As officers pull up outside a Victorian terraced home in east London, they take note of the number plate of the car parked on the driveway.
They fear it could belong to a domestic abuser who has been banned from the home because he is suspected of violently assaulting his partner. He was never prosecuted for the alleged attack because the victim was not prepared to make a statement. But if they find him here, it will be grounds for his arrest.
When three officers knock on the front door, a housemate tells them the victim is out at work, but reveals the suspected abuser has been staying there too. Officers make an urgent note to return that evening.
“It’s worrying that he’s been here. That’s the whole purpose of these visits, to potentially get that window of opportunity to help,” explains Sergeant Amar Sehmby, part of the Metropolitan Police’s safer neighbourhood team for Havering.
The unannounced house call is part of a new force-wide initiative called Operation Sallus to better enforce Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) – often under-used court orders which are supposed to help protect victims, often by banning perpetrators from contacting them.
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In the past, survivors have claimed such orders were so badly monitored they were worth little more than the paper they were written on.
However, this operation, which was last month in use in every London borough following a gradual rollout, is designed to counter that perception by taking a proactive approach with regular checks on active DVPOs in each neighbourhood.
“This is quite a soft use of enforcement, but it’s very much a kind of community-based linking our community officers with victim-survivors of domestic abuse,” detective chief superintendent Andrew Wadey, the force’s lead for public protection, told The Independent, which was invited to join officers making house calls last week.
“It’s an in-person visit by local officers, and the intention there is to hopefully speak to the victim and ascertain if there’s been any further issues. Is the offender there, do they need any kind of referrals or signposting to support agencies and essentially just take a really sort of victim-led approach to providing assurance, reassurance, and another avenue towards reporting any kind of breaches or concerns.”
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Detective chief superintendent Andrew Wadey (The Independent)
Often, police turn to a magistrate for a protective order when there is not enough evidence for a trial or a victim is not ready to support a prosecution. They are a civil order and a breach can result in an arrest, with a mandatory court appearance within 24 hours. However the short-term orders only last a maximum of 28 days and breaches are a civil offence only punishable by a fine or up to two months in prison.
They will eventually be replaced with tougher Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), which are currently being trialled and carry a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.
In one case on the list of 10 addresses to be checked last week, the offender has already breached the DVPO twice and been arrested both times.
Other victims Sgt Sehmby and his team of two constables visit include a mother who was a victim of non-fatal strangulation at the hands of her own son and a woman who was strangled and thrown to the ground by her partner, who had previously threatened to kill her.
At the mother’s home, no one answers the door. But, back in the van, officers manage to speak to her on the phone where she tells them she is safe and staying with her daughter.
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PC Jake Tibbs told her: “If anything does happen, please call the police, obviously the order is there to protect yourself. And obviously we can deal with it as we need to.”
The other strangulation victim was not at home, but officers planned to return later that night.
The Independent joined Met Police officers during Operation Sallus, enforcing Domestic Violence Protection Orders (The Independent)
At a family home in east London, officers also visited a father who was protected by an order after his ex-partner was accused of seriously injuring him in a violent attack which caused grievous bodily harm and criminal damage. The officers spent 20 minutes inside the home, ensuring the order was being fully complied with.
They are also trained to look for signs of coercive and controlling behaviour and check on any children in the house.
The Met plans to start using the same tactics to enforce Stalking Protection Orders and Sexual Risk Orders in the coming months.
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According to the force, the strategy, along with other innovative approaches to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), is starting to bear fruit.
In addition to Operation Sallus, the Met has been using counter terrorism tactics to track the highest risk VAWG offenders through their V100 programme and deployed undercover patrols to crack down on predatory behaviour in nighttime hotspots as part of Project Vigilant.
New figures show that arrests and charges for rape offences have more than doubled over the last year in London, making the Met the force with highest detection and charge rate for rape.
Arrests and charges for domestic violence have also increased by 82 per cent year on year, and arrests and charges for violence against women and girls have increased by 71 per cent.
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DCS Wadey said they are “really starting to see the dial turn in terms of more people being charged”.
“And whilst the work is by no means done, there’s still so much more to do, this is really giving us momentum, I think, which is key. And hopefully it is giving greater confidence, particularly to women and girls, to report,” he added.
He admitted there still “much to be done” to rebuild confidence in the force after a difficult few years which saw the organisation labelled as “institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic” in a damning report by Baroness Louise Casey in 2023. It was commissioned following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer in 2021, who used his warrant card to trick her into his car.
The Met say charges and arrests for domestic abuse have increased (PA)
Yet more scandal has followed, with another officer, David Carrick unmasked as one of Britain’s worst sex offenders in 2023 and a damning undercover BBC Panorama investigation at Charing Cross police station last year, which showed officers making offensive comments and bragging about using violence.
The police chief believes Labour’s ambitious manifesto pledge to halve VAWG in just ten years is achievable, but will require a “whole system approach”.
