Eleven UK-based start-ups that have received Innovate UK support were named in the list of business and industry figures to watch in 2017.

The Home Secretary has today announced police forces will be required to collect and publish detailed data on all their use of force, including Taser usage, from April.

Adopting the recommendations of the David Shaw review into police use of force, Amber Rudd said officers will have to record the location and outcome of all CED usage, along with the ethnicity and age of those involved, with the first set of data being published locally by forces this summer.

And she said the new rules being introduced would allow the increased safeguards and transparency required for the introduction of the new Taser X2 device.

All police use of force, including physical restraint, will be captured in the new statistical publications – to be collected from April 1 and published by forces from July onwards.

The increased transparency and scrutiny will allow meaningful comparison of the effectiveness of different techniques and tactics for the first time.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

We ask the police to put themselves in harm’s way to defend us and the use of force is a vital part of their powers.

But when the police take the difficult decision to deploy force it is also vital that the people they serve can scrutinise it.

These new rules will introduce unprecedented transparency to this important subject and reinforce the proud British model of policing by consent.

The government is committed to improving the transparency and accountability of the police’s use of force.

In 2014, the then Home Secretary, Theresa May, asked former National Police Lead for Conflict Management, Chief Constable David Shaw, to lead a review into what data should be recorded and published.

Work has been undertaken by police forces to implement the new data collection system recommended by the review by 1 April 2017. Forces will publish the information locally on a quarterly basis, and provide an annual snap-shot of the key information collected to the Home Office as part of the Annual Data Requirement for 2017/18.

For the first time, these data will allow meaningful comparison of the effectiveness of different techniques – which will strengthen police training, tactics, decision-making, and equipment procurement.

In authorising the new Taser, the Home Office has supported the police in an open and transparent procurement exercise to identify a new device that will eventually replace the current TASER X26.

As with the authorisation process for all less-lethal weapons, the X2 has undergone extensive evaluation. A full technical evaluation has been carried out by the Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), and the results of that, user handling trials, training and guidance materials were submitted for an independent medical assessment by the Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons (SACMILL).

The Committee confirmed that the medical implications of the TASER X2 are in line with those expected of a less-lethal weapon of this type.

Details of all CED deployments will be recorded by the police and shared with SACMILL on a regular basis to ensure its findings remain accurate.

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service Brandon Lewis said:

The government is committed to giving the police the tools they need to do their job effectively – we must ensure our officers have access to the best, and most up-to-date technology available.

Tasers are an important tactical option for the police, particularly in potentially violent situations where other tactics have been considered or failed.

All officers who use Tasers have to go through a comprehensive training process. This includes training officers to factor in the potential vulnerability of the person and factors such as age and stature when assessing each situation.

David Shaw was Chief Constable for West Mercia until July 2016. You can read his use of force data review.

Read the TASER X2 SACMILL medical assessment.

Construction will start this summer on a £4 million flood storage area which will reduce the risk of flooding to nearly 300 homes and businesses in Broadway, Childswickham and Murcot.

The Environment Agency, Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon District Council, Broadway Parish Council and Childswickham Parish Council have been working in partnership and have now secured over £2 million Government Grant in Aid funding, enabling the scheme construction to begin. The Environment Agency’s English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee have also contributed over £1 million. To enable access to the Government Grant in Aid funding under Defra’s Flood Partnership Funding Model, Worcestershire County Council and Wychavon District Council are contributing £555,000 and the local parishes have raised £312,000.

Broadway, Childswickham and Murcot were severely flooded in 2007 following record breaking rainfall across the area. The new flood storage area in Broadway will be able to hold up to 135,000 cubic metres of water during times of flood and will only allow a set amount of water to flow downstream at times of intense and high rainfall. This will reduce flood risk along the Badsey Brook downstream of Broadway.

The English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) continues to support the scheme and provided funding which allowed the Environment Agency to purchase the 18 acre field where the majority of the flood storage area is to be located.

