Category: Gov Press Releases

Australia and the Netherlands have declared their intention to hold the Russian Federation responsible for its role in the downing of the plane.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

I would like once again to offer my condolences to the families and friends of those so tragically killed by the downing of flight MH17 on 17 July 2014, and to thank the Joint Investigation Team for its painstaking work. It is vital that this work continues towards prosecution. The 298 people, including 10 British nationals, who lost their lives in such horrific circumstances, deserve justice.

Earlier investigations, by both the Joint Investigation Team and the Dutch Safety Board, concluded that the aircraft was brought down by a Russian-made Buk missile system, launched from within territory held by Russian-backed separatist groups. Thanks to the thorough and professional work of the investigators, we now know that that missile belonged to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Military Brigade of the Russian army.

The Kremlin believes it can act with impunity. The Russian Government must now answer for its actions in relation to the downing of MH17. The UK fully supports Australia and the Netherlands in their request to the Russian Federation to accept state responsibility, and to cooperate with them in their efforts to deliver justice for the victims of this tragedy.

Instead of seeking to undermine the investigation through the deluge of disinformation we have seen from Russia about MH17 in the past, the Russian Federation must fulfil its obligations under UN Security Council resolution 2166 to provide any requested assistance to the investigation. To do otherwise would be a violation of the UN’s resolution, and to deny the families the justice they seek for their loved ones.

This is an egregious example of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent life. The international community has witnessed this irresponsible and destabilising pattern of behaviour in Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, in its fomenting of conflict in eastern Ukraine which has led to the death of over 10,300 people, and in its shielding of President Assad’s brutal regime as he uses chemical weapons against his own people.

The UK will continue to offer its full support to the efforts of the Joint Investigation Team, the Dutch and Australian authorities and other grieving nations to deliver accountability for this terrible act and justice for all those who died.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @BorisJohnson and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

A Downing Street Spokesperson said:

“Yesterday evening, the Prime Minister held a telephone call with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine.

“The two leaders discussed the Minsk process and the situation in eastern Ukraine and the need to tackle instability there.

“The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s strong support for Ukraine, including our commitment to maintaining pressure on Russia through EU sanctions.

“She went on to discuss how the international response to the poisoning incident in Salisbury had shown that coordinated action by a broad range of allies is the most effective way to respond to Russian aggression.

“They also discussed the announcement by the Joint Investigation Team that the missile which brought down flight MH17 belonged to the Russian army – pointing out that such actions fit into a well-established pattern of Russian aggression.

“The Prime Minister offered the UK’s full support to the investigation team which is looking into the incident, which saw 10 UK citizens lose their lives.

“The Prime Minister and President discussed the importance of Ukraine’s reform agenda, and looked forward to the forthcoming Ukraine reform conference in Copenhagen and the opportunity to demonstrate the progress made.

“The Prime Minister also thanked President Poroshenko for the strong cooperation between Ukraine and the UK ahead of the Champions League Final on Saturday, where 30,000 British fans are expected to travel to Kyiv to see Liverpool take on Real Madrid.”

The shocking action on the side of the M4 near Bristol was revealed by Highways England today as the company released a list of excuses given to its traffic officers by drivers who had wrongly stopped on motorways.

Other excuses included a family cooking a meal and someone getting out of a taxi to spend a penny.

But CCTV footage reminds drivers why stopping on the hard shoulder also presents a risk. As many people set out on journeys this bank holiday and half term holidays the answer is to be prepared.

A narrow escape when an out of control car skidded across the motorway.

Simon Jones, Highways England, Regional Director South East said:

We want everyone to get to their destinations safely. But some people put themselves at risk. The advice is simple: Be prepared. Check your vehicle before you set out to avoid unnecessary breakdowns; don’t stop except in an emergency; and if you have to stop, make sure you know what to do.

Drivers often think the hard shoulder is a safe place to stop but over 100 people are killed or injured on the hard shoulder every year. We don’t want you to become one of those statistics; we want you to stay safe.

Drivers can get advice about how to check their vehicles before setting out:

If hot weather if forecast drivers are advised to carry plenty of water to drink.

