Press release: Woman jailed after providing false statement to Court

A 35 year old Derbyshire woman who provided a false alibi for her boyfriend has now been jailed following intervention from the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP.

Lisa Sudale was convicted of perverting the course of justice after telling police officers investigating a £39,000 armed robbery of a Birmingham jewellery shop that she had been with her boyfriend at the time of the offence. Her jail term was originally suspended until a Court of Appeal hearing overturned it under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. She has now been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Sudale gave police a false statement after her boyfriend was accused of being armed with a shotgun and robbing and assaulting a 70 year old jeweller. She claimed the two had spent the entire day at together at her home in Swadlincote. Evidence later contradicted her story when it emerged she had phoned her boyfriend at the same time they had apparently been together. Hotel records also indicated her boyfriend had been staying elsewhere.

Following the successful appeal, the Solicitor General said:

This was a clear case where someone lied to the police to help someone else get away with a serious violent crime. Perverting the course of justice undercuts public confidence in our courts and damages trust in the system. A prison term sends a clear message that we will act to protect the judicial process from those who seek to undermine it and I am pleased the offender has been given an immediate custodial sentence.

Link: Press release: Woman jailed after providing false statement to Court
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: PM meetings with EC President Tusk and President Macron of France

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

“At the Gothenburg Social Summit, Prime Minister Theresa May held a bilateral meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk.

“In positive discussions, the two leaders spoke about the progress which had been made so far in the negotiations on citizens’ rights, Northern Ireland and the financial settlement.

“Prime Minister May and President Tusk agreed that there is more work to be done and discussed how to take further steps forward together in advance of the European Council in December.

“The Prime Minister also held a constructive bilateral meeting with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

“They discussed the progress which has been made so far. The two leaders looked forward to further progress being made ahead of the December Council.

“President Macron and the Prime Minister also discussed the strong bilateral relationship which exists between France and the UK and looked forward to building upon it further in coming months and years.”

Link: Press release: PM meetings with EC President Tusk and President Macron of France
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Parole Board supports Why Me? initiative for Restorative Justice Week

The Parole Board is supporting Why me? Victims for Restorative Justice in an initiative they are launching on 23 November 2017, as part of Restorative Justice week.

Why Me? are inviting victims to send in comments and feedback from their experiences of either going through restorative justice or accessing the services to begin with. We hope that victims will take this opportunity to contribute to the development of restorative justice practice.

In its aim to continuously improve its services to victims, the Board has been speaking with policy and practice professionals about how restorative justice can help victims. This is focussed on how victims come to terms with what has happened to them or their family, and how it may support offender rehabilitation.

Nick Hardwick, Parole Board Chair said:

“As the Parole Board marks its 50th anniversary it is right that we look at how parole has evolved and the changing nature of our work. Restorative Justice is still a relatively new approach, although we are beginning to see it feature in cases that come before the Parole Board. It is now appropriate and timely that we look into the part restorative justice may play in the parole process.”

Martin Jones, Parole Board CEO added:

“I am pleased that this initiative is being launched during Restorative Justice week and hope that victims will find time to provide feedback on their experiences. I have met many victims, some of whom have been through the RJ process, and I am always humbled by the dignity and strength they have shown. I hope that we can learn from the victims who have engaged in restorative justice and start to reflect on how RJ can help both victims and offenders move on with their lives.”

The Parole Board is fully committed to fulfilling its duties towards victims. These duties encompass legal requirements within the statutory Code of Practice for Victims of Crime which in turn observes the wider UK duties contained in Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Further information can be found on the Why me? Victims for Restorative Justice website (from 23 November) by following this link.

Link: Press release: Parole Board supports Why Me? initiative for Restorative Justice Week
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Farmers set for increased payments as the Rural Payments Agency confirms BPS 2017 entitlement and greening rates

Farmers will see a boost in their basic payments this year after Farming minister George Eustice increased entitlement values and greening rates.

Coupled with the favourable BPS exchange rate confirmed in September, basic payments will be worth 25% more on average this year, compared to 2015.

