Crimson Desert – some people like it (Pearl Abyss)
The Tuesday letters page is surprised to find how big Crimson Desert developer Pearl Abyss is, as one reader is doubtful as to whether Screamer will be a hit.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
May contain annoyances So I bought Crimson Desert on Saturday, after reading several reviews and watching some YouTube videos of the game with the intention of getting a refund if I didn’t get on with it. The funny thing is it wasn’t even on my radar really until everything blew up, but it really got me curious as to how some reviews were really high on it and some very average.
Long story short, I didn’t refund it and I’m several hours in now and I’m hooked. It’s just such a fascinating game to play, I’m finding the flaws almost endearing and even though the controls certainly are a choice you do get used to them. It’s not what I thought it would be at all either, it’s closer to a sandbox fantasy simulation with so many interconnected systems and depth.
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It feels like every suggestion for a minigame or feature was evaluated by asking the question, ‘Will this be fun for someone?’ and if the answer was yes it went in and that feels quite refreshing, especially since it seems like you can ignore those quite happily if you don’t want to bother with them.
I will say, however, that this is almost certainly the most Marmite game I’ve ever played. It will either draw you in or you’ll bounce off it, I think. So I can totally see why there isn’t as much of a consensus on this as something like The Witcher 3.
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It reminds me in some ways of Destiny, when that first came out. There was something so compelling about that game, that just hit the spot for those of us who really got into it and this feels exactly the same to me. So, I don’t think the people who are saying it’s good and enjoying it are kidding themselves.
Hopefully over time the annoyances and the issues will be ironed out, as the dev team do seem to be responding quickly to the community. But even if those issues remain, I’m still enjoying my time with the game, warts and all. Carl
Money to burn I love how all this stuff coming out about the developers of Crimson Desert just spamming the game with random features and parts of other games, is exactly how the reviews described it and imagined it must’ve been made. What I wonder is how the game ever got founded, because I definitely would not be giving a bunch of people who have only ever made one MMO before the cash to make a… whatever Crimson Desert is supposed to be.
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It’s funny how often the biggest disasters in gaming can be seen from a mile away but I guess as long as the right people are making money from it all the madness is left to continue. Sagat
GC: Pearl Abyss is actually a really big company, with over a thousand employees; they also own EVE Online maker CCP. Black Desert Online is very popular in Asia.
Resist temptation The fact that Rockstar Games is paying some people less than minimum wage is beyond disgusting. I don’t care if they’re the cleaners, this is the company that makes the biggest entertainment product in human history and they have to have their knuckles rapped by the government in order for its employees to earn a living wage.
I’m extra shocked that this is happening in the UK, although I guess the US government would never have cared and we wouldn’t have found out. But c’mon Rockstar, try and do better. It’s not that hard not to be evil. Bootles
Exception to the rule I appreciate the review of Screamer, which I had never heard of until now (including the old 90s game). It sounds great: inventive and unique, which is why I’m sure it won’t sell at all and then everyone will complain why are there no arcade racers? Or whatever your favourite rare genre happens to be.
People have to vote with their wallets to get anything noticed and yet we constantly see great games do badly and then there’s no follow-up, from either that developer or another. I’m still shocked that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was a hit because it seemed to have everything going against.
Sure it was good, but if that was all you needed for something to be a hit the world would be a very different place. Hordak
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Still in the game I have to hand it to Microsoft, they are trying to carry on as if everything is normal. That Partner Showcase thing sounds like it’ll be a bit of a dud but they’re doing it anyway, as if everything was normal and the Xbox was still a viable format.
I’m very interested to see what they’re going to be like when they unveil the next gen console. Probably very arrogant and trying to pretend they’re king of the world, but I can’t pretend I’m not interested in seeing what they put out. It’s obvious they haven’t given up yet. Holstis
Remasters and remakes I have to admit I am very impressed with what I have seen with Resident Evil Requiem. Although I did not buy this game I did watch a 100% walkthrough and I can assure everyone this game absolutely delivers. From an honest perspective I am an original Resident Evil 2 fan and that was the game that got me into Resident Evil, alongside Resident Evil 1.
Also, with new DLC coming for Requiem we have been spoiled savage by Capcom and hope that we will see them consider continuing with new DLC in the foreseeable future, as the game has already sold 6 million copies. I’d love to see them do DLC adding more characters with unique campaigns, such as past Resident Evil characters making a return, like Alyssa has.
