Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu sat on the same row in Washington National Cathedral this week to bid farewell to Republican US senator Lindsey Graham. But, for the two leaders, Graham’s funeral was also an opportunity for private talks at the White House with Donald Trump.

Graham was a passionate supporter of both Ukraine and Israel. A notable foreign policy hawk when it came to Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Graham was instrumental in pushing through the latest round of sanctions, which the Senate passed in his honour on the day of the funeral.

If he was hawkish on Russia he was positively militant in his support for Israel. “I’ll stand with Israel until the day I die. It is our greatest ally,” Graham told the Jerusalem Post in an interview just a few months before his death. Video footage released this week showed him reacting rapturously to the bombardment of Iran on February 28. “Look what we’ve done here,” he said. “I almost cried. I mean, how long have we been pushing this?”

As David Dunn and Stefan Wolff, international affairs experts at the University of Birmingham, put it: “Summit meetings on the fringes of funerals … have a long and useful tradition.” It was a meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral in April 2025 that enabled Zelensky to reset his relationship with Donald Trump, just two months after their notorious Oval Office confrontation.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the two leaders’ meetings with the US president were “positive and productive”. But, as Dunn and Wolff observe, the atmosphere in the Oval Office was likely to be far chillier for Netanyahu than for Zelensky.

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Two meetings and a funeral: diplomacy on the sidelines of Lindsey Graham’s memorial service

The Ukrainian president’s stock has risen considerably in America in recent months, while Trump has been openly disparaging about Netanyahu lately. As we’ve observed before, the US president and Israeli prime minister have sharply divergent war aims.

Trump is looking for an off-ramp that will enable him to end the conflict, which is deeply unpopular in the US. Netanyahu, meanwhile, sees the war with Iran as unfinished business.

There was no post-meeting press conference, but Netanyahu emerged with the message: “This was one of the best conversations I have had with our friend, US President Donald Trump.” He would say that, though wouldn’t he, notes Christian Emery, an expert in international affairs at UCL. If Netanyahu is increasingly unpopular in the US, Trump is still very much in favour in Israel.

Emery believes Netanyahu would have needed to be particularly persuasive to get Trump to see his point of view over the Iran conflict. But it may be that Iran’s increasingly assertive conduct of the war, most recently hitting a US-owned tanker in Egypt as well as attacking a US base in Jordan, look as if they might be doing that job for him.

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Is Netanyahu’s star waning in Washington? His latest meeting with Trump suggests it may be

West Bank and Gaza

Israel’s conduct in Palestinian territories might be earning Netanyahu widespread opprobrium globally, but it reportedly plays well with an increasingly right-leaning Israeli electorate. And, with elections looming in October and the prime minister trailing in the polls, his government is escalating the expansion of settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank while taking control of an ever larger portion of the Gaza Strip.

Irit Katz of the University of Cambridge, who has spent years studying conflict and displacement in Palestine, sees two motives behind this escalation. One is the aforementioned appeal to right-wing Zionist voters. The other, particularly for the more extreme elements in Netanyahu’s government, is to establish the facts on the ground before October’s election.

With international momentum growing for the designation of Israel’s conduct in Palestinian territories as genocide, Katz believes this land grab is yet another reason to support this argument. The 1948 UN convention, she argues, “defines genocide not only as killing members of a protected group but also as deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction, in whole or in part, when accompanied by the requisite intent”.

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As Israel prepares for October election the government is accelerating its land grab in the West Bank and Gaza

Autocrats, elections and a new ‘Red Scare’

Nicaragua’s former revolutionary-turned-autocratic leader, Daniel Ortega, announced recently that he was planning to scrap elections. Ortega, who has spent 30 years in two stints in the presidential palace, said on July 21 there would be no more elections in Nicaragua to prevent the opposition from seizing power (the logic of which statement is hard to fault).

Ortega has since rowed back on this, saying on July 29 he wanted to extend terms limits to from six to seven years while barring members of the opposition seen by his government as “traitors” or “coup plotters” from running for office.

Felix Wiebrecht, an expert in authoritarian politics at the University of Liverpool notes, that while autocrats have a range of things they tend to do to ensure they stay in power – many, such as Vladimir Putin in Russia – consider elections to be useful in establishing legitimacy. Even if they are as clearly rigged as Russia’s last few have been.

