28-year-old Kristian Bailey – convicted of manslaughter in January 2019 after stabbing an acquaintance during a fight – has today had his sentence increased from 6 years to 8 years in prison after Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP referred it for being too low.

On the evening of 14 July 2018 Bailey stabbed victim Joe Jennings 5 times with a 13cm blade, inflicting a fatal wound to his heart, after a fight broke out while the two were sharing heroin.

27 years old at the time, Bailey fled the scene before disposing of the knife. Mr Jennings died at the scene. Witnesses noted that Mr Jennings hit Bailey with a wooden statue with sufficient force that it broke. Though it remains unclear how the fight started, or which of the two was the first to use a weapon, witnesses agreed that the fight was over in a matter of seconds.

Bailey was found guilty of manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court on 23 January 2019.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:

“Taking into account the seriousness of this offending, increasing the length of the sentence was necessary for justice to be done. I am pleased the Court of Appeal agreed and I hope that this brings some comfort to the victim’s family.”

The Home Office has today announced that five groups will receive part of a £346,000 pot through the Hate Crime Community Projects Fund (HCCPF).

The community fund, which is in its third year, has been awarded to groups across the country, which will work with local communities to tackle hate crime in their areas.

Minister for Countering Extremism Baroness Williams said:

This Government is committed to tackling hate crime in all of its forms. No one should be the subject of verbal or physical abuse simply because of their identity or their beliefs.

I am delighted to award funding to these innovative projects, so communities can engage local people to ensure intolerance has no place in our society.

In the latest round of funding, the following organisations have been successful:

• Protection Approaches – will work to provide training for frontline staff and raise awareness on how to report hate crimes in Newham, London
• The East European Resource Centre – will work with Eastern European communities in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester to help build understanding and resilience of hate crime and what to do if they have been a victim
• Nottingham BID – will work at tackling hate crime in the night time economy, particularly in LGBT venues;
• Barnado’s – will work to raise awareness of disability hate crime in schools in Gwent
• The Proud Trust – will work alongside the British Transport Police and major train companies to tackle LGBT hate crime on public transport, including awareness raising campaigns and outreach in schools

The fund was launched in 2016, as part of the Hate Crime Action Plan. The Government committed £900,000 over three years to provide grants for local community organisations to help tackle all forms of the crime.

With the announcement of five new projects for this financial year, the Government will have supported 21 projects under this fund.

Barnado’s project manager Marisa Moon said:

Barnardo’s are delighted to have been awarded funding through the Hate Crime Community Project Fund to establish our Blaenau Gwent Aware project.

This funding will allow us to help young people understand the impact of disability hate crime, the consequences of identity related bullying, and reduce the number of child victims across secondary school and community settings.

Protection Approaches project manager Andy Fearn said:

The Hate Crime Community Project Fund is an essential resource supporting local communities to build resilience against prejudice and division.

Thanks to the Fund, Protection Approaches and the London Borough of Newham will be launching a pioneering project encouraging community-led reporting of hate crime, breaking down the barriers that prevent victims from reporting while also strengthening community relationships throughout the Borough.

Eastern European Hate Crime programme manager Florina Tudose said:

Eastern European Hate Crime SOS project is run by East European Resource Centre (London), in collaboration with Europia (Manchester), and Polish Expats Association (West Midlands), providing free advocacy, support and counselling to Eastern European victims of hate crime.

At this particular time, HCCPF fund makes an important contribution, enabling us to work in raising awareness and encouraging reporting and also increasing the emotional resilience of our communities through culturally and linguistically appropriate support services for EE victims of hate incidents.

The Prime Minister met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin this afternoon for a working lunch.

Ahead of EU Council tomorrow, the leaders discussed the UK’s request for an extension of Article 50 to June 30th with the option to bring this forward if a deal is ratified earlier.

The Prime Minister outlined the steps the government is taking to bring the Brexit process to a successful conclusion, and updated Chancellor Merkel on the ongoing discussions with the Opposition.

The leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring Britain’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union.

The leaders also discussed the ongoing situations in Yemen and Libya.

The government today (8 April 2019) announced the reappointment of Mike Clancy as an employee member of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) Council.

Mike was appointed to Acas on 1 May 2016 for 3 years as an employee member and has been reappointed in post for another 3 years from 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2022.

Mike has been the General Secretary and Chief Executive of Prospect since 2012. He was a Deputy General Secretary for the previous 8 years. Prospect represents 144,000 professional, technical and specialist staff, employed in government, broadcasting, media, utilities, defence, telecommunications, nuclear decommissioning, air traffic control and science. He is the chief spokesperson and is responsible for the strategic direction and financial management of the union which employs 252 staff, with over 5000 representatives.

Mike has also been an Employment Tribunal (ET) and then an Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) member continuously since 1994. He was appointed to the EAT in 2002.

A 47-year old man from Ruddington, Nottingham, has been fined more than £500 for fishing without a licence at the Grantham canal, Nottingham, on 26 September 2018.

The case was brought to Luton Magistrates Court by the Environment Agency on 28 March 2019 where Christopher Hepworth Bourne of Packman Drive, Ruddington, pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a total penalty of £523.47. An annual fishing licence would have cost him just £30.

The penalty includes a fine of £360, costs of £127.47 and a victim surcharge of £36 after Hepworth Bourne was found in breach of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975).

Following the verdict, Peter Haslock, East Midlands Enforcement Team Leader for the Environment Agency, said:

This case shows how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope it will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing without a licence.

We would also like to remind anglers who wish to buy their licence online of the importance of buying it directly from GOV.UK as they will receive a reference number allowing them to go fishing on the same day.

Customers who use third-party sites may be charged more and might not get added to the official database as quickly.

All of the money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

Every year across the country, thousands of anglers are prosecuted for not having a fishing licence. As well as cheating other anglers, fishing illegally can carry a hefty penalty. Getting caught without a licence could land a fine of up to £2,500.

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £6 and an annual licence costs from just £30 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13- to 16-year-olds. Licences are available from GOV.UK or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively you can purchase a licence from your local Post Office branch.

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.