Farming Minister, George Eustice said:

Exchange rate changes since the decision to leave the EU have led to a recovery in many farming sectors and BPS payments this year will be 25% higher than in 2015.

The RPA has published the higher BPS rates online today. Payments under this year’s BPS will be hitting bank accounts from 1 December.

Under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), farmers need to hold an entitlement for every hectare of eligible land they are claiming on. The size of farmers’ payments will depend on how many entitlements they use, supported by eligible land and the value of those entitlements.

The greening part of payments will be calculated by taking the number of entitlements that they have used with eligible land to claim payment and multiplying it by the greening value.

Entitlement values

Region 2017 2016 2015
Non-SDA (Severely Disadvantaged Areas) €180.46 €175.27 €171.83
Upland SDA, other than moorland €178.90 €174.01 €170.60
Upland SDA moorland €49.63 €45.97 €45.07

Greening rates

Region 2017 2016 2015
Non-SDA (Severely Disadvantaged Areas) €77.69 €77.71 €76.19
Upland SDA, other than moorland €76.92 €77.15 €75.64
Upland SDA moorland €21.32 €20.39 €19.99

Notes to editors:

  • The Euro exchange rate that will be used to calculate all payments is €1 = 0.89470.

Link: Press release: Farmers set for increased payments as the Rural Payments Agency confirms BPS 2017 entitlement and greening rates
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Partnership work to repair unexpected voids under M11

A lane closure on the M11 at Girton was lifted yesterday (Thursday 16 November) after Highways England and its partners worked together to repair a series of unexpected voids found beneath the motorway.

The voids, one of which is pictured here, were found in September, with Highways England quickly realising the urgent need to repair it and keep the 40,000 drivers that use the motorway daily moving.

image showing M11 repair works at Girton

Highways England project manager Karl Brooks said:

Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Highways England, and once we realised the extent of these voids underneath the M11 we moved quickly to get it repaired.

While we want to limit the impact that our work has on people’s journeys, these voids did need to be repaired with haste and we needed to ensure that there would be no more surprises. We have worked with our partners to minimise the impact this work has had, and are pleased that we are now able to fully re-open the M11 to traffic at Girton.

The work to fill the voids, which were up to three meters deep in places, saw 1,200 tonnes of filling material used. Interserve and WSP, working on behalf of Highways England, had to dig out the voids to fully realise the extent of them, before being able to repair and resurface them. Drainage repairs, sheet piling installation and environmental works were also done to ensure there would be no recurrence of these voids. Further work will continue on the embankment, including replacing rabbit netting and top soiling, but this will be completed off the road itself, with a hard shoulder closure and temporary 40mph speed limit the only remaining restrictions.

The team also worked closely with their colleagues completing the new £1.5 billion A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon link road, upgrading 21 miles of the A14 to three lanes. This improved A14 will cut journey times by up to 20 minutes, and is on target to open to traffic in 2020. Both teams were able to share road closures to maximise productivity while minimising the impact on road users.

The emergency work to repair the voids is part of a wider £11 million package of work which also includes resurfacing, renewing digital message signs and safety improvements at key locations along the motorway, and on the A120 and A11.

Now completed, the temporary lane closure on the M11 at Girton has been removed, with just a hard shoulder closure and temporary 40mph speed limit remaining to enable additional work to take place safely away from the carriageway.

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.


Link: Press release: Partnership work to repair unexpected voids under M11
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Upgrades to the A31 at Ringwood backed

Proposals for a multi-million pound upgrade to improve journeys for the 77,000 drivers who use the A31 at Ringwood in Hampshire each day have won backing in a public consultation, Highways England announced today (Friday 17 November).

91% of people who responded to the non-statutory consultation backed the need for the improvements, which will widen the A31 between the Ringwood and Verwood junctions, increase capacity at Ringwood junction and bring it in line with current safety standards by directing all local traffic via the junction instead of turning directly on to the dual carriageway. Facilities for cyclists and pedestrians will also be improved.

