The United States‘ stand-off with Iran is feared to be close to breaking out into a full-scale war in the Middle East.
A military operation could last several weeks and have a powerful impact on the region, sources have told Axios.
It comes as tensions continue to grow between the US and Iran, after the two countries held indirect nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday.
Before the talks, Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: “I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal.”
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A Trump adviser told Axios: “The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90 per cent chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.”
Donald Trump threatened to launch an attack on Iran last month (The White House)
The Trump administration threatened to take fresh military action against Iran in January over its nuclear programme and demanded that it make a deal with the US.
It followed Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June, in which the US bombed the country’s nuclear sites.
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Last month, President Trump said a “massive armada” was on the way and urged the regime to stop the killing of thousands of protesters.
Sources told Axios that a military operation would likely be much bigger than the US and Israel’s attack last year, and would have massive implications for the remainder of President Trump’s leadership.
The US has built up a large military presence in the region, which includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter jets and multiple air defence systems.
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Damage at the Fordo enrichment facility in Iran after U.S. strikes in June (Maxar Technologies)
The large military build-up will likely mean the president won’t withdraw from the region until Iran makes major concessions on its nuclear programme.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened to sink any American aircraft carriers sent to the Middle East.
Two Israeli officials said Israel’s government was preparing for a scenario of war within days, Axios said. However, US sources said the Trump administration may need longer.
Officials told Reuters the US military was getting ready for weeks-long operations in case President Trump ordered an attack.
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US troops withdrew from bases in Syria last week, possibly indicating its military was gearing up to prepare for an Iranian response to an attack.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US president Donald Trump (AFP/Getty)
It comes as Mr Trump criticised Sir Keir Starmer for his Chagos Islands deal on Wednesday, saying that if Iran did not strike a deal with the US, it may need to use Diego Garcia island, where a US-UK military base sits.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi began negotiations on Tuesday in Geneva.
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Officials stated Iran would have to come back with a detailed proposal for the US in two weeks.
Mr Araghchi said the two countries had reached an understanding on “guiding principles” and that a path to agreement had begun.
But Ayatollah Khamenei later warned President Trump that “the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up”, according to Iranian media.
The PSNI are asking the public for help following a midweek burglary in Co Tyrone
Rob Currell Live news reporter
16:38, 14 Mar 2026
Detectives are appealing for information following the report of a burglary in Cookstown on Wednesday, March 11.The incident was reported to police around 9pm after the resident of a property in the Rathmore area returned home to discover that they had been burgled.Officers attended and it was observed that entry had been gained via the back door of the property which had been smashed. A number of rooms had been disturbed, with jewellery and personal items being stolen during the burglary.
The incident is believed to have happened sometime between 11:30am and 9:00pm.Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything or who may have any information that could assist in the investigation to get in contact on 101 quoting reference 1714 11/03/26.
Good afternoon and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of Ireland vs Scotland from the final round of this year’s Six Nations at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, with both teams still in contention for the title.
Heading into ‘Super Saturday’, France are top of the pile on 16 points, but they lead Scotland on points difference alone after being stunned by Gregor Townsend’s side at Murrayfield last weekend.
It is an extremely healthy points-difference advantage for Fabien Gaelthje’s side, though, 58 points better off than Scotland in that respect, which could prove decisive.
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Ireland, meanwhile, start the afternoon in third place, but only two points adrift of the two pace-setters, with a points difference only marginally worse than their opponents this afternoon.
With France hosting an out-of-sorts England this evening, the title cannot be clinched by full time in Dublin, but the two teams can certainly put some pressure on the defending champions.
If Scotland can beat Ireland – for the first time since 2017 – and France fail to beat England, the Scots will clinch a first-ever Six Nations title, while a bonus-point win would be enough for Townsend’s men if France win, but without a bonus point.
A 12th successive victory for Andy Farrell’s side against Scotland would almost certainly take them to the top of the standings by full time, and if France then fail to win in Paris, the title could well be going their way.
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However, there is the remarkable scenario in which Ireland could win this afternoon without a bonus point, and France could still retain their title with defeat – and one fewer win than Ireland – should they claim two losing bonus points in the process.
