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Last week, RUSI Director-General Rachel Ellehuus joined global leaders at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, engaging in high-level discussions on transatlantic security and defence.

Convicted takeaway boss ordered to pay back funds following Insolvency Service investigations.

The National Residential Landlords Association has announced a closer partnership with RentGuarantor.

Government are addressing challenges faced by creative businesses in accessing finance.

techUK is delighted to be on the ground in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026, the first summit in this landmark series to be hosted in a developing economy.  

The Electoral Commission has concluded an investigation into the Irish Republican Socialist Party. The announcement is part of the Commission’s monthly update on concluded investigations.

The first reports from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) latest fire and rescue service (FRS) inspection programme will be published in March 2026. 

The UK’s largest dedicated tribunal centre is set to open in London.

Jobseekers are to benefit from the roll-out of mobile jobs vans across Great Britain – appearing outside leisure centres, supermarkets and even football stadiums.

Some of Scotland’s leading start-up tech companies will have the chance to secure orders and build contacts in New York and New Jersey under an expansion of the Techscaler International programme.

Europe is being recast, sharper and stronger, reflecting the world order at work in the forge.

A construction company has been fined after a worker sustained serious injuries when he fell from a ladder during renovation works in London.

An Assembly Committee has called for urgent action to address, ‘unresolved weaknesses’ in the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and expressed concern that recommendations it made five years ago have not been fully implemented.

Baroness Chapman speech given yesterday outlining the UK’s commitment to a modern partnership with Africa, priorities on health security, sovereignty and multilateral reform.

New replacement ambulances and response vehicles will soon be on the road thanks to a £23.1 million investment by the Welsh Government.

On Monday 16th March between 2:30 – 4:00pm Homeless Link will host an online workshop on behalf of the UK Right to Food Commission. 

High Court backs Environment Agency over illegal boats.

Blog posted by: Aggie Michael, 17 February 2026 – Uncategorized.

February is often regarded as a transitional month with winter beginning to loosen its grip while early hints of spring quietly emerge.

UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide at AI Impact Summit.

Initial findings from Barnardo’s Scotland consultation with children and young people, on behalf of the Scottish Government to seek their views on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill

Joint Statement given recently (14 February 2026) by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny's death.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has declared an independent investigation following the death of a woman at a West Midlands Police (WMP) custody block.

New TUC analysis published recently (Sunday) revealed that the average woman effectively works for 47 days of the year for free and only starts earning from today compared to the average man.

Innovators across the UK are being offered £20 million in grants for technology designed to reduce harm and death from drug and alcohol addiction.

Milestone reached in energy efficiency support scheme.

The UK has officially gone from a leader to a laggard when it comes to supply chain laws. 

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and California Governor Gavin Newsom sign new  agreement in London, building on decades of cooperation on climate and clean energy.

A new campaign to provide practical ways for organisations to protect themselves from common online threats.

Our comment piece for Inside Housing discusses how our Unhealthy State of Homelessness report can help ensure the government’s strategy breaks the cycle of worsening ill health and homelessness.

The list of celebratory events that will be supported by the St David’s Day Fund 2026 was recently (15 February 2026) published by the Welsh Government.

UK and partners have recently (14 February 2026) exposed the tragic circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny's death and have confirmed there was poison found in samples from his body.

The Government has published a statement and guidance on local supported housing strategies under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.

UK will bolster regional security by deploying a Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North.

Dstl’s partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funds crucial defence research, including AI to boost intelligence analysis.

Unpaid carers, disabled people and people with lived experience of social care will have a say on local services after Scottish Parliament regulations come into force.

The Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Sarah Owen has written to the Business and Trade Secretary and Culture Secretary calling for stronger legislative protections to tackle misogyny and the silencing of victims in the music industry and the creative sector in general.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a friendlier tone to European nations, but the elephant in the room – the rupture between the US and its NATO allies – remains, says Bronwen Maddox.

Thousands of people living with schizophrenia and severe depression are being recruited by the NHS for a major new study which could unlock a “new era” of personalised treatment for severe mental illness.

A total of nine current or former police officers who featured in the BBC Panorama documentary on Charing Cross police station have been found to have committed gross misconduct, following the latest accelerated misconduct hearing held by the Met yesterday.

Rapid testing for bacterial infections is being rolled out in community pharmacies and GP surgeries across Wales.

Government response: Espionage cases and the Official Secrets Acts.