What to do in an emergency

Always try to exit the motorway immediately if your vehicle is damaged or experiences difficulties. If that’s not possible, move into the nearest place of relative safety.

On most motorways this will be the hard shoulder. But on a smart motorway there may not always be a hard shoulder, or the hard shoulder may be open to traffic. In these cases you’ll see emergency areas spaced regularly along the motorway. Make your way to the nearest one.

You should follow these steps:

• Use an emergency area if you are able to reach one safely. These are marked with blue signs featuring an orange SOS telephone symbol on them.
• If you can leave your vehicle safely, contact Highways England via the roadside emergency telephone provided in all emergency areas. We will either send a traffic officer to help you, or set the motorway signs to temporarily clear lane 1 to assist you to rejoin the motorway.
• If you cannot get to an emergency area but the vehicle can be driven, move it to the hard shoulder (where provided) or as close to the nearside verge or other nearside boundary as possible.
• In all cases, switch on your hazard warning lights.

If you stop in the nearside lane next to a hard shoulder or verge and feel you are able to exit safely with any occupants, consider exiting your vehicle via the nearside (left hand) door, and wait behind the safety barrier, if there is one and safe to do so.

If it is not possible to get out of your vehicle safely, or there is no other place of relative safety to wait then you should stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on and dial ‘999’ if you have access to a working mobile phone.

For advice on how to drive on motorways, including during an emergency, visit our guidance page.

Excuses given to Highways England traffic officers by drivers who have wrongly stopped include:

• naughty step – A traffic officer on routine patrol came across a child walking outside of a vehicle walking alongside the motorway on the M4 near Bristol. The car occupants had given the child ‘time out’ for playing up.
• nice day for a walk – Traffic officers came across an abandoned LGV in a live lane on the M1 near to Northampton Motorway Services. The driver returned 15 minutes later. Apparently he would rather walk into the services rather than use the lorry park.
• hungry – Traffic officers from Dartford found a family congregated on the hard shoulder, cooking a meal as they were hungry.
• festive feast – a crew who had stopped to investigate a car stopped on the hard shoulder of the M6 between with no hazard lights on came across a driver eating a mince pie. She had passed the Stafford South Motorway Services a couple of miles back.
• sleeping dangerously – Traffic officers found the driver of an LGV fast asleep on a verge of the M60. His vehicle was blocking an emergency access route near Cheadle.
• lost – Traffic officers stopped to assist a driver on the hard shoulder of the M1 near Mansfield. She had stopped to look for directions to the crematorium and was ringing her husband for assistance.
• sat nav sagas – A patrol came across a stationary vehicle with no hazard lights on in foggy conditions on the M1 between Chesterfield and Mansfield. The driver walked back up the embankment and got back into the car, which had three passengers, as the traffic officer approached. He had stopped in an emergency area after losing mobile signal for his sat nav.
• nature calls – A minicab which appeared to be a broken down in a live lane on the M25 had in fact stopped for a passenger to relieve their bladder on the exit slip road going towards Staines-upon-Thames.
• potty break – Traffic officers came across a family who had stopped their vehicle on the hard shoulder of the M6 between Oddendale and Penrith so that a child could use a potty.
• text that can’t wait – A patrol stopped with a vehicle on the hard shoulder of the M56 near to Chester Motorway Services. The driver was waiting to receive a text and then going to respond.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Across the country, some 237 miles of roadworks are being removed by 6am on Friday 25 May for the bank holiday getaway, meaning more than 98 per cent of the motorway and major A-road network managed by Highways England will be roadworks-free.

Smart motorway roadworks have already been completed between junctions 8 and 10 on the M60 near the Trafford Centre and between junctions 18 and 20 on the M62 near Rochdale, where drivers have been able to use an extra lane in each direction since December last year.

Temporary narrow lanes are now due to be removed on a 4-mile stretch of the M60 as Highways England works towards completing its smart motorway upgrade this summer.

Khalid El-Rayes, Project Manager for the Manchester smart motorway upgrade at Highways England, said:

We’re now at the stage where we can remove the temporary narrow lanes on part of the M60 in time for the bank holiday weekend, and we’re working to complete the remaining construction work as soon as possible.