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Also, I think now that in 2026 it is time Capcom considered making future Resident Evil games more open world, with PlayStation 6 and Next Gen Xbox coming.
Finally, there is one point I’d like to bring to everyone’s attention. Someone has done an AI 4K HDR10 overhaul of the original Resident Evil game with up-to-date graphic enhancements and it looks and plays glorious, here’s the video.
If this can be done with an AI overhaul surely Capcom could do this with Resident Evil’s Directors Cut, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis in a remastered HD Collector’s Edition that would be sweet and nice for fans. gaz be rotten (gamertag)
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Loveable Evil Kudos to the people that organised that Resident Evil fan film. I can’t believe the amount of effort it must have taken to organise, on top of all the normal problems of making a film. I’d love to know how much convincing the actors took. They apparently couldn’t get Jill Valentine but I’m amazed any of the others wanted to remind people of their roles, so kudos to them.
Despite all the gore and horror, Resi really is such a loveable series. It’s so dumb and honest and fun. I agree that it should never be taken seriously because that completely robs it of half its appeal. The skill from Capcom is in riding that line between cheesiness and real scares. Necktie
Never again Crimson Desert is indeed many things: ambitious, overstuffed, bloated, disappointing, and a generic single-player title that I pre-ordered and in less than 24 hours traded in immediately to CeX. Because it is, from what I’ve played and the many reviews, a very barebones title. Personally, I am very glad to be rid of it and just from seeing the awfully bland graphics, the awful controls, the lack of a narrative to grip you. It is indeed one of the most disappointing games of 2026.
It’s no surprise that Pearl Abyss’s stock has fallen, but my mistake is one to be learnt from. I ignored the countless red flags, the shady tactics by Pearl Abyss to implement a review embargo so very late and the lack of any explanation, as far as any hints to the narrative beats and overall themes of the world. It was only false window dressing, disguised as the next great open world feature.
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Patches can only do so much to fix or even try to fix what is essentially a title that will be forgotten very soon, especially when we are less than a month away from the release of Saros and Pragmata. They seem infinitely more interesting, but I cannot stress this enough, I’ll be waiting for reviews for both releases.
I’m more confident about Saros, since it’s a continuation of the systems introduced in Returnal, but if my mistake has taught me anything. It’s that always trust your instincts. I only wish I hadn’t even gazed at Crimson Desert or given it a glance at all. That’s truly a regret I have to come to terms with.
As far as the reviews go, it sits at a 78 on Metacritic. In my opinion, it’s far too high of a score for such a wasteful opportunity. It deserves far much less. Even GC scoring it a 6 is far too kind. It’s more or less a 4 or a 3 out of 10. For utilising a beautiful world but lacking in many important factors.
May there never be a sequel to this debacle. On a final note, it would be absolutely phenomenal if GTA 6 was to release on the Nintendo Switch 2. But it is even possible? We’ll have to see and wait. Shahzaib Sadiq
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Inbox also-rans Sympathies in advance to whatever penniless students end up having to walk around the Minecraft theme park wearing a bunch of cardboard boxes to look like the characters. I feel grateful my boy has never shown any interest in the game. Scourge
Agree on adding more character moments to Resident Evil. The next game definitely has to have Leon and Ada putting on a dinner party for Chris and Jill and the rest. And then zombies attacking, obviously. (Or maybe Hunters? They were always my favourite and it feels like we haven’t seen them for years.) Grossman
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North Yorkshire Police said the theft happened in Sainsbury’s Local in Piccadilly on Thursday, February 26.
Recommended reading:
Police issued CCTV images of three men the force said it would like to speak to as they may have information which will support the investigation into the theft and asked the public if they recognised them.
A force spokesperson said: “Email ben.hepworth@northyorkshire.police.uk if you can help.
“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC685 Hepworth or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
“Please quote reference 12260035752 when passing on information.”
Starmer loses his cool with Tory MP whilst being grilled on Iran conflict
Rachel Reeves will unveil a crackdown on companies exploiting the crisis in the Middle East in a bid to protect working people from “unfair price rises”.
The chancellor will lay out plans to MPs in the Commons for an “anti-profiteering framework” to catch firms raising prices unfairly during the Iran war.