FCDO statement given recently on parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

From 24 January to 12 April 2026, The National Archives is hosting the exhibition 'Love Letters', exploring 500 years of expressions of love.

Year-long programme will celebrate creative dialogue and shared heritage of the two nations.

The Welsh Government has invested more than £600 million in its Help to Buy – Wales scheme, supporting thousands of people across the country to achieve their dream of homeownership.

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence after he carried out dangerous and illegal gas work on a property in Bournemouth which could have resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning.

New acoustic weapon detection system will help keep soldier safe on the battlefield by helping to locate and target positions of enemy gunfire, mortars and explostions.

New vaccination campaign launched to boost uptake of childhood immunisations.

Visit marked one year of progress, new investment and a growing workforce.

The Kremlin’s weaponization of video games for recruitment and influence is no longer a theoretical risk.

The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

Blog posted by: Holly New, 13 February 2026 – Early careers, Recruitment, Skills.

Statement given recently (13 February 2026) by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Bus passenger numbers have jumped in some of Wales’ most scenic outdoor locations, according to the most recent figures.

Learn about the role we play in backing aspiring winter sports athletes through our investment of National Lottery and Government funding into talent and support programmes.

The upcoming African Union summit is an opportunity for African leaders to reset the union’s role on Sudan and take decisive action to end the war.

The FDA recently responded to the announcement that Sir Chris Wormald has departed the role of Cabinet Secretary, with FDA General Secretary Dave Penman describing it as a “new low” for the government’s relationship with the civil service.

The disruptive power of space weather often hides behind the wonder of the auroras for many people.

A new package of support will help early years settings strengthen their workforce and improve outcomes for children from the very start.

A report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission providing recommendations on animal welfare indicators which could form part of measures in future iterations of the Good Food Nation Plan.

Statement given recently (12 February 2026) by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

Speech delivered recently (13 February 2026) by Emma Cochrane, Acting Executive Director, Consumer Protection at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The demand connections backlog presents a structural impediment to data centre operators across the UK, threatening the growth of the sector as projects wait up to 8 years to be connected to the energy grid. 

A man wanted in connection with a fatal small boat crossing last year has been arrested in Liverpool by officers from the National Crime Agency.

Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the IEA, responded to a government consultation on banning vaping in workplaces, pubs, clubs and cars

Boost to payment set to support 12,000 children.

UK will spend over £400 million this financial year on hypersonic and long-range weapons including joint projects with France, Germany, and Italy.

Largest ever enforcement workforce protecting waterways from pollution including five new teams for the Anglian area.

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, commented on judicial review brought by Good Law Project

Court waiting times to process legitimate possession cases by landlords have increased despite a fall in the number of cases brought to them, according to new government data.

If your broadband or landline provider goes out of business and another company takes over, you can continue to use the services you’ve been used to. In most cases this should happen without any interruption to your service.

We have updated our guidance for inspectors assessing safety and quality of hospital care provided in a non-designated clinical space.  

The CMA has imposed a £473,000 penalty on Euro Car Parks for failing to respond to a notice that legally required the company to provide information.

A BBC report published last week indicates that there has been a five-fold increase in the number of refugee households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the last four years.

Rory Deighton responds to government’s acceptance of Pay Review Bodies' recommendations for NHS Agenda for Change staff

Strengthening financial sustainability measures.

Following the National Behaviour Summit in 2025, the Welsh Government has announced a new package of projects to support schools across Wales with behaviour, wellbeing and engagement.

Largest ever enforcement workforce protecting waterways from pollution includes seven new teams for the South East

Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) have discovered a tiny RNA molecule that could explain how life on Earth began.

Responding to the announcement from DHSC of the consultation into new measures to address smoking and vaping in some public places, Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: “No child should be exposed to second-hand smoke or vapour clouds when using public spaces designed for their health, education, and play.

A former Imam has been convicted today (Friday 13 February 2026) of numerous non-consensual sexual attacks on women and girls in East London.

Early Support Hubs across England to receive a £7 million funding boost to bolster services for young people.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is not confident that government-backed bank National Savings & Investments (NS&I) is able to successfully deliver its Transformation Programme.

Proposed sites include the first ever on the River Thames in London

Ofsted has today launched a new way for education providers to celebrate and share their inspection report cards with parents, carers and the wider community.

With the National Centre for AI in Policing – dubbed Police.AI – UK policing is stepping up its pursuit of cutting-edge tools, but cost-effective, impactful delivery requires more than a new name.

