Tag Archives: HM Government

The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will meet a number of his Gulf counterparts this week, as foreign ministers engage with allies on the tensions in the region.

Reflecting the UK’s close friendship with all of the Gulf states, this morning (Monday 12 June) he met the Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Later this week, the Foreign Secretary will hold talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

In all meetings, the Foreign Secretary will urge his counterparts to take immediate steps to de-escalate the current tensions and find a rapid resolution through mediation. He will say that it is in the interests of the wider region as well as the UK that a swift solution is found. He also will express the UK’s concern that collective action by the other Gulf states is having an adverse impact on the lives of ordinary people in Qatar.

At this morning’s bilateral with Sheikh Mohammed, the Foreign Secretary urged Qatar to engage with neighbours on their concerns and do more to address support for extremist groups, building on the steps already taken.

After the meeting, the Foreign Secretary said:

I have been in touch with my counterparts across the region about the current tensions with Qatar. I have urged all sides to refrain from any further escalation and to engage in mediation efforts. In that regard I pay tribute to the work of the Amir of Kuwait.

In finding a resolution, I call on Qatar to take seriously their neighbours’ concerns. Qatar is a partner of the UK in the fight against terrorism but they urgently need to do more to address support for extremist groups, building on the steps they have already taken to tackle funding to those groups.

I am also concerned by some of the strong actions which Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have taken against an important partner, and urge them to ease the blockade on Qatar. I call on all states to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation and to find a rapid resolution through mediation.

Further information

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The MDP deployments involved close co-operation with the various Home Office Police Forces that had requested support, and with the 1,000 military personnel who were mobilised at the same time.

In the first 24 hours following the activation of Operation Temperer, MDP officers were deployed to support 8 police forces across England and Wales. This number increased to 18 over the Bank Holiday weekend, with up to a quarter of the force’s total strength of Authorised Firearms Officers deployed to provide reassurance to the public at a variety of iconic sites, crowded places and public and major sporting events around the country.

The MDP also provided armed officers to support British Transport Police with keeping the rail network safe, including at London transport hubs, and MDP officers were also deployed at Stansted Airport to support Essex Police.

The busiest day for the MDP was Saturday 27 May, when the force supported policing operations at 60 public events across England and Wales, including high profile music concerts, festivals and sporting occasions.

These included:

• Chester Races
• Radio One Big Weekend in Hull
• Tall Ships Festival at Gloucester Docks
• Iron Maiden concert at London’s O2 venue.

Joint patrol at Porton Down. Photo: Ministry of Defence Police. All rights reserved

The police forces who received support from the MDP ranged from the Metropolitan Police Service in London to Dyfed-Powys in Wales, and from West Mercia to South Yorkshire, a response described by MDP Gold Commander Assistant Chief Constable Paul McLaughlin as ‘extraordinary’. He said:

We responded exceptionally well. The professional manner and attitude of our officers and staff was first class. We provided very large numbers of officers in response to what was requested, and the transition at local level in terms of military personnel back-filling for the MDP also went very smoothly.

Advance planning was key to the success of the MDP deployments, together with solid liaison with the National Police Co-ordination Centre and the Operations Directorate, he added.

Deployment guarding the Stansted Express, Photo: MDP Photographer, Paul Kemp. All rights reserved

And MDP Deputy Chief Constable Andy Adams commented:

The MOD response to Operation Temperer has been impressive and I know that the wider department will be expressing their own support for what their colleagues have been doing. I would like to take the opportunity to recognise the important role MDP officers and staff undertake through our dual focus at times like this: our role within the MOD and that of delivering a policing service which can be called upon outside of the department.

Critical incidents always generate the ‘can do’ attitude in those who are operationally focused; people put themselves out, are prepared to endure long hours and simply want to get on with the job. For these people, public service overrides personal interests and other commitments.

I saw many examples of that throughout this operation. There has been an enthusiastic approach to ‘getting the job done’ and I, for one, am extremely grateful for the commitment of everyone involved.

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After six months of relentless training, four Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) officers from the Firearms Training Unit (FTU) at Sellafield are completing an Ironman distance challenge on Sunday in memory of PC Phil Mitchell.

Phil, aged 54, sadly lost his battle with cancer in July last year, and Supt Glenn McAleavey, PC Amanda McAleavey, Insp Tim Ferris and PC Andrew Bailey are taking part in the Lakesman Triathlon in his memory and raising money for Cancer Research.

On Sunday 18 June, they will swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, then run a marathon (26.2 miles), around the Lake District to raise as much money as they can for Cancer Research UK.

Phil joined the CNC in September 2012 and served as a firearms instructor at Sellafield. He had previously served 30 years as a firearms instructor with West Yorkshire Police, joining in 1980 and retiring in November 2010.

