Brief. Me - December 22, 2024 2:41 pm
In today’s briefing update, several of the front pages lead with investigations into the Met Police and wider police forces.
Also featured: The latest Covid-19 figures, Sports, business and entertainment news.
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Revealed: Grim list of sex abse claims against Met police
The Observer’s front page reveals a “grim” catalogue of sexual misconduct allegations against Metropolitan Police officers in an investigation by the paper. Documents obtained by the Observer show there were 594 complaints made against Met officers between 2012 and 2018 – with 119 of these upheld.
Some of the claims reported by the paper include one officer having sex with a rape victim, and another assaulting a domestic abuse survivor. An officer is also alleged to have impersonated a woman online “to advance his sexual proclivities and also film a woman apparently having non-consensual sex with a male in a public park”. The Met said, “While the allegations involve a small percentage of staff, we acknowledge the impact any offence will have on those involved and will continue to take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously.”
Read the full story on the Guardian
Special investigation: Shameful
The Sunday Mirror has conducted its own investigation into the Police. The paper speaks to female ex-officers at several police forces and its front page highlights “shameful” evidence of sexism, sleaze and bullying within some of Britain’s biggest police forces.
Read the full story on the Daily Mirror
Victims can ban abusers from the pub
The Sunday People’s front splash reports on plans for a new “Kay’s Law” could see violent ex-partners banned from pubs, school gates and friends’ homes in an effort to protect vulnerable women.
The new laws were named after Kay Richardson, who was killed by her husband after he was released from arrest without bail conditions. The paper says they are part of reforms to the “controversial” system of ‘Released under Investigation’ and would allow victims to get the suspect barred from places where they used to go as a couple if they feel at risk from the suspect suddenly turning up there.
Read the full story on the Mirror
SAS takes the fight to meddling Russians
The Sunday Times says in a “major shake-up of defence priorities”, special forces soldiers are to work with MI6 to disrupt “meddling” by Russian spies and military units. The paper says the Royal Navy will also send out a “spy ship” to prevent Russian submarines sabotaging the UK’s internet by tampering with undersea cables – in a move it says could be regarded as a “modern Battle of the Atlantic”.
Read the full story on the Daily Telegraph
Revealed: The truth about the peers who were born to rule
The Sunday Times lead story is met with five rows of pictures of white men and an investigation into the role of hereditary peers who “cost the taxpayer more and contribute less than life peers do.”
There are no women among their cohort, the paper adds it found the system costs the public purse nearly £50 million in expenses since 2001. It calculates that the average hereditary has spoken in the chamber 50 times in the last five years, compared with 82 for life peers.
Read the full story on the Times
Protect our freedoms
The Sunday Express reports Boris Johnson is being urged by MPs to “protect our freedoms” as they prepare to vote on extending emergency COVID laws this week. The paper claims the PM faces a “backbench rebellion” from MPs ahead of the anniversary of the first COVID lockdown on Tuesday.
Read the full story on the Daily Express
UK Weather Forecast
Sunday 21st March 2021
Sunrise 06:01
Sunset 18:18
Today
This afternoon will be dry across the UK, but it will remain quite cloudy. There could be sunny spells in any cloud breaks, with the best of the sunshine in northern England and southern Scotland.
Tonight
A chilly night for many as skies look to remain quite clear for much of England, Wales and parts of Scotland. Cloudier for N Ireland, and southern and northern Britain. Some showers in the far north.
Tweet of the Day
Mate, ever heard of discretion?#LineOfDuty returns tomorrow at 9pm on @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/hW3rffONzv
I feel for anyone who hasn’t enjoyed a whole pack of Jaffa Cakes.
Treat of the week
https://wtxnews.com/entertainment/armie-hammer-actor-accused-of-2017-rape/
Renaissance
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
A bit of Nostalgia from our entertainment people
Featured Story
WILL WE EVER TRAVEL ABROAD AGAIN?
What are the papers saying?
LOCKDOWN ANNIVERSARY
“As the lockdown anniversary looms”, the Sunday Express says pressure is growing on Boris Johnson to restore people’s freedoms. The paper predicts that backbench MPs may rebel when asked this week to extend emergency coronavirus laws. – Sunday Express
One likely rebel MP, Steve Baker, asks in The Sun on Sunday “Why are restrictions tougher than…before we had the vaccine?” – The Sun
The Sunday Telegraph suggests cabinet ministers are divided over which measures should continue. The Sunday Times urges them to “stick to” the “roadmap to freedom”. – The Sunday Times
The Observer says as concerns rise over the blanket travel ban, a traffic light system is being considered so countries with low levels of coronavirus can be given a green light. – The Observer
But a government source tells the Mail on Sunday that “No 10 is willing to sacrifice holidays abroad to protect domestic reopening”. – Mail on Sunday
GLOBAL COVID UPDATES
GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY
CORONAVIRUS CASES: 123,523,159
DEATHS: 2,723,359
RECOVERED: 99,505,889
Business news
Qantas boss: Governments ‘to insist’ on vaccines for flying – BBC Business
COVID-19: ‘Bleak future’ for UK pubs as they mark a year since first lockdown closures – Sky News
Musk says Tesla would be shut down if its cars spied in China, elsewhere – Reuters
Sports News
CULTURA
Ent
Glastonbury organisers hope to stage concert at Worthy Farm in September after festival axed for second year in a row – Read on
