Clutching surfboards clad with slogans like “end sewage pollution” in gaffer tape, Giles Bristow – chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage – and a group of campaigners delivered their petition signed by 350,000 people to number 10 Downing Street earlier this month. Their message was simple: clean up Britain’s polluted water.
The charity has been campaigning on the issue for its entire 36-year existence. But this year, it’s been thrust into the country’s consciousness amid the extreme droughts and floods which have laid bare the extent of the issue – as well as through Channel 4’s incredibly powerful and must-watch docu-drama, Dirty Business which the charity worked on.
Dirty Business portrayed the story of Heather Preen, an eight-year-old girl who died in 1999 after contracting E. coli 0157 (the most dangerous strain) during a family holiday in Devon, following a sewage spill. Heather’s mother, Julie Maughan, has continued campaigning for cleaner water with the charity ever since and was also at Downing Street.
The petition is calling to “clean up” the government’s proposed Clean Water Bill, and to end the broken privatised ownership of our water system that’s been in place since 1989 that “pollutes for profit” and does “not prioritise the environment or our health,” Bristow tells me when we meet at Surfers Against Sewage’s offices in St Agnes, Cornwall.
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Surfers Against Sewage is creating a groundswell for systemic change, with Bristow saying that for the majority of businesses “the only duty that exists is to return a reasonable profit to shareholders”.
Andy Burnham cannot ignore this tidal wave of public opinion. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the people who care about this issue
The number of signatures show the public is increasingly unwilling to accept polluted rivers and seas as normal. “We’re firmly putting this on [prime minister] Andy Burnham‘s agenda – he cannot ignore this tidal wave of public opinion. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the people who care about this issue,” Bristow says.
This summer has also made the issue even more difficult to ignore. During July and August, Surfers Against Sewage recorded more than 43,000 hours of sewage discharges into England’s waters, including more than 2,000 hours into designated bathing waters. Water companies are only permitted to discharge untreated sewage only following heavy rainfall and storms, when the systems are overloaded – yet it’s been the hottest summer on record, with barely any rainfall.
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Giles Bristow, singer Becky Hill, and Julie Maughan handing in a petition signed by more than 350,000 people at number 10, Downing Street (PA)
During those months, Surfers Against Sewage also received 636 reports via its app (Safer Sea & Rivers Service, which shows water quality across the UK and is a valuable source for water users) from people who said they had become ill after swimming.
For Bristow, this is not only an environmental problem. “We’re sitting on a public health crisis,” he says.
He personally knows the risks and has regularly suffered ear and eye infections, as well as stomach bugs and skin infections after going into the water. The charity’s own data shows the effects it is having. “About 50 per cent of people are really worried about getting into our wild waters and enjoying them,” Bristow says.
Our food production and our ability to exist on the planet is very much dependent on the health of the ocean
His first experience of pollution dates back to the 1980s, surfing around Saunton Sands in Devon. “At that time, you would experience sanitary products in the sea around you,” Bristow says. “That happens less now because there’s screening of the pollution, but it doesn’t mean that the water quality itself is any better.” The solids may be removed, he explains, but bacteria and viruses can remain.
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Bristow says one of the most frustrating aspects of the current crisis is how little is known about its full health impact of sewage in water, which isn’t helped by the fact “it’s not routine for doctors to ask if unwell people have been swimming,”. Instead, patients may just be asked what they’ve eaten, “We’re not really collecting the data centrally in public health to know the full extent of this issue,” he says.
“We’ve got to be careful because this is the underpinning of the world and the environment, the place that we live,” he says. “Our food production, our ability to exist on the planet, is very much dependent on the health of the ocean,” Bristow adds.
The charity CEO is increasingly concerned about less visible pollutants, from microplastics to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). terrifyingly known as forever chemicals. “Once they exist, and come off the product they go into our water system, they will never go away,” Bristow says, adding that they only break down after incineration.
Giles and Surfers Against Sewage worked closely with Channel 4 to help produce the Dirty Business docu-drama (Emma Henderson/ The Independent)
As well as the chemicals, Bristow says microplastics are a nightmare. “We think of the plastic pollution problem as the bottles floating in the ocean, and that is a macro problem,” he adds. The smaller particles present a much harder problem to see – and therefore deal with.
Yet despite the scale of the problem, Bristow is not without hope which he finds most powerful in the people who have joined the campaign. “My hope really springs from the communities who are passionate, creative and innovative and join in their campaigning,” he says.
