The SIA is running the exercise in partnership with Derbyshire Constabulary, Chesterfield Borough Council, D&D Security, Inspirations Theatre Company, and Aruba itself.

The training event at Aruba comprises a series of real-time simulations, involving actors, of possible emergency scenarios. These are:

• mass stabbing (gang related knife attack)
• invacuation (external marauding terrorist attack)
• corrosive attack (using the three Rs remove, remove remove)
• suspect package

Aruba already has its own emergency planning document and this simulated exercise will strengthen their resilience. The security team from D&D Security has recently completed the brand-new Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness and Security e-learning.

Paul Fullwood, the SIA’s Director of Inspections and Enforcement, referred to tonight’s emergency planning scenario as a practical application of the ACT Security e-learning. He said:

The private security industry has an important role in protecting the public. Security operatives can often be the first on the scene in an incident. This exercise at Aruba will provide a learning environment for door supervisors and nightclub staff to respond to a set of simulated exercises with the support of the emergency services.

He added that the common goal of all of the partners is to ensure that going to a nightclub is as safe as possible for customers and those working at the venue.

The purposes of the exercise are to enhance the public’s confidence in the private security industry at Aruba; to showcase best practice by putting the (You Can) ACT Security e-learning package into practice; to demonstrate partnership working within the community; and to run a series of exercises in a real-time environment.

This emergency planning exercise at Aruba continues work that was started at Buxton in October 2019 by Operation Kea, but which was disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The security company from the Buxton exercise, Leisure Guard Security, found themselves in a real terrorist attack at Manchester’s Arndale Centre shortly afterwards.

The new Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Security is specialised training for front line security operatives. The free course was designed by government counter-terrorism experts from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and the SIA. The custom-built training provides up-to-date counter-terrorism knowledge to help security professionals prepare for, and respond to, terrorist incidents whilst on duty.

Further information:

• The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
• For further information about the Security Industry Authority visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).

• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work
• Busts come from the celebrated art collection of the Earls of Derby

Two 17th-century Italian Baroque busts of Aristotle and Homer worth over £850,000 and attributed to sculptor Giuliano Finelli are at risk of leaving the country unless a UK buyer can be found to save the pieces for the nation.

Finelli trained in the workshop of renowned sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the artist credited with creating the Baroque style of sculpture, with the busts demonstrating Finelli’s extraordinary understanding of his material. Examples of Finelli’s work outside Italy and Spain are rare and the superbly carved Bust of Francesco Bracciolini in the Victoria and Albert Museum is the only work by him in the UK.

The busts come from the celebrated art collection of the Earls of Derby, which was largely amassed by James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby between 1664 and 1736. While the painting collection is well documented, the smaller collection of sculptures is yet to be fully explored.

The loss of these rare busts would deny the opportunity for further study of their significance for Baroque sculpture and of the collection and its significance.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

These stunning marble busts are not only an exceptional example of Baroque style of sculpture, but also a fascinating insight into the art collection of the Earls of Derby.

I sincerely hope a UK buyer can be found to enable further research and study into these rare and exquisite busts.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA). The committee agreed that the busts were significant for the study of baroque sculpture, as there were few extant examples of comparable subject and quality. It was also agreed that it was likely that documentary evidence of the busts’ commission and provenance could be revealed, underlining the opportunity for further research to be undertaken.

Committee Member Stuart Lochhead said:

A sculptor of extraordinary talent with an exceptional skill in carving marble, Giuliano Finelli has often been overshadowed by his contemporary Gian Lorenzo Bernini. However, as this pair of busts help to attest, he revolutionised the marble portrait in the early decades of the seventeenth century. His sculptural output is rich and noteworthy but very little exists outside of Italy and Spain. We also have much to learn from the inclusion of these busts in the collection of the Earls of Derby. First acquired by the 10th Earl in 1726 they have remained at Knowsley Hall until their recent sale. Their export from the United Kingdom would be a great loss to the representation of Baroque sculpture and its study in this country.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds that its departure from the UK would be a misfortune because they are of outstanding aesthetic importance and they are of outstanding significance for the study of British collections and the study of Italian Baroque sculpture.

The decision on the export licence application for the piece will be deferred until Wednesday 15th December 2021. This may be extended until Wednesday 15th March 2022 if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase it is made at the recommended price of £851,250 plus VAT of £30,250 in the event that a UK buyer is found.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the busts should contact the RCEWA on 0845 300 6200.
2. Details of the busts are as follows: A pair of marble busts attributed to Giuliano Finelli (Carrara, 1601 – Rome 1653), depicting Aristotle and Homer, circa 1630-35 16 and 16 ¾ in. (40.8 and 42.5 cm.) high; 22 ¼ and 23 ½ in. (56.5 and 59.7 cm) high, overall
3. Provenance: Identified as purchased in 1726 by James, 10th Earl of Derby (1664-1736); and then by descent until 2020; Christie’s London, Classic Art Evening Sale: Antiquity to 20th Century, 29 July 2020, lot. 21
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by The Arts Council, which advises the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
5. The Arts Council champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections.

