The Independent Review of Prevent is reviewing the government’s strategy for supporting people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism and making recommendations for a future approach.

The Independent Reviewer of Prevent wants to hear from as wide a range of people as possible to help inform his final report and today announced plans for virtual public engagement events.

• Midlands – 13 July 5:30pm to 6:30pm
• London and South of England – 14 July 5:30pm to 6:30pm
• North of England – 15 July 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Although these events are separated by regions, attendees do not have to attend the event for their specific region. Attendees from other areas, in particular Scotland and Wales, are welcome to attend.

These events provide an opportunity for the public to have their say on Prevent, informing the recommendations submitted to government, and to share their views on key issues, including:

• what is the impact of Prevent on individuals, families and communities?
• what are the criticisms and complaints about Prevent?
• is Prevent tackling the causes of radicalisation?
• should there be a strategy aimed at supporting those vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism and what should it look like?

We will be contacting all attendees before the event to ask if they would like to submit comments in response to the above questions.

The Independent Reviewer of Prevent, William Shawcross, said:

I am conducting this review without fear or favour and would encourage anyone with a knowledge of Prevent, either through lived experience, or their paid or voluntary work to attend and share their thoughts.

I know there is a huge range of viewpoints and I am happy to hear from advocates and critics and everyone in between.

It is important to me that I hear all the evidence, so I can make recommendations on how to better support people to turn away from terrorism and help keep the public safe. Please do consider taking part; this is your opportunity to make your voice heard.

Those with lived experience of any aspect of the Prevent system, or those working in the voluntary, community, faith, youth, health, justice or education sectors, are encouraged to attend and share their views.

To get the most out of the event, attendees who do not have existing knowledge or experience of Prevent are encouraged to consider a variety of views on Prevent in advance and read the government’s official information.

Each event will be held virtually on an online video platform, Zoom, which can be accessed by a smartphone, laptop or tablet. Phone dial-in details will also be available if needed. You will need to pre-register for events and places are limited so we may not be able to offer a place to everyone who wishes to attend. We therefore encourage you to register early.

Places will be confirmed 3 days in advance of the meeting.

To register to attend an engagement event, please see below:

If you are not able to attend a public event but want to share your thoughts you can contact the Review team at: enquiries@preventreview.independent.gov.uk

Marston, 54, from Leicester, took in excess of £55,000 in 2006 and 2007, assuring the victim, now 83, that she would be repaid as Marston was set to become beneficiary of a trust fund when she turned 40 in 2007.

The money was loaned on the promise that the funds would be returned when the trust fund was received. Marston added to the deception by also promising to pay interest and compensation, saying she would pay the victim back £500,000 in total.

Marston then told her victim, who does not wish to be named, that she was struggling to access the trust fund so the victim was advised to petition for Marston’s bankruptcy, believing it would help her access the money.

The bankruptcy petition sparked an Insolvency Service investigation and Marston was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to 3 counts of obtaining property by deception and 3 counts of fraud by false representation.

Marston was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years at Leicester Crown Court today. She was also ordered to pay a further £18,173 in compensation after paying £50,000 earlier this month and to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

The victim said:

When the application to the court for a Trustee in Bankruptcy Order was made on my behalf, I was hoping either to have the debt repaid or for my friend, who had borrowed the money, to have assistance in securing access to her Trust Fund which she explained to the court was ‘locked’ by the banks.

It was a body blow to learn later from the Official Receiver that Maria Marston’s assets were nil. At that point I expected no further help, so I am extremely grateful to the Insolvency Service for their persistent and diligent work in bringing matters fully into the open.

By ensuring the unpaid debt was brought before the court, they have resolved for me a situation which had previously subjected both myself and my family to 15 years of stress, suffering and extensive financial hardship.

Glenn Wicks, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Maria Marston used deception and fraudulent representations to take tens of thousands of pounds from her close friend. She knew that no trust fund existed but continued her fraud regardless, telling her elderly victim that the money would be paid on numerous occasions.