We’re on schedule to be able to remove all the roadworks on the North West’s first smart motorway by the end of August, improving journeys for the 180,000 drivers who use the route every day.

The Manchester smart motorway stretches 17 miles between junction 8 of the M60 near Carrington and junction 20 of the M62 near Rochdale. The scheme is Highways England’s most complex smart motorway project, covering 13 junctions – an average of one junction every 1.4 miles.

The 10 miles of extra lanes on the M62 have increased capacity on the stretch of motorway which links Greater Manchester to Yorkshire by a third, and new variable speed limits have also been introduced on electronic signs on both the M60 and M62 to tackle congestion and keep traffic flowing.

Drivers will be able to use wider lanes on the westbound carriageway between junction 18 at Simister and junction 15 at Worsley, and between junctions 15 and 17 on the eastbound carriageway from Friday morning. Narrow lanes are also due to be removed between junctions 17 and 18 on the eastbound carriageway early next month.

A temporary 50mph speed limit will remain in place between junctions 10 and 18 on the M60 into the summer while construction and technology work takes place to finish the smart motorway upgrade.

The work will include completing a new concrete safety barrier in the central reservation, fitting electronic signs to overhead gantries, installing new street lights and commissioning the new technology along the route.

Some overnight resurfacing work will continue into the autumn on parts of the M60 once the smart motorway is operational. This work will take place at night so that the route can remain fully open with no impact on drivers during the day.

When the smart motorway is complete, traffic sensors will automatically monitor the flow of traffic and adjust the speed limit accordingly, tackling the stop/start conditions and tailbacks caused by sudden braking.

A total of 50 CCTV cameras will also provide 100% coverage of the route, and allow Highways England’s traffic officers and the emergency services to respond quickly to incidents.

You can view more details on the Manchester smart motorway scheme.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Kevin Gerald Neal, and his wife, Cheryl Neal, have been banned from acting as company directors for 6 and 4 years respectively, due to their misconduct in Kevin Neal Associates Wealth Management LLP (KNAWM).

The finance company had been incorporated to take over the wealth management business of a previous company, Kevin Neal Associates Limited, which went into compulsory liquidation on 1 July 2013.

By a deed poll and declaration, signed by both Kevin and Cheryl Neal on 8 April 2011, KNAWM became liable, amongst other liabilities, for any award of the Financial Ombudsman Service against Kevin Neal Associates Limited.

By May 2014, at least six decisions by the Financial Ombudsman Service, totalling at least £573,274, had gone against Kevin Neal Associates Limited and KNAWM.

The company’s previous insurer refused to settle the claims and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had altered KNAWM’s permissions to ensure that it did not transfer away assets without its permission.

Despite this, between May and June 2014, KNAWM transferred £55,000 and two cars worth £22,120 to associated parties.

However, these transactions were to the unreasonable risk and ultimate detriment of other creditors who either submitted claims in the liquidation of Kevin Neal Associates Limited or were included within the Statement of Affairs.

The Secretary of State accepted disqualification undertakings from Kevin Gerald Neal and Cheryl Neal on 10 May 2018 for periods of 6 and 4 years respectively and they are effective from 31 May 2018.

The disqualifications prevent Mr and Mrs Neal from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership for the duration of their bans.

Mark Bruce, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

“This is a particularly blatant example of common misconduct seen by the Insolvency Service.

“Mr and Mrs Neal plainly acted to improve their position, once the partnership was insolvent, while failing to honour either the prior decisions of the Financial Ombudsman or the protections put in by the FCA, specifically to stop such actions.

“Such conduct will invariably lead to disqualification.”

Notes to editors

Kevin Neal Associates Wealth Management LLP (CRO No. OC357585) was incorporated on 2 September 2010 and traded in Wealth Management from Repton Manor, Repton Avenue, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3GP and The Maltings, Bridge Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 2DE.