Both Ireland and Scotland have beaten England and Wales so far this campaign, meaning the Triple Crown title is also up for grabs, with Scotland hoping for their first since 1990.
Crucial fire safety works are set to go ahead at a prominent waterfront apartment block in Cardiff. Adventurers Quay, in Cardiff Bay, has received permission to redo its outdated cladding over a potential fire risk at the property.
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According to planning documents, a fire engineer was appointed to prepare a “comprehensive” FRAEW (fire risk appraisal for external wall) report which outlined deficiencies that need to be brought up to current standards. The issues identified in the report include insulation that used combustible spandrel panels, insulation with the lowest rating for building materials, other combustible insulation, and “aluminium decorative mullions on spandrel with adhesive bonding”.
The works will be carried out in such a way that allows the building to remain operational throughout the construction period, minimising disruption for residents. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The application reads: “The upgrade of the materials outlined in this document is essential for the long-term safety of the building.
“The design approach is sensitive to the architectural character of the development.”
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In addition to the full removal and replacement of the render, cladding and spandrel works, work will also include replacing timber on the balconies.
Internal layouts, doors and window arrangements will remain by any external work the site will undergo.
Originally built in the late 1990s, Adventurers Quay is a gated residential complex containing flats and townhouse properties in Cardiff Bay.
It was built as part of the wider regeneration of the area.
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The remedial works will take place on the southern edge of the property.
It is within walking distance of the Cardiff Bay Barrage and Mermaid Quay which consists of retail and restaurant premises.
During the works, site access will remain unchanged from its current state and will continue to operate during the works.
Planning documents read: “Replacing the proposed materials would enhance the visual aspects of the external façade which include giving a renewed look, with durable materials.”
This Morning star Ashley James has responded after AI was used to create a disturbing advert with her likeness, promoting weight loss pills.
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Ashley has been left ‘devastated’ at the thought of anyone buying such pills upon her so-called recommendation, branding the fake ad a ‘violation’.
Taking to Instagram this weekend, the presenter and activist began in a video: ‘I have a confession. I’ve been taking weight loss pills.
‘At least, that’s what you’ve been led to believe…’
Footage then cuts to a digitally generated version of Ashley being interviewed on the This Morning sofa by Ben Shephard, where she appears to reveal her weight loss results and the benefits of taking such drugs.
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It’s incredibly realistic, featuring the This Morning colour scheme, ITV logo, and an AI character that both looks and sounds exactly like her.
A frighteningly realistic AI video has been made using Ashley James’s likeness to promote weight loss pills (Picture: Instagram)
The This Morning star called it a ‘violation’ (Picture: Instagram)
‘I’ve tried everything. Seriously, everything. Each new diet was hopeful and disappointing,’ begins her AI persona.
‘I thought I should just give up, but then I saw an interview with Doctor Rangan Chatterjee, where he explained being overweight is not your fault – it’s a metabolic failure caused by age, and he’s developed a formula that restarts that metabolism, so I decided to try it.’
As text on-screen boldly states, ‘She lost 27 pounds in just one month!’, the character adds: ‘One week later, I was down nine pounds. Three weeks later, I’m down 27.
‘I feel light again. I love my reflection in the mirror again.’
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In her own expert takedown of the clip, the real Ashley then informs her followers: ‘So many of you have sent me this advert, so I just want to be really clear – that is not me. It is completely AI-generated.’
‘Not only did I never say this, I’ve never taken these pills, I’ve never heard of these pills, and most importantly, nor would I ever promote them,’ she insists.
Ashley has firmly stated that she ‘always turns down’ any sponsorships for diet or weight loss products (Picture: Instagram)
‘I’m honestly devastated that anybody might buy these products believing that I recommended them.’
The former Made in Chelsea star, who is known and loved for her body-positive content on social media, added that she ‘always turns down’ any sponsorship opportunities involving diets or weight loss pills.
‘So not only does this feel like a total violation, but the message behind it makes me incredibly angry.