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Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua plans to scrap elections – what that says about today’s autocrats

Donald Trump, meanwhile, has hit the campaign trail ahead of the US elections with a new warning to voters that America is threatened by an “enemy within”: communists. As historian David Bryden from King’s College London notes, it’s an old favourite of the political right.

Not just in the US, either. Bryden points to the rise of fascism in the early decades of the 20th century, which was largely fuelled by a widespread fear of communism. While clearly justified, as any historian of the Soviet Union will tell you, European fascist leaders used the tactic to target any section of society they hated or feared: in Germany’s case, the Jewish people, for example.

Bryden believes the US president is using the tactic to target immigrants and warns that anti-communist rhetoric is “powerful, persuasive and dangerous, and we need to take it seriously”.

À lire aussi :
Donald Trump has launched another ‘Red Scare’ in the US – it’s a favourite tactic of the right

Selling the World Cup

If you want to know why Fifa boss Gianni Infantino’s plan, revealed this week, to turn the World Cup into an investment vehicle is so unpopular, Josh Bland, who researches football culture at the University of Cambridge, is here to explain.

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Gianni Infantino wants to sell the World Cup – but it’s not his to sell

Maryland lawmakers will kick off a special session Monday to consider a first step in a partisan redistricting initiative that could help Democrats pick up an additional U.S. House seat by 2028.

The General Assembly will begin debate on a proposed constitutional amendment intended to give Democrats greater latitude to draw congressional maps favoring their party, which currently represents seven of the state’s eight House districts. The proposal would have to be approved by voters before lawmakers could begin considering new district lines.

Deep blue Maryland’s move, which the state’s minority Republicans have called a blatant power grab, is the latest turn in the national battle over redistricting, which kicked off a year ago and has reshaped the U.S. House map ahead of this year’s midterms.

Democratic state Senate President Bill Ferguson blocked a different redistricting initiative earlier this year that could have put new maps in place before the fall elections, worried the move could backfire upon judicial review. But he has said his views shifted after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act in late April. That decision offered new grounds for Republicans to swiftly reconfigure districts in Southern states with large minority populations that have elected Democrats, moves that Ferguson called “painful” to watch.

“It felt like the unwinding of any type of democratic norms in the blink of an eye,” Ferguson said in an interview.

Deep blue Maryland could gain one seat

Maryland’s lone Republican representative in Congress is Rep. Andy Harris, chairperson of the House Freedom Caucus. Harris’ 1st District is centered on the mostly rural Eastern Shore, part of a scenic peninsula separated from the rest of the state by the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2021, lawmakers tried to remake the maps in a way that made Harris’ district more competitive for a Democrat to win, drawing in communities across the bay. But a judge struck down those districts in 2022, calling them a “product of extreme partisan gerrymandering.”

In light of that decision and in hopes of avoiding future adverse legal rulings, lawmakers will consider legislation to amend the state constitution to make clear that the parameters the judge cited — including that districts be compact in form and have regard given to “natural boundaries” — apply only to General Assembly districts, not congressional ones.

If approved by a three-fifths vote of both chambers, the amendment would go before voters in the Nov. 3 general election. If approved there, lawmakers could revisit the congressional maps for the 2028 election cycle under the constitution’s new guidance.

Republicans say the move sets up a gerrymander

In advance of the special session, Republicans criticized the move by Democrats and raised concerns about limits set on testimony for the special session.

“We are very concerned with the significant limitations on witnesses, and the reality that any bill hearing is obviously intended to be a brief and meaningless formality,” House Minority Leader Jason Buckel said in a statement.

Harris, in an interview, said the “gerrymandering that this constitutional amendment sets up” would break up areas of common interest into districts predominated by urban and suburban areas, disenfranchising rural voters. Such a move would “of course” face a court challenge, he said.

Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat who has expressed frustration over lawmakers’ refusal to redistrict earlier this year, cast the move as an urgent necessity in light of Republican moves elsewhere. The proposal currently before lawmakers will ultimately give voters, not “party bosses” the final say, he said.

“And if the people determine that there’s nothing to do, then there’s nothing to do. But if the people determine that we move, we move,” he said in an interview as he became chair of the National Governors Association.

Maryland’s special session is part of a new phase in a national redistricting battle that began a year ago, when President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to redraw congressional districts to help the party hold on to its slim House majority in the midterm elections. Republicans think they could win as many as 16 additional seats from new House maps enacted in eight states — Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. Democrats, whose counterattack faced several setbacks, think they could win up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah.