Marston’s victim has been left with no savings for many years as a result of her actions and this case shows we will pursue bankrupts through the criminal courts where appropriate.

Maria Marston is from Leicester and her date of birth is February 1967.

Maria Marston pleaded guilty to three counts of obtaining property by deception and three counts of fraud at Leicester Crown Court on 17 May 2021 before HHJ Raynor.

Following this, Maria Marston signed a Bankruptcy Restriction Undertaking. The restrictions mean she cannot borrow more than £500 without disclosing her bankrupt status and cannot act as a company director without the court’s permission.

She was sentenced before Recorder Upward QC on 28 June 2021.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

Introduction

The International Programme is a technical assistance fund which supports small-scale projects that aim to deliver policy outcomes. Examples of activity funded by the International Programme include communications, training, development of online digital resources, and so on. Successful projects should deliver change in Liberia.

Objectives

Areas of focus could include, but are not limited to:

• eligibility: We will prioritise bids from local NGOs/ civil society organisations but bids which involve working with government bodies may also be approved where there is a strong case. We will also accept bids from international organisations. We welcome proposals for work in all regions of Liberia
• focus areas: Youth, gender equality, human rights, justice, democracy, media freedom, health, climate change/environment and education
• funding period: 1 September 2021 to 15 March 2022. All project activities and expenditure must be completed by the end of the funding period
• application period: Proposals must be submitted via email by 09h00 (Liberia time) on Monday, 12 July 2021. Late bids will not be accepted

Bidding documents and guidance are available below.

Application process

Bidders should fill in the standard Project Proposal Form – over 10k (ODT, 65.7KB) or Project Proposal Form – up to 10k (ODT, 58.1KB) and include a breakdown of project costs in the Activity Based Budget Template – GBP (ODS, 9.53KB) or Activity Based Budget Template – USD (ODS, 9.65KB), available at the links below, using the guidance provided. We will not consider proposals submitted in other formats. Activity Based Budget costs should be indicative. Costs should be provided in US Dollars, not Liberian Dollars. UK-based organisations may submit budgets in GBP (£ pounds sterling). Organisations cannot use grant funding to generate profit.

The maximum funding amount available is US$30,000 (or GBP equivalent). We welcome bids up to this value. UK funding may be in addition to co-funding by other partners and self-funding contributions; indeed this will be considered a merit. Where appropriate, bidders are encouraged to describe how their project could be further scaled-up if additional funding became available.

Bidders should read the guidance carefully before completing bids. Proposals which do not follow the guidance and do not provide the required information in the standard format/word limit will be rejected. Successful projects should have sustainable outcomes and should clearly identify the change that will be brought about.

They may also build on projects by other organisations, complementing their efforts. All bids should make clear how they will complement existing activities supported by other donors and international partners, and how work in the regions would complement national-level activity.

Successful bidders must be able to receive project funding in GBP or USD in their organisation’s bank account. Cash payments will not be made. 85% of project funds should be spent before end of December 2021.

Administrative costs (office rent, project management and book-keeper rates, utilities, communications, stationery, bank charges, etc.) must not exceed 8% of the total project budget. Project costs are usually reimbursed on basis of actual receipted costs. Requests for partial advance payments will be considered on an exceptional basis, with additional scrutiny required.

The International Programme is not a humanitarian fund and cannot provide e.g. scholarships, food or educational supplies, etc. We are unable to fund:

• academic courses or research
• English language courses
• the purchase of IT or other equipment

In the subject line, please indicate the area you are bidding for and the name of your organisation, formatted as in the following example: “International Programme Bid – EDUCATION – NGO Name”

Selection process

Bidding is competitive and only selected projects will receive funding. The Embassy reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the grounds of such acceptance or rejection.

Due to the volume of bids expected we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids. We aim to evaluate proposals by early August. Approved projects will commence in September.