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Domestic abuse charity Refuge has welcomed the efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement of DVPOs in London, but called for an increase in their use, adding: “Only when these orders are properly implemented will survivors be able to access the full protection of the law.”
Some 3.8 million people experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In comparison, only 11,401 DVPOs were granted in year to March 2024, according to the most recent ONS figures.
Bo Bottomley, policy and public affairs manager at Refuge, said: “One in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, but Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) are used in only a very small number of cases.
“Where protective orders are in place, survivors often tell us they are ineffective and not properly monitored and enforced by the police. Perpetrators routinely breach these orders, but police often fail to act when they do, leaving survivors at an increased risk of harm.
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“We welcome efforts to improve monitoring and enforcement of DVPOs in London, but to truly improve survivor safety and strengthen confidence in the police response to domestic abuse, Refuge is calling for increased use of DVPOs in relevant cases, and a corresponding increase in criminal proceedings following order breaches.”
The transfer window is always a stressful time for managers and owners, but Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suffered a huge disappointment
Sir Jim Ratcliffe suffered a thoroughly disappointing Friday after witnessing two potential deals fall through in rapid succession.
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The Manchester United co-owner also holds a majority stake in French side Nice, an arrangement he had been keen to conclude as takeover talks intensified. It is understood that an American consortium had been engaged in advanced discussions over acquiring the club, who narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the campaign.
Ratcliffe and INEOS had set a strict deadline of June 15 to complete a sale, but Nice Matin, via Get Football News France, report that the deal has now fallen apart completely.
The potential purchasers had reached the stage of visiting Nice’s training facility. However, at the final moment they were unable to furnish the required financial guarantees and sporting stability commitments.
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Ratcliffe purchased the club through INEOS in 2019 but has become progressively more distant since finalising his investment into Manchester United at the close of 2023.
The petrochemicals magnate has gone as far as to publicly acknowledge he derives little enjoyment from watching the Ligue 1 outfit, a view that has left supporters increasingly dismayed with the club’s direction, reports the Express.
Last year, Ratcliffe conceded: “I don’t particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited.”
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Having already lowered his asking price in an attempt to secure a sale, it now appears increasingly probable that Nice will remain under INEOS ownership when the 2026/27 season kicks off. Off the pitch, considerable changes are needed following a disastrous campaign that came close to ending in relegation from Ligue 1.
Former Leicester and Southampton boss Claude Puel stepped in on a temporary basis last season, but looks unlikely to be handed the role permanently. L’Equipe report that Nice had approached Liam Rosenior, hoping to entice him back to French football following his turbulent spell at Chelsea.
Rosenior had built his reputation in the country while managing Strasbourg, before making the move to Chelsea at the start of 2026. However, he lasted just four months at Stamford Bridge and is now seeking a complete break from football.
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On a more positive note for Ratcliffe, United’s summer transfer window strategy is moving forward smoothly after reaching an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta. The club are willing to invest further, with competition heating up for Mateus Fernandes.
United have identified the West Ham star as a primary target, and the path to securing his signature has cleared following Arsenal’s refusal to meet his £80m valuation.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Finnian passed away after his brave battle with cancer earlier this year
Hope Street has announced it will pay tribute to late star Finnian Garbutt in its first-ever film.
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The Co Down drama, which follows the life of police officers in the fictional town of Port Devine, has announced filming will begin for its first feature-length special ‘One of Our Own’ this week.
This special film will also include scenes filmed with Finnian Garbutt, who died earlier this year after his battle with cancer.
The 28-year-old, from Bangor, became a beloved face on the show since joining the cast in 2023 as PC Ryan Power.
Finnian spotted a lump behind his ear at the end of 2020 but thought it was an ingrown hair – when lockdown eased and he was able to return to his barber shop for a haircut, he became concerned when his barber noticed the lump had grown “quite substantially.”
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At 25, he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and has used his platform to speak out and raise awareness in other young people.
He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in April and is remembered as the “greatest husband, father, son, brother, and friend we could ever ask for”.
Comedians Paddy Raff and Tim McGarry will make their Hope Street debuts in the fictional town of Port Devine, as they guest star as The Commodore’s new chef and barman Malcolm McQueen and Port Devine’s minister the Reverend Dodds.
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The one-off film special is a co-commission between BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Daytime, Northern Ireland Screen and BritBox.
It will air on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Daytime later this autumn following a theatrical release in cinemas across Northern Ireland in September 2026, with further cinematic releases across the UK in October 2026.
The story opens with a violent crime committed against a much-loved local and the police investigation brings bad news for Detective Sergeant Marlene Pettigrew. Love is also in the air and there’s a wedding to plan, but this is Port Devine, what could possibly go wrong?
The feature film has been written by Paul Marquess, who said: “How brilliant to be shooting Hope Street The Movie!
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“Hope Street has always celebrated Northern Ireland wit, wisdom and talent – and One Of Our Own will continue that tradition.
“It’s a joy to rejoin our friends in Port Devine and to get to work with our hugely talented cast and crew once again.”
