Members of the LLWR workforce were on hand to collect the organisation’s fourth President’s Award for its exceptional performance in 2017, in a RoSPA ceremony in Glasgow.

Accolades are based on an organisation’s individual occupational health and safety performance and the President’s Award was conferred in recognition of LLWR receiving a 13th consecutive Gold Award.

Elaine Burrage, LLWR’s Health & Safety (H&S) Manager, said: “In order to achieve a Gold Award we have to declare our safety statistics to RoSPA, but that is only part of the judging criteria.

“RoSPA also want to understand and assess our H&S management system, how we are continuously improving the health and safety of all those involved in our activities, ensuring that we provide adequate training to the correct standards, ensuring that our contractors and others affected by our work are kept safe at all times and how we monitor our performance and the health of our workforce.

“These are only a few of the criteria they assess us on.”

Russell Beckwith, Low Level Waste Operations Manager, one of those chosen to attend the ceremony, said: “Being asked to represent LLWR and accepting the President’s Award for 13 years of outstanding performance was a proud moment.

“For us to be associated with companies that seek to achieve excellence in health and safety performance and keep that standard going for this considerable length of time just goes to prove the high standards we set ourselves, not just ensuring that we all go home safely to our families, but also that what we are doing is being recognised on the national stage.”

UK aid has matched pound-for-pound the first £2 million of public donations, boosting the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) appeal response to £6 million.

Welcoming the kindness of the UK public, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:

The incredible generosity of the British public on behalf of those left suffering and bereaved in Indonesia is truly heart-warming. Your contributions will make a genuine difference to people who need it most.

Through Aid Match we give the British public the ability to help directly to support people in desperate need by matching your donations pound-for-pound, your generosity has meant an additional £2 million being added to this vital appeal.

This comes on top of the support already being provided by the UK government in response to the crisis.

Sir Stephen will take over from Sir Craig Mackey, who is due to retire from policing in December.

The Home Secretary made his recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen following an open competition and with regard to the recommendation of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Commissioner.

Sir Stephen was interviewed for the post by a panel chaired by the MPS Commissioner. The panel also included the Mayor of London, who is responsible for oversight of policing in the capital.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:

The role of Deputy Commissioner is one of the most challenging in policing, so I am delighted that someone with the experience and expertise of Sir Stephen House is taking up the task.

Sir Stephen has demonstrated his leadership qualities, he is the right choice to help steer the country’s biggest force – particularly in its work tackling violent crime in the capital.

I would also like to thank Sir Craig Mackey for his dedication and unstinting service to policing. His career has been truly distinguished and I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Sir Stephen has worked in policing for almost 40 years. He served as the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police before taking over as the first Chief Constable of Police Scotland in 2012.

Sir Stephen is currently an Assistant Commissioner of the MPS.

MPS Commissioner Cressida Dick said:

The role of Deputy Commissioner requires the ability to lead this huge and complex organisation through ongoing significant change whilst ensuring we are tackling the challenges of keeping the capital safe. London needs someone with a proven and extensive track record operating at this level and the passion to make a real difference. The Deputy Commissioner is also a highly influential role in nationwide police leadership.

Steve combines both immense operational and leadership expertise and experience with a passion for policing and for London. I am confident he will be a superb Deputy Commissioner, and look forward to working with him in his new role. He will be a worthy successor to Craig who has been a brilliant deputy for the past seven years.

I believe this appointment will mean we have an exceptionally strong management board team to give the Met the support and clear direction needed, and to give London the service it deserves.