Section 50 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 amends section 22 and paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, to ensure that where criminal damage is caused to a memorial the case can be heard in either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court, such that the courts can sentence appropriately and issue penalties that reflect the true level of harm and culpability, thereby addressing the concern around the current limits on mode of trial and sentencing.

The provision comes into effect on 28 June 2022 and will not be retrospective and will extend to England and Wales only.

This circular provides information on this provision and on other amendments to criminal offences.

Related link

Circular 005/2022: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

The UK government has today (Wednesday 29 June) announced new sanctions, hitting Putin’s inner circle.

Amongst those sanctioned is Vladimir Potanin – Russia’s second richest man and owner of major conglomerate Interros. Potanin continues to amass wealth as he supports Putin’s regime, acquiring Rosbank, and shares in Tinkoff Bank in the period since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Anna Tsivileva, Putin’s first cousin one removed and President of the prominent Russian coal mining company, JSC Kolmar Group, has also been sanctioned. Tsivileva’s husband Sergey Tsivilev is Governor of the coal rich Kemerovo region and the couple have significantly benefitted from their relationship to Putin. JSC Kolmar Group is also being sanctioned today.

A government spokesperson said:

As long as Putin continues his abhorrent assault on Ukraine, we will use sanctions to weaken the Russian war machine. Today’s sanctions show that nothing and no one is off the table, including Putin’s inner circle.

The UK government is also sanctioning a group of Russian individuals and companies for their involvement in repressing civilians and supporting the Assad regime in Syria – exposing Russia’s malign activity across the globe.

The UK government is also acting alongside international allies to introduce new measures that will prevent Russia from accessing UK trusts services. These services, which allow a person or business to manage the assets of another, are another major element of the UK’s world-class financial services sector that Russia will no longer be able to use.

Throughout Putin’s war of choice, international partners have stood side by side with Ukraine and used sanctions to punish his abhorrent invasion and Governments and businesses alike are turning their backs on Russia. The UK has sanctioned more than 1,000 people and over 120 businesses since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and three quarters of foreign companies have reduced operations in Russia – nearly a quarter of which have completely withdrawn.

Russian imports have dropped over 40% since the invasion and stockpiles of vital imported manufacturing components are likely to be depleted in the next three to six months.

Car production is also down by 60% and Russia’s own Transport Minister has admitted that Russia’s logistical infrastructure is now “broken” as a result of sanctions.

Asset freeze

An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person.

Travel ban

A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

Transport sanctions

Recently introduced powers make it a criminal offence for any Russian aircraft to fly or land in the UK, and give the government powers to remove aircraft belonging to designated Russian individuals and entities from the UK aircraft register, even if the sanctioned individual is not on board. Russian ships are also banned from UK ports.

A man who fled to Dubai after he was found guilty of an immigration advice scam has been imprisoned on his return to the UK.

Babbar Ali Jamal, a director at DDR Legal Services LLP, was one of three people found guilty of providing unqualified immigration advice and/or services at the Old Bailey in April 2020 following a two-year investigation by the OISC which revealed fees in excess of £2.5m was generated .

Two of the defendants were sentenced last year at the Old Bailey Unregulated immigration advice earns Directors £17,000 fine – GOV.UK but Mr Jamal left the country even though he was bailed to attend court and in his absence was given a £10,000 fine.

In June 2022, having returned to the UK from Dubai, he gave himself up to the authorities.

At the original sentencing in January 2021, Judge Munro QC said:

“The consequential loss and the impact on the complainants is far-reaching and in some cases devastating.”

One victim had to leave the UK permanently; another paid £7000 in expenses to contest a failed application; others had to travel to Shanghai or Bangkok to submit applications which were bound to be rejected; and a couple who travelled for work were unable to leave the UK for two years while their documentation was sorted out.

Mr Jamal was last week sentenced at the Old Bailey to 20 weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs for failing to surrender to bail. Judge Munro QC concluded that by absconding Mr Jamal had caused substantial interference with the administration of justice. He enjoyed a good quality of life with his family in Dubai while making no attempt to make payments towards the £10,000 fine imposed.

John Tuckett, Immigration Services Commissioner said: “Mr Jamal showed a total defiance of the law. This has been reflected in the sentence, and I hope this serves as a reminder to those who might otherwise choose this path.”

