People smuggling gangs storing small boats and engines in Germany now face 10 years in jail under new German legislation Germany Passes New Law to Crack Down on People Smuggling to UK Criminal gangs will face up to 10 years in jail after Germany passed landmark new legislation on Friday 19 December to crack down on the criminal gangs involved in smuggling illegal migrants to the UK. Due to come into force before the end of the year, this law means activities in Germany that f

Former Axiom Legal Financing Fund manager ordered to repay millions to investors SFO to Secure Over £900,000 from Fraudster David Kennedy The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today secured a £928,479 confiscation order against David Kennedy, meaning this money will be returned to victims of his £100+ million fraud. SFO investigators exposed that Kennedy, a convicted fraudster, used his criminal proceeds to fund a lifestyle that included the purchase of properties in Hull and a 

New law strengthening protections for sheep, cows and other farm animals Unlimited Fines for Dog Attacks on Farm Animals A new law passed today sees farm animals in England and Wales get stronger protection from dog attacks with maximum penalty for Livestock Worrying, when a dog you own or are in charge of attacks or chases livestock on agricultural land, increasing from £1,000 to an unlimited fine and police given powers to detain dogs believed to pose an ongoing threat to l

Bounce Back Loan fraudster convicted following Insolvency Service investigations Nottingham Fraudster Jailed for £50,000 COVID Loan Scam Mujeebullah Khan fraudulently obtained a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for a Nottingham city centre chicken shop he had sold in 2019 Khan only repaid the loan in full shortly before he was sentenced The 38-year-old, who is currently under bankruptcy restrictions, was jailed when he appeared in court this week The former manager of a Nottingham ci

Businesses and workers affected by changes at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site will be able to access an extra £22 million in support from the UK Taxpayers Major £22 million uplift in Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board funding. Funds available for the community now total £122 million - £102 million from UK Taxpayers and £20 million from Tata Steel. The additional taxpayer funding could support up to 1,000 more jobs in the local community. Since July 2024, the Tata Steel /

Director sentenced for fraud and falsifying accounts Construction Boss Created False Bank Statement in Bid to Hide British Gas Invoice Fraud Nicholas Couch submitted a fraudulent invoice claiming his company had paid British Gas for gas installation work at an apartment block conversion project in Kent When questioned about the payment two years later, the 51-year-old created a false bank statement to maintain the deception and cover up the fraud Couch was handed a suspended

Three quarters of farmers have received Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments More than £400 Million in Taxpayers’ Money Paid Out for “Sustainable” Food Production Three quarters of eligible farmers have already received their Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments since the 2025 payment window opened on 1 December, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) confirmed today (Friday 12 December). So far, more than 28,351 taxpayer-funded pa

Ofqual is today launching a 12-week public consultation on its proposed approach to regulating on-screen exams in GCSEs, AS and A levels Ofqual Launches Consultation to Protect Standards in On-Screen Exams The proposals aim to support responsible innovation while protecting fairness, standards and the integrity of England’s qualifications system.  The consultation, titled Regulating on-screen assessments, builds on joint research by Ofqual and the Department for Education.  

The regulator is investigating Blackpool’s Voice over financial and governance concerns Charity Commission Opens Inquiry into Blackpool Anti-Poverty Charity The charity , which provides clothes, food and other provisions to those in poverty, was registered in 2020.   Since that time, it has failed to submit any accounting information as required by law. Additionally, since January 2025, the charity has been operating with an insufficient number of trustees, which is a breach