Update on further extension by HMA Kate Smith for Brits in Greece
You will all have seen that the European Union has agreed the UK’s request for a further extension of our membership of the EU. The extension sets a new deadline of 31 January 2020. If a new Brexit deal is approved by the UK and European Parliaments before 31 January 2020, it is possible for the UK to leave earlier.
For as long as we remain in the EU, the UK will continue to hold full membership rights and UK nationals will retain their full EU citizenship rights. So if you are a UK national living in Greece now, nothing has changed. The current rules on registering as a resident, accessing healthcare, travelling within the Schengen area, etc, remain exactly as they were until now.
However it is still very important to be prepared for Brexit. Please ensure you are correctly registered as resident in Greece, registered for healthcare, and have taken the necessary steps to exchange your driving licence. If you are planning to travel you should also check that your passport is up to date.
As always, we will keep you up to date with reliable information and advice as the situation develops in the coming weeks. Please stay in touch with us through our @BritsinGreece Facebook page and our @UKinGreece social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter; and by signing up for email alerts for our Living in Greece guide. Please also encourage your British friends and contacts in Greece to do the same.
your passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months on the date you enter Azerbaijan
take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance – your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) won’t be valid in Azerbaijan, so travel and medical insurance is essential even if you’re only staying for 1 night
if you’re visiting Azerbaijan for longer than 15 days, you must register within 15 working days of arrival. Hotels may provide this service for their guests, but visitors staying in apartments or private residences will have to register by themselves. Guidance on the process can be found on the State Migration Service’s website.
police sometimes carry out checks of identity documents. You should carry your passport at all times. Keep it secure and leave a photocopy of the details page separately in a safe place
it takes 25 to 30 minutes to get from the airport to city centre. There are a variety of taxi options available in Baku including private hire, app-based and metered cabs
some visitors have reported being over-charged by local taxis – with private hire it’s best to negotiate a price before leaving – for a journey to one of the major hotels in central Baku expect to pay 20-30 Manats (AZN) and make sure any taxi you take has a yellow taxi sign or clear taxi branding on it
if you take a metered cab, make sure the taxi meter is switched on
check that the taxi has working seatbelts
By bus
Baku Bus runs a 24/7 service from the airport to the centrally located 28 May metro station. Details on departure times and route can be found on the Aero Express website.
Getting to the Stadium: Bakcell Arena (8km Stadium)
Address for Bakcell Arena Stadium: Nizami district, 8 km, B.Nuiyev street 2397, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Metro
The Bakcell Arena is located a 15 minute walk from both Khalgar Dostlugu and Neftcilar metro stations. The Both stations are on the Qirmizi (red) and Yasil (green) metro lines – see the Baku metro official website. Metro signs are displayed in both Azerbaijani and English.
Taxi
A taxi from central Baku to the Bakcell Arena is likely to cost 15 to 20 AZN in a purple coloured London taxi and slightly more for a private taxi. When taking a purple London taxi always make sure that the meter is used. For non-metered taxis it’s best to negotiate a price before departure. Taxis are considered the easiest and most convenient way to get to the stadium, although the traffic can be very busy on match days so allow plenty of time.
Bus
Bus numbers 81, 15, 186, 22, 185 all stop at Bakcell Arena or nearby stop.
At the match
Entry to the stadium
The main entrance will be open to welcome all fans. Wales supporters will be seated in sector 2B – see stadium plan. In order to enter section 2B of the stadium, you should go through the Gate 2B. The stewards will guide you to your seats.
Access to the stadium can be slow. Expect to be searched at least twice. To avoid last minute delays get to the stadium early. The stadium opens 2 hours before the kick-off.
Restrictions
In addition to items which would usually be prohibited in the UK, the following items will also not be allowed to be taken into the stadium: flares, fireworks, alcohol, cans, glass, plastic bottles or containers, coins, lighters and e-cigarettes. If you do bring any of these items they will be confiscated by the Azerbaijani authorities.
Alcohol and smoking
Alcohol is not sold in the stadium and cannot be brought in from outside. Smoking will not be allowed.