Now some states, such as Maryland and New York, are taking steps to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2028 elections. New York’s Democratic-led Legislature has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to authorize mid-decade redistricting, repeal prohibitions on partisan gerrymandering and make it easier for lawmakers to bypass an independent redistricting commission in the future. The measure needs another round of legislative approval next year before it can appear on a statewide ballot.

___

Associated Press reporters David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, and Steven Sloan in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

Brits have been warned of disruption at a major UK airport as airlines face the risk of ‘running out of fuel’ in coming days

Thousands of Brits heading on their summer holidays from a major UK airport could face disruption over the coming days due to a fuel shortage.

Gatwick Airport has sent out a jet fuel warning to pilots as the UK’s second-largest airport faces supply issues.

The potential shortage could affect easyJet and British Airways flights from the airport during the peak of the season, as well as other major carriers like Wizz Air, TUI, and Jet2.

The memo sent out by Gatwick warned airlines: “For the attention of all crews: Gatwick has a shortage of fuel for the next two days.

“Please uplift max possible fuel at outstations.”

Another document warned of a “potential disruption to the Gatwick fuel supply”.

An airline source told The Sun: “Pilots will try and take on as much fuel as they can from their foreign destinations to bring back to the UK, but they will be limited by factors such as the maximum take-off weight and the maximum landing weight back at Gatwick.”

The issue is likely to cause “disruption” from Monday, according to the source.

In the event of an airport fuel infrastructure crisis, major short-haul operators like easyJet can partially insulate themselves by carrying extra fuel from inbound European flights to bypass Gatwick’s pumps entirely.

But the airline’s sheer flight volume will still put the operation under strain.

Meanwhile, British Airways and other long-haul flight carriers, which cannot tanker fuel and remain entirely dependent on Gatwick’s local supply to get off the ground, are more culnerable

It is believed that the shortage is not connected to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but rather to a technical issue at one of Gatwick’s fuel farms.

A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport said: “Following a technical issue impacting fuel supply to the airport, airlines have been advised to monitor fuel availability.

“We are working closely with external suppliers to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and minimise any potential disruption. All airlines are operating as normal.”

The Mirror has contacted easyJet and British Airways for further comment.

Fiona Higgins was correct to question public cuts, says Record View.

Glasgow Labour councillor Fiona Higgins took to social media in 2024 to accuse a local authority official of misleading the public on cuts to teacher numbers.

An official complaint about Higgins was made to the council ethics body and a probe was launched.

The saga will go to court this week over claims the watchdog did not allow relevant information to be introduced by the councillor during the investigation.

The judicial review is important on a number of levels that go beyond the merits of this individual case.

Councils have been cut to the bone in recent years and have had to make painful cuts.

Local councillors have been the last line of defence for communities in stopping service cuts.

It is therefore essential that there is transparency in where the axe falls locally.

It is even more vital that councillors can speak freely if they feel town hall chiefs are not being open.

The complaint against Higgins appears to have been an over-reaction and also ill-judged.

She had a duty to speak up for parents and pupils alike and should not have faced a probe by a watchdog.

Her judicial review is one aspect of this investigation and it will be watched with interest by observers.

But we fear this row could already have had a chilling effect on free speech in local authorities.

Higgins deserves the support she has received and we wish her every success.

Race must widen to save the party

Scottish Labour are about to embark on a contest to elect their 11th leader of the devolution age.

This comes on the back of five defeats in a row to the SNP and shedding support at every Holyrood election.

To say the party of John Smith and Donald Dewar is in the last chance saloon is the understatement of the year.

With so many issues to debate, Scottish Labour should have a contest that includes candidates on all wings of the party.

It now seems that left-winger Monica Lennon will not make the ballot and it may become an all-male battle between Joe Fagan and Michael Marra.

This would be a shame because Lennon, unlike many in her party, is popular among the wider electorate.

The upcoming contest has to end with a divided party uniting to put forward a bold vision of change.

Lennon’s exclusion would make it harder for Scottish Labour to come together.

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Chinese scientists claim to have found the most effective way to bury and detonate a nuclear device inside a large asteroid to prevent a potentially cataclysmic collision with the Earth.

Asteroids pose a major threat to human civilisation, having caused catastrophic environmental changes and mass extinctions in the past.

In recent years, astronomers have routinely flagged asteroids measuring tens to hundreds of metres across that have frequently made close flybys of the Earth.