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Bristow says the past five years have been among the charity’s most consequential, as public awareness of water pollution has grown rapidly. Part of that change came from the pandemic, when people began spending more time outdoors where people were seeing the pollution for themselves.
Since then, water bills have begun increasing and people are taking umbrage. “They’re saying ‘this is not right. I am not paying for this, I’m not going to stand for it,’” Bristow explains, adding that ultimately, it means people are no longer seeing polluted water as someone else’s problem.
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The Independent will be revealing its 2026 Climate 100 List on 20 September
The sixth batch of UFO files has been released by the Pentagon, showing clusters of alleged spacecraft flying through the sky for decades.
The latest tranche was made public Friday morning, with the focus on a famous 1952 UFO sighting by a Navy photographer in Tremonton, Utah.
The newly released footage revealed ten to 14 bright objects in a clear blue sky. Newhouse, a Navy warrant officer who was on vacation with his family at the time, described them as looking like two discs stacked on top of each other – creating the classic ‘flying saucer’ shape.
He added in incident reports that the UFOs had a shiny metallic or gunmetal color and were moving around in a loose circle while generally heading west.
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The US Air Force’s old UFO investigation office, Project Blue Book, studied the film for months and was never able to fully explain what Newhouse had filmed.
Over 70 years later, military aircraft over the Middle East captured another mysterious cluster of UFOs traveling in a highly organized formation.
The group of glowing orbs was seen traveling past an oil rig, flying at high speed next to each other in an almost perfect horizontal line before splitting up into groups of three.
The latest files also contained dozens of witness reports, videos of UFO sightings and newly declassified files documenting how a private company owned by billionaire Robert Bigelow was contracted by the Pentagon to study UFO sightings and futuristic technology.
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Footage from a 1952 Navy photographer has been released, showing what the sailor described as a group of flying saucers
In 2025, another cluster of UFOs was seen by US military aircraft over the Middle East
Among the hundreds of pages of never-before-seen documents released on Friday were expense reports coming from the Defense Intelligence Agency – the Pentagon’s military intelligence service which studies foreign military technology and possible future threats.
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The documents detailed how tens of millions of dollars were spent on a program called AAWSAP: Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program. It ran from 2008 to 2012.
Among the futuristic technology the group secretly contracted researchers to investigate were space-age materials including metallic glass, a faster-than-light method of travel known as warp drive and the ability to make objects invisible using a cloaking device.
The group awarded the contract for this work was Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS).
BAASS was a company set up by Robert Bigelow, the businessman behind Budget Suites of America and Bigelow Aerospace. He has also been known to have a strong personal interest in UFOs and government transparency.
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In July, UFO researcher and documentary filmmaker Mark Christopher Lee alleged that Bigelow was part of President Trump’s inner circle which convinced the president to prepare a speech which would announce the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
This is a breaking story. More details to follow.
The sixth batch of UFO files contained multiple videos of alleged UFO encounters, including orbs traveling over land and sea at high speeds
Sky is currently running a flash sale on some of its most popular broadband plans, with 150Mbps Full Fibre Broadband back at its lowest ever price
Léonie Benhamouche Senior Affiliates and What’s On Writer, Sarah Tulloch Senior Affiliates Writer and Leonie Benhamouche
15:01, 18 Sep 2026
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Sky has launched a limited-time flash sale on several of its most sought-after broadband packages. The 150Mbps Full Fibre Broadband has returned to its record-low price point.
It’s currently priced at £23 monthly, though this offer expires on Wednesday, September 23. This connection speed is ideal for HD streaming, with new customers eligible for up to £200 in bill credit when switching, helping to offset any exit charges from their previous provider.
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Sky notes that while its full fibre service reaches 79 per cent of households across the UK, the 150Mbps speed isn’t universally available. Potential customers can verify their eligibility using Sky’s postcode checker tool.
The company also states its prices ‘may change’ throughout the 24-month contract period. However, customers retain the right to terminate their agreement should any price adjustments be announced.
Sky’s 150Mbps Full Fibre Broadband has received thousands of favourable reviews on Trustpilot from satisfied customers. One contented user shared: “Works perfectly, speeds are amazing and a lot cheaper than Talktalk.”
Another customer stated: “I have my TV, mobile, and broadband with them. Impressed with the level of service, the price is also very competitive.”
A long-standing Sky subscriber remarked: “I have been with Sky for 14 years and they have never let me down. Their broadband is premium tier, and their Sky Q is also high quality.”