Kevin Gerald Neal’s date of birth is in January 1958. Cheryl Neal’s date of birth is in September 1959. They have resided in recent years in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

The allegation not disputed in the undertakings was:

Mr Neal caused, and Mrs Neal caused or allowed, Kevin Neal Associates Wealth Management LLP (“KNAWM”), on 19 May and 3 June 2014, to make payments totalling £55,000 to an associated company, and on 27 and 30 May 2014 to transfer vehicles with estimated equity of £11,363 and £10,757 to an associated company and/ or themselves when they knew, or ought to have known, that KNAWM was insolvent and due to enter into liquidation. These transactions were to the unreasonable risk and ultimate detriment of other creditors who submitted claims in the liquidation, or were included within the Statement of Affairs sworn by Mr Neal, in respect of liabilities totalling £9,443,648.

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

The Insolvency Service administers the insolvency regime, investigating all compulsory liquidations and individual insolvencies (bankruptcies) through the Official Receiver to establish why they became insolvent. It may also use powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK. In addition, the agency authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, deals with disqualification of directors in corporate failures, assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees, provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.

Contact Press Office

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 7674 6910 or 020 7596 6187

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Ayaan Khan was the sole director of Salford Auto Spares Ltd (SAS), which was incorporated in 2011 and traded in motor vehicle scrap parts.

The company latterly operated from leased premises in Swinton, Manchester, and went into liquidation on 4 May 2016 owing more than £112,000 to creditors.

Following the company’s insolvency, the liquidators received claims from at least 98 individual customers, who said that they had made full payments in advance to SAS prior to the liquidation but goods had not been delivered to them at liquidation, leaving them as unsecured creditors. In particular, 64 customers notified the liquidators that they were owed amounts totalling at least £18,869.

In giving the undertaking, Ayaan Khan did not dispute that between 12 April and 18 April 2016, when SAS was insolvent and was preparing to cease trading on 19 April 2016 before entering into liquidation, he caused the company to make transfers out of its bank account totalling £50,180.

He also did not dispute that the transfers were not in the best interests of the company and were to the detriment of its creditors generally. Due to the lack of information provided, these transfers remain unexplained.

Ayaan Khan’s disqualification undertaking was accepted by the Secretary of State on 16 April 2018 and came into force on 7 May 2018.

The disqualification prevents Ayaan Khan from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership for the duration of his ban.

Robert Clarke, Head of Insolvent Investigations North at The Insolvency Service, said:

In full knowledge that the company was failing, this director has chosen to seek to defeat the claims of creditors, and his improper actions caused losses to others which were wholly avoidable.

Directors who show such blatant disregard for their fiduciary duties can expect to be investigated by the Insolvency Service and removed from the corporate arena for a lengthy period.

Notes to editors

Mr Khan’s date of birth is April 1982 and he resides in Oldham.

Salford Auto Spares Ltd (CRO No. 07505349) was incorporated on 25 January 2011 and latterly traded from leased premises in Rutland Street, Swinton, Manchester, as a trader in motor vehicle scrap parts.

Mr Khan first became a director on 25 January 2011 and was the sole director when SAS entered into liquidation on 04 May 2016 with an estimated deficiency of £112,351 as regards creditors.

In giving his undertaking, Mr Khan did not dispute that:

Between 12 April 2016 and 18 April 2016 Salford made funds transfers totalling £50,180 from its own bank account to an account with another bank. It has not been possible to verify the nature, purpose and recipient of these transfers by reference to the accounting records of Salford delivered to the liquidators, and I have failed to provide information in this regard.

The Disqualification Undertaking was accepted by the Secretary of State on 16 April 2018 and will come into force on 7 May 2018.

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

In addition that person cannot act as an insolvency practitioner and there are many other restrictions are placed on disqualified directors by other regulations.

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

The Insolvency Service administers the insolvency regime, investigating all compulsory liquidations and individual insolvencies (bankruptcies) through the Official Receiver to establish why they became insolvent. It may also use powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK. In addition, the agency authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, deals with disqualification of directors in corporate failures, assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees, provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.

Contact Press Office

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 7674 6910 or 020 7596 6187

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Data Controller Name: The Northern Ireland Office

Address: Stormont House, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SH

Data Protection Officer Name: Jonathan McAdams

Telephone: 028 90765431

Email: foi@nio.gov.uk

The NIO is committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy notice explains how the NIO uses information about you and the ways in which we will protect your privacy.

