes to editors

The Probation Awards took place on Wednesday 20 June 2018 and the Prison Officer of The Year Awards took place on Thursday 21 June 2018.