Some customers, however, have expressed dissatisfaction with Sky, with one long-term subscriber stating: “Having been a customer for almost 20 years, we recently cancelled due to high costs. Customer service has gone downhill significantly during this time.”
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Another customer shared a contrasting experience: “Went to transfer my broadband from BT to Sky. The service was excellent.
“I got a great deal, and I know exactly what will happen on my installation day and going forward.”
The rare operation brought together surgeons, hospitals and charities across two countries, with doctors saying the girls now have opportunities that would not have been possible before
A miracle 24-hour surgery and a team of specialists successfully separated conjoined twin girls in an extraordinary operation.
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Hiyab and Wuhbto travelled from their home in Ethiopia to Missouri in February 2025 for one of the rarest and most complex procedures carried out in the United States. The two-year-old sisters were joined at the crown of their heads and required months of painstaking preparation before doctors could attempt to separate them.
More than 300 hours of planning went into the operation at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, with the surgery itself lasting more than 24 hours. Doctors said the procedure demanded “sublime precision” and close coordination between multiple specialist teams.
Since their separation, Wuhbto has undergone a further cranioplasty to complete the repair of her skull, while Hiyab is preparing for the same procedure later this autumn. The girls turned two in March, shortly after their separation surgery.
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Dr. Andrew J. White, the hospital’s chief medical officer said: “Partnership, collaboration and expertise were the building blocks of this incredible feat.”
The hospital described the operation as “one of the most complex and rare paediatric procedures performed in the United States.”
Twins joined at the head are exceptionally rare, occurring in around one in 2.5million live births and accounting for fewer than 6% of conjoined twins, according to the National Library of Medicine. Only 62 separation attempts have been documented among 69 well-recorded cases of craniopagus twins worldwide.
The girls’ treatment involved a huge international effort, bringing together hospitals, charities and organisations in both the US and Ethiopia. Among those involved were SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, World Pediatrics, Lola Children’s Home in Ethiopia, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Ethiopian Airlines.
Dr. Hossain Marandi, president of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, said: “This story reflects the very best of who we are, bringing hope, healing, and opportunities once thought impossible to children and families when they need it most. From our caregivers and clinical teams to our community and global partners, countless individuals united around a shared mission to create new possibilities for these two young girls and their future.”
The twins continue to receive care in the United States as doctors monitor their recovery and development.
Dr. Joanna Kemp, head neurological surgeon at the hospital, said: “It is still too soon to know exactly what their long-term development will look like but what we do know is that they now have opportunities that would not have been possible without this intervention.”
Thomas Tuchel was speaking after selecting his first England squad since the Three Lions’ suffered more World Cup heartbreak following defeat to Argentina in the semi-final
FA chair Debbie Hewitt this week wrote to the beleaguered FIFA president demanding answers over the World Cup sell-off plan and also clarity on why Folarin Balogun’s suspension was overturned.
England boss Tuchel likened the FA’s support for him as to why he also backed their stance and his voice will be loud among the UEFA protest against Infantino.
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Tuchel said: “I felt the full support from all my bosses through the World Cup, through the whole tournament.
“There was a moment, a very special moment before the Mexico game where we had a talk and my bosses told me: ‘We know that anything can happen in a football match and we know that anything can happen in a match in Mexico in a World Cup, but don’t worry, we see what’s going on and we want to continue like this.’
“This was a beautiful moment for me as a coach,” said Tuchel before throwing his weight behind their stance.
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“I just told you how I am backed from my bosses, so it’s the minimum I can do is back my bosses, I would say,” Tuchel said. “So they have my full support on that and I back their opinion.”
Meanwhile, the England boss has been promised game time after his England World Cup snub.
Tuchel said he felt a “duty” to play Mainoo in at least one of the four Nations League games after the Manchester United midfielder did not get a single minute for England in the summer.
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But Tuchel called him up this time and spelt out just how much he wants to play him after the disappointment of the summer. He said: “I expect him to be on the pitch and it’s my duty to put him on the pitch.
“That was totally on me, he did not put a foot wrong at the World Cup. He was class in behaviour and on the training pitch.
“It was a big competition. We also played Reecey [James] in midfield, Elliot Anderson is fantastic, Declan Rice is a very unique player. So we trusted them more than we trusted Kobbie.
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“It was difficult for him, difficult for me. He got injured before the France game [the third-place play-off] so we could not even give him minutes there which hurt me. Maybe he was more hurt but it was my responsibility.”
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He said this was an attempt to not to be identified as the helmsman.