She is also expected to call for a more diverse mix of energy sources to protect the public against voilatile oil and gas markets.
It comes following an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday, when Ms Reeves met with Sir Keir Starmer to address the economic impact of the Iran war.
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The effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to the world’s oil supply, has sent prices spiralling – although they fell on Monday after Donald Trump claimed that talks were taknig place with Iran to end the conflict.
In a statement following the Cobra meeting, Downing Street said: “The Chancellor set out the steps she will take tomorrow [Tuesday] – in a statement to Parliament – that will help protect working people from unfair price rises.”
Motorists should not drive slower because of Iran oil crisis, minister
Motorists should not drive slower nor buy fuel differently because of the Iran oil crisis, an energy minister has said.
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Michael Shanks was asked by Times Radio if drivers should change their habits as a result of the oil restrictions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
He told the broadcaster: “They should do everything as absolutely normal because there is no shortage of fuel anywhere in the country at the moment. We monitor this every single day, I look at the numbers personally. There’s no issue at all with that.”
Mr Shanks added: “People should go about their business as normal. That’s what the RAC and the AA have said. It’s really important people do that.
“There’s no shortage of fuel and everything is working as normal.”
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Asked directly if drivers should slow their speed, Mr Shanks replied: “Look genuinely, people shouldn’t change their behaviour or their habits in the slightest.”
The US continues to target Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (US Centcom)
Tara Cobham24 March 2026 07:28
Starmer to give Competition and Markets Authority ‘further teeth’ to protect customers
Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday he was looking at giving the Competition and Markets Authority “further teeth” so it can better protect customers.
As part of that, Downing Street said the Government will not hesitate to give the CMA and other regulators “time-limited, targeted powers” if needed. The Treasury, Department for Business and Trade and regulators are working “at pace” on what those powers could be.
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Bryony Gooch24 March 2026 07:10
No 10: Reeves to ‘crack down on companies if they exploit’ Iran war
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey and energy secretary Ed Miliband gave updates on the economy regarding the crisis in the Middle East in a Cobra meeting on Monday.
They stressed that de-escalation and ending the Iran conflict was “the best thing we can do for the economy”, Downing Street said in a readout.
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“The Chancellor set out the steps she will take tomorrow – in a statement to Parliament – that will help protect working people from unfair price rises.
“She spoke about a plan to detect and crack down on companies if they exploit the crisis in the Middle East. This will take the form of a new anti-profiteering framework which will help regulators like the CMA to root out price gouging.”
Valerie Perrine died ‘surrounded by love’ according to her friend (Picture: Shutterstock; LA Times/Getty)
Oscar-nominated actress Valerie Perrine has died at the age of 82 after a ‘courageous’ health battle.
The star is best known for playing Eve Teschmacher, the love interest of Lex Luthor in the Superman films, who was played by Gene Hackman.
Announcing her death online, Perrine’s friend Stacey Souther wrote on a GoFundMe page that she died at her home ‘surrounded by love’ on March 23.
This came after a ‘quiet, courageous battle against both Parkinson’s disease and debilitating central tremors.’
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Perrine’s acting career included roles in Slaughterhouse-Five, the Electric Horseman and 1974’s Lenny, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
The star was also known as a global sex symbol, having posed for Playboy magazine twice.
The actress was nominated for an Oscar in 1974 (Credits: Broadimage/Shutterstock)
She is best known for playing the love interest of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) in the Superman films (Picture: Warner Bros/Dc Comics/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Writing on social media, Souther said: ”It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away.
‘She faced Parkinson’s disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining.
‘She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest—and what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it.
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‘I love you, Valerie. I’ll see you on the other side.’
Souther also created a GoFundMe to help fulfill Perrine’s last wish of being buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park after she exhausted her finances during her health battle.
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Life expectancy in the UK has risen dramatically since the Industrial Revolution. For more than a century, people lived increasingly long and healthy lives. But around the turn of the millennium, that progress began to slow.
In 2015, economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton published a landmark study showing something unexpected. From the late 1990s onwards, death rates among middle-aged white Americans without university degrees had started to rise. Three causes of death were driving the trend: suicide, drug overdoses and alcohol-related disease. Case and Deaton called these “deaths of despair” and they have been a topic of research in public health ever since.