A vast number of large asteroids near our planet also remain undiscovered, with warning times for potential collisions often ranging from a few days to weeks. For large asteroids that are hundreds of metres wide, methods like the one tested by Nasa’s 2021-22 Dart mission cannot achieve effective deflection within short timeframes.

To directly destroy or rapidly deflect large asteroids from their orbits, scientists at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology note, nuclear detonation is the most effective method.

In extreme cases, it may be the only feasible approach for dealing with large space rocks or asteroids with short warning times, the researchers argue in a study published in Space: Science & Technology.

In the methods theorised so far, however, the impact and position of nuclear detonation on an asteroid cannot be autonomously selected.

The latest study outlines a new approach to detonate a nuclear device on a large near‑Earth asteroid.

The researchers simulated a spacecraft releasing a penetration device to excavate a deep crater on the asteroid and then guiding a nuclear device into it for detonation.

They assessed the damage caused to the rock by nuclear explosions of various sizes and burial depths.

They also examined the effects of factors like launch-vehicle characteristics and impact velocity.

The researchers found that an explosion the size of 200 Hiroshima bombs could completely blast apart an asteroid about 100m across.

They further found that burying the bomb about 30 metres beneath the surface tripled the change in the asteroid’s speed compared with a more shallow explosion.

For instance, a kilometre-scale asteroid with a deep crater detonation at 20 meters could achieve a velocity increment exceeding 30cm per second away from the Earth.

The findings provide an important foundation for planning and designing defences against large-sized or short-warning-time asteroids headed for the Earth, the scientists said, adding that nuclear blasts could be the most effective means of dealing with large asteroids with short warning times.

“This study can provide references for the engineering design of defence against large near-Earth asteroids,” the scientists wrote.

Manchester United are enjoying an under-the-radar transfer window as they continue to target a handful of positions

Manchester United are one game closer to the new Premier League season. And Michael Carrick’s squad has so far only been bolstered by three new senior arrivals.

United fans were made to wait for their club to spring into action this window but were rewarded by a flurry of incomings. Andrey Santos was quickly followed by ex-Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow and Youri Tielemans through the door. Young prospects in Tynan Thompson and Kit Margetson were also snapped up.

Their latest pre-season outing saw them defeat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in Stockholm. But one position that the club are keen to reinforce is left-back. Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui can operate there, but a surprise move for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly has been mooted.

United have long held an interest in the defender and another transfer that might be completed this week could enable Carrick’s side to pounce. Mirror Football takes a look at the latest transfer news out of Old Trafford.

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Myles Lewis-Skelly boost

United were first linked with Lewis-Skelly last year when he found himself falling down the left-back pecking order at Arsenal. Both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie were getting more minutes.

This was soon resolved when Mikel Arteta moved the 19-year-old into midfield and he impressed. However, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes is set for a Gunners medical on Monday, according to The Times. If the Brazilian does sign, he’ll become one more star Lewis-Skelly has to compete with for first-team minutes. Not to mention, his reported £80m transfer sum will leave a dent.

Any fee Arsenal get from selling Lewis-Skelly would be pure profit when taking into account Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, so if United lodge the right offer, it could be too good to turn down.

The Independent reports that they are currently waiting to see whether the Gunners are open to doing business regarding Lewis-Skelly and that United’s interest remains strong.

Man Utd star ‘agrees’ to move

On the outgoings front, reports from Italy suggest Joshua Zirkzee has agreed to join Juventus on loan with no obligation to buy. The Dutch forward does not appear to be part of Carrick’s first-team plans.

United bought Zirkzee for £36m in 2024 and he became the first signing under the ownership of INEOS. He previously played in Italy with Bologna.

It is understood that Zirkzee has become a difficult player to sell and, having not been able to cut it at United, is far more likely to head out on loan, either with or without an option to buy.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Zirkzee has agreed to such a deal with Juventus and has already ‘said yes’ to the Italian outfit. However, the move is hinging on the Old Lady being able to offload striker Jonathan David.

Countdown to Kickoff: The Ultimate 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle

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Sky’s Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season with more than 1,400 live games across the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.

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The mother of the boy, 10, said his clothes were ripped and he sustained a small cut at the park in Ely, Cardiff

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A young boy was left injured after “shards of glass” were deliberately glued to a playground slide. The disturbing incident took place between 2pm and 4pm on Thursday at Mill Road park in Ely, Cardiff.