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• alignment to Embassy priorities – the extent to which the proposed project will promote positive change in priority areas
• quality of project – How well defined the outcome is and how activities and outputs will successfully deliver this change
• value for money – Projects must be cost-effective in how they deliver the desired outcome, making economic, efficient and effective use of funds. We will consider the value of the expected project outcomes, the level of funding requested, how it will be used, and any match-funding contributions by the implementer or other partners
• previous experience – evidence of the project team’s understanding of the issue, evidence of previous successful activities in Liberia or the region, evidence of ability to manage and deliver a successful project, through work done to date in the policy area or in related fields
• gender-sensitive approach – Partners should identify the gender implications of the issue they are addressing, whether it will impact differently on men and women and how this is taken into account in the proposal. The proposals will be assessed by a mixed gender panel

Due diligence of implementers

All selected implementers must undergo a due diligence screening before any funding can be awarded. The Due Diligence Assessment (DDA) process covers 5 pillars:

• Governance and Internal Control
• Ability to Deliver
• Financial Stability
• Downstream Delivery
• Ethics

Selected implementers will be asked to provide documentary evidence that they meet required standards, and undergo an interview to identify risks and assess mitigations. Further information is available below.

Documents

The UK and Singapore today [Monday 28 June] launches negotiations on a new ambitious digital trade agreement that could remove barriers to digital trade and enable UK exporters to expand into high-tech markets.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and the Singaporean Minister in charge of Trade Relations Mr S. Iswaran will meet by video call to kick start negotiations.

The UK is the first European country to start negotiations on a Digital Economy Agreement (DEA). Singapore and the UK are both global leaders in the digital economy and 70% of UK services exports, from financial and legal services to music streaming and e-books, were digitally delivered to Singapore in 2019, worth £3.2 billion.

The DEA would open further opportunities for British businesses to deliver their services through digital trade. It would help cut red tape and ensure companies can trade more efficiently through digital technology such as electronic transactions, e-signatures and e-contracts.

Today’s announcement is part of the government’s strategy to place the UK at the centre of a network of modern free trade agreements with dynamic countries, and to enhance our status as a global hub for services and digital trade.

Negotiations will focus on:

• Securing open digital markets for exporters, allowing them to expand into new markets and sell traditional products in new ways.
• Ensuring free and trusted cross-border data flows, while upholding high standards of personal data protection.
• Cutting red tape for UK businesses by promoting digital trading systems such as digital customs and border procedures that will save time and money when exporting.
• Upholding consumer rights and protecting businesses’ valuable intellectual property like source code and cryptography.
• Deepening our cooperation on future growth sectors like fintech and lawtech, while working with Singapore to strengthen our collective cybersecurity capabilities and keep our countries safe.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said:

A cutting-edge deal with Singapore will keep us at the forefront of the technological revolution, ensuring we lead the way in digitally delivered trade and industries like fintech and cybersecurity. We are already the second largest services exporter in the world, with a huge comparative advantage in this area that we intend to capitalise on.

The UK will be the first European country to ever negotiate a Digital Economy Agreement, which shows what we can do as a sovereign trading nation. We are becoming more flexible, more nimble and less defensive in our approach to trade. Our ambition is to make the UK a global hub for services and digital trade, by striking a series of advanced, high-standards agreements with leading nations across the world that drive productivity, jobs, and growth across the UK.

UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid said:

This agreement – the first of its kind negotiated by any European country – will benefit Scotland’s thriving digital sector. Not only will it help Scottish exporters expand into new digital markets, encouraging collaboration across the tech industries, it will also tackle cyber threats and aid personal data protection.

The UK Government’s new generation of trade deals are helping Scottish businesses take advantage of opportunities around the world. Today’s announcement signals an exciting new chapter in the UK’s long-standing trading relationship with Singapore.

Sally Jones, Trade Strategy Leader at EY UK and Ireland, said:

Digital transformation can unlock human potential and accelerate new, better ways of working. For the UK’s service sector, it’s now impossible to distinguish between digital and non-digital trade. Digital is at the core of everything we do. For too long, trade deals haven’t taken into account the realities of how businesses trade today.