Although deaths of despair were originally thought to be a specifically American problem, researchers have been concerned that similar patterns exist elsewhere. New research from my colleague Eurwen Williams and myself suggests they do. And in England and Wales, they are particularly common in one type of place: former coal mining communities.
Coal once powered the UK’s economy. At its peak in 1920, the industry employed more than 5% of the entire UK workforce. Mining shaped towns and villages across England, Wales and Scotland. Work was hard, but it provided stable employment and strong communities. That began to change in the late 20th century.
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Competition from imported coal, the shift to oil and gas, and political conflict between miners and government accelerated the industry’s decline. The confrontation reached its peak during the 1984 to 1985 miners’ strike against the government of Margaret Thatcher.
Within a generation, most mines had closed. For many coalfield communities, the economic shock was profound. Jobs disappeared. Local economies struggled to recover. And many areas have never fully recovered. We wanted to understand whether this long economic transition has left a lasting mark on public health.
For our study we examined whether deaths of despair are more common in former coal mining areas than elsewhere. To do this, we linked death registration data from the Office for National Statistics with historical records of coal mines and the dates they closed. This allowed us to compare mortality rates between areas with a history of coal mining and those without.
We analysed deaths between 2015 and 2023 and looked specifically at three causes – suicide, alcohol-related deaths and drug poisoning. What we found was striking.
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Across England and Wales, deaths of despair were consistently higher in communities that once relied on coal mining. Alcohol-related deaths were particularly elevated. In some coalfield areas, they were between 27% and 52% higher than in places without a mining history.
Drug poisoning deaths were also much more common, running 23% to 53% higher than elsewhere. While suicide rates were higher too, the difference was smaller, roughly 7% to 19% higher. Perhaps most striking was the fact that these patterns appeared even in places where coal mining ended more than 50 years ago.
More than just poverty
At first glance, it may seem obvious why this happens. Former coalfield areas tend to be poorer than other parts of the country. Poverty is closely linked to poorer health.
But when we adjusted our analysis to account for differences in deprivation, something interesting happened. The gaps became smaller but they didn’t disappear.
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Former coal mining communities still had significantly higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and drug poisoning. Suicide rates also remained elevated in areas where mines closed more recently. In other words, poverty alone cannot explain the pattern. Something deeper appears to be at work.
The legacy of industrial decline can shape communities in ways that standard economic measures struggle to capture. The loss of stable employment, the weakening of social institutions and long-term uncertainty about the future can all leave lasting effects. These pressures may contribute to the kinds of distress that lead to deaths of despair.
The legacy of coal mining persists in its former communities. Angela Hampton Picture Library/Alamy
A wider pattern of health inquality
Our findings fit with a growing body of research on health in former coalfield communities. Previous studies have found higher rates of mental health problems in these areas. Others have identified other public health issues, including greater use of anabolic steroids and lower uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.
Taken together, these studies suggest the effects of deindustrialisation can persist for decades. Coal may be gone, but the consequences remain.
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The decline of coal is one of the clearest examples in modern Britain of how economic transitions can reshape communities. It shows how the effects of industrial change can outlive the industries themselves.
Many economists believe the world may be entering another major economic shift. Advances in artificial intelligence are already beginning to reshape parts of the labour market.
History suggests these transitions need to be managed carefully. For decades, the UK has often relied on markets to absorb economic shocks, with limited industrial strategy to support the places most affected. But our findings highlight what can happen when communities face large economic changes without timely support.
The story of Britain’s coalfields is not just about the past. It is a reminder that economic transitions leave deep marks on people and places. And if we want to avoid repeating those mistakes, we need to learn from them.
At least 66 people have died after a military transport plane carrying 128 people, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after take-off
Tannur Anders UK & World News Reporter
06:57, 24 Mar 2026
At least 66 people have lost their lives following a military transport aircraft crash shortly after departure in Colombia.
It is understood that 128 people were aboard, predominantly soldiers, when the aircraft went down on Monday, 23 March in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia. Dozens have sustained injuries, the head of Colombia’s armed forces confirmed. Four military personnel remained unaccounted for.
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Defence minister Pedro Sanchez stated on X that the aircraft was transporting troops to another city in Putumayo.