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‘We already live in a world where women are constantly told to shrink themselves, be smaller, be thinner, take up less space. And that’s only getting worse with the rise of weight loss injections.’
Continuing her rant in the caption, Ashley admitted that, ‘if [she] didn’t know better,’ she would assume the AI ad was real too.
‘Someone has taken my face and my voice and turned it into an advert telling women they should lose weight. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that is the exact kind of messaging I’ve spent years fighting against.’
She has said that becoming a mum helped her become more confident in her body and view it differently (Picture: Instagram)
Ashley often speaks out against oppression and the standards placed on women (Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
She further cited other examples of public figures being targeted by deepfakes, with Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis forced to call out similar content in the past after members of the public were scammed out of thousands of pounds from following bogus financial advice.
‘I do not support these products and I would never tell you, or anyone else, that you need to shrink yourself or diet,’ Ashley concluded in her written caption. ‘And if you see this advert please report it. Because how social media platforms are allowing this is disgraceful! It’s scary when you think about it.’
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In the comments, famous friends were eager to offer their support, expressing shock over the advert.
‘This is absolutely shocking’, wrote Carol Vorderman. ‘What is the recourse in law?’
Sarah Jayne Dunn commented: ‘😮 this is so scary!!’
‘This is terrifying!!!’, echoed Dani Harmer, while Faye Tozer raged: ‘Nothing about this is ok 🤬’
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The broadcaster recently published her first book, Bimbo, which explores the labels she’s been given by society (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Ashley has long been a public advocate for body acceptance, particularly when it comes to motherhood.
In a post discussing the harmful rhetoric surrounding postpartum bodies, Ashley wrote in January: ‘The world looks at a mum’s body and sees something to fix, but our children look at it as their first home and love it.’
She proudly stated that, ‘babies or not, we should never have learned to hate something so magical. Our bodies ARE magical.’
The mum-of-two also often posts bikini snaps from various angles to encourage other people to feel confident.
Earlier this year, she wrote: ‘I have more confidence in my body now than I ever did before. And I’m proud of that, and I never want my daughter to see me hating on my body.’
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The TV personality recently published her first book, titled Bimbo in a nod to the labels she’s been given online and in an attempt to reclaim them.
It became a bestseller, detailing her own raw experiences and unpacking the oppression and expectations of women throughout their lives.
While promoting it, she told BBC Woman’s Hour: ‘Often, if people don’t agree with me, they’ll go online and say, “She’s just a bimbo.”
‘But it’s not just “bimbo,” it’s all the labels that I feel like women are given, whether that’s “bossy,” “frigid,” “tarty,” and even into elderhood, like “crone” or “hag.” I really wanted to explore how these labels shrink us and keep us small.’
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41-year-old Timothy Kusemi, of Lower Bedford Road in London pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving on Monday, 23 February 2026.
He had pleaded guilty to causing death whilst unlicenced at a previous court hearing on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, Humberside Police said.
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He has now been sentenced to six years imprisonment and given an 11-year driving ban.
Shortly before 3pm on Friday, 24 November 2023, Kusemi was driving his Audi A6 northbound on Burton Road towards Burton Fleming, outside the village of Rudston close to Bridlington.
At the same time, 70-year-old Sue Whittles was driving a Volkswagen T-Roc eastbound on the B1253 Thwing Road towards Bridlington with her husband Bill Whittles in the passenger seat.
As their vehicle reached the crossroads junction with Burton Road and Nine Dikes Road, Kusemi failed to stop and give way, and subsequently collided with the side of Mr and Mrs Whittles’ car.
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Mrs Whittles died at the scene and her husband was rescued from the vehicle by Humberside Fire and Rescue before being airlifted to hospital for treatment to serious injuries, which included multiple fractures to his spine, ribs, and sternum.
He remained in hospital and subsequently a rehabilitation centre for almost 12 weeks having required extensive treatment and surgery before being discharged.
Paying tribute to Sue, her husband Bill said: “Sue was a lovely wife to me and best pal over the years – we were a unit.
“She was a much-loved Nan to Anna and Oliver, and they miss her so much.
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“A much-respected local preacher, Guide leader and active supporter of Riding for the Disabled.”