Today’s announcement paves the way for work on the upgrade to start in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to statutory processes.

Highways England Project Manager Jens Reinke said:

This section of the A31 is used to make more than 77,000 journeys every day, and we’ve developed these plans to make real improvements to journeys.

I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation. It’s great to see that there is such strong backing for improvements to this heavily congested section of the A31 at Ringwood. These plans will lead to the road being safer and supporting access for people getting to Ringwood town centre not only in the car but also on foot or by bike.

We are aware of people’s concerns about the closure of the West Street junction to the A31 and have listened to feedback. Around 76% of respondents agreed with the proposal to close the junction for safety reasons, with around 14% preferring for it to stay open. We will now continue to look at the design of the West Street closure into next phase of the project.

The plans include:

  • increasing the westbound carriageway of the A31 from two lanes to three between the Ringwood and Verwood junctions
  • replacement of the two bridges over the River Avon and Bickerley Millstream to accommodate the westbound third lane
  • closing the junction with West Street and the A31 to motorised vehicles
  • closing one of the Fish Inn pub’s entry/exit points on the A31
  • improvements to the existing cycle and footpaths along the A31

A public consultation on the option was held from 23 June to 4 August 2017. Nearly 500 responses were received during this consultation. Information events were held at Ringwood Town Council for the public and stakeholders including local authorities, landowners and businesses, so people could look at the plans and speak to members of the project team.

91% of people who responded to the consultation questionnaire said they agree improvements are needed at Ringwood. 91% also said they are concerned about safety on the A31, with the same number also concerned about congestion or delays along this stretch. 75% of respondents understand the justification for options 2 and 3 being rejected.

A copy of the consultation report and announcement flyer can be found on the Highways England website. where anyone interested in the scheme can also sign up to receive updates.

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.

Link: Press release: Upgrades to the A31 at Ringwood backed
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: PM meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: 17 November 2017

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

Prime Minister Theresa May and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this morning met for talks at the Gothenburg Social Summit.

The two leaders held constructive discussions on Brexit and looked forward to making further progress in the run-up to the December European Council.

On Northern Ireland, the PM was clear that the Belfast agreement must be at the heart of our approach and that Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances demand specific solutions.

The PM said it was important to protect progress made in Northern Ireland over recent years. Both leaders agreed to work together to find solutions which ensure there is no return to the borders of the past.

The PM and Taoiseach reiterated that they want to see the Northern Irish executive re-established as soon as possible. They committed to continuing to work together with the parties to achieve that.

Link: Press release: PM meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: 17 November 2017
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: 7 year ban for Leicestershire director for under declaring VAT

On 11 September 2017, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, & Industrial Strategy, accepted a disqualification undertaking from Ms Townsend from 2 October 2017 for 7 years.

The company went into liquidation on 6 April 2016 owing £110,236 to creditors, of which £58,522 related to Value Added Tax (VAT).

The unfit conduct that led to Ms Townsend giving the undertaking was that she submitted incorrect VAT returns to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) which resulted in the company receiving £21,588 in VAT reclaims whereas at least £30,542 should have been paid to HMRC equivalent to an under declared amount of at least £52,130.

Martin Gitner, Deputy Head of Investigations with the Insolvency Service said:

Under-declaration of the VAT due by a company deprives the exchequer of the monies needed to provide public services. In co-operation with HMRC, the Insolvency Service will not hesitate to investigate such misconduct with disqualification as a director the likely outcome.

Notes to editors

Ms Christie Elizabeth Townsend, date of birth October 1947 and she resides in Wigston.

Greendeal Helpline Limited was incorporated on 7 February 2012. The company traded as a lead generator.

Ms Townsend was a director from 7 February 2012 to liquidation.

The Company went into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation on 6 April 2016 with an estimated deficiency of £106,721.

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

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, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures.

BEIS’ mission is to build a dynamic and competitive UK economy that works for all, in particular by creating the conditions for business success and promoting an open global economy. The Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions team contributes to this aim by taking action to deter fraud and to regulate the market. They investigate and prosecute a range of offences, primarily relating to personal or company insolvencies.

