Politics

The UK and Japan have today (26 January 2017) signed the Defence Logistics Treaty to make it easier for our Armed Forces to work together on a range of activities, including UN peacekeeping operations and joint humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.

This agreement follows the success of the first ever joint exercise in Japan between the Royal Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force during last year’s historic Asia-Pacific tour.

This was another example of our ever closer defence cooperation with Japan as the UK’s closest security partner in Asia.

The agreement includes practical arrangements that will allow both countries’ forces to share equipment, facilities and services in a simpler and more efficient way. It covers the exchange of supplies and services, removing the need for individual agreements on a case by case basis.

Signing the treaty at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

The UK is working together with Japan as our closest security partner in Asia to promote global security, stability and prosperity. As two leading supporters of the international rules based system, this close collaboration between our forces will help support collective efforts to tackle international and regional challenges and threats.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon welcomed the agreement and said:

Japan is an important British ally and this treaty will enable closer joint work on operations and exercises, including sharing equipment, supplies and services. As Global Britain steps up, we will continue to stand alongside our Japanese friends to meet shared interests and challenges. This agreement underlines our commitment to tacking international threats which makes Britain safer and more secure.

Japan’s Ambassador to the UK, Koji Tsuruoka, who signed the treaty on behalf of the Government of Japan, said:

This treaty marks a significant moment in Japan’s security and defence relationship with the UK, Japan’s close partner that shares fundamental values such as the rule of law and democracy. The two countries will work together on security cooperation, as well as other global issues in this changing world.

Further information

Photographs of the signing are available at Foreign and Commonwealth Office Flickr

The Defence Logistics Treaty is also referred to as an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA). It was a commitment of the second 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ meeting in January 2016, when Japan also agreed to host RAF Typhoons in October 2016 in an historic joint air force exercise – the country’s first ever with a military partner other than the USA.

UK-Japan defence and security cooperation is going from strength to strength. The UK and Japan continue to develop new defence technologies, with a particular focus on missile technology. 2016 also saw our cooperation in third countries expand from South East Asia to Africa.

As Japan prepares to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, our cooperation on cyber security is also expanding. Japan’s Olympics Minister, Tamayo Marukawa visited the UK in January to discuss the UK’s cyber expertise from London 2012 and the UK’s experience of crisis preparedness in managing large sporting events.

Follow the Foreign Secretary on twitter @BorisJohnson

Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice

Follow the Foreign Office on facebook

read more

From: First published: 26 January 2017 Part of: Chief Constable briefs Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Justice Minister on attempted murder investigation The Secretary of State and the Justice Minister met the Chief Constable to… read more

The Court of Appeal has today increased the sentences of 2 men from Sale, Manchester following a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Mark Marfleet, 37, and Paul Warmisham, 35, were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court for a number of offences including conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to cause explosions.

Between June 2015 and September 2015 the pair stole two cash machines and attempted to steal another, using explosives to blow the front of the machine to access the money inside.

A woman and her four-year-old son who were living in the flat above one of the cash machines had to be rescued through an upstairs window after the blast damaged their home and filled the property with smoke.

The financial loss and damage caused to property totalled to about £138,000.

Whilst on bail for these offences, Marfleet also robbed a newsagents with another man who remains unidentified. The two men were armed and during the robbery doused the shopkeeper in petrol and threatened to set him alight.

Marfleet was sentenced to 11 and a half years imprisonment, whilst Warmisham received a 7 and a half year custodial sentence.

Following a referral to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP, the sentences for both offenders were found to be unduly lenient. The judge then increased Marfleet and Warmisham’s sentences’ to 18 years and 13 years respectively.

Following the hearing, the Solicitor General said:

“The actions of these offenders showed a serious lack of consideration for the safety of those around them. The long lasting effects on the victim and her young son cannot be underestimated.

“I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed that the original sentence was unduly lenient and has sought to increase the sentences given to these offenders.”

read more