Sergeant Rob Mazingham from the Humberside Police Serious Collision Unit said: “When speaking to key witnesses from the scene, Kusemi’s driving prior to the incident was described as swerving all over the road, showing a lack of care when driving his vehicle.
“During the investigation it was established that Kusemi held a driving licence that was no longer valid for him to drive legally in the United Kingdom, and he was not fully qualified to drive here at the time of the collision.
“This was a tragic and entirely avoidable incident which resulted in one person losing their life and another being seriously injured.
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“By driving dangerously and taking no consideration to any road signs ahead, this will now leave a devastating impact on the lives of the family involved”.
Lily Sillis noticed her face was spasming just weeks ago and since then her life has been dramatically transformed
Kirstie McCrum and Emma Butterworth
16:11, 14 Mar 2026Updated 16:13, 14 Mar 2026
Whilst applying her makeup one morning, Lily Sillis observed something peculiar. Her face began to spasm every time she touched it.
The active and health-conscious 23-year-old from Blackburn in Lancashire was a gym enthusiast who had a passion for animals and outdoor activities. However, whilst on the phone to 111, her face suddenly started drooping to the right.
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Despite normal blood test results following an urgent trip to A&E, upon returning home, her entire face sagged and she found herself unable to speak. This shocking event occurred just weeks ago, on February 10, and since then, her life has been dramatically transformed.
Despite multiple visits to A&E and her GP over the subsequent two days, Lily experienced her first seizure on February 12, followed by two more in the ensuing hours, reports Lancs Live.
Lily, who runs her own dog walking business, shared with LancsLive: “I could hear everything around me and feel everything happening but my eyes were closed and I couldn’t respond or move.”
“I was told to go back to A&E but when I arrived I collapsed on the floor having full body convulsions whilst still being able to hear and feel everything around me.”
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After being rushed to resuscitation, Lily was given oxygen and underwent further tests as her condition rapidly worsened, sometimes experiencing up to 20 seizures a day. Some of these seizures lasted up to an hour, and after each one, Lily was left with “full body paralysis” for hours, unable to move or speak.
Lily said: “One day I tried to stand up and my legs simply wouldn’t move. I tried with everything in me to put one foot in front of the other but my body just wouldn’t respond.
“I tried to stay positive because at that point I still had use of my arms so I could transfer myself onto a commode or into a wheelchair, even though I wasn’t allowed off the ward due to the seizures and couldn’t sit up for long. But a few days later even that was taken away.
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“I tried to get up using my arms like I had been doing and they wouldn’t work either. They were paralysed. Suddenly I couldn’t feed myself, couldn’t shower myself, couldn’t even go to the toilet independently.
“At 23-years-old, after being such an independent person, this completely broke me. I was lying in a hospital bed being showered by nurses, fed by my own mum and using a bed pan because I couldn’t move my body.
“Even when my legs sometimes decided to work again they tremored so violently that I couldn’t walk safely without falling or support.”
Following an EEG scan, it was confirmed that Lily was suffering from Non Epileptic Seizure Attack Disorder and she was moved to the neurology ward at Royal Preston Hospital. Here, she was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder and Functional Movement Disorder.
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She reflects that her life changed ‘overnight’.
She explained to LancsLive: “When I arrived there my condition deteriorated even further. I started having full body involuntary movements where I was hitting and kicking uncontrollably as if someone had completely taken over my body and these episodes could last for hours.
“One episode lasted seven and a half hours of non-stop convulsions, including facial spasms, my head and neck moving violently, and my arms and legs thrashing. Between seizures and episodes I was completely exhausted, paralysed and struggling to speak.”
Functional Neurological Disorder occurs when the brain struggles to transmit and receive signals correctly, resulting in seizures, paralysis, tremors, speech difficulties and uncontrolled movements. Upon receiving her diagnosis, Lily admitted she’d been entirely unaware of the condition’s existence, and is now adapting to life with it “day by day”.
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Whilst Lily acknowledged that certain days prove more manageable than others, the unpredictable nature remains “terrifying”.
