Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have tried to update you as soon as possible about changes in the scientific data or the analysis.

So, I must tell you this afternoon that we have been informed today that, in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant – the variant that was first identified in London and the South East – may be associated with a higher degree of mortality, and I’m going to ask Patrick in a minute to say a bit more about that.

Because it is largely the impact of this new variant that means the NHS is under such intense pressure, with another 40,261 positive cases since yesterday.

We have 38,562 COVID patients now in hospital, that’s 78 per cent higher than the first peak in April and, tragically, there have been a further 1,401 deaths.

So, it is more important than ever that we all remain vigilant in following the rules and that we stay at home, protect the NHS and thereby save lives.

But I also want to answer a key question that I know will be uppermost in your minds.

All current evidence continues to show that both the vaccines we are currently using remain effective both against the old variant and this new variant.

And so, you will also want to know that our immunisation programme continues at an unprecedented rate.

5.4 million people across the UK have now received their first dose of the vaccine and over the last 24 hours we can report a record 400,000 vaccinations.

In England one in ten of all adults have received their first dose, including 71 per cent of over-80s and two thirds of elderly care home residents.

Having secured orders for hundreds of millions of doses, the U.K. government has supplied vaccines to the Devolved Administrations, according to population size.

First doses have been administered now to 151,000 people in Northern Ireland, 358,000 in Scotland and 212,000 in Wales.

And I am glad that the whole of the U.K. is able to assist the Devolved Administrations in deploying the vaccine and I know everyone across the country is grateful for the logistical skill of the British Army.

There is much more to do, and the target remains very stretching indeed, but we remain on track to reach our goal of offering a first dose to everyone in the top four priority groups by the middle of February.

And I want to thank all the doctors and nurses, especially at the GP-led sites who are vaccinating at a phenomenal rate, as well as, as I say, all those in our armed forces, our local authorities, our pharmacies and volunteers, who are making this extraordinary national effort possible.

And I want to thank all of you who have come forward to get your jabs, because, by doing that, you are protecting yourselves, your communities and, of course, our NHS.

And I say to everyone, when that letter arrives, please don’t hesitate to book that appointment and get this life-saving protection, because this is the best and fastest way for us all to defeat this virus and get our lives back to normal.

On Monday 11 January 2021 Muyiwa John Adegbola, a door supervisor based in Manchester, pleaded guilty to fraud for allowing his brother-in-law to use his Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence. He was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to 32 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. The SIA also prosecuted Adegbola for failing to provide information as part of its investigation.

On 7 June 2019, when SIA investigators were carrying out licensing checks with Cheshire Constabulary, they visited the Revolution Bar in Wilmslow and found a door supervisor who had an SIA licence bearing the name M Adegbola. However, when he was asked to confirm his address as part of the checks, he was unsure of those details. When questioned further, he admitted that he was not Adegbola, but his brother-in-law.

SIA investigators seized the SIA licence. Further enquiries revealed that Adegbola was employed as a door supervisor but claimed to have lost his SIA licence during Christmas 2018. He was sent a replacement, which was the licence his brother-in-law used in June 2019. Having uncovered that Adegbola had provided his SIA licence to another, the SIA suspended it on 12 June 2019.

A week later, Adegbola contacted the SIA to dispute the suspension of his licence. He claimed to have lost his wallet with his SIA licence inside it and had reported this to the police. He also stated that he was on sick leave, implying that he could not have been working in June 2019.

The SIA contacted Adegbola again to request further information. However, he failed to respond, which is an offence under the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) 2001.

Nathan Salmon, the SIA’s Criminal Investigations Manager, said:

Mr Adegbola facilitated an unlicensed person undertaking a role as a Door Supervisor without the required training or verification. He did this by providing his own licence and continuing to receive renumeration, which he then passed on. This is a totally inappropriate and fraudulent course of action.

While Adegbola thought he could lie and get away with it, the court saw through this and we are pleased with the result.

In addition to the 32 weeks’ suspended sentence, Adegbola has been ordered by the court to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 80 days of unpaid work. In addition, he was ordered to pay costs of £200, a victim surcharge and his SIA licence has been revoked.

The SIA is prosecuting Adegbola’s brother-in-law separately.