The UK-Singapore [Digital Economy Agreement] is an important opportunity for the UK to step to the forefront in developing new trade rules that enable the growth of digital trade and promote trust. It will also serve as a strategic platform to help UK companies looking to expand their presence into the dynamic Asia-Pacific region.

Miles Celic, Chief Executive Officer at TheCityUK, said:

As leading international financial centres and data hubs, there are tremendous opportunities to be gained from the UK and Singapore working together on digital trade issues that support and supercharge innovation. Working with like-minded countries like Singapore presents a real opportunity to develop a best-in-class digital agreement.

Digital restrictions are among the fastest-growing trade barriers. Over 50% of trade in services is facilitated by digital exchange, but restrictions on digital trade doubled in the decade leading up to 2019. To ensure the future of open global services trade, it’s essential that new agreements support the flow of data across borders. The UK should strive to set clear ground rules for digital trade and build an open and robust framework for future digital trade and technological cooperation. Such a framework can then become a template for other key markets, aiding the free flow of data and preventing unnecessary market fragmentation.

Julian David, techUK CEO said:

We are delighted to see the start of the first UK digital-specific trade negotiation with Singapore, a like-minded country with whom we share longstanding business ties. Digital trade is the fastest growing arm of international trade and getting the rules right will be crucial for our economic recovery. A UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement will put the UK firmly in the frontrunners club for digital trade policy and facilitation and techUK stands ready to support an ambitious deal.

The UK is already one of the world’s biggest exporters of services, with remotely delivered services exports worth £207 billion in 2019 alone.

Ofsted has today published updated education inspection handbooks, clarifying how inspectors will assess how schools and colleges confront sexual harassment, abuse and violence among children and young people.

The updates follow Ofsted’s recent ‘Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges’, which found that sexual harassment has become ‘normalised’ for children and young people. The report recommended that school and college leaders should develop a culture where all kinds of sexual harassment are recognised and addressed, including with sanctions when appropriate.

The changes to the handbooks will take effect when routine inspection resumes in September. Inspectors will expect schools and college leaders to assume that sexual harassment, online sexual abuse and sexual violence are happening in and around their school, even when there are no specific reports, and to have put in place a whole-school approach to address them.

Inspectors will also consider how schools and colleges handle allegations and incidents of sexual abuse between children and young people when they do occur.

Inspectors will look at the preventative measures schools and colleges have put in place to guard against sexual harassment and abuse, including behaviour policies, pastoral support and the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum.

Ofsted will also expect schools and colleges to be alert to factors that increase children’s potential vulnerability to sexual abuse, and to understand and address the barriers that could prevent a child or young person from reporting an incident.

Where schools and colleges do have not adequate processes in place, it is likely that safeguarding will be considered ineffective. This can impact on the ‘leadership and management’ judgement and the overall grade is likely to be ‘inadequate’.

Sean Harford, Ofsted National Education Director said:

The findings from our recent review have revealed just how commonplace sexual harassment has become in schools and colleges. So, even when there are no specific reports, schools and colleges must assume that it is taking place and plan to address it accordingly. Our updated handbooks are clear about how we will assess the approach schools and colleges have taken to tackle these issues head-on.

We will expect schools and colleges to have created a culture where sexual abuse and harassment is not acceptable and never tolerated. And where pupils are supported to report any concerns about harmful sexual behaviour and can feel confident they will be taken seriously.

Inspectors will not investigate individual allegations of harmful sexual behaviour, but will ensure that they are reported to the appropriate authority, if this has not already happened.

Ofsted has also updated and clarified how it will report on careers guidance. All secondary schools are expected to provide effective careers information, education, advice and guidance (CIEAG), in line with the statutory ‘Careers guidance and access for education and training providers’. As part of this, it is important that schools understand and meet the requirements of the ‘Baker clause’, which came into force in January 2018. If a school is not meeting the requirements of the clause, inspectors will state this in the inspection report. They will consider what impact this has on the quality of CIEAG and the subsequent judgement for personal development.