The agency also authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, 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

Press Office

The Insolvency Service


4 Abbey Orchard Street
London
SW1P 2HT

This service is for journalists only. For any other queries, please contact the Insolvency Enquiry line on 0300 678 0015.

For all media enquiries outside normal working hours, please contact the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Press Office on 020 7215 1000.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

Link: Press release: 7 year ban for Leicestershire director for under declaring VAT
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Five tax scheme companies wound-up

The five companies – KSA Associates (UK) Limited (KSA), Ezybackoffice Limited (EZY), Temp Payroll Services Limited (TPS), A & T Active Recruitment (UK) Limited (A&T) and B Diminish Limited (BDL) were wound-up by the High Court on 17 October 2017, following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

The Court heard that, under a contrived structure designed to take advantage of tax benefits available to professional service companies (PSCs), A&T acted as recruitment agents for temporary workers who were then given the option to be directly employed by them or, alternatively, to provide their services through their own PSC.

KSA, provided, amongst other things, accounting and bookkeeping services to the PSCs and was appointed to act as their agent whilst TPS and Ezy provided payroll services to the PSCs. BDL was one of 211 PSCs set up under the model.

The Court found that there was a lack of transparency in the scheme being operated by the companies. This included the temporary workers, for many of whom English was not their first language, being appointed as directors and/or employees of the PSCs having no meaningful knowledge of the companies and their directorships.

Enquiries showed that some of the workers were unaware of their appointment as directors. One named director was said to be autistic and had never heard of KSA. Furthermore, the court was told, the main beneficiaries from the scheme were KSA, EZY and TPS rather than the PSCs or the temporary workers.

Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, Alex Deane, said:

This was a complex enquiry into a sophisticated scheme involving systematic abuse of the corporate regime and where the named directors of the PSC companies often had no idea of the scheme they were involved in.

Those operating such schemes should be aware that the Insolvency Service will intervene when appropriate to stop them.

Notes to Editors

The petitions to Wind-up the companies were presented to the High Court on 30 June 2016, under the provisions of Section 124A of the Insolvency Act 1986 following confidential enquiries by Company Investigation under Section 447 Companies Act 1985, as amended. The Winding-up order was made on 17 October 2017.
The order was pronounced by Deputy District Judge Watkin, with Lucy Wilson-Barnes of Zenith Chambers appearing for the Insolvency Service. The proceedings were not defended.

KSA was incorporated on 19 January 2012, registration number 07917066. Its registered office is at Vincent Court, Hubert Street, Aston Lock, Birmingham, B6 4BA. The company’s directors, until 17 July 2017, were Kevin Patrick Sharkey and Nathan Kingsley Golby.

EZY was incorporated on 7 May 2013, registration number 08516979. Its registered office is at Vincent Court, Hubert Street, Aston Lock, Birmingham, B6 4BA. The company’s directors, until 17 July 2017, were Kevin Patrick Sharkey and Nathan Kingsley Golby.

A&T was incorporated on 27 January 2015, registration number 09408613. Its registered office is at Vincent Court, Hubert Street, Aston Lock, Birmingham, B6 4BA. The company’s directors, until 17 July 2017, were Kevin Patrick Sharkey and Nathan Kingsley Golby.

TPS was incorporated on 3 November 2013, registration number 09292550. Its registered office is at Vincent Court, Hubert Street, Aston Lock, Birmingham, B6 4BA. The company’s directors, until 17 July 2017, were Kevin Patrick Sharkey and Nathan Kingsley Golby.

BDL was incorporated on 6 November 2014, registration number 09297833. Its registered office is at Vincent Court, Hubert Street, Aston Lock, Birmingham, B6 4BA. The company’s directors were Theodore Ufuah and Adrian Kasprzyk (until 5 November 2015).

Company Investigations, part of the Insolvency Service, uses powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Further information about live company investigations is available here

The Insolvency Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures.

