WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
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Ways you can help during & after an incident |
An edition of the British Red Cross’s Newsthink encourages young people to consider ways that the public helped each other after the explosion. It also explores the role of practical help & emotional support during & after an emergency. |
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British Red Cross: Manchester attack – What happens after the sirens stop British Red Cross: How to talk to children about a terrorist attack |
‘Dangers’ in crowded places pre-date ISIL and not all are terror related |
New & updated guidance intended to give protective security advice to those responsible for managing the security of crowded places. This new guidance is primarily aimed at those with a responsibility for security at crowded places and those who own or run businesses, organisations, amenities or utilities. Some of the terminology may be unfamiliar to some readers. However, we hope the advice can also be of use to anyone who wishes to improve their own security. As the terrorist threat evolves the guidance has been designed to be a living document taking the best advice from some of the UKs leading experts & organisations. There are many links within the guidance directing you to websites providing support in your planning. |
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National Counter Terrorism Security Office - New Crowded Places Guidance launched Designing out terrorism in crowded places HSE: Publications: Managing crowds safely London Risk Register - Greater London Authority Nightclub tragedy highlights the dangers of crowds - BBC News Crowd Crush: The Lurking Danger of Crowds - TruePrepper Crowded Public Places may be More Dangerous than Beds for ... |
Not all ‘dangers to life & limb’ make the headlines |
A Round-up of some of the cases the Health & Safety Executive has successfully prosecuted recently; |
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HSE: Lightwater Valley sentenced after girl’s rollercoaster injury HSE: Employer fined after member of the public injured HSE: Unregistered plumber and company fined after unsafe gas work HSE: Caring Homes fined after death of elderly resident HSE: Company fined after wheel of industrial vehicle falls onto worker’s feet HSE: Company and contractor sentenced for uncontrolled collapse of building on High Street HSE: Company fined after worker fell through fragile skylight |
SME Supplier Locator update... |
UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. The past 5 years have seen government make a priority of getting money through its supply chain into the hands of SMEs, by both setting targets and introducing new procurement mechanisms. Against this backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers. |
But where is the money to come from after Brexit? |
The EC has opened a public debate on the future direction of defence in an EU of 27. Following the EC's White Paper on the Future of Europe, last week's reflection paper outlines different scenarios on how to address the growing security & defence threats facing Europe and enhance Europe's own abilities in defence by 2025. The debate will make an important contribution to deciding on how the EU will strengthen the protection & security of European citizens, which has been at the heart of the Juncker Commission priorities. The reflection paper is complemented by concrete proposals presented last week to launch a European Defence Fund which will support more efficient spending by Member States on joint defence capabilities. |
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EC opens debate on moving towards a security & defence union A European Defence Fund: €5.5bn per year to boost Europe's defence capabilities EU defence cooperation: Council establishes a Military Planning & conduct capability (MPCC) World Economic Forum: Does Europe contribute enough to NATO? The truth about defence spending RUSI Briefing Paper: An Opportunity to Rebalance the UK’s Military Commitments RUSI: Article 50: What Defence & Security Experts Will be Looking Out For RUSI Brexit Decision: The UK Needs to Become the EU's New Best Friend Defence Secretary underlines UK commitment to European security Britain and Italy stand together to tackle security threats First Sea Lord’s defence & security lecture to the City of London |
Another of the ‘good’ reasons we want to leave the EU |
As the EC unveils a reflection paper on the future of the Eurozone, Open Europe’s Georgia Bachti examines how the Eurozone’s internal conflicts between its members’ professed solidarity and their domestic interests have created a deadlock in the Greek debt crisis. |
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Open Europe: Seven years after the first bailout, Greece is back in the headlines NIESR: Latest global economic forecast EESC recommends EC push for deeper economic integration in its 2016 priorities EC signs three-year ESM stability support programme for Greece Civitas: High unemployment has been a chronic condition of the EU for decades Guardian: Greek debt crisis: an existentialist drama with no good end in sight ... Guardian: Grexit? Greece again on the brink as debt crisis threatens break with EU Telegraph: EU faces crisis as IMF warns Greek debts are on 'explosive' path |
With GDPR coming into force next year ‘effective solutions’ are needed |
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a Grants Programme to ‘promote & support independent, innovative research & solutions focused on privacy and data protection issues’. There will be a number of grants awarded each year. Awards will be for a minimum £20,000 and a maximum £100,000. The objectives of the ICO Grants Programme are to:
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ICO launches Grants Programme to promote data protection & privacy research Blog posted by: Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner, May 25, 2017 ICO: National Police Chiefs' Council Information Practitioner event |
One reason why they may not welcome the prospect of working until the age of 70? |