The 193rd Durham Regatta got underway in dry but windy conditions on the city Racecourse as hundreds of crews from junior scullers to heavyweight senior eights took to the river in back-to-back races from breakfast time on Saturday to early evening on Sunday.
As ever, most races were over the short 700-metre course, from Pelaw Wood to just beyond Baths Bridge.
Rowing action on the River Wear in Durham this weekend at the 193rd year of the Durham Regatta (Image: Chris Booth)
But some senior crews were also taking part in the more endurance-sapping 1,800m course, from Pelaw Wood to the Counts House.
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Durham Regatta 2026 (Image: Chris Booth)
The packed racing programme was complemented by the many bankside counter attractions, designed to entertain all ages.
Durham Regatta 2026 (Image: Chris Booth)
There was a rolling programme of musical performances taking to the Racecourse bandstand and the usual classic car show on the adjoining playing fields.
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Single sculler in action at the Durham Regatta (Image: Chris Booth)
Providing the heavens don’t open as Sunday progresses the event is expected to have attracted about 10,000 spectators over the course of the two days, featuring about 1,400 competitors from crews mostly from northern England, but some from further afield, including Scandinavia and the Netherlands.
Spectators on the riverbanks at Durham Regatta (Image: Chris Booth)
The regatta’s roots were in the annual flotilla of boats down the river to mark the Duke of Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815, staged on the anniversary, June 16, each year.
Durham Regatta 2026 (Image: Chris Booth)
Following the founding of Durham University in 1833 the event transformed from a river pageant into the competitive rowing regatta, akin to what is seen even to this day, from 1834.
It is acknowledged as being the country’s second oldest rowing regatta, after Chester, but five years older than its more famous ‘cousin’, Henley Regatta, on the River Thames.
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Durham Regatta 2026 (Image: Chris Booth)
This year there were 60 trophies to be won in the various categories, but the blue riband event remained the Grand Challenge Cup for elite fours crews, which usually reaches a finale mid-to-late afternoon on Sunday (June 14).
Durham Regatta 2026 (Image: Chris Booth)
The best vantage points are on the Regatta Enclosure, on the Racecourse, where most of the food and drink stalls are located.
It is open to the public from 8am to 8pm on both days, but from 7am for competitors.
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There is a charge for spectators, but with reductions for over 65s and children aged five to 16, while accompanied under-fives are admitted free of charge.
Further information about the racing programme and other attractions is available via the regatta website, : https://durham-regatta.org.uk/
The Bolton-born manager is now helping build a community at Atherton‘s Witch Tap House after the venue reopened following a six-figure refurbishment.
Liz, from Heaton, took over as manager shortly before it reopened in December.
The venue, formerly known as The Pendle Witch, has been given a new look as owners sought to create a more relaxed and community-focused pub.
After more than 30 years working in hospitality, Liz said it is the people who keep her passionate about the industry.
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Inside the pub after its refurb. (Image: Liz Berry)
Liz said: “I started behind bars when I was 21 in Bolton town centre and just absolutely loved it.
“I love talking to people, I love watching people when they’re on nights out, and it’s just, I can have a night out without getting drunk, and I love it, absolutely love it.”
The pub reopened on December 22 following extensive renovation work.
The refurbishment included a new extension, a redesigned bar area and improvements to the outdoor seating space.
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The venue now focuses on cask ales, conversation and community events rather than loud live entertainment.
Liz added: “That community thing that pubs have is it for me.
“It brings people together. Your regular customers, they become almost family. You know more about them than the hairdresser does. They tell you everything.”
The Witch Tap House is owned by Moorhouse’s Brewery.
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Outside. (Image: Liz Berry)
Liz said the aim was to return the pub to its roots as a traditional cask ale venue while creating a welcoming environment for all ages.
The pub offers five cask ales alongside lagers, wines and alcohol-free drinks.
Dogs are welcome and customers can also make use of board games while enjoying a drink.
Liz added: “We’re trying to keep it a nice pub where people can come and just relax and have a conversation, rather than turning it into a late-night venue.”
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The pub currently hosts a weekly quiz night on Wednesdays, acoustic music every Sunday and a Monday club offering discounts on cask ales.
The front of the pub in a ‘thriving’ district. (Image: Liz Berry)
Liz said business had been thriving since the reopening and praised Atherton’s strong pub scene.
She added: “I’ve come over to Atherton and somebody was telling me the other day there’s actually 19 pubs in Atherton that are all going concerns.
“If you come into Atherton, every block nearly has got a pub on it. It is thriving.”
Wigginton Road Level Crossing will close for works from 11pm on Monday (June 15) to 6am on Tuesday (June 16).
This, City of York Council, is to ensure all works are carried out safely.
Recommended reading:
An alternative route for diverted vehicles will be signed via Wigginton Road, Haxby Road and the A1237, and traffic signs and barriers will be in place to direct motorists.
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Haxby Road Level Crossing will close from 11.59pm on Monday (June 22) and 5.15am on Tuesday (June 23) (Image: Google Maps)
Later this month, Haxby Road Level Crossing will also close to road users.