A Norfolk sex offender has had his sentence doubled following intervention by the then Solicitor General, the Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.

Paul Weekley, now 61, engaged in sexual communications with someone whom he thought was a 12 year old girl. He was in fact speaking with an undercover police officer.

Weekley had a number of previous convictions and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements. In breach of these orders, Weekley maintained an internet-enabled device in his home and failed to inform the police that he had an alias name online and a second address.

Weekley pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, one count of failing to comply with notification requirements, one count of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and one count of attempting to incite a child under 13 years of age to engage in penetrative sexual activity. On 30 June, Weekley was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months’ imprisonment at Norwich Crown Court.

Following a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme by the Solicitor General, on 21 September the Court found the sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 6 years and 8 months’ imprisonment with a 4 year extended license.

After the hearing at the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General, the Hon Alex Chalk MP, said:

“Weekley’s actions intended to cause serious harm to a young child and the gravity of his crimes must be reflected in the sentence. His actions were deeply disturbing and I am pleased with the Court of Appeal’s decision today to increase the sentence.”

This ruling follows the decision by the Court of Appeal that where a defendant sets out to sexually abuse a child, in circumstances where the child in fact is an adult posing as a child, then the starting point for sentencing should be set by reference to the harm that the defendant intended to cause the fictional child. The fact that there was no real child for the defendant to abuse will then be reflected in a downward movement from that starting point. The extent of that reduction will be a matter for the court in individual cases to decide, but the seriousness of the offending must nonetheless be reflected in what the offender intended.

Notes to editor

• The original case where we made this argument to the Court of Appeal was: Privett, R. v [2020] EWCA Crim 557 This was decided on 29 April 2020.

• This issue required further consideration and emphasis and that happened on 21 April 2021, in Reed & Anor v The Queen (Rev 1) [2021] EWCA Crim 572

A joint statement by the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights between the European Commission and UK government:

Work to better protect the town started in August 2020 and included replacing the existing flood defences on the south bank of the River Pont with one continuous sheet piled flood wall.

The wall has been built to complement the existing local environment, with a stone effect and complementary colouring, and was created with climate change at the forefront of the design with allowances in the foundations for the walls to be raised in future if needed.

Not only are homes and businesses better protected from flooding, but the town has also benefitted from environmental enhancements, with a re-profiling of the river bank to create a natural sloped terrace which has been planted with native river corridor plants, boosting local biodiversity.

More than 250 trees have been planted to not only replace those lost during construction but to enhance the local environment, including many in a meadow at Ponteland Community Primary School, as well as some adjacent to the river.

Town is ‘better protected now and into the future’.

Kirsty Harwood, Environment Agency Project Manager for the Ponteland flood scheme, said:

We understand just how devastating it is to be flooded and we consulted with the community throughout to develop a scheme which meets their needs.

We know there is a long history of flooding in Ponteland and although we can never eradicate the risk entirely, now this project is complete we hope it provides reassurance for local residents that they are better protected now and into the future.

As well as the new flood defences, which we have built in keeping with the existing local environment, we have made some environmental enhancements to the area, with a new more natural river bank, and supported the local school in their ambition to become a Forest School.

The overall increase in the diversity and number of trees will improve habitat and boost local biodiversity in the area.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman has already visited the site recently to see first-hand the completed project. He said:

This additional investment from the Government for flood protection here in Ponteland is fantastic and I know is hugely welcomed by the many residents and businesses affected by the devastating consequences of flooding.

I recently saw first-hand the vital work that has gone into protecting our communities in Ponteland. It is brilliant the work has now been completed – the extra investment has turned into action so quickly, ensuring that confidence is given to those concerned about flooding locally.’’

Peace of mind for local residents

Cllr Nick Oliver, who represents Northumberland on the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee said:

It’s wonderful to see another important flood defence scheme delivered in Northumberland. These works will bring extra flood protection and peace of mind to local residents and businesses – a great effort by everybody involved.

The contractor, BAM Nuttall, maintained a temporary flood defence throughout construction to uphold flood protection. Almost all of the people employed by BAM to work on the project were local.

A record £5.2 billion government investment to create around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences and better protect 336,000 properties across England by 2027 was announced last year. The Environment Agency has also set out its vision for a nation ready for, and resilient to, flooding in its National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.

Flood Wardens play a vital role in ensuring communities are prepared for flooding – they help develop flood plans and are the Environment Agency’s eyes and ears on the ground during a flood. There is an active Flood Warden group in Ponteland.

If you’d like to volunteer as a Flood Warden, to help protect your community from the impacts of flooding, or find out more about how you can improve your community’s resilience to flooding, please contact engagement_northeast@environment-agency.gov.uk