Food and drink
Food and drink outlets are available in the stadium. Items can be paid for by cash in local currency.
Disabled supporters
there are designated area for wheelchair users referred as VIP Lounge, which can be reached via lifts from the ground floor
the rest of Baku has limited facilities for the disabled traveller – the pavements, even on the main roads, can be difficult to negotiate for those with disabilities.
Local information
Climate and time
The average temperature in November is around 7-15ºC during the day. You can find information on the BBC weather website. The time in Baku is GMT+4.
Language
The main language is Azerbaijani. Russian is also widely spoken.
Crime
crime levels in Baku are generally low
don’t get involved with drugs – the penalties are severe
Personal security
look after your personal belongings, in particular your passport and your money
keep a photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport and keep it in a safe place separate from your passport
take sensible precautions: be vigilant, avoid carrying large sums of money and be aware of your personal security
Road safety
pedestrians should be vigilant at all times when crossing roads; red traffic lights and zebra crossings don’t necessarily mean a car will stop, use the underpasses where available
when using a taxi make sure it has working seatbelts; many cars are poorly maintained and the standard of driving is erratic
accidents are common, mainly due to poor or reckless driving and inconsistent enforcement of traffic rules
if you’re in a vehicle that’s travelling at an unsafe speed you should instruct the driver to slow down
Religion
most of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim; Azerbaijan is a largely secular society and religion is usually considered a private matter
respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs
Telephones
the international dialling code for Azerbaijan in +994; before travelling check with your mobile phone provider that it will work in Baku
local sim cards are easily available with Azercell, Nar Mobile and Bakcell being the leading mobile operators; you can buy credit for Azerbaijani mobile numbers from many shops or top up online.
Currency
all goods and services are paid in local currency (Manats – AZN)
pounds sterling, US dollars and euros are easily exchanged; major hotels and international supermarkets and restaurants accept credit and debit cards
ATMs in Baku will almost always accept UK credit and debit cards; before leaving the UK, let your bank know you’re travelling to Azerbaijan.
Consular assistance
If you need urgent help from the British Embassy during your visit to Baku (e.g. one involving accident, injury or loss/theft of your passport), call +994 12 4377878 and follow the instructions to be put through to a consular officer.
Lost or stolen passports
If your passport is lost or stolen you can’t travel back to the UK without a valid travel document. You’ll need to apply to the Consular Section of the British Embassy Baku for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). The fee for an Emergency Travel Document is £100.
Lost or stolen credit/debit cards
If you lose your wallet or purse try to cancel your credit/debit cards as soon as possible. British consular officials can’t give you money to help you return home. You can transfer money from the UK using many of the commercial money transfer agencies in Baku, including Western Union. You can also use most major credit and debit cards to obtain money from ATMs.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Martin Charles William Gorick, MA, Archdeacon of Oxford, in the Diocese of Oxford, to the Suffragan See of Dudley, in the Diocese of Worcester, in succession to the Right Reverend Graham Barham Usher BSc, MA, following his translation to the See of Norwich.
Martin was educated at Selwyn College, Cambridge and trained for ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon. He served his title at St John the Evangelist, Birtley in the Diocese of Durham and was ordained Priest in 1988. In 1991, Martin was appointed as Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford. He became Vicar of Smethwick Old Church in the Diocese of Birmingham in 1994 and was additionally appointed Area Dean of Warley in 1997. Martin was appointed as Vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon in the Diocese of Coventry in 2001 where he was also Hon. Chaplain for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He took up his current role as Archdeacon of Oxford and Residentiary Canon of Christ Church in 2013 and also serves as Diocesan Inter-faith Advisor. He is married to Katharine who is County Lead for Visual Impairment in Oxfordshire and they have three adult children.
Published 4 November 2019
First prisons get tough new security measures
Seven prisons get strengthened gate security
Innovative technology will help find more illicit items than ever before
Part of government’s £100 million prison security package
Seven jails are set to receive innovative new equipment to tackle the smuggling of drugs, phones and weapons behind bars, as efforts to make our prisons safer gather pace.