The works are set to take place between 11.59pm on Monday (June 22) and 5.15am on Tuesday (June 23).
An alternative route for motorists will be signed during this period via York Road, The Village, Mill Lane, Wigginton Road and the A1237.
Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage should “hang their heads in shame” for the damage they caused to Britain by leading the campaign that saw it leave the EU, Michael Heseltine has claimed.
The former Conservative deputy prime minister said that 10 years on from the EU referendum the “bankruptcy” of their claims that Brexit would bring huge benefits to the UK had been exposed and led voters to believe that it should be reversed.
The British public had been “lied” to in a “heinous crime”, Lord Heseltine, who served under John Major and Margaret Thatcher’s governments, writes for The Independent after it launched its Europe – The Way Back campaign.
Brexit was a “self imposed disaster” and it is time for Britain to “reclaim our traditional role as a major European nation” and rejoin the EU.
The study by Ipsos, King’s College London and UK in a Changing Europe found much of the public was open to rapprochement with the EU, with almost half backing a closer relationship and 60 per cent wanting more co-operation on defence.
The number of people who say Brexit is going worse than they had predicted has almost doubled in the past five years, from 27 per cent in 2021 to 48 per cent today – more than those saying it was going as well as or better than expected.
Passionate pro European Lord Heseltine said it was telling that few of those who led the Brexit campaign now claim it has been a success.
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(AFP/Getty)
“Where are the paeons of praise to Brexit from Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Nigel Farage, Dominic Cummings and their accomplices for the land of milk and honey they told us it would deliver?’ he writes.
“Never have so few done so much damage to so many with so little ability to execute what they lied about.
“They don’t normally hold back from giving their opinions. The reason is obvious I would suggest: their scandalously false prospectus has turned to dust and ashes.‘They are the guilty men and should hang their heads in shame.”
Conservative peer Michael Heseltine says Farage and Johnson’s claims about Brexit were ‘a con’ (AFP/Getty)
Lord Heseltine accuses prominent Brexiteers such as Mr Johnson and Mr Farage of “walking away from their heinous political crime”. Instead they offered “feeble excuses as to why all their bold promises of more jobs, more trade, more power for Britain have all proved to be a con”.
“Naturally they blame everyone but themselves. At the time of the 2016 referendum Brexit campaign leaders had dismissed warnings that it would make Britain worse off, calling such claims ‘Project Fear’,” said Lord Heseltine.
He continued: “But those warnings turned out to be true. Now “Project Fear” has become “Project Here.”
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“Promises that cutting ties with Brussels would make the UK better off had come to nothing”, he argues.
(Getty)
“Years later public opinion has come to realise the bankruptcy of those claims. The mood has changed and reflects a majority in favour of rejoining. The present government is making hesitant approaches to move in that direction but the fear of the extreme right is acting like a ball and chain on our political classes.
“We should reclaim our traditional role as a major European nation. We should do so in the interests of growing generations of our young people. We should do it in our interests as a nation state with limited resources. As a European partner we can compete with the world’s largest economies.
“Brexit was a self imposed disaster for this country. It erected barriers between our manufacturing and service industries and our largest market. In a range of cultural, artistic, environmental and academic policies. It left our diplomats waiting in the corridors to learn what decisions were being taken with profound consequences for us.”
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Scotland are set to begin their first World Cup campaign in 28 years against minnows Haiti in the early hours of Sunday morning and Sky Bet are offering enhanced odds of 50/1 on there being one goal in the game.
Scotland are the favourites with most betting sites for a win in the Group C clash, with Sky Bet pricing up Steve Clarke’s men at 11/20 to beat Haiti.
The latest Sky Bet World Cup offer has now taken odds of there being one goal in the Haiti vs Scotland match and massively inflated them, giving new customers the opportunity to secure £50 in free bets if either side scores. Here’s how to claim the offer.
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Sky World Cup offer for Haiti vs Scotland
This offer is only open to new Sky Bet users who sign up using one of the links on this page and then stake a maximum of £1 on the ‘over 0.5 goals’ market for Haiti vs Scotland.
If this qualifying bet wins, Sky Bet will pay out in cash on the £1 bet at the regular, non-boosted odds. The extra winnings will be credited as 5 x £10 BuildABet free bet tokens, for a total of £50 in World Cup free bets.
Even if the game ends goalless, bettors will receive a £10 BuildABet free bet token, so qualifiers still at least walk away with something from Scotland’s first game of the World Cup.
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Bettors will need to place their bet before 02:00 BST on Sunday, June 14 2026, when Haiti vs Scotland kicks off.
How to claim the Sky Bet enhanced odds offer
Open a new Sky Bet account using one of the links on this page.
Deposit at least £5 using a debit card, Apple Pay or Pay by Bank.
Place a maximum £1 bet on ‘over 0.5 goals’ in the Haiti vs Scotland match market before the game kicks off at 02.00 BST on Sunday, June 14.