“Sadly, as a consequence of this tragic accident, 66 of our military elements died,” said General Hugo Alejandro Lopez Barreto.
“At the moment, we have no information, or indications, that it was an attack by an illegal armed group,” Mr Barreto added.
The remains of the victims have been transported to the small town’s morgue. Just two clinics in the town treated the wounded before they were airlifted to larger cities. Puerto Leguizamo is situated in Putumayo, an Amazonian province bordering Ecuador and Peru.
Footage circulated online by Colombian media outlets showed a dense black plume of smoke billowing from a field where the aircraft came down. A lorry carrying soldiers is seen racing to the scene.
Carlos Fernando Silva, the commander of Colombia’s air force, said specifics of the incident were not yet available, “except that the plane had a problem and went down about two kilometres from the airport”.
NEW YORK (AP) — Moments after an Air Canada jet collided at high speed with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilots and hurling a flight attendant from the aircraft, the passengers took their escape into their own hands.
With the smell of fuel in the air and debris dangling from the obliterated cockpit, passengers tore open emergency exit doors, jumped off the plane’s wings and then turned around to catch others coming up behind them, some bleeding or with head wounds.
“Strangely enough, I wasn’t scared or panicked. On the contrary, I think most of us were pretty aware of what happened,” said passenger Clément Lelièvre. “So we all went outside; we got other people out.”
About 40 passengers and crew members on the regional jet from Montreal, and two people from the fire truck, were taken to hospitals. Some suffered serious injuries, but by Monday morning, most had been released, and others walked away without needing treatment.
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As investigators continued delving Tuesday into what caused the catastrophic wreck, stories of survival also emerged — including that of the flight attendant, found injured but alive outside the aircraft.
Lelièvre credited the pilots’ “incredible reflexes” with saving lives. The pilots braked extremely hard just as the plane touched down, he said.
The collision late Sunday came after the fire truck was given permission to check on another plane that had aborted its takeoff after reporting an odor on board and started crossing the tarmac. An air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop.
Roughly 20 minutes later, the controller appears to blame himself. “We were dealing with an emergency earlier,” the controller said. “I messed up.”
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A key for investigators will be examining coordination of the airport’s air traffic and ground traffic at the time of the crash, said Mary Schiavo, a former Department of Transportation Inspector General.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said LaGuardia is “well-staffed” but faces a shortage of controllers.
The runway where the crash happened is likely to be closed for “days” during the investigation, Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, said at a news conference Monday. Investigators need to sift through a lot of debris, she said.
Authorities recovered the plane’s cockpit and flight data recorders by cutting a hole in the aircraft’s roof and then drove them to the NTSB lab in Washington for analysis, Homendy said.
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It was too early in the investigation to answer many questions about the accident, but more information was expected to be released Tuesday, she said.
The crash shut down LaGuardia — the New York region’s third busiest hub — during what was already a messy time at U.S. airports because of a partial government shutdown.
Flights resumed Monday afternoon on one runway and with lengthy delays. The shutdown caused some disruptions at other airports, too, especially for Delta, which has a major presence at LaGuardia.
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada, according to the airline. The flight originated at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Canada has also sent a team of investigators.
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The pilot and copilot who died in the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in 34 years were both based out of Canada, said Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport.
Jeannette Gagnier, the great aunt of one of the pilots, identified him as Antoine Forest, and said he always wanted to be a pilot.
Air traffic controllers are not impacted by the partial government shutdown that has caused long delays at airport security checkpoints in recent days. They have been affected by past shutdowns.
The FAA has been chronically short on air traffic controllers for years.
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LaGuardia is one of 35 major U.S. airports with an advanced surface surveillance system designed to help keep track of planes and vehicles crossing the airport.
An alarm heard in the background of the air traffic control audio was likely from the system and would have alerted the tower to the potential collision, Former FAA air traffic control chief Mike McCormick said.
FAA statistics show there were 1,636 runway incursions last year.
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Associated Press reporters Michael R. Sisak, Anthony Izaguirre and Mae Anderson in New York; Rob Gillies in Toronto; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.
In the lead-up to the recent men’s Manchester derby, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and partner organisations were deployed across the city to raise awareness of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and protect vulnerable people.