Supt Glenn McAleavey said: “We sadly lost a true friend and professional when Phil lost his battle with cancer after a courageous fight and with much dignity. He had such a positive impact on people as a friend, colleague and teacher. The main drive for us has been to raise money and awareness for the fight against cancer and to prevent us all losing people too early when they have still got so much more to give, and to support families who go through the pain of that loss.

“We want to show Phil’s family that he is still deeply missed by colleagues at the CNC and continue to support them through this difficult time. We will also be naming a suite at the new Sellafield Training Facility the Mitchell Suite in Phil’s memory.

“The training has been challenging at times but we are glad to be in the final stretch before the big event on Sunday, but it’s been an honour to take part in Phil’s memory and I hope we can raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK in the process.”

If you would like to sponsor Glenn and the team, please visit their Just Giving page to donate. To find out more about the Lakesman Triathlon, visit their website.

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With just under two weeks to go, towns and cities across Wales are preparing to mobilise to show their appreciation for the UK’s Armed Forces.

Armed Forces Day (24 June) is an opportunity to say thank you to the entire Armed Forces community for the outstanding work they do; Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and women, both Regulars and Reservists, Cadets and veterans.

In its ninth year, Armed Forces Day is the national day dedicated to honouring the work of the Armed Forces. From fighting Daesh in the Middle East, to guarding the UK’s skies and seas, the UK’s Armed Forces will be saluted at a record number events across the UK and at the National Event, which this year takes place in Liverpool.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns will join thousands of people at the South Wales celebrations in Caerphilly (Saturday 24 June) to honour the work and dedication of our brave Servicemen and women deployed around the world. Armed Forces Day will be marked in North Wales on 17 June during a Drumhead Service in the shadows of Caernarfon Castle. The day will start with a military parade through the town centre, and will include representatives from all the Armed Forces plus Standard Bearers, Veterans and youth organisations.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Armed Forces Day is a special occasion when we gather together to recognise the dedication of those who work tirelessly to secure our nation’s security.

These are extraordinary men and women who risk their lives at home and overseas to protect our way of life. The exciting programme of events planned right across the country provide great opportunities for us to show our appreciation to those directly and indirectly involved in conflict. I hope to see thousands of people all over Wales joining in with the celebrations.

In the build-up to Armed Forces Day, rugby-mad Servicemen and women from Wales met up with members of the Welsh Rugby Union Squad ahead of their summer tour fixtures against Tonga and Samoa. Star players such as Alex Cuthbert joined representatives from the Army, RAF and Royal Navy to encourage people to go out and enjoy Armed Forces Day events.

Colonel Lance Patterson, Deputy Commander 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales in Brecon and RAF Corporal Kelly Veryard, 27, from Mynachdy, Cardiff and were among the personnel who met members of the Welsh squad at their elite training base in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Colonel Lance Patterson said:

For more than three and a half centuries men and women from across Wales have served their nation in what we would recognise as the Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces in Wales continue to play a major part in Welsh society and are amongst the largest employers in Wales with individuals employed in both the Regular and Reserve organisations from the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force.

There are also a considerable number of dependents along with a significant veterans’ community. The cadet organisations are also very important with nearly 5,000 in Wales, supported by more than 1,000 adult volunteers.

The Armed Forces are proud to be recognised throughout Wales and truly appreciate the support shown. This is always evident but especially at events such as Armed Forces Day which provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate that bond between the Armed Forces and Welsh society.

I know that all Welsh men and women serving in the Armed Forces, either in Wales, elsewhere in the UK or across the globe are grateful for the support and recognition that Armed Forces Day brings.

Corporal Kelly Veryard said:

I’m a massive rugby fan and it was a real pleasure to meet the team before they flew off on their summer tour. As members of the Armed Forces we appreciate so much the support we get from the public and that recognition from our national rugby team is also very special indeed.

I’m delighted to see people across the United Kingdom coming together to mark Armed Forces Day. The day is a chance for people to say thank you to the extraordinary men and women, stationed across the globe who dedicate their lives to defending their country and keeping British people safe.

UK Armed Forces are currently involved in over 20 Operations in more than 25 countries, from South Sudan to Iraq. But many of those back at home will be in attendance at events across the country.

Also present will be many veterans that make-up the estimated 2.56 million Armed Forces veteran community living in the UK. Young Cadets will be present too; together the Sea, Army, and Air cadet forces have almost 100,000 members, many of which will be at events up and down the country.

Notes to Editors:

To find local events in Wales, please click here

Further information on Armed Forces Day, including a full list of events, can be found on the dedicated website

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The Governor of the Bank of England has decided to re-appoint Andrew Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England and member of the Monetary Policy Committee, for a further three-year term. In accordance with Section 13(3)(a) of the Bank of England… read more