However, Atak was seen during 90 minutes of aerial footage to be piloting the vessel using its one remaining functioning engine, the court heard.
Harrison said: “There’s no evidence to suggest that the defendant had any training or experience of conducting this type of navigation.
“The size of the vessel and the number of people on board presented an obvious danger. The vessel would have been unstable because of it deflating.”
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Harrison said the risks of the crossing “would have been apparent to Atak”.
In an interview, Atak said he paid €200 euros (£172) to a gang for the crossing but denied he was the helmsman.
NCA senior investigating officer John Turner said: “Atak was unimaginably reckless and his actions could have easily resulted in many deaths had this boat not been intercepted.
“Not only did he place the lives of 165 migrants in severe peril, this flimsy vessel was entirely unsuitable for crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.”
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Endangerment at sea was made a new offence this year to target those alleged to have steered small boats over the Channel.
Anna Turley, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, described Atak as an “evil criminal”.
“He joins 16 other pilots sentenced in just three months for endangering lives with flimsy, overcrowded dinghies,” she said.
“This is a stark reminder of the ruthless acts used by smuggling gangs to exploit desperate people for profit, but today shows there is nowhere for them to hide.”
Natalia Skurzewska was diagnosed with Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (RCPD), also known as “no burp syndrome”
A Co Derry teenager has been forced to fundraise towards a life-changing operation after being diagnosed with a rare condition that prevents her from burping.
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Natalia Skurzewska, 18 and from Maghera, was diagnosed with Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (RCPD), also known as “no burp syndrome,” after two years of trying to get a diagnosis. RCPD is a condition where the cricopharyngeus muscle, located in the throat, can’t relax properly.
This prevents affected individuals from burping, leading to uncomfortable and often painful symptoms like bloating, gurgling noises in the chest and throat, abdominal pain, nausea and even difficulty breathing.
RCPD is often misdiagnosed as heartburn or indigestion, meaning the medication given would be completely useless or could even worsen sufferers’ conditions.
For those like Natalia with the condition, it significantly impacts quality of life, making everyday activities both difficult and embarrassing. Natalia went to her GP for two years trying to figure out what was causing her issues until she researched her symptoms herself.
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She first noticed problems when she was 14 years-old: “I would eat and then I’d get bloated. It would hurt at times, and then there’d be gurgling noises coming like from my throat. I would also get really bad bloating and then pains in my stomach that would go right up to my chest.
“It would happen whenever I ate specific foods, like take aways, sweet stuff or drank fizzy drinks. It was so uncomfortable, especially whenever I was in school and just had to try and get through the whole day.
“I get very bad hiccups, sometimes even doubled and it gets to the point where the pain in my chest is so unbearable and I can get them four times a day.
“I went to my GP who said it was heartburn or something to do with my gut or bowels, and I told her that wasn’t the case. The doctor would give me all sorts of different medication, but they wouldn’t help.
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“I had X-rays and ultrasounds done but they couldn’t find anything. That’s when I did my own research and figured out that I have RCPD.”
Natalia, a health and social care student at Belfast Met, was recently hospitalised when her condition worsened and she found it difficult to breathe and was suffering heart palpitations.
The condition has also impacted Natalia social life and mental health: “I have also struggled with my physical appearance as RCPD makes me to feel awful about myself. Anytime I would eat, I’d get bloated and feel embarrassed from being made fun of.
“Because of this condition, I’ve found it hard to leave my home and go out to social events, school, or just meet my family for dinner. Anytime I would go out with family or friends I would always feel awkward sitting there while others around me ate what they wanted.
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“I would constantly get questioned if I had an eating disorder or if I’m just looking for attention, but the truth is, it’s very hard for anyone with RCPD to eat anything and I’d always go into so much pain just a few minutes after. I tried explaining the condition I had but honestly, people only made fun of me which made me very insecure about my body.”
While botox injections have shown high success rates in restoring the ability to burp, Natalia’s best option is surgery but that’s not available on the NHS. It’s available privately in either Dublin or England but at a cost of approximately £6,000.
While Botox injections have shown high success rates in restoring the ability to burp, Natalia’s best option is surgery, but that’s not available on the NHS. It’s available privately in either Dublin or England at a cost of approximately £6,000.
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“Having the surgery would mean a great deal to me. It would also mean I wouldn’t be in pain every day and could eat a meal without being that pain for the rest of the day.”
Natalia has launched a GoFundMe appeal towards her surgery and research into the condition which can be accessed here.