If the qualifying bet wins, cash winnings are paid on the £1 bet. The extra winnings are credited as 5 x £10 BuildABet free bet tokens.
If the qualifying bet loses, punters will be credited with 1 x £10 BuildABet free token.
Offer only available to new customers aged 18+.
Minimum £5 deposit to qualify. Deposits from e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill do not qualify.
Maximum £1 qualifying stake as a single first bet on ‘over 0.5 goals’ on the Haiti vs Scotland match market only.
Greater stakes or multiple smaller bets do not count. Only the first bet placed with Sky Bet qualifies.
Free bets are for football BuildABets only and cannot be used alongside any other offer.
Free bet stakes are not returned with winnings. Free bets are non-withdrawable.
Free bets expire 14 days after crediting.
Qualifying bets must be placed by 02:00 Sunday, June 14 2026.
Haiti vs Scotland odds and best bets
Scotland are favourites on World Cup betting sites to pick up all three points against Haiti, with Steve Clarke’s men needing a strong start in order to boost their qualifying hopes from Group C.
A star-studded midfield led by Scott McTominay and John McGinn will be key for the Scots.
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Best bet 1: Scotland to win, Scott McTominay to score @ 2.04/1.
This BuildABet double with Sky Bet is based on McTominay’s tendency to show up in big games for his country – case in point his stunning overhead kick against Denmark as the Scots qualified for the World Cup. If Scotland are to win, McTominay is likely to play a key role so pairing the two bets up makes sense.
Best bet 2: John McGinn to have 2 or more shots on target & to be fouled 2 or more times @ 4/1.
Sky Bet are running a price boost on John McGinn, the other key midfielder for Scotland. The all-action Aston Villa captain gets stuck in all over the pitch, so expect him to be firing off shots and drawing fouls for his side.
Odds from Sky Bet. Odds correct at the time of writing.
Other Sky Bet World Cup offers and promotions
Aside from their enticing welcome offer, Sky Bet are running plenty of World Cup offers and promotions throughout the tournament.
£5million England jackpot – Sky Bet are giving away at least £5million to bettors if England win the World Cup, with the prize pool rising by £100,000 every time England score. Simply wager £5 or more on the World Cup winner market to enter.
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AccaFreeze – Lock in a winning leg in-play on an acca with five or more legs so it settles as a winner, regardless of any later change of result. A maximum of three freezes per week.
Sky Bet Club – Opt in, stake at least £30 across the week at odds of evens or greater and pick up a weekly reward, with the default being two £2.50 BuildABet free bets credited automatically.
BuildABet booster – Sky Bet are providing a 25 per cent winnings boost on BuildABet wagers for selected World Cup games. Check the Sky Bet promotions page for qualifying fixtures.
Odds boosts – There will also be enhanced odds on selected World Cup markets each matchday, flagged on the football promotions hub on the Sky Bet website and app.
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2UP – If the team you have backed goes two goals ahead at any point, your bet is paid out as a winner regardless of the final result.
Sky Bet World Cup offer vs rival bookmakers
Sky Bet’s range of World Cup betting offers is impressive, but UK bookmakers all around have stepped up their game ahead of the tournament.
Here is what’s available at rival online bookmakers, while bettors wanting to stay up to date with the latest World Cup betting offers and odds can head to our tournament hub.
We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Standard a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK’s best online gambling companies.
Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare.
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Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply to all offers.
Ciara Mageean has opened up about her stage four bowel cancer diagnosis, embracing gallows humour as she continues to fight the illness
Ruairi Scott Byrne and Erica Carter
14:32, 13 Jun 2026Updated 14:38, 13 Jun 2026
Irish Olympian Ciara Mageean has opened up about her experience coming to terms with a stage four cancer diagnosis.
The athlete received the devastating news last year that she had bowel cancer, with a consultant delivering the heartbreaking prognosis on Christmas Eve that she may only have two to three years left to live.
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Since undergoing chemotherapy, the Portaferry woman has received more positive updates, with the majority of her cancer cells found to have become inactive. Having recently completed a further six cycles of chemotherapy, Ciara is resolute that the illness will not consume her entire life.
“Stressing and worrying about it isn’t going to change it,” she told the Irish Times. “You’re so entitled to those emotions obviously. But you could lose yourself to it.
“I don’t know what this journey is going to look like. I don’t know at what point I’m going to get sick. As soon as I got that diagnosis, I felt like the grim reaper was on my shoulder and I didn’t know if I was going to be dead in a matter of months.
“[Her long term partner] Tommy and I are engaged but we’ve never had any rush on the wedding. But now I was like, ‘Do we need to get a move on here?’”.
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“Because I don’t want to be that girl who looks like a skeleton on her wedding day. Or having to be in a hospital bed with Tommy beside me and me in a wedding dress in the hospital bed. I want it to be a normal day.”
While Ciara continues to come to terms with the harsh reality of her situation, she has also found a way to use dark humour to help her through the toughest of times.