Under-recognised chronic gynaecological health conditions are holding-back women’s productivity and could be damaging their career & earning potential. A new report launched by the Work Foundation highlights that women’s health conditions, such as endometriosis or infertility, having a long-term condition during pregnancy, and the experience of the menopause, are still considered taboo and are under-recognised in the workplace. Endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK, is the second most common gynaecological condition. It occurs when cells similar to those lining the uterus grow elsewhere in the body and can cause symptoms such as excessively painful periods, chronic pelvis pain and fatigue. There is no cure and symptoms get worse with age. The symptoms can also lead to poor mental health. The report build upon a study conducted across ten countries that found women with endometriosis experience reduced work performance, losing on average almost 11 hours of work each week. This was mainly due to reduced effectiveness in work. |
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Work Foundation: An end to workplace taboos surrounding women's health conditions |
Fancy a ‘worthwhile’ career challenge? |
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is increasing its international work fighting child sexual abuse images online. The IWF, based in Cambridgeshire, is the UK Hotline for reporting & removing child sexual abuse imagery online. The IWF is now expanding their international work and is looking for new staff - a Press Officer, a Policy & Public Affairs Manager and an International Development Manager – to lead & support their vision of stopping child sexual abuse images on the web. |
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Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Expands its Work Internationally Watching over us, so as to ‘make the internet a safer place’ Thank God the technology didn’t exist when my own children were vulnerable! (Editor) |
Still time to get involved |
The autonomous last mile resupply innovation network event was held on 23 May 2017. At the event in London, a series of presentations provided details of three challenges that make up the Defence and Security Accelerator competition Autonomous last mile resupply. To set the scene, Accelerator Innovation Partner Mark Darvill opened the event by giving an update on the Accelerator and an overview of proof-of-concept research funding opportunities for innovative science and technology providers. The competition closes at noon on 21 June 2017. |
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Dstl: Autonomous last mile resupply network event - information pack Accelerator webinar: autonomous last mile resupply Autonomous supply to military front line: apply for contracts Autonomy on the front line: supplying Armed Forces on the battlefield |
Editorial Comment: Some reflections on the election |
Well the political pundits and ‘rent-a-quotes’ are celebrating the prospect of several months ‘full employment. However, looking beyond the ‘shark feeding frenzy’ as Conservative MPs try to ‘get a better (& higher) grip on the greasy pole of politics’, there are some other points & facts to ponder: The Conservatives ‘lost’ a nett 12 seats (around 4%), but the SNP lost a nett 19 seats (around 40%). Yet the media is not calling for or expecting FM of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon to resign. The media is making much of problems PM May (318 seats) will have to govern with the help of the DUP (10 seats) to reach the magic 326 ‘majority. Yet FM Sturgeon relies on the Greens to achieve a majority in the Scottish Parliament following the 2016 Holyrood elections. While in the Wales Assembly, FM Carwyn Jones with 29 seats (one short of a majority - 30) relies on Plaid Cymru (12) to govern. To top it off the 216 number for Westminster is (in actuality) not correct, because Sinn Féin MP’s (12) collect their ‘‘financial benefits’ but never take the ‘oath’ and cannot therefore vote. With regards to the point as to whether Mrs May should have held an election to ‘give her a personal mandate (and leaving aside the Brexit issue), we should look back to when Gordon Brown took over as PM from Tony Blair and similar remarks were being made. Telegraph: Gordon Brown & the 2007 election - why it never happened As for whether there should be (‘Not another’; Brenda!) election in the Autumn of 2017 (and again leaving aside the impact on Brexit negotiations), one should remember that the 2018 electoral boundary changes may not happen even by 2022, if at all. It could be that one ‘price’ of DUP support is to exclude Northern Ireland from changes to boundaries & reduction in MPs. While boundary changes may happen, the reduction of MPs from 650 to 600 may prove much more difficult to push through, thus necessitating further years of work by the Commission as they try to ‘equalise’ the electorate in each constituency. . Telegraph:: June 2017 election will be fought without boundary changes ~ Boundary reform: How is your area affected? - BBC News Finally, the next time the BBC tries to get a rise in their licence fee, perhaps the government should put forward an alternative. Instead of paying a fortune for a ‘not very much has happened yet’ overnight programme, why not just pay Professor John Curtice (Political Scientist & Polling Expert - Strathclyde University's polling guru) to feature in a 15 minute segment of the 10pm news with ‘his’ exit poll, which is about the only poll worth considering. They could begin broadcasting the final results/figures at say 5 a.m. giving the public & politicians a chance to get some sleep, yet still providing the final result before people head off to work. |
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Still a ‘hot topic’, with widely spread views, for those who put fingers to keyboard in order to ‘share their views’: |
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Open Europe: Seven years after the first bailout, Greece is back in the headlines CIPD: Three in four HR professionals expect Brexit to escalate ‘war for talent’ EC opens debate on moving towards a security & defence union A European Defence Fund: €5.5bn per year to boost Europe's defence capabilities EU defence cooperation: Council establishes a Military Planning & conduct capability (MPCC) |
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