A couple who stockpiled lethal weapons, manufactured ammunition and discussed preparing for a so‑called “race war” were yesterday jailed at Kingston Crown Court, alongside two associates who purchased firearms from them.

21 organisations have now received almost £500,000 in total for projects across the UK.

Around 175 school pupils and college students from across South Yorkshire visited the fair to find out about jobs in clean energy.

On 11 February 2026, the UK Government published its long-awaited draft of the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services (SSP). 

English Heritage has uncovered a remarkable collection of early 20th-century love letters.

Border Force and police seizures of ketamine and cannabis at all-time high and Border Force ramps up the return of foreign smugglers.

Defence apprentices celebrated for National Apprenticeship week as Defence Minister visits Babcock International to witness the future of defence manufacturing.

Liz Lloyd, Minister for the Digital Economy, spoke to techUK Future Telecoms Conference 2026 on 10 February 2026.

Action to protect the environment and marine waters.

The development of the new hypersonic missiles will speed up thanks to a £12 million contract which will benefit British-based businesses.

Putin must walk a fine line between doing the minimum required to support its nominal ally in the region, while ensuring that Russia retains its relevance in the Middle East.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds' speech on Food Security, Resilience & Standards: UK Agricultural Strategy in Europe at the British Ambassador's Residence in Paris (12 February 2026).

A serving Nottinghamshire Police officer yesterday (Thursday 12 February) received a 12-month community order for causing the death of a man struck by the police van he was driving while taking a detainee into custody. It follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Ambassador Holland rejects Russia’s false claims about the OSCE, stressing that it is Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, refusal to engage with OSCE mechanisms and continued detention of OSCE staff that undermine the organisation. The UK remains ready for meaningful dialogue at the OSCE, but this should be based on facts and law (12 February 2026).

Children and young people are receiving faster access to mental health support, as waiting times fall across Wales.

Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety, spoke at Founders Forum on 10 February 2026.

You ask an AI system a complex question about your work. It responds clearly, confidently, and in polished prose.

Following seemingly incessant rainfall for many locations in the UK, there is a brief respite as colder conditions will temporarily take charge.

The government is launching a consultation on extending smoke-free places and introducing vape-free and heated tobacco-free spaces

Our Director of Operations Emma Luxton provides information on our review of past e-discovery software.

Hundreds of school leaders will benefit from extra training opportunities to further develop their leadership skills, helping to improve job satisfaction and bring benefits to the schools where they work.

Weekly UKHSA report for the 2025/26 season, monitoring respiratory viruses.

North Tyneside Council has agreed to pay £5,900 to a family after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found it failed to provide promised specialist technology that would have allowed a child with special educational needs to learn from home - the second time the Ombudsman has ruled against the council for the same child.

New funding for social care, hospices and non-domestic rates relief.

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, responded to the latest NHS waiting list figures

Capel Rhondda, the birthplace of one of Wales’ most recognisable hymns, Bread of Heaven / Cwm Rhondda, is now safe in the hands of the community.

In 2031, the UK will once again count itself. The census will measure who we are, where we live and our living conditions.

Future‑proofing safety

The Committee for Communities has concluded its scrutiny of the Sign Language Bill, marking the end of almost twelve months of intensive engagement, evidence-gathering, and legislative refinement.

Challenging the myth that higher social spending is incompatible with economic success, new IPPR Scotland analysis confirms that many European countries with high spending on social protection measures such as benefits, childcare and training, also sustain highly productive, innovative and dynamic economies.  

Crisis and incident management focuses on how an organisation responds when things go wrong — whether it’s a minor hiccup like a systems outage, or something major like a natural disaster, cyberattack, or reputational crisis. 

The Council has published a research review of the overarching guideline for sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments, which came into force on 1 October 2020.  

Anne Pardoe, Head of Policy at Citizens Advice, responded to the announcement by the Financial Conduct Authority that Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) borrowers will benefit from stronger protections from 15 July 2026, following the Government’s decision to bring the sector FCA’s regulation

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the conduct of two Lincolnshire Police officers following the death of a man shortly after his arrest.

A new book by Dr Madsen Pirie argues that the current mood of pessimism is wrong and that Britain, and the world, could be about to enter its most creative and prosperous era in history. 

A former police officer and West Mercia Police Federation treasurer has been convicted of fraud after using members' funds to pay for family holidays, alcohol, and entertainment.

We were alerted to the unexpected closure of PM Law Ltd and associated firms on Monday 2 February.