“I’ll be sitting on the couch and I’ll be like, ‘F**k. I might be dead in two years.’ I certainly won’t … well, I don’t want to say certainly but I probably won’t make my 40th birthday. Like, that’s f**king rough,” she said.
“But we’re planning this wedding and I can’t help but think, ‘The poor lad’s going to be left a widower in his 30s.’ And then I’m like, ‘Sure then he’s going to be a bit old! It’s going to be hard for him to find a new partner!’ I say to him, ‘Here, you can’t move on from me too fast …’”.
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“People probably are like, ‘I can’t believe you’re saying that.’ But I need to make light of it. It helps cope with the genuine worry that I’m going to leave him on his own.
“We’ve been together for 13 years and you think that you’re going to have your whole life together.”
The World Cup picks up the pace as we enter the first weekend of action with some of the big hitters entering the picture as Germany, Brazil and the Netherlands all make their tournament bows.
Scotland also make their long-awaited return to the World Cup and their game with Haiti features among the World Cup betting offers from bookies.
The Standard is your one-stop shop for all things World Cup betting, pulling together the best promotions from UK betting sites, the latest match and outright odds, and a few predictions for the upcoming matches
World Cup betting offers for today
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The Standard’s betting experts have picked out the best World Cup betting sites, assessing bookmakers based on welcome offers, ongoing promotions, mobile app quality, and market depth.
Here are our top 10 World Cup betting spots for the first weekend of the tournament.
Betfair have a special opening game promotion, offering enhanced odds of 50/1 on a goal to be scored in Brazil vs Morocco, which takes place on Saturday, plus £5 free England multi bet.
There’s an alternative Betfair welcome offer, which features enhanced odds of 50/1 on Spain or France to qualify from the group stage, with winnings paid out in free bets.
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Betfair all offer a 90-minute guarantee on all World Cup games. That means if a wager on a match result market is winning when the clock strikes 90, it will be marked as a winner, no matter the final outcome.
Paddy Power are catering to home nations supporters by offering 50/1 on Scotland to beat Haiti this weekend.
Bettors can also get 50/1 odds on England to qualify from Group L on a £1 bet and £2 for every game they win in the group stage as part of the Paddy Power World Cup offer.
England bettors will also be interested to know that there is a free bet builder bet available for every England group stage game.
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With Paddy’s Rewards Club, enhanced odds, free bet builder for every England game, and Paddy’s Wonder Wheel, there is plenty of draw to Paddy Power’s World Cup offerings.
The Betfred World Cup offer gives new customers who sign up and bet a minimum of £10 £ 50 in free bets to wager on the World Cup.
Bettors can also secure a £5 free bet for Saturday’s game between Qatar and Switzerland when they wager £5 or more in-play at odds of evens or greater in the USA vs Paraguay match.
There’s also a £5 free bet builder bet for any game in week one of the tournament, money back on losing accumulators, and the unique double-delight & hat-trick heaven promo.
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New customers who join Midnite can get £30 in free bets to wager on the World Cup. There’s also the option to claim £20 in free bets each week of the tournament via Midnite’s Bet Club.
With an app Store rating of 4.7/5, mobile-first bookies Midnite offer one of the best app experiences on this list.
Bet365 are the home of World Cup boosts for the 2026 tournament. On the opening day, they boosted Mexico to score to from 1/7 to even money, a bet that landed within 10 minutes.
Check Bet365 socials to find out what today’s Super Boost will be, while new customers can secure up to £30 in free bets to wager on the tournament with the Bet365 World Cup offer.
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Bet365 are also offering winnings boosts on successful bet builder and accumulators at the World Cup, along with a £250,000 tournament challenge, early payouts if the team you backed goes two goals ahead and the Sub On Play On.
New customers will find a selection of Sky Bet offers available for the World Cup. Bettors could choose to receive enhanced odds of 50/1 on a goal to be scored in Scotland vs Haiti, or odds of 60/1 on a goal in England vs Croatia.
Alternatively, they could opt for a promo which awards bettors with a £10 free bet every time Harry Kane scores for England at the tournament. To qualify, bettors will need to sign up and wager £10 on any World Cup market.
There’s a chance to claim a share of £5 million with Sky Bet too. Wager £5 or more on the World Cup winner market to be in the prize draw, which will pay out if England win the tournament.
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The Sky Bet Club provides a free bet for those punters who place five or more World Cup wagers, whilst price boosts are available for every game on Sky Bet’s excellent mobile app.
Tote’s welcome offer is bet £10 and get £40 in free bets, although not all of the welcome bonus can be used to wager on World Cup games.
Tote’s top World Cup promotion is both novel and unique with bettors able to get their money back on losing World Cup outright bets if the team they backed goes out on penalties.
Tote are offering a maximum refund of £25 on those losing World Cuo outright bets, while users can who bet £25 on accumulator wagers can get a £5 free bet each week.
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William Hill are all about the boosts for the World Cup, providing daily enhanced odds specials on selected matches, while offering a 50% winnings boost on successful bet builders.