What information we process

The information we process includes:

• personal details
• family and social circumstances
• financial details
• education and training details
• employment, absence and leave details

We also process sensitive classes of information that include:

• physical and/or mental health
• racial or ethnic origin
• religious, or other beliefs of a similar nature
• community background
• sexual orientation
• trade union membership
• criminal offences or convictions

Why are you processing my personal information?

We handle personal information in order to comply with our legal obligations and other pension, employment and statutory equality legislation. The processing of personal information is necessary for the performance of a public task or in the exercise of official authority.

Where do you get my personal information from?

We obtain personal information directly from you when you contact us about our services. We will provide reasons for collecting personal data and advise when your consent is required for a specific purpose. Your consent must be given freely and can be withdrawn at any time by contacting the department.

Do you share my personal information with anyone else?

It may on occasions be necessary to share your personal data with other government departments and agencies to meet our legal or public function requirements, or in your vital interest.

Do you transfer my personal outside the European Union?

• Your personal information will not be transferred outside the European Union.
• Your personal data will not be used for any automated decision making.
• Your personal data will be stored in a secure government IT system.

How long do you keep my personal information?

We will keep your personal information only for as long as it is required for the lawful purpose(s) for which it was obtained and in line with our Retention and Disposal Schedules.

How we keep your personal data secure

Clerical and electronic records that contain any personal information will be held in a secure way, and will only be made available to those who have a right to see them.

We use technical and organisational measures such as:

• Encryption of our data and IT equipment
• Regular data protection training for our staff
• Regular testing of our technology
• Restricted access controls
• Physical security measures

What rights do I have?

• You have the right to obtain confirmation that your data is being processed, and access to your personal information;
• You are entitled to have personal information rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete;
• You have the right to have personal information erased and to prevent processing, in specific circumstances;
• You have the right to ‘block’ or suppress processing of personal information, in specific circumstances;
• You have the right to data portability, in specific circumstances;
• You have the right to object to the processing, in specific circumstances;
• You have rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling;
• You have the right to withdraw any consent that you have given.

You can find out if we hold any information by making a ‘subject access request’. If we do hold information about you, we will:

• Give you a description of it;
• Tell you why we are holding it;
• Tell you who it could be disclosed to; and
• Let you have a copy of the information in an intelligible form.

To make a request to access any personal information we may hold about you, you should put the request in writing and email it to: foi@nio.gov.uk

More information can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website

How do I complain if I am not happy?

If you are unhappy with how any aspect of this privacy notice, or how personal information is being processed, please contact the NIO Data Protection Officer.

If you are still not happy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113

Email: casework@ico.org.uk

https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We keep our privacy notice under regular review. This privacy notice was last updated in May 2018.

Today (Friday 25 May), the milestone of achieving 250 apprentices working on the new nuclear site Hinkley Point C in Somerset will be recognised by the Business Secretary Greg Clark during his first visit to the site since construction work began.

Site owners, EDF, set an ambition of 1,000 apprentices working on the project during its lifespan, and today, a quarter of these places has already been fulfilled. Coupled with the new nearby nuclear college in Taunton, which opened its doors earlier this year, the future has never been brighter for trainees in the dynamic nuclear sector.

Based on the north Somerset coast in the south west of England and marking a significant milestone in the revitalisation of our nuclear power industry, Hinkley Point C is the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation and is poised to make a major contribution to the UK’s move to reduce carbon emissions through clean energy production.

Nuclear energy already provides around 20% of the UK’s electricity from existing sites – and Hinkley Point C’s future output will significantly boost this figure. The clean electricity it will generate upon completion is all part of this government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which actively encourages clean growth in business and energy production. The Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK, and sets out how we are building a Britain fit for the future – how we will help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs in every part of the UK with investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.

Mr Clark, along with Energy Minister Richard Harrington, will meet some of the apprentices and staff working on the site, and see the significant progress that has been made. He will be joined by the French Ambassador to the UK, Jean-Pierre Jouyet.

The contract for Hinkley was signed between the UK government and EDF on 29 September 2016, and currently, there are 3,100 staff working on site every day. The site is generating work both in the region and nationally, with contracts valued at £9.4 billion now having been signed. It is also benefitting the supply chain, with the total value of the construction budget to UK companies having reached the target of 64%. EDF has also set up a £20 million Community Fund to be spent on improvements for communities most affected by the development of Hinkley Point C.