The surge in patients waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments to record levels is very concerning.

Ancient wheat collections might hold the secret to tackling a new pathogen strain that could devastate UK wheat crops.

Dr Parth Patel, associate director at IPPR, responded to the Representation of the People Bill

Sir Chris Wormald to stand down as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service

A former nursery worker from Finchley in north London has been jailed today after pleading guilty to a raft of sexual offences including those committed at a daycare centre and a primary school.

The Electoral Commission has said the UK Government’s Representation of the People Bill (Opens in new window) would significantly improve the electoral system for voters, parties, campaigners and administrators.

The public is urged to remain vigilant

Ofcom has today fined Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to put in place age checks to protect children from pornographic content.

Guidance for gender questioning children is clear schools should take a careful approach when a child asks to social transition.

Last week (WC 2nd February 2026) the National Consortium for Societal Resilience issued a report that £1 invested in societal resilience to disasters generates £35.12 of public value.

For more than a week now, the policing sector has been digesting the Government’s wide-ranging and ambitious white paper on police reform.

Digital researcher Bernard Ogden reflects on using experimental technology to foster co-learning between digital and collection experts at Wellcome Collection.

A project to reduce the impact of fuel poverty on vulnerable people is being promoted nationally as an example of how to tackle health inequalities.

CBI has responded to latest GDP data for Q4 2025.

A man who rigged properties with improvised explosive devices and a homemade flamethrower to protect a large-scale drugs operation has been jailed.

Ofsted has published a letter with findings from a joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to child sexual abuse in the family environment in Leicestershire. 

For more than a century and a half, the Met Office has been at the forefront of weather and climate science, providing trusted, world-leading insights to organisations across the globe.

The Transport Secretary recently (10 February 2026) set out her vision for a reformed railway that's run by the public, for the public.

ScotRail fares will be frozen for the next year to keep money in people’s pockets, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

Recent purges within the Central Military Commission in China echo the Chekist approach to ideological purity and absolute loyalty to the Party and, at its core, Xi Jinping.

Fisheries management plans secure the long-term sustainability of UK fish stocks.

Jessica Gillie first began her journey as a Business Administrator Apprentice here at NCFE in 2022 at the age of 19.

Sudan Core Group Statement for the oral update of the OHCHR on the human rights situation in and around El Fasher, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan.

The NHS delivered more elective activity in 2025 than any other year in its history, helping cut the waiting list to its lowest level since February 2023.

999 call sees 2 held, and lorry and devices seized. Latest arrests in Environment Agency purge on illegal waste.

The UK will lead the multinational defensive cyber exercise Defence Cyber Marvel (DCM) 2026, a multilateral cyber defence exercise conducted by the British Army Cyber Association.

Review will examine digital shifts, market trends and emerging technologies including use of AI.

From healthcare to food production, seven biotech start-ups have joined a government-backed business incubator to bring innovations to market and improve lives.

DPP says end-to-end reforms are needed to deliver swift justice for victims 

The capability of the CJS to deal with the volume of work coming in is rapidly eroding and with it, public confidence

Greater alignment between police, prosecutors and courts is vital to fix a system now listing trials in 2030

Reforms are needed to help tackle modern offences, including online-facilitated abuse and ‘borderless’ organised crime

Prosecutors, police and the courts must align to deliver end-to-end reform of a criminal justice system that has failed victims for too long, Stephen Parkinson the Director of Public Prosecutions said today.

He highlighted the Crown Prosecution Service’s unique position to connect the sweeping police and court reform programmes to make sure they can deliver for victims, defendants and witnesses.

With some trials now listed as far ahead as 2030 and backlogs at record highs, the DPP issued a warning on “unacceptable” victim attrition rates – with almost one third of contested Crown Court cases not proceeding to trial due to victims feeling unable to carry on.

He said, “No-one working in the criminal justice system can look victims in the eye and say we are delivering swift justice for them.  For too long we have tolerated a system that constantly lets victims down – a system which produces huge delays and frequent adjournments. 

“We are at a critical juncture and this is a once in a generation opportunity to drive-end to-end reforms and create a modern, fit for purpose system. 

“The CPS will do everything in our power to make the proposed reforms effective, working closely with the police and courts to improve outcomes for victims, witnesses and defendants.”

The DPP supported proposals that would increase incentives for defendants who plead guilty early, reducing the Crown Court caseload and freeing up court time, as well as an increase to magistrates’ sentencing powers to 18 months.

