The Parole Board is pleased to see the publication of the Victims Strategy, a cross-government strategy focussed on ensuring victims receive the support they need throughout their experience of the criminal justice system.

The Victims Strategy will give Victim Liaison Officers new training to deliver support to victims, and improve information given to victims about the Victim Contact Service and Victim Personal Statements, which is very much welcomed by the Parole Board.

We look forward to working with colleagues across the Criminal Justice System to ensure we deliver the Victims Strategy. Indeed, we have already contributed to the publication of the Joint Agency Guide to the Victim Personal Statement.

We were also pleased to see plans to consult on a revised Victims’ Code to ensure it better reflects the needs and rights of victims, and the changing nature of crime.

Further information on the Parole Board’s commitment to victims of crime can be found on our website.

Published 14 September 2018

Thank you, Mr Vice President,

The United Kingdom welcomes the attention given by the High Commissioner, and by this Council, to the safety of journalists. The ability to speak truth to power, to give a voice to the vulnerable and to shine a light on abuses and violations is an important element in protecting human rights.

Too often, such work is undermined by violence, intimidation and excessive restrictions. Already in 2018, an estimated 66 journalists and media workers have been killed. Over 300 have been imprisoned.

The UK continues to call for the immediate release of the two Reuters journalists sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in Burma/Myanmar for reporting on human rights violations in Rakhine State. Their investigations revealed atrocities similar to those uncovered by the UN’s Fact Finding Mission established by this Council. The verdict has undermined both freedom of the media and the rule of law in Burma/Myanmar.

Despite ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which safeguards freedom of expression, Iran continues to impose restrictions on journalists. The intimidation of BBC Persian employees and their families has rightly been condemned internationally. We call on Iran to drop the criminal charges against BBC Persian staff and cease harassment of all journalists and their families.

In Afghanistan 10 journalists lost their lives in a single day earlier this year. Another two were killed this month as they reported on an earlier attack, a stark reminder of the bravery of journalists operating in conflict environments.

In Russia, attacks on journalists continue with impunity. Activists and journalists are often faced with threats, intimidation, harassment and violence including murder.

Mr Vice President,

We call on governments to take all viable measures to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media workers, and to end the impunity for crimes against them.

Thank you Mr Vice President.

The Class 88 locomotive was described as a potential ‘game-changer’ in terms of electric freight train operation.

The Class 88, built by Stadler, is an electric locomotive that also boasts a powerful 750kW Caterpillar diesel engine which provides unrivalled flexibility allowing it to run on electrified and non-electrified parts of the rail network.

DRS, subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is using single Class 88 locomotives on its intermodal freight services which run daily between Daventry and Mossend.

Class 88s have also been used to operate DRS’s nuclear flask services nationwide, using electric power on the West and East Coast Mainlines and diesel power for long stretches of track that aren’t electrified.

The judges felt that the Class 88 has provided an excellent solution to efficient freight train operation into rail terminals. The ability to use metered electric power where available has also achieved considerable fuel cost savings.

This latest success comes hot on the heels of the Rail Freight Group Awards on Tuesday, where DRS received the ‘Business of the Year’ award. This accolade is presented to the company that the judges consider to be the overall best performing business in the rail freight sector.

Chris Connelly, Chief Operating Officer for DRS, said:

The DRS team is incredibly proud of the awards it has won over the past few days.

The recognition is testament to what can be achieved through effective teamwork together with huge support from our customers and suppliers. I would like to give my personal thanks to everyone involved as we look forward to many more exciting times ahead.

Judges said that DRS is a company that has shown excellence in several key areas this year and had “demonstrated a commitment to designing and implement exactly the right services for each customer, as well as introducing a very progressive staff development structure.” This had included giving office-based staff the chance to start a new career as train drivers.

Judges added:

Managing director, Debbie Francis, is at the forefront of championing the cause of rail freight in the wider business community and the role of women within the rail industry itself. The company shows an outstanding commitment to its customers, employees and the wider community.

This was not the only award on the night, DRS worked with Eddie Stobart Limited, to introduce a seasonal train in just two weeks in October 2017 to win the Customer Care Award.

DRS was also runner up in the ‘Community and Environmental Responsibility’ award for their efforts with the annual charity open day, sponsorship and donations fund and volunteer work in the community.