UK statement on detention of Guyanese fishing vessels

News story

UK calls for release of Guyanese fishing boats and crew detained by Venezuelan vessels.

The UK is concerned at reports that Venezuelan vessels have detained Guyanese fishing vessels and crew. We call for their early release.

The UK is clear that the 1899 Arbitral Award settled the border between Guyana and Venezuela. We encourage a bilateral resolution to the controversy and support the efforts of the UN Secretary General.

Published 28 January 2021



Ormskirk security man convicted for second time for operating illegally

Press release

Ormskirk security man was prosecuted for a second time at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court after being found working illegally at Accrington’s The Berkley Club.

On Tuesday 19 January 2021, Lloyd Irwin from Ormskirk was prosecuted for a second time by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court after being found working illegally at Accrington’s The Berkley Club. He pleaded guilty and was fined £184, required to pay court costs of £358.20 and a victim surcharge of £32.

Irwin, who is a former director of Hunter Irwin Security Specialists Ltd (HISS Ltd), was prosecuted initially for working without an SIA licence. He was also charged with supplying unlicensed security officers to The Berkley Club on several occasions during the busy Christmas and New Year period of 2019/2020. His former business was also prosecuted for the supply of unlicensed security. In addition, Irwin altered evidence he submitted to the SIA following a request for information. This is a criminal offence. The business pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000 and required to pay court costs of £358.20 and a victim surcharge of £100.

The case began when an allegation was made that unlicensed security officers were working in Accrington. The SIA responded by inspecting The Berkley Club with the support of Lancashire Police and Hyndburn Council. They found Irwin and Daniel Webb working without a licence.

Having initially pleaded not guilty, Webb pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on 17 December 2020 for working illegally at The Berkley Club on 18 January 2020. Webb was sentenced to a12-month conditional discharge and is required to pay £100 court costs and a £21 victim surcharge.

When sentencing Webb, the magistrates expressed a hope that he would take on board the lessons from this case and undertake his own research with the SIA in relation to his licensable status.

Pete Easterbrook, the SIA’s Head of Criminal Enforcement, said:

Irwin has been prosecuted again for working unlicensed himself and supplying other unlicensed security staff. The licensing regime is there to keep the public safe, which is particularly important at a night club. Both Irwin and Webb now have criminal records and will not be able to work legally in the private security industry.

Notes to editors:

  • by law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
  • information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on our website
  • the offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) that are mentioned in the above news release are as follows:
    • Daniel Webb – Section 3 (working without a licence)
    • Lloyd Irwin – Section 3 (working without a licence); 2 counts of Section 5 (being a director deploying unlicensed guards); 2 counts of Section 22 (providing false information)
    • HISS Ltd – 2 counts of Section 5 (deploying unlicensed guards)
  • the Private Security Industry Act (2001) is available online via: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/12/contents.

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).
  • Media enquiries only please contact: 0300 123 9869, media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

Published 28 January 2021



CSPL Submission to Welsh Assembly Code of Conduct Consultation

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M60’s missing link scheme moves closer to reality

The M60 around Manchester could soon get its missing link, making it England’s only complete orbital motorway. Two thirds of the public have given their backing to proposals to create a new link road at junction 18 of the M60 near Prestwich so that drivers travelling clockwise will no longer need to use a roundabout to continue their journey on the same motorway.

Highways England has now selected the link road as its preferred option for a major upgrade of the junction, which will see a new loop take drivers from the eastbound to the southbound M60.

A virtual reality video has been released showing how the new link road could look.

Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England’s chief executive, said:

Our proposal for a new link road at Simister Island was the clear favourite during our public consultation. We will now develop detailed designs for the upgrade, which will benefit everyone from local shoppers to haulage firms travelling across the North.

Around 90,000 drivers use Simister Island every day to travel between the M60, M62 and M66, making it one of the North’s busiest motorway junctions.

The missing link anomaly was created when the M60 was formed 21 years ago, connecting several existing motorways with a new stretch of motorway to form a 36-mile ring road around Manchester.

The current setup means drivers travelling eastbound soon find themselves on the M62 on their way to Leeds if they don’t use a roundabout to reach the southbound section of the M60.

Peter Molyneux, Major Roads Director at Transport for the North, said:

Correcting the well-known Simister Island anomaly will bring significant improvements for all those using it, offering safer and more reliable journeys around the M62, M66 and M60. It’s fantastic to see plans progressing at pace on this scheme following the recent public consultation.

It is a vital element in our Northern Infrastructure Pipeline to enhance connectivity and reduce disruption for all road users, both in the immediate area and across the North West. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Highways England as detailed plans are progressed.

More than 800 people took part in a two-month public consultation on the proposals last year, with 67% saying they supported the option to connect the M60 in a loop to the north of the junction.

A new two-lane link road will also be created for drivers travelling from the northbound to the westbound stretches of the M60 at Simister Island, replacing the existing single lane slip road.

And the hard shoulder will be converted to a permanent extra lane along the mile-long stretch of the M60 between junctions 17 and 18 to improve the flow of traffic, providing dedicated lanes for drivers travelling between motorways. CCTV cameras, traffic sensors and electronic signs will be used to maintain safety.

Highways England will hold another public consultation later this year once it has developed detailed designs for the scheme, with a planning application due to be submitted next winter. Construction work is due to start by spring 2025.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.



Violations of the right to peaceful assembly in the Russian Federation: UK statement

Madam Chair,

The United Kingdom, like a number of other participating States, is deeply concerned by the detention of thousands of peaceful protesters and journalists in Russia on 23 January. We call upon Russia to adhere to its national and international obligations and release those detained arbitrarily for exercising their right of peaceful assembly.

Peaceful protest is a vital part of any democratic society, as is a free and independent media. The violent suppression by police forces of the right of individuals to express their opinion is unacceptable. These events confirm a continuous negative pattern of shrinking space for the opposition, civil society, human rights defenders and independent voices in Russia.

Madam Chair,

At last week’s Permanent Council, we raised our concerns about the politically motivated detention of Alexey Navalny. His treatment and continued detention is another example of the shrinking democratic space in Russia and the deterioration in human rights.

In Astana in 2010, all OSCE participating States reaffirmed all OSCE principles and commitments, without exception, emphasized that we are accountable to our citizens, and that our commitments are matters of legitimate concern to all participating States. We therefore do not agree with any suggestion that the events of 23 January, or the continued detention of Mr Navalny, are solely internal matters for the Russian Federation. They are matters of concern to all OSCE participating States including the UK, and we will continue to support the protection of human rights and the fundamental freedoms of expression, of association and of peaceful assembly throughout the OSCE region, including in Russia.

Madam Chair,

Once again, we call on Russia to demonstrate its commitment to its international obligations, including its commitments in the OSCE, to release those citizens detained during peaceful demonstrations, and to release Mr Navalny without delay.