Berwyn, Bristol, Hewell, Lancaster Farms, Leeds, Liverpool and Norwich jails are the first to benefit from the Government’s recently announced £100 million investment in prison security – with the measures set to be introduced in other prisons across the estate.
Tough airport-style security, including X-ray baggage and metal detection equipment, will step-up searching of visitors and staff on entry to jails, enforced by specially-trained officers. This is part of a wider package of measures including X-ray body scanners for offenders and drug-detection kits to identify and deter attempts to smuggle narcotics, such as Spice, through prisoner mail.
Alongside strengthening security at the prison gate and reception, the £100 million investment includes a new digital forensics facility, expanded digital investigations team and phone-blocking technology to clampdown on the organised crime behind bars that drives violence and self-harm.
Prisons Minister, Lucy Frazer QC MP said:
The gate and reception are key areas of vulnerability to smuggling and more robust searching of staff, visitors and prisoners will help reduce the flow of drugs, phones and weapons.
This game-changing package of equipment is part of the Government’s new £2.75bn investment to modernise and maintain our prisons, create 10,000 additional places, and crack down on crime behind bars.
All of these elements are crucial as we create a system that can rehabilitate, cut reoffending and ultimately make our communities safer.
The chosen prisons have been prioritised as they face significant security challenges and the new measures – set to be in place by spring 2020 – will make a significant difference to the stability of each jail.
The specialist gate security is being funded from the government’s previously announced £2.75 billion package to transform the prison estate. This includes:
£100 million to bolster prison security – with the new enhanced gate security and digital forensics facility, alongside tough airport-style security and phone-blocking technology to clamp down on violence, self-harm and crime behind bars.
£2.5 billion to provide 10,000 additional prison places and create modern, efficient jails that rehabilitate offenders, reduce reoffending and keep the public safe.
£156 million for pressing maintenance to create safe and decent conditions for offender rehabilitation.
Independent review backs Chancellor pledge for higher National Living Wage
The independent review into the evidence on minimum wages by leading expert Professor Arindrajit Dube has concluded a more ambitious National Living Wage (NLW) is the right approach, following the Chancellor’s pledge to increase the NLW further.
The review, published Monday 4 November, concludes minimum wages in a range of countries have had a negligible or zero effect on jobs, but significantly increased the earnings of the lowest paid. The Chancellor has pledged a more ambitious NLW so that on current projections it is set to reach £10.50 per hour by 2024, as part of his commitment to do more to end low pay.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, said:
The evidence is clear that our approach is the right one.
We will end low pay by putting the National Living Wage on a path to increase to £10.50 over the next five years.
I thank Professor Dube for his important work and recommendations.
Professor Arindrajit Dube said:
Based on the overall evidence—with a special emphasis on the recent, high quality, evaluations of the National Living Wage and other more ambitious policies internationally — my report concludes that that there is room for exploring a higher NLW in the UK up to two-thirds of the median wage.
It will also be important to empirically evaluate and recalibrate any such ambitious policy based on new evidence down the road.
The report, ‘Impacts of minimum wages: review of the international evidence’, examines the international evidence from Germany, the US and other countries on the impacts of minimum wages, as well as recent research on the impact of the NLW in the UK.
Professor Dube, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, National Bureau of Economic Research and IZA Institute of Labor Economics, was commissioned by the government to review minimum wage policies in Spring 2019. As part of his work, Professor Dube consulted with the Low Pay Commission, academics and policy experts in collating his evidence and developing his findings.
The previous NLW target was to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020. In line with the conclusions of the Dube Review, the Chancellor Sajid Javid has pledged to increase the NLW towards a new target of two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, provided economic conditions allow. The Chancellor additionally committed to expand the living wage to more young people by bringing down the age threshold for the NLW to cover all workers over the age of 21.
The government will respond fully to the review in due course.
Further information
The NLW increased by 4.9% on 1 April 2019 to £8.21. This means a full-time minimum wage worker’s annual pay has risen by over £2,750 since its introduction.
The proportion of low paid jobs is at its lowest since records began in 1997.