The mother of the 10-year-old, who has chosen to remain anonymous, revealed that her son’s clothing was torn and he suffered a minor cut. She explained: “He was at the park with his nan, sister and cousin playing and went on the slide unaware that glass had been glued to the slide.

“His shorts are ripped and he’s thankfully okay [but] does have a little cut. My son made a comment to his nan stating he never wants to use that park again as he doesn’t trust it.”

The mum said she feels angry that someone would try to harm an innocent child using a park, adding: “I’m upset that my child got hurt in a place that he should have been safe to play.

“[I’m] also angry at the fact someone did this knowing that it would hurt a child. My child is now very wary and does not want to return to that park as in his words he ‘does not trust that park’.”

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She confirmed she had reported the matter to police and contacted the council. A warning sign has since been erected on the slide to alert other park visitors, reports Wales Online.

A South Wales Police spokesperson confirmed: “South Wales Police was called at approximately 1.20pm [on] Friday, July 31, with a report that shards of glass had been glued to a slide in a park in Ely.

“It was reported that a child sustained a minor cut and damage to their clothing after using the slide. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

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By JAMES COHEN, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 16:55 BST, 2 August 2026 | Updated: 05:04 BST, 3 August 2026

Donald Trump has added two more trophies to his collection after winning both the club and senior championships at his golf course in New Jersey this weekend.

Trump, 80, carded an improbably low 2-under-par score of 70 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster over the weekend, bringing his reported tally to over 40 total victories across his various golf properties.

Social media footage showed the US President receiving a round of applause in front of the club leaderboard following the round, with a caption confirming he had collected two trophies for his performance.

The par at Bedminster is set at 72, meaning Trump allegedly finished two strokes under par to secure the double victory.

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The reported 70 comes a year after the White House published a scorecard claiming Trump had carded a 3-under 69 at the same annual tournament in 2025 to win by 10 gross strokes.

Trump was seen visiting troops during his trip to New Jersey, though observers noted he was still wearing his golf glove while greeting military personnel.

Donald Trump has added two more trophies to his collection after winning both the club and senior championships at his golf course in New Jersey this weekend

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‘With his golf glove on. How disrespectful,’ one X user wrote in response to a video. 

Another added, ‘He wears his golf shoes and driving glove wherever he goes, I’m guessing….???’ 

The avid golfer has consistently touted his prowess on the course, declaring: ‘I’ve played a lot, and I’ve played well. There are very few people who can beat me in golf.’

However, his remarkable track record and reported scores have frequently drawn skepticism from critics and sports journalists over the years.

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Sportswriter Rick Reilly, who authored a book on Trump’s golf habits, has previously questioned the legitimacy of his club championship wins, once stating: ‘When it comes to cheating, he’s an 11 on a scale of one to 10.’

Trump’s outing on the course comes shortly after he said he has called off strikes on Iran ‘subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL’ with the Islamic regime. 

The president said on Truth Social on Saturday evening that although he remains ‘locked and loaded’ to launch an attack, he halted the strikes in hopes of reaching a peace deal. 

Trump’s announcement came after reports claimed he was talked down by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over concerns that further strikes could dramatically escalate the conflict in the Middle East. 

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Sources told Axios that the Crown Prince urged Trump to defuse the situation, following days of tit-for-tat threats between the White House and Tehran. 

Trump, 80, carded a 2-under-par score of 70 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster

In Trump’s Truth Social post on Saturday night, he threatened to unleash ‘power not seen since World War II,’ but said he agreed to tentatively pause the attack. 

‘We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,’ Trump wrote. 

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‘This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. 

‘Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment.’ 

Benjamin Lawrenson, 24, of Woodlands Drive, Selby, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court after pleading guilty to detaining the woman against her will on November 3, 2022 in Sheffield.

He was jailed for 26 weeks, suspended for 18 months on condition he complies with an 18-month supervision period, completes up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity and carries out 180 hours of unpaid work.

A two-year restraining order was imposed. During that period Lawrenson is banned from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, including via social media, and must not visit any address where she lives.

It can be incredibly frustrating when a parcel goes missing from your doorstep or recycling bin — here’s what you need to know about getting a refund or replacement

Few things are more frustrating than eagerly awaiting a much-anticipated delivery, only for those hopes to be shattered when the parcel is misplaced, lost or stolen. Packages can go missing whether they have been left on the doorstep or tucked away in a designated safe spot, such as a recycling bin or another out-of-sight location.