The site also remains on track to meet its next major milestone, the 2019 nuclear concrete construction target, J0 (pronounced ‘J-Zero’), the completion of the foundations for the first reactor – and energy production is expected to start in 2025.

Earlier this week, the UK signed up to join the Clean Energy Ministerial Nuclear Innovation initiative alongside Canada, Argentina, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Romania, and Poland, to share global expertise around advanced nuclear technology, further showing our commitment to the future importance of nuclear power.

In partnership, Highways England, Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue and South Western Ambulance service work closely together on a routine and day-to-day basis to maintain safety and keep the strategic road network, including the M4, M5, M48, M32, M49 and major A roads, running smoothly.

During holiday periods, traffic volumes rise on the South West’s roads and can lead to an increase in incidents, particularly along the major M4 and M5 routes.

And ahead of the May Bank Holiday, Highways England and the emergency services have updated their motorway closure protocol to ensure the most efficient and expedient handling of major motorway closures.

Highways England Operations Manager Jeff Foreman said:

Our roads in the South West provide vital links for businesses, commuters, local communities and holiday makers and our motorways and we are aware that motorway incidents can have a really negative impact on the region as a whole.

As a result we have recently refreshed and revised our closure protocol to ensure we can manage incidents more efficiently, mobilise resources and equipment quicker in the event of any major incidents and ensure any closures are minimised as much as possible.

The protocol is one of many examples of how we work together as ‘one team’ it plays an important part in managing and clearing the carriageways after major incidents, and our traffic officers also work closely with emergency services across the region, including day-to-day and major incidents, as well as during severe weather.

As part of this multi-agency approach we are also running a trial to extend our traffic officer patrols along the A30 in Cornwall, to assist our emergency services partners in the south of the region.

Our message is that we are fully prepared and during the upcoming holiday months, we also advise that drivers prepare themselves for any longer or unfamiliar journeys.

Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said:

Motorway driving is an efficient means of direct travel to your destination, but if you’re stuck in the aftermath of a collision it can become frustrating. With more and more vehicles taking to our roads, I believe education is crucial to ensuring the roads remain safe for all who use them.

In the event of a motorway collision, it’s not always understood why the road is closed for a length of time or who is responsible for re-opening the road. That’s why I am committed to working closely with partners to help road users understand the multi-agency response following a collision, with the aim of reducing the number of casualties on our roads.

Superintendent Andy Williams from Avon & Somerset Police added:

We understand the frustration that drivers will feel when they’re stuck on a road following a full carriageway closure and we appreciate drivers’ patience, and understanding.

The newly updated protocol highlights just one of the ways we are working in partnership with Highways England and other agencies to get roads reopened as soon as possible following an incident on the road. We also want everyone to get to their destinations safely, so please follow all safety tips and reduce your chances of getting caught up in an incident this summer.

Both Highways England and Avon & Somerset Police advise drivers to be prepared, plan their journeys, allow extra time and take regular breaks.

To help you prepare, follow these simple steps:

• Check tyres: Prior to setting off on a long/significant journey, check your tyre pressure and the condition of your tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit.
• Check engine oil: Use your dipstick to check oil before any long journey, and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual.
• Check water: To ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screen wash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen.
• Check lights: If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MoT.
• Check fuel: Before setting out, check your fuel levels and make sure you have enough to get to your destination.
• Travel as light as possible: do not exceed the recommended carrying capacity of your vehicle and ensure that luggage doesn’t restrict visibility.

For more detailed information on how to carry out your vehicle checks, visit the Think! website.

To help motorists this Bank Holiday weekend, Highways England is also removing some 237 miles of roadworks by 6am on Friday 25 May meaning more than 98 per cent of the motorway and A-road network managed by Highways England, will be roadworks-free.

Since Easter, Highways England has also resurfaced around 58 miles of its network in the South West, providing smoother holiday journeys for all drivers.

Any ongoing roadworks will not be put back in place until a minute past midnight on Tuesday, 29 May.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.