Notes to editors:

• by law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
• read about SIA enforcement and penalties
• the offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) that is mentioned in the above news release is: Section 19 (failing to provide information relating to an investigation)
• read the Private Security Industry Act (2001)
• the offences relating to the Fraud Act (2006) that are mentioned in the above news release are: Section 1 (aiding and abetting by false representation); Section 7 (supplying an article for use in fraud) (his SIA licence)
• read the Fraud Act (2006)

Further information:

• The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
• For further information about the Security Industry Authority visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).
• Media enquiries only please contact: 0300 123 9869, media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

• Over 5,000 Armed Forces personnel are now deployed on the largest ever peacetime resilience operation, across all four of the home nations and focused on three strands of the Covid response – testing, vaccines and clinical support for the NHS.
  • 20 Vaccine Quick Reaction Force teams have now been deployed and a further 21 are standing-up to double the Armed Forces support available for vaccinating.
  • A further 800 defence medics are joining NHS workers on the front line of hospitals across the UK
  • 2400 personnel continue to support community testing across England, representing nearly half of the deployed force

Vaccines

As efforts to vaccinate all priority groups continue, 20 Vaccine Quick Reaction Force teams have now been deployed in support of the NHS. These mobile teams have deployed to help administer vaccines wherever requested, including Ashton Gate in Bristol and Southend University in Essex.

The number of teams available to provide short notice vaccine support to the NHS has now increased from 20 to 41 in order to ensure further support can be immediately provided if required by the NHS as it continues to accelerate the vaccine rollout.

This is in addition to the 28 military planners that the MoD has deployed to assist the Vaccine Task Force in Skipton House – including Brigadier Phil Prosser, Commander 101 Logistic Brigade – and a further 200 personnel working across the UK to support organisational and logistical components of the Vaccine Deployment Programme.

In Scotland 88 soldiers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are building 80 new vaccine centres for NHS Scotland, and in Wales 90 personnel are deployed to support Health Boards rapidly establish and operate vaccination centres.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Defence medics are now deployed on the homefront in the highest numbers during peacetime, supporting the NHS in testing, vaccinating, and hospitals.

Earlier this week, I spoke with Armed Forces personnel deployed in all four corners of the United Kingdom, helping communities across the country to combat the effects of this virus. They are working hard alongside colleagues in the NHS and local authorities, but are ready to do more if and when the call comes.

Hospitals

Hundreds of defence medics are deploying to NHS hospitals across the UK to work in intensive care units and other patient facing roles, providing vital care alongside NHS professionals, and supported by general duties personnel to fulfil non-clinical roles and help relieve pressure on NHS colleagues wherever they are needed most.

A further 800 medics will join the 1,600 already embedded within the NHS, in a number of locations where support has been requested, including:

• 110 defence medics deploying to support the Department of Health in Northern Ireland
  • Over 100 defence medics supporting hospitals in the East of England and Kent
  • Over 200 defence medics supporting five hospitals in London
  • Around 120 working in NHS hospitals in the Midlands
  • Over 100 defence medics supporting hospitals in the South West
  • Around 30 defence medics supporting the North West Nightingale hospital
  • Driving ambulances for Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and supporting the vaccine rollout in Wales
  • Over 600 general duties personnel are supporting these deployments in non-clinical roles, providing logistics and administrative support to NHS colleagues.

The majority of the 800 defence medics supporting hospitals are trained as Combat Medical Technicians, who in their day job deploy on overseas operations and exercises as medics, work in defence medical centres and provide medical training to fellow Service Personnel.

The standing up of hundreds of defence medics is being achieved without drawing on those personnel who are already working in NHS trusts and with minimal impact to Defence activities, including training and supporting the recovery of military personnel.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:

With over 4.9 million people vaccinated so far across all four corners of the UK, we’re on track to meet our target of offering a vaccine to the most vulnerable groups by February 15th.

Everyone can play a part in our fight against the virus and I’m grateful to the extraordinary efforts of our armed forces who are doing their bit to help deliver the biggest medical deployment this country has ever seen.

Working alongside our healthcare heroes and local partners, they will help support the roll out of the vaccine as quickly as possible across the UK.