Burlow and Spencer Ltd subsequently ceased trading in 2019.

Notes to Editors

The OISC is an independent public body, established under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, to regulate the provision of immigration advice and services in the UK.

Media queries to the OISC via communications@oisc.gov.uk.

The refreshed Sellafield Story exhibition at the Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, will offer visitors an exclusive virtual tour of the iconic nuclear site when it opens in July.

Housed in a 300-degree immersive cinema, the tour includes exclusive footage captured across the site and inside some of Sellafield’s nuclear facilities.

Sellafield Ltd director of communications and stakeholder engagement, Kate Stinton, said:

With the original exhibition we wanted to bring Sellafield into the local community, explaining what we do and showcasing the people who do the work. With this update we’ve been able to add an element of taking people behind our security fences, albeit virtually.

The updated exhibition also includes a photography timeline that shows how the nuclear site has evolved over the last 75 years, as well as how our communities have developed alongside the site. People will also be able to submit their own photographs to feature in the timeline.

Other features include hands on games, new early-years activities, and introduces three new central characters – proton, neutron, and electron – collectively known as the Atom Squad.

The collaboration with Copeland Borough Council and the Beacon Museum team is part of our Social Impact Multiplied programme.

Sellafield Ltd’s head of community and development, Gary McKeating, said:

Our partnership with Copeland Borough Council at the Beacon Museum is another example of the power of delivering social impact through collaboration with community partners.

Social Impact Multiplied is part of Sellafield Ltd’s wider sustainability programme and so I am particularly proud that in refreshing the exhibition the team minimised the waste created, recycling 60% of the original wall display materials.

Speaking on behalf of the museum, customer and visitor experience manager, Heather Holmes, said:

This updated exhibition is a fantastic addition to a day out at the Beacon Museum.

I think our visitors are going to love the immersive nature of the film, and all the other interactive elements – it’s a great way to have fun and learn about the industry at the same time.

There are some fascinating old photographs from the community too, and many people will be delighted to learn the ever-popular building block area still remains. I’d fully recommend heading to the Beacon to see what’s new.

The Sellafield Story will be open to the public as part of the wider Beacon Museum experience from Tuesday 5 July.

Actuaries from the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) have shared their expertise at a key actuarial conference. Among the topics discussed as speakers and panellists were disaster risk financing and emerging areas of actuarial practice.

The 2-day event, held by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) was its first fully hybrid conference. Members of the profession attended in person and were joined by a big online contingent.

Disaster risk finance

Joanne Meusz and Chris Paterson from GAD presented alongside Nazira Lacayo of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies speaking from Geneva.

The presentation illustrated how GAD works closely with other professions on disaster risk finance. It was an important forum as we had the opportunity to talk about how this collaboration helps to make the biggest impact to help the most vulnerable.

Chris said: “This was the first actuarial conference in a long time covering all areas of practice. It illustrated how we now need to address multiple areas. This can include climate change, inclusion, a changing regulatory environment, and global markets impacted by the war in Ukraine.

“We now also get to come together in a different way, overcoming the challenges of collaborating while in different locations. I was delighted GAD could make a valuable contribution to the event and join the many other excellent speakers.”

Developing skills

GAD actuary Sara Joslin joined a panel including GAD alumnus and client Daniel Clarke, Director of the Centre for Disaster Protection.

The panel discussed the concept of ‘Tomorrow’s Actuary’. This looked at how actuaries are adapting to roles in new areas of practice, moving away from the traditional realms of pensions, insurance, and investment.

Climate change risks

Sara leads GAD’s climate change work and sits on the IFoA’s Sustainability Board. Commenting on the changing role of actuaries, not least when it comes to climate risks, Sara said:

“Alongside our analytical skills, actuaries are well versed in making sense of long-term financial risk and uncertainty. These skills are highly transferable and allow us to add value to a range of challenges outside traditional spheres of actuarial work.

“Advising on climate change risks is an emerging area of actuarial practice, and one where GAD, and the wider actuarial profession, is increasingly getting involved.

“It was great to be part of this discussion alongside other panel members. I enjoyed sharing my experiences of GAD’s climate work and hope to have encouraged others to follow a similar path.”