“Funds raised for RCPD are vital for supporting research into better diagnostic methods and treatment options, as well as providing resources for those living with the condition to access the specialised care they need to help them live a better life,” she added.
The new boss of the Daniel crime clan Francis ‘Fraggle’ Green swallowed two sim cards at the scene of a gangland execution.
He took over as head of the family from his cousin Steven ‘Bonzo’ Daniel, 46, who was arrested in a dawn raid last month and faces a lengthy jail spell on serious organised crime offences on charges.
Fraggle, 44, was relatively unknown to the general public before his best friend Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll was gunned down by a hitman from the rival Lyons mob in the car park of an Asda in Robroyston in 2010.
However, when he arrived on the scene before the police his role in the Daniel network soon became apparent.
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Gerbil moved to the Milton area from Drumchapel when he was a young boy but after he was bullied at school by Eddie and Steven Lyons, 46, he struck up a friendship with Fraggle and sought protection from the Daniel family.
While Fraggle, the son of the late crime boss Jamie Daniel, lurked behind the scene in his younger years, Gerbil went on to become of Scotland’s most notorious gangsters.
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When the Daniel and Lyons clan went to war, Gerbil was at the centre of the fued and survived being shot in 2003.
Gerbil, who was Fraggle’s sister Kelly ‘Bo’ Green’s long term partner, is believed to have blasted mobster Eddie Lyons in 2006 and ordered a gangland shooting at Applerow garage in the Lambill area of Glasgow later in the same year that left Michael Lyons, 21, dead and Steven Lyons, 46, wounded in the leg.
The Lyons family sought revenge and caught up with Gerbil when he was shot dead as he sat in the back of a black Audi at the Asda car park at the age of 29.
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Before the cops even arrived Fraggle raced to the scene and dumped his car in the middle of the road after he was tipped off by Stephen McLaggan and John Bonner, who had been with Gerbil when he was murdered.
Ross Monaghan, who was shot dead in the Costa Del Sol along with Eddie Lyons, was accused of the murder and went on trial in 2012.
In court, it was heard how Fraggle had reached into the back of the Audi and took two mobile phones belonging to Gerbil and swallowed the sim cards.
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He claimed the sim cards were from his own phone and admitted doing so in an effort to hide the family’s criminal operation from the police.
When questioned Fraggle went on to explain how he had been in contact with Gerbil every day for 15 years and had been on the phone with him just 20 minutes before he was killed.
It was rumoured in underworld circles that Gerbil may have been set up by the Daniel clan but Fraggle firmly denied this.
Fraggle was asked if his dad Jamie Daniel got on with Carroll. He replied: “Yeah.” He was then asked: “Are you sure?” He said: “Positive.”
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When asked about his involvement in organised crime Fraggle claimed to be a £10 an hour car valeter despite driving a high-powered sports car with a private registration.
Witnesses described how Fraggle arrived at the car park and started giving McLaggan and Bonner orders.
It was put to Fraggle these were the actions of a crime boss but he denied the accusation.
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He was asked if he knew what Carroll did for a living and said he “no idea,” but his evidence at the trial was described by defence QC Derek Ogg as “contemptible nonsense.”
Monaghan eventually was acquitted but another Lyons enforcer William ‘Buff’ Paterson was convicted of the murder in 2015 and sentenced to 22 years in jail.
On the 10th anniversary of Gerbil’s murder in 2020 it was reported how Fraggle had left flowers at the grave with a tribute to his late pal, reading: ‘You are loved and missed every day and will always be in our hearts.’
Spanish cops claim the murders of Eddie Lyons, 46, and Ross Monaghan, 43, were ordered by the Daniel clan but Police Scotland insist this was not the case.
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Aneisha Beveridge, research director at Connells Group, said: “The rise in higher loan-to-value lending reflects the fact that lenders have become more comfortable extending larger loans to first-time buyers, supported by changes to lending regulations and a wider range of more innovative mortgage products aimed at those with smaller deposits.
An air traffic control system failure that led to thousands of flights being cancelled earlier this month was caused by a software glitch, a preliminary report has found.
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) probe into the incident on September 8 said it was ’caused by a software defect in a small part of the National Airspace System (NAS), which underpins the management of UK airspace’.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘The disruption we saw last week was completely unacceptable and I know how frustrating it was for passengers, airlines and airports.
‘I have now received NATS’ report and, while I am pleased to see that the safety of passengers was protected, it’s clear we need to urgently understand why this issue was not discovered and fixed before it caused chaos.