The United Nations defines VAWG as acts of gender-based violence that cause physical, sexual or psychological harm. While that includes serious crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence, experts say casual misogyny and sexist comments can also contribute by reinforcing gender inequality.
Fans in Manchester were encouraged to recognise abuse and challenge it.
Ch Supt Colette Rose – head of specialist operations at GMP – said: “I think VAWG is a societal problem. It’s high on the national agenda. It leaks into every aspect of our society, and that includes sports and football.
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“What we tend to see at football is predominantly a male-dominated fanbase. If we can work with males around behaviours that may make women feel unsafe or intimidated and educate people, that will have an impact on wider society.”
Figures released by GMP show the number of reported incidents of VAWG at football matches increased from 18 in the 2023-24 season to 28 last season – and that is expected to rise again.
Her Game Too, meanwhile, told us they receive at least one report every matchday.
But Rose does not think that necessarily shows the issue is getting worse.
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“I think what is actually happening is we’re calling it out,” she said. “And I think society is starting to see that these behaviours are unacceptable and our partners are really engaged in working with us on this.
“People are reporting it more because they can see that it’s wrong and we shouldn’t just accept it.”
Rose recalls one incident at a match in Germany when she was targeted.
“I had reason to speak to a couple of lads who were exiting the game and were very jubilant, but were singing songs that could have caused real offence in Germany,” she says.
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“The barrage of abuse that I got on the back of that was very much about my sex, the way I looked… I was followed around the stadium for a bit and I couldn’t locate a police officer in uniform to support me.
“It shook me to the core. I didn’t realise I could ever feel that vulnerable in a crowd as a police officer, and in fear of that immediate violence towards me, purely because I was a female.
“The language used was very misogynistic and the person perpetrating it was using my vulnerabilities to make me feel the way I did. It’s a horrible feeling.”
Noel Gallagher has revealed an insight into his boozy reunion with little brother Liam as the two Oasis legends celebrated a victory for their beloved Manchester City on Sunday
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
06:30, 24 Mar 2026Updated 06:36, 24 Mar 2026
Noel Gallagher revealed he and brother Liam partied for nine hours this weekend. It was a reunion we could have only dreamed about a few years ago, but any tension between the brothers is firmly in the past.
Just a few months ago, Noel, 58, and Liam, 53, hugged one another on stage in Brazil after their final concert on the mammoth Oasis Live ’25 Tour, a tour nobody ever expected to happen. But after playing 41 shows together and having put their differences aside, the brotherly love is as strong as ever.
This weekend, the Mirror revealed that the two siblings celebrated in style in a fancy box at Wembley Stadium, watching their beloved Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 to win the Carabao Cup Final. A source close to the band told us that it had been “many years” since the brothers attended a match together, and while it was “noisy and lively,” they were “both delighted with the result”.
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Now, Noel has shared an insight into their boozy antics, which saw the Gallaghers come out in force. They were joined by Noel’s two sons from a previous marriage, Liam’s sons Gene and Lennon, and Gene’s girlfriend, Nevey Maya, as well as Liam’s fiancée Debbie Gwyther, 41, who is said to be from a family of Arsenal fans.
“Liam invited me in his box. He was on spectacular form,” Noel said. He added: “We celebrated hard, we were in a boozy box. On either side of us were Arsenal boxes, and let’s put it this way — he [Liam] was letting them know that he was there. All the kids were there, we had a great time.”
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Prior to hitting the road last year, Liam had turned his back on booze but found it fitting to have a drink as he soaked in the atmosphere at Wembley Stadium. Meanwhile, Noel joked: “I was out Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am looking my age this morning.”
Liam, however, was said to be in a boozer close to his home with fiancée Debbie and his two sons at 2pm before they made their way to the stadium. Speaking to The Sun about the reunion over the weekend, a source said: “The lure of reuniting Oasis brought Noel and Liam back together, and now football has done it again.
“Remember, it was only a couple of years ago that Noel and Liam couldn’t bear to be in a room with one another. Then on November 23, they were hugging on stage in Brazil after playing their last of 41 sold-out shows around the world.
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Being on tour together reminded Noel and Liam of the love they have for each other, even if they do still wind each other up now and then.”
While many were emotional after seeing Noel and Liam hug for the first time in decades during the opening night, Noel previously said that the band are not the emotional type. “We’re not those kinds of guys, really,” he said. He added: “It’s great to be back with Bonehead and Liam, just be doing it again.