There are also accumulator boosts available at Hills, while they will continue to enhanced the odds of selected outright bets throughout the tournament.
For new bettors, the William Hill World Cup offer is a bet £10, get £30 in free bets promotion, with the free bets eligible for wagering on the World Cup.
England don’t start their World Cup campaign until June 17, but already many fans will be turning their thoughts towards the Three Lions, who have been boosted to 100/1 with BetVictor to win the tournament.
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The BetVictor World Cup offer is available until the end of the group stage and if England do win the tournament, bettors will be paid out in a mix of cash and free bets.
For the opening day, BetVictor have a good selection of price boosts for the opening game on both singles and multiples, while bettors can use the Lucky Dip feature to get enhanced odds on a random selection on selected World Cup markets.
Spreadex are providing a special World Cup sign up offer which includes up to £100 in free bets. The offer features a guaranteed £30 in free bets, while bettors who wager £10 on Spreadex’s World Cup outright maerket will receive an extra £10 fixed-odds free bet for every game their selection wins in the tournament.
Spreadex’s other selling points include a 100 per cent winnings boosts for World Cup accumulators and 2 up early payouts on all tournament games.
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World Cup free bet offers for today
The USA and Canada enter the World Cup chat today with Canada taking on Bosnia-Herzegovina in their opening match before the Stars and Stripes collide with Paraguay.
Bookmaker
Free bet offer
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How it works
Sky Bet
Get 50/1 on a goal in Haiti vs Scotland
New customers only. Wager a maximum of £1 on over 0.5 goals in Haiti vs Scotland. Get paid out at 50/1 in free bets.
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Betfred
Bet £10 on England or Scotland, get £10 in free bets
Wager £10 or more a bet builder for an England or Scotland World Cup game and receive a £10 free bet in return.
BOYLE Sports
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Bet £5, get £5 in free bets
Place a £5 bet builder on Netherlands vs Japan with combined odds of 3/1 or greater and receive a £5 free bet
Midnite
Get up to £20 in free bets
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Join all three of Midnite’s free bets clubs, complete the wagering requirements and earn a combined total of £20 in free bets.
Paddy Power
50/1 on Scotland to beat Haiti
New customers only. Bet £1 on Scotland to beat Haiti at the standard odds. Get paid out at 50/1 in free bets if they win.
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Bettors can find the best odds for World Cup fixtures below. The odds are live so any changes made by bookmakers will be reflected instantly.
Latest World Cup outright odds
Below are live outright winner odds for the 2026 World Cup, which will change significantly throughout the tournament.
Team news can make or break a country’s chances at the World Cup – and your bets. Keep up to date with all the latest top stories from the World Cup.
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2026 World Cup predictions
Haiti’s recent 4-0 win over New Zealand may have sent shivers down Scotland’s spine, but a 2-1 loss to Peru will assuage any Scottish fears of an upset.
With Scotland ranked almost 40 places above Haiti in the FIFA World Rankings, Steve Clarke should guide his team to a comfortable win and all but confirm their progression – should. Expect hellfire if they don’t.
On paper, this fixture should only go one way. The FIFA World Rankings also suggests there is one clear favourite, but strange things can happen in a World Cup opener.
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That said, we expect Germany to seal a comfortable victory here – even if Curacao show plenty of spirit.
If the Netherlands’ warm-up campaign is anything to go by, their prospects for the World Cup are not brilliant. To edge past Uzbekistan with ten men and lose to Algeria will not do much to inspire many fans back home.
Japan, meanwhile, are nothing if not inpsired. This is a well-drilled, well-rounded squad which got the better of England in March, and can genuinely dream of a serious run.
We back them to get the ball rolling in style here.
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How we choose World Cup free bet offers
The Standard took a close look at all the World Cup offers listed on this page before putting them forward. Here are some of the criteria we considered when looking at free bet promotions and other offers.
Welcome offer value and qualifying stake
We weigh the value against the qualifying stake, as a high free bet figure means little if the qualifying bet is £20 at evens, for example.
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Headline figures (£30, £40, £50) are only one factor – lower qualifying stakes often win out for casual bettors.
Free bets can be paid out in different ways, which might impact the overall value of an offer.
For example, bonuses split into 4x £10 free bets give bettors more wagering options, allowing them to potentially diversify their bonus, whereas one big £40 free bet token forces a single decision.
Restrictions on qualifying bets and free bet tokens can also make or break a welcome offer. Bettors should look out for minimum odds restrictions or caps on winnings from World Cup free bet offers.
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Bettors may also be hindered by the type of wager a free bet can be used for. If the bookmaker offers a large bounty of free bets for joining, but all the free bets are restricted to correct score or more niche markets, the offer loses some value.
Some World Cup betting offers require bettors to wager any winnings, which subtracts from the value of any welcome offer.
Ongoing World Cup promotions
Plenty of bookmakers will continue football-specific promos such as 2 Up, money back on losing bet builders, acca insurance, daily price boosts, and free-to-play games for the World Cup.