As a condition of the planning application detailed archaeological investigations, part funded by Worcestershire County Council, are being carried out. This involves excavation work and will reduce the risk of delays during construction. These ground works are almost complete.

Specialist contractors are currently on site carrying out tree clearance in preparation for the main flood scheme works.

Daniel Wilkinson, from the Environment Agency, said:

Flooding has a devastating impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, so it’s great that by working together with our partners we have managed to find a solution which means we are now one step closer to reducing the risk of flooding for residents living in Broadway, Childswickham and Murcot.

Cllr Anthony Blagg, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for environment, said:

Now that the archaeological work is nearing completion, this project can move on to the next stage and closer to protecting homes and businesses with this innovative flood alleviation scheme.

Cllr Emma Stokes, portfolio holder for environment and street scene on Wychavon District Council, said:

It’s almost 10 years since the floods of 2007 but none of us will forget the devastating impact they had. This scheme will help reduce the risk of future flooding and provide greater protection to communities in Broadway, Childswickham and Murcot.

Kevin Beasley, from Broadway Parish Council, said:

We are very pleased that the flood alleviation scheme is progressing well and that the residents of both Broadway, Childwickham and Murcot will be more reassured that the properties are safer from flooding and the devastation that they have previously experienced, once the work is completed.

County Cllr for Broadway in Worcestershire, Liz Eyre BEM, said:

This project represents an enormous amount of hard work behind the scenes. I am simply delighted that sticking by the project, working with talented county and district officers at all levels and the Environment Agency has led to this, a real outcome for my residents.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is looking to expand its Synthetic Environment Tower of Excellence (SE Tower) Community of Practice (COP).

Since 2004, the SE Tower has provided a mechanism for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), industry and academia to work together on areas of research in simulation and synthetic environments. The SE Tower aims to develop UK defence capability in this area, and annually seeks to refresh its relationships with the supplier community by opening the COP to new members.

Last year, 11 members joined, bringing our total membership to 49, benefiting from twice-yearly Information Exchange Events (IEE) and access to the Shared Working Environment. The next event is planned for Wednesday 10 May 2017 where Dstl will once again be looking at ways to increase the mutual understanding and co-operation between the MOD and the sector.

Simulation and synthetic environments are used by MOD in a variety of ways, from supporting training, concept development and experimentation, to acquisition, evaluation and mission preparation.

We are now accepting applications to join the SE Tower COP until Friday 7 April 2017. Application forms can be found at the SE Tower website along with more information on the COP.

The Minister for the Constitution heard first hand some of the experiences that members have faced when voting or registering to vote. They discussed ways of encouraging other people with disabilities to engage in their local community and increase voter registration in the lead up to the local authority elections in Scotland in May.

The Glasgow Disability Alliance has over 3,500 members across the greater Glasgow area. Their aim is to bring people together to build confidence, create connections and enable people with disabilities to overcome barriers so they feel they can take part in their communities.

Chris Skidmore, Minister for the Constitution, said:

The Glasgow Disability Alliance is a fantastic organisation that ensures people with disabilities feel confident, empowered and remain an active part of their society.

A big part of this is being able to register to vote and remain a part of our democracy. Today’s visit has helped me understand how we can support people with disabilities to ensure that ours is a democracy that truly works for everyone.

Everyone I have met today has been so passionate about engaging their local community. This is particularly meaningful in the lead up to the local elections in May. Regardless of who you are, or how you vote, every voice matters and we encourage you to register to vote in what will be a significant moment for your area.

Marianne Scobie, Deputy CEO of the Glasgow Disability Alliance said:

As a disabled people’s organisation we know that disabled people want to have their say and have their voices heard. We firmly believe that given the right support, access to information and opportunity to build confidence and make their contributions, disabled people can participate in all aspects of participative democracy.

 Further information

The Minister is visiting Glasgow as part of his Every Voice Matters Tour. The tour will see him visit every part of the country to understand how to tackle barriers to voter registration.