“I guess when it’s all said and done, you sit and reflect on it. But it’s great being back in the band with Liam. I forgot how funny he was.” And while Liam was widely praised for his voice being on top form, Noel joked it was “AI”. Rocker Noel went on to say that he’s the “songwriter” before praising his little brother for “smashing it” on the tour, knowing how “difficult” it is to be the frontman of a band.
EastEnders’ Nicola Mitchell actress Laura Doddington has revealed emotional scenes ahead on the BBC soap next week as her character goes into labour prematurely
06:30, 24 Mar 2026Updated 06:35, 24 Mar 2026
Emotional scenes will take their toll on one EastEnders favourite next week.
Pregnant Nicola Mitchell is left distressed as she goes into premature labour. The character initially experiences pains and tries to keep them to herself.
After a visit to the hospital she heads back to Walford, but soon after a row with Penny Branning, the character is rushed to hospital where she gives birth to a baby girl.
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Sadly Nicola is not allowed to see her baby daughter due to an infection, while the baby’s father, George Knight, is on hand to support her. Actress Laura Doddington has said we will see a more vulnerable side to her character as the episodes air, with Nicola left “broken”.
Laura said: “It takes a significant toll on her, and we see a real vulnerability in her, compared to her usually combative and protective parenting style. This week, the emotional strain and the inability to see her baby leave her broken, and the situation becomes heartbreaking for her, especially knowing that everyone else can see the baby while she cannot.”
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It all begins at the start of the week, when Nicola hides the concerns about her unborn child that she’s facing. Laura explained: “She is incredibly distracted because she hasn’t felt the baby move, something that she initially keeps to herself.
“With the Knight Fusion launch being an important moment for George, she wants to support him and avoids raising his worries while trying to manage her own.” After admitting her fears she gets checked over before being allowed to leave.
Back in Walford there’s a moment where Nicola supports pregnant Penny after a run-in with Suki Panesar. Laura said: “From Nicola’s perspective, she was simply trying to speak with Penny when Suki interrupted, which infuriates her!
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“Her opinion of Suki is already low given the recent issues involving Ravi and Harry. With Penny in the early stages of pregnancy, Nicola understands the anxieties that come with that experience.
“She also has a soft spot for Penny, who has supported Harry throughout his recent rehabilitation.” But soon Nicola realises Penny’s baby could be her son Harry’s, and not Vinny Panesar’s.
Laura revealed: “Nicola wants clarity as soon as possible on whether the baby is Harry’s. She’s incredibly protective over him and carries guilt about what he has been through.
“She also feels she has fallen short as a mother, so if the baby is his, she wants to support him from the outset. Harry has hinted that he does want children and is beginning to think seriously about his future. With Harry and Gina still early in their relationship, she feels it’s important to establish the truth now rather than risk a more painful revelation later, once they have invested more in their future together.”
It’s during a confrontation about this with Penny that Nicola is overcome with pains, and eventually learns she is in labour. Laura shared: “Nicola is used to dealing with things on her own and doesn’t want to burden George with any additional worries.
“She is already dealing with loads of concerns that she wants to keep to herself, convincing herself they may not be serious. Having experienced false labour with both Harry and Barney, part of her also believes the pains could simply be another false alarm.”
Teasing what will happen for George and Nicola now that their daughter has arrived, Laura added: “I think they will make an excellent team, as they bring different energies and moral standings that complement each other. They have open and honestly conversations with each other, addressing things head on rather than avoiding them and they have learned from their previous parenting experiences.”
Lacey Milner from Meadow Park Care Home in Bedlington has received a Long Service Award for her commitment to Barchester Healthcare.
She began working for Barchester in March 2011 and has held a variety of roles over the years.
Adele Keenan, employee services director at Barchester, said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Lacey has achieved this milestone.
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“It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with the best possible care.”
Colleagues have praised her work ethic and dedication.
Julie Bond, general manager at Meadow Park, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 15 years of loyal service with Lacey.
“She has demonstrated her dedication and commitment to this home and its residents year after year.
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“I speak for all of us here at Meadow Park when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Lacey.”
Meadow Park Care Home is part of Barchester Healthcare and provides residential and dementia care for 61 residents from respite breaks to long term stays.
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