Losing a parcel is enormously frustrating, particularly when the contents are expensive or important. To help shoppers understand their rights when it comes to missing packages, experts have highlighted several key factors that consumers ought to be aware of before pursuing a replacement or refund — or indeed establishing whether they are entitled to one at all.

Specialists outlined the most effective steps to take when a delivery has gone astray. Lee Graham of Quadient said: “If a delivery was left somewhere you didn’t agree to, your first step should be to contact the company you bought it from. Your relationship is with them, and they have the relationship with the carrier, making them best placed to investigate what happened and resolve the issue.”

Where the blame lies

First and foremost, the customer should consider whether it was their own instruction to the courier to leave their parcel in a designated spot. Should a package be left in a random location by the courier and subsequently go missing or be stolen, the liability falls with the retailer, reports the Express.

However, if a customer has given explicit permission for a parcel to be left in a specific place, such as a recycling bin, and it is then lost, the responsibility may shift to the customer.

Eamonn Turley, CEO at insurance comparison site Multi Quote Time, explained: “Generally speaking, the retail provider retains liability for the products until they enter into the customers’ physical custody, except where the customer has given express consent to leave the parcel.

“If a parcel is left unattended in a recycle bin or on a doorstop (without consent) and subsequently lost or stolen, the customer will likely be eligible for either a replacement product or reimbursement through the provisions of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.“

Ciaran Dearden, at law firm Freeths, further explained: “Consumers are often told to pursue the courier when a parcel goes missing, but in most cases the legal responsibility remains with the retailer until the goods are received by the customer or left at a property in accordance with the customer’s specific instructions.

“If a parcel is left in a recycling bin, on a doorstep or elsewhere without the customer’s agreement and is then lost or stolen, the customer will usually be entitled to a replacement or refund.

“However, where the customer has specifically instructed that the parcel be left in a particular location, the legal position may be different and responsibility may pass to the customer once the parcel has been left in that agreed place.”

Customers specifying a designated area

A consumer’s legal entitlements may alter if they have requested a particular spot for their parcel to be left. Ciaran explained: “If a customer has given specific instructions for a parcel to be left in a recycling bin or another designated location, it is delivered to that location and is then lost or stolen, the retailer may argue that delivery was completed and responsibility had passed to the customer. In those circumstances, a customer is likely to face greater difficulty in obtaining a refund or replacement from the retailer.”

In certain cases, a customer may still be able to pursue a claim if the courier or delivery company did not adhere to the delivery instructions. He continued: “The customer may still have a claim if the courier failed to follow the delivery instructions or left the parcel somewhere other than the agreed location.

“It would also be worth checking whether any home insurance policy provides cover for the theft of delivered parcels.

“From a practical perspective, customers should still raise the issue with the retailer. Many retailers take a commercial approach to customer service and may choose to replace or refund a missing parcel to maintain goodwill, even where there is a credible legal argument that responsibility had passed to the customer once the parcel was delivered as instructed.”

How to submit a complaint

Should a parcel go missing and the retailer is not legally responsible for the loss, it may still be worth lodging a formal complaint. Eamonn went on to explain: “Generally, when it comes to being legally liable for a problem, consumers consider themselves to be liable to the retail providers as this is whom they entered into an agreement with.

“Although the retail provider may be able to collect damages from the delivery provider if there was a failure by the delivery provider to follow standard procedures; generally, consumers would need to submit complaints and/or claims directly to the retailer requesting a replacement/return or other form of redress.

“In addition to submitting formal complaints to the retailers, consumers also can keep documentation related to their attempts to resolve issues with the retail providers (such as delivery confirmations and communication records), as well as attempt to use Alternative Dispute Resolution processes before bringing the matter to Small Claims Court.”

What to do if you think your parcel has been stolen

If you suspect your parcel has been stolen rather than simply misplaced or discarded, there are several steps you can take. Your first port of call should be to review any CCTV footage you have access to, whether that be a dedicated security camera or a Ring doorbell.

Lee explained: “It’s also worth keeping any evidence you have, particularly doorbell camera or CCTV footage, as well as tracking information and delivery photographs. If you believe your parcel has been stolen, report it to the police and obtain a crime reference number.

“Too many parcel thefts still go unreported to the authorities because many people believe nothing will happen. As retailers and delivery companies will often simply replace stolen goods, the incident may be resolved for the individual without ever being recorded as a crime, meaning the real scale of parcel theft remains difficult to appreciate.”