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Ongoing promotions provide return value for bettors, so regular punters are set to benefit more from promotions.
How to bet on the 2026 World Cup
The Standard has an in-depth guide on how to bet on the World Cup with plenty of useful insights, but for those seeking some quick hints and tips, here’s our top advice for World Cup betting.
Understand World Cup betting markets
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Knowing how each betting market works and what has to happen in order for a bet to win is critical. Bettors should never bet on a market they don’t understand.
A novice bettor may want to keep it simple, wagering on markets like the World Cup winner or match result while building up their betting knowledge.
Outright vs match betting
Outright markets, such as tournament winner, top scorer, and Golden Ball, tend to offer the best value before the tournament starts, when the field is wide open and prices have not yet been sharpened by results.
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Outright prices shorten quickly during the knockout rounds and that value tends to evaporate once the field narrows past the round of 16.
However, there are occasionally opportunities to get a bit of extra value on outright bets during the tournament following a surprise group stage defeat, i.e. Saudi Arabia beating eventual winners Argentina in 2022.
Match betting is the safer ground once teams are actually playing and form is visible.
Bet builders and accumulators
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Bet builders combine multiple selections from a single match, such as match result, over/under, and an anytime goalscorer.
Accumulators instead combine selections from multiple matches and the odds compound across each leg.
Large accas can look tempting, with huge potential returns, but don’t forget the risk factor is being multiplied with each leg added, just like the odds. That being said, acca insurance is offered by some bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, which refunds your stake (up to £10) if just one selection of your 5+ leg acca fails.
Bet builder boosts, provided by bookies such as William Hill and Bet365, can also add a little extra value on the bettor’s side.
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Reading odds and finding value
UK bookmakers default to fractional odds, but you can change odds to decimal in the app or website settings.
Bettors can work out their potential return with fractional odds: the right number shows the stake, and the left shows the winnings. So, if a £1 bet was placed at 3/1 odds and it won, bettors would make a £3 profit and also get their £1 stake back.
Decimal odds show how much you would receive back, including your stake. So, 4.00 in decimal odds is equivalent to 3/1.
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The implied probability of a bet winning can also be determined from the odds. A price of 2/1 means the bookmaker rates the outcome at a 33.3 per cent of happening. If a punter rates it higher, that is where value sits.
You can find further value by comparing prices across multiple bookmakers using The Standard’s odds tool.
Bankroll discipline across a tournament
Set a total tournament budget before the opening match and stick to it – avoid chasing losses with bigger stakes on the next match.
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Treat bets on your own nation’s matches with extra caution – emotional bets are usually bad bets.
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?
For the first time, three countries will host the World Cup. The USA will host the majority of games, including all matches from the quarter-finals onwards – 78 matches across 11 cities in total. Canada and Mexico will host 13 games each, across two and three cities, respectively. The final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What are the best World Cup betting offers?
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The Standard’s picks are re-ranked daily based on the current state of each promotion and the World Cup.
Personal preference can play a big part in what a punter views as the best offer – if you prefer accas, promotions that offer an accas winnings boost or minimise risk with free bet refunds might be preferable over boosted in-play odds, for example.
Can you bet live on the World Cup?
Yes, every UK-licensed bookmaker on this list offers in-play betting on World Cup matches.
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If live in-play betting is your thing, LeoVegas Sport’s welcome offer is a 100% profit boost on a first in-play bet.
Grosvenor also offers a strong variety of in-play bet builder markets.
Is the 2026 World Cup still going ahead?
Yes, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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The 2026 tournament is the first to feature the expanded 48-team format, with 104 games across 39 days confirmed by FIFA.
We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Standard a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK’s best online gambling companies.
Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare.
Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply to all offers.
Poppleton Beer Festival is gearing up for the last instalment of its 14th annual event, held at the village football club in Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, today (Saturday, June 13).
Visitors can try 66 different beers from the likes of Oakham, Titanic, Brew York, New Bristol, Trig, Bini, Timothy Taylor’s and more.
The popular beer festival is now in its 14th year (Image: Poppleton Beer Festival)
These are complimented by 11 keg beers (for £5 a pint), including lager, pilsner, sour, NEIPA and stout, plus ciders, Pimm’s, prosecco, wine and gin.
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Live bands – including The 40 Thieves Band – are set to perform throughout the day, which will begin at 12pm and last until 11pm.
Visitors can try 66 different beers on offer, including 11 keg beers for £5 a pint (Image: Poppleton Beer Festival)
The day, which is set to remain dry with highs of 17 degrees Celsius, has been organised for all the family to enjoy – with lots of activities including a climbing wall, inflatables, tunnels, football darts, games and stalls for the children.
Visitors can bring along a chair and picnic blanket to enjoy the day – and are advised to being something warm for later in the evening when temperatures will cool.
Live bands, including The 40 Thieves Band, will be performing until 11pm (Image: Poppleton Beer Festival)
Tickets are still available for £14 per adult, with children under 10 going free.
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