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‘I have therefore tasked the CAA with conducting an independent review to check NATS’ findings and investigate their investment plans to enhance resilience in the future, along with regulatory accountability.
‘It is crucial that our national infrastructure is fit for the future, and this government will make sure the aviation sector is as resilient as possible, so passengers can get to where they need to be.’
Hundreds of thousands of passengers suffered disruption due to the ‘technical issue’
Police forces are expected to have their work cut out this weekend, with derby matches in the Championship and beyond. Saturday’s early kick-off sees Millwall take on West Ham for the first time in over 14 years before Wolves and West Brom renew their rivalry at 12pm on Sunday.
Eyes were drawn to mid-September as soon as the fixture list was confirmed in June. Both West Ham and Wolves came down from the Premier League and these clashes were among the first that fans looked for.
The scheduling has given officers, the Metropolitan Police in particular, a huge task, as they work to prevent trouble and stop tensions from boiling over. Not to mention the rest of the weekend’s London fixtures which include Brentford versus Chelsea on Friday night and Fulham against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
But it’s not just forces across England braced for trouble either. In Glasgow, Celtic and Rangers will clash at Parkhead just one week after doing so at Ibrox.
February 2012 marked the last time that these two London clubs faced off. To sum up the rivalry, former West Ham captain Julian Dicks was hit by a brick while defending a corner away to Millwall in December 1998.
The Met are planning to deploy roughly 400 officers in an around The Den which is four times the usual number. Officers will be in riot gear, although won’t have shields, and each of them will be trained to deal with public disorder.
Dog units, mounted police and live facial recognition cameras will also be used as part of the operation. Rival fans will be told to use specific Tube and rail stations travelling to and from the game.
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The Met also issued a statement ahead of Saturday’s match which read: “On Saturday, 19 September at 12:30hrs, @MillwallFC face @WestHam at the Den – the first time the two clubs have met since 2012. We want fans to enjoy the match safely and have worked with both clubs to help this happen.
“As with any fixture, the Sporting Events Act 1985 is in place, which means entering or attempting to enter a ground while intoxicated is strictly prohibited. A Section 35 dispersal order will also be in place, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder. It will cover this area (below).”
A League Cup tie between the teams in 2009 saw one man stabbed. Play also had to be stopped three times due to fans invading the pitch.
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This week, injured West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek was filmed being threatened by a Millwall fan. In a video clip shared on social media, Soucek was warned: “If I see you at the Den next Saturday I’m going to cut your f***ing face off, you c***.”
Wolves vs West Brom
Fans of these two Midlands clubs haven’t needed to wait very long for this fixture to come back around. They last met in the FA Cup in January 2024, as Wolves won 2-0 at The Hawthorns.
But that wasn’t the story. The players were forced to leave the pitch for 35 minutes after violent fights broke out, with missiles also thrown.
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In a joint statement published on Thursday, both Wolves and West Brom reminded supporters that a total of 43 people were arrested, with 12 of them were charged and sentenced by the courts. One Football Banning Order was issued while five supporters received permanent club bans.
It is the first time that these two arch enemies have met at Molineux – in front of supporters – since February 2012, with the Baggies winning 5-1 and pushing Wolves further towards relegation.
The two clubs also asked that home and away supporters only use tickets purchased through official channels and urged them to sit in the correct areas at Molineux. The statement added: “Both clubs have worked closely with the Safety Advisory Group, local authorities and police to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for the fixture.
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“Supporters can expect enhanced stewarding, policing, robust ticketing controls and additional safety measures designed to protect everyone attending the match while allowing both sets of fans to enjoy the occasion.”
Celtic vs Rangers
Those who joke that there’s an Old Firm derby every week will be feeling smug right now. The pair of Glasgow heavyweights met for another bout last Sunday, with Rangers winning 3-0 at Ibrox in the Scottish League Cup.
Now it’s Celtic’s turn to host their bitter rivals, as the teams resume their Scottish Premiership campaign. After ugly scenes during an Old Firm last season, no away fans will be permitted in games involving Celtic and Rangers this term.
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But there were still arrests at the weekend. A Police Scotland officer was assaulted during the match at Ibrox and a 28-year-old man was cuffed in connection with the incident.
Police made a total of four arrests during the one-sided quarter-final, including a 55-year-old man for sectarian abuse. Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan thanked the ‘majority of fans’ for their behaviour, although he noted: “A small number of offences were detected during the course of the event.
“These included one instance of police assault and a separate incident involving sectarian abuse. Behaviour such as this is never acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
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