Testing

Deployments continue in support of community testing across England, with 2,400 military personnel deployed on tasks in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Kent. The testing programmes are drawing on lessons from last year’s Liverpool pilot, helping to identify asymptomatic cases in specific cohorts and break chains of transmission, helping to keep key workers safe and able to undertake their essential jobs in support of the wider community.

The military have also helped schools and colleges set up testing processes to keep safe the staff, vulnerable children and the children of key workers. There are also c.320 military personnel who are supporting the Department for Transport to test hauliers. Armed Forces personnel have helped to keep millions of tonnes of freight moving between the UK and the continent.

As the owner of the Grenfell Tower site, the government wants to engage with bereaved family members, survivors, local residents and the North Kensington community, on decisions and activity relating to the Tower.

A decision has not yet been made about what will happen to the Tower. We don’t underestimate how difficult this decision will be, particularly for bereaved families. We want to hear your views before a decision is made, and to ensure you are supported to have your say.

Kaizen, a community engagement specialist, is helping the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to hear thoughts and ideas from bereaved family members, survivors, local residents and the North Kensington community, about the Tower. At the same time, Kaizen is also helping the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission to hear from people about the future memorial.

If you have not yet shared your views and would like to, you can do this in whichever way suits you best:

• Email your views to: grenfellmemorial@kaizen.org.uk
• Call: 020 7082 5505 or text 07984 434855 to arrange a phone conversation. (Conversations can be carried out in a range of languages if that would be helpful.)
• Write to: Kaizen, 22a Cliff Villas, London NW1 9AT.
• Or complete an online survey

As well as giving your views to Kaizen, you can also reach out to the MHCLG team directly, who can answer any questions you have:

Email: GrenfellTowerSite@communities.gov.uk or phone: 0303 444 0011

Click here to receive automatic updates about Grenfell Tower from MHCLG.

You can also contact the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission directly and find out about the memorial ideas they have heard so far on their website.

The attached letter provides further information.

The agreement aims to get the best possible outcome for offenders on leaving custody.

The agreement, the first of its kind, is a contract between the department and prisons, setting out a steadfast commitment to working together and outlining shared objectives.

It is hoped this joined-up approach will effectively support offenders in preparation for release, and ultimately reduce reoffending which costs the taxpayer £18 billion each year.

Local Partnership Agreements form part of National Partnership Agreements, which aim to support businesses by increasing opportunities and moving unemployed people into sustainable jobs.

Minister for Welfare Delivery, Will Quince, said:

We are proud to be joining forces with HMPPS through this unique partnership and together we remain committed to ensuring prison leavers stay out of jail for good.

Our dedicated teams of Prison Work Coaches are passionate about finding work for prison leavers. Preparing them for employment and life back in the community before release we know can make a life-changing difference and help free them from crime.

Minister for Prisons, Lucy Frazer, added:

Helping prisoners find work is a crucial part of turning their lives around and cutting crime.

This new partnership will mean prisoners are able to prepare for employment while they’re getting ready for release – benefitting them, the economy and society as a whole.

Under the agreement, each partner sets out their defined roles and statutory responsibilities, but each must work together to ensure the most effective join-up between services to provide support to those in custody, and on leaving.

Each local agreement is tailored to the individual prison. Quarterly meetings will be held between both partners and the agreement regularly reviewed.

This collaborative approach between the DWP and HMPPS to support prisoners brings together many services from providing work experience and education in prison and beyond, through to support, training and employment opportunities for ex-offenders.

And now, thanks to the national rollout of a phone line, prison leavers will also be supported to claim Universal Credit online, and can apply for an advance meaning they can access money on the day of release.

East Anglia District Manager Julia Nix said:

Everybody deserves a second chance. Many prison leavers want to make a change on release and return to a life of work, and that has to be beneficial for the economy.

Together with support from HMPPS we encourage, support and prepare prisoners for employment because we know that a job can help turn their lives around, lift them from poverty, and that motivates us every day.

Additional information

The following prisons have signed Local Partnership Agreements and more are expected to follow shortly:

• HMP Wayland
• HMP YOI Hollesley Bay
• HMP YOI Norwich
• HMP Rochester

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 3267 5144

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