On police reform, Mr Parkinson outlined the advantages that consolidating police forces could bring, with potential reforms bringing greater efficiencies and co-operation between prosecutors and police officers in the fight against new and emerging types of crime.

He said: “Prosecutors on the front line are seeing the prevalence and evolving nature of offending that is enabled and enhanced by technology. 

“In the face of these threats, we are building a service that is equipped to fight the challenges we face. We’ve already got teams of specialist prosecutors working on fraud, counter-terrorism, child abuse, immigration crime, meaning we are in a good place to support wider policing reform. And we are actively using and developing technology to scale up to meet the challenge of tackling increasingly complex and borderless crime.”

He was clear of the need to modernise hand-in-hand with our partners to seize this critical opportunity to reduce delay, slash duplication, and deliver better results for victims and society.

Mr Parkinson also stressed that any structural changes to the system must be underpinned by an unyielding focus on increasing efficiency and highlighted progress against the CPS’s own modernisation programme. This includes:

An end-to-end reform of all CPS processes to streamline them and remove unnecessary work, duplication and waste.  

Automation of much routine work, savings hours of lawyer and support staff time.

A new casework app has already saved the equivalent of 31 years’ of prosecutor time since it was introduced in February 2024.

Slimming down charging guidance for police so they can focus on their core job and free up time.

The introduction of a new National Charging Model that turbocharges decision-making by ensuring prosecutors deal with priority remand and bail cases within strict deadlines.

Driving a culture of stronger collaboration with policing to speed up decision making.

Serving our case earlier on the defence to encourage early guilty pleas

Developing our workforce for the future – a third of all future criminal barristers are trained in the CPS and this year we had 2600 applications for 120 lawyer training posts.

Delivering for victims and rebuilding confidence: 

There has also been a major focus on transforming the approach to supporting victims. 

This includes earlier joint working with police forces, under the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan which launched in November 2024.  

Our new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy was published in November and equips prosecutors with both the knowledge and tools they need to prosecute cases effectively and secure results for victims who too often feel the system is not delivering for them.  

Victim Service Standards have also been published to make sure a consistent and compassionate service is available to anyone affected by crime. 

As part of our Enhanced RASSO Service, launched in December 2024, we have already held more than 1800 pre-trial meetings with victims of rape since this was introduced. 

Survivors of rape and serious sexual offences are also offered a dedicated liaison officer, so they have a consistent point of contact. 

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has commented on ONS figures showing 0.1% GDP growth in the three months to December 2025, and 0.1% GDP growth in December 2025.

People looking for a career in the Armed Forces will receive advice directly from military personnel in their local jobcentre, under new plans to boost military recruitment.

Reconviction rate after Community Payback lower than short term sentences.

Promatic International exports to 41 countries thanks to a £1 million trade facility backed by UKEF.

A suspected people smuggling boss has been arrested in Birmingham as part of a joint investigation involving the National Crime Agency and West Midlands Police.

The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that a 13-year-old boy has been charged following stabbings at a high school in North West London.

New half a billion pound package of air defence for Ukraine, including £150 million for NATO PURL, and additional 1,000 UK-manufactured missiles.

Despite government progress towards removing RAAC from schools, significant concerns remain about the condition of England’s school estate, MPs warned yesterday. 

£35 million to help companies scale up and stay in Scotland.

The government has appointed HSBC as the platform provider for the Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT) pilot issuance following a competitive procurement process.

The AI Impact Summit in New Delhi represents a pivotal moment in the global AI dialogue, marking the first time this summit series will be hosted in a developing economy. Taking place from February 16-20, 2026 in New Delhi, this international gathering will bring together government leaders, business executives, researchers, and civil society stakeholders from around the world. 

Foreign actors will no longer be able to use their money to interfere in the UK’s elections, as part of the biggest expansion of democratic participation in a generation

“High streets don’t die by accident” – BTC sets out series of reforms to end late payments, overhaul business rates, cut costs and boost revenue for small businesses.

Agreement reached on pay and contract reform.

Environment Agency water enforcement team increases by almost fivefold since 2023

Every child caught carrying a knife in England and Wales will be given a mandatory targeted plan to stop them reoffending and protect the public.

Vote of confidence in UK as Singaporean firm moves HQ to Liverpool

Major telecoms providers sign new charter to end unexpected mid-contract price rises and make social tariffs easier to access, helping millions manage living costs.