BEIS’ mission is to build a dynamic and competitive UK economy that works for all, in particular by creating the conditions for business success and promoting an open global economy. The Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions team contributes to this aim by taking action to deter fraud and to regulate the market. They investigate and prosecute a range of offences, primarily relating to personal or company insolvencies.

The agency also authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, 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.

All public enquiries concerning the affairs of the company should be made to: The Official Receiver, Public Interest Unit, 2nd Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN. Tel: 0161 234 8531 Email: piu.north@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk

Contact Press Office

Press Office

The Insolvency Service


4 Abbey Orchard Street
London
SW1P 2HT

This service is for journalists only. For any other queries, please contact the Insolvency Enquiry line on 0300 678 0015.

For all media enquiries outside normal working hours, please contact the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Press Office on 020 7215 1000.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

Link: Press release: Five tax scheme companies wound-up
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Dali’s Mae West Lips Sofa at risk of leaving the UK

Arts Minister John Glen has placed a temporary export bar on Mae West Lips Sofa, by Salvador Dalí and Edward James, to provide an opportunity to keep it in the country.

The sofa is at risk of being exported from the UK unless a buyer can be found to match the asking price of £480,281.56 plus VAT.

One of the most instantly recognisable pieces of furniture of the 20th century, the sofa was also a collaboration between Dalí, one of the century’s most important and influential artists and James, a key figure in the international recognition and promotion of Surrealism.

The decorative elements of the sofa correspond to the decoration of the interior of Monkton House, West Sussex, which was originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1902 for Edward James’s parents. As part of his renovation of the interior of the House in the mid-1930s, James was assisted by architects Christopher ‘Kit’ Nicholson and Hugh Casson, as well as decorator Norris Wakefield.

Together they created a wondrous assortment of Victorian, Regency and Surrealist design, with intentionally shocking Surrealist objects filling the spaces and surfaces of the house.

Five Mae West Lips Sofas were made in total; all in 1938. This particular version of the sofa was altered by James from the other versions to make it an integral part of the decoration of Monkton House and to fit with his vision for a Surrealist interior.

Its dimensions, textiles and colour differ from other versions, and it was also elongated to give the lips a more satisfactory appearance.

Arts Minister John Glen said:

This iconic piece is considered to be the single most important example of Surrealist furniture ever made in Britain. I very much hope that a buyer comes forward to keep this unique item in the UK.

The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by the Arts Council.

RCEWA member Richard Calvocoressi said:

Salvador Dalí and Edward James’s sofa in the shape of Mae West’s lips shares with Meret Oppenheim’s fur-covered cup, saucer and spoon of the same date (Museum of Modern Art, New York) the distinction of being the most famous object in the history of Surrealism.

But it is more than a witty surrealist sculpture or a striking example of fantasy furniture. It is a masterpiece of Pop art 25 years before Pop was invented.

The RCEWA noted the power of the image of the sofa in the 20th century. It made its recommendation on the grounds of the sofa’s close connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance and its significance for the study of furniture history, as well as the history of design and Surrealist art.

The decision on the export licence application for the sofa will be deferred until 16 February. This may be extended until 16 May if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase it is made at the recommended price of £480,281.56 (plus VAT of £16,600).

Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the sofa should contact the RCEWA on 0845 300 6200.

An image of the sofa can be downloaded via our flickr site.

ENDS

For media information contact:
Yasmin Kaye
Senior Communications Officer
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Tel: 0207 211 6489
Email: yasmin.kaye@culture.gov.uk

Notes to editors

  1. Details of the sofa are as follows:
    Composed of a red felted wool top cover with green decorative appliques in the form of larvae and black wool fringing over traditional horse-hair upholstery and webbing on a wooden carcass. Measuring 79cm (h) by 202cm (w) by 92cm (d), the sofa was probably made by Green & Abbot, London, in 1938.
  2. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by The Arts Council, which advises the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
  3. The Arts Council champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. www.artscouncil.org.uk.

Link: Press release: Dali’s Mae West Lips Sofa at risk of leaving the UK
Source: Gov Press Releases