She continued: “Just weeks ago, I was a 23-year-old gym goer who loved animals, the outdoors, and adventure, and now I need a full-time carer and have lost most of my independence, including the ability to drive and some days even walk.”
Her mother Sara described how the diagnosis has devastated their entire household. Sara reflected: “You’ve got this child that’s gone from being so independent to your parents having to feed you and wash you. It’s so devastating because you cant do anything to fix it.”
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Sara, now residing in Ripon, North Yorkshire, has set up a GoFundMe page to cover Lily’s treatment expenses whilst also highlighting the condition itself.
“It’s such a cruel horrible illness,” she added. “For now we are doing everything we can to raise money for lily for extra treatment.
“It’s not even about donating its just about getting her story out there to help other people know about this, if we can do anything we can to spread awareness that’s what we want for her.”
The Fulford School minibus was stolen from its premises after last being seen on Wednesday, March 11 around 5.15pm.
North Yorkshire Police issued an image of the white-coloured Ford Transit vehicle which has school livery down the side, and a registration number GX63HKW.
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North Yorkshire Police released this image of the Fulford School bus which was last seen on Wednesday, March 11 (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
A force spokesperson said: “If you saw this vehicle being driven, or if you have dash‑cam footage or CCTV that may assist our enquiries, please get in touch by emailing charlotte.creasey@northyorkshire.police.uk, or by calling 101, or dial 999 if you spot the vehicle.
“Please quote reference 12260045284 when passing on information.”
Across Europe, education has become one of the biggest dividing lines in politics, and educational qualifications are now one of the best predictors of vote choice in Britain. This is particularly the case for new parties that compete more on cultural issues, including Reform and the Greens, who attract voters from different ends of the educational spectrum.
In the most recent UK general election in July 2024, 18% of voters with no formal qualifications voted for Reform – two and half times as many as among those with a degree. On the flip side, degree-holders were three times as likely to vote for the Green party than those without qualifications.
Our study shows that the link between education and politics starts far earlier than degree level, however. We’ve found that what you study at school affects your political choices both in adolescence and adulthood.
We looked at the political views of young people aged ten to 18, and then followed them into their 20s. Young people who were studying humanities subjects in school, namely history and art, became more likely to support more socially liberal parties.
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Those studying a technical GCSE subject, such as design and technology, became more supportive of more radical right parties. Given that we see this pattern before students leave school, it can’t only be explained by socialisation in the workplace, which makes us think that at least part of the association emerges in school.
Taking a GCSE in business studies meanwhile meant that someone became more economically rightwing in their vote intention. When they were 16 and had finished their GCSE in business studies, these young people were two percentage points more likely to say they’d vote for the Conservatives than when they’d started at age 14. This might seem small, but small differences add up over the course of a person’s life.
People develop their political orientations during adolescence, so parental socialisation of course matters a great deal. But much of those formative years is also spent in the classroom. And a student of history encounters different ideas and develops different skills to one studying physics – even if they both eventually end up with the same number of GCSEs or A-levels, or a university degree.
For instance, a physics class might focus on the scientific marvel of splitting the atom and nuclear power, whilst a history student would consider the catastrophic effects of these weapons in the second world war. As a result, the history student and the physics student might emerge from their studies with different perspectives on the world, which might ultimately lead them to support different parties.
It’s unlikely that these findings relate to teachers indoctrinating students into supporting particular parties or ideologies. It’s more likely that certain subjects that focus on different human experiences – such as history or art – might lead students to recognise the importance of a variety of perspectives, and so be more favourable towards socially liberal parties. Likewise, studying economics might incline a young person to support a party that champions free markets.
Alternatively, it could be explained by the differing peer groups across these subjects, whereby the attitudes held when students select into these subject are mutually reinforced.
We also found that the differences we identified persisted in early adulthood, long after school had finished. Adults who had taken drama, music, art or history were more likely to vote for socially liberal parties such as the Greens or Liberal Democrats.
Some of these differences were very large in adulthood, even when we adjusted for other factors that might explain them, like overall educational attainment and income. For example, an adult who had taken an A-level in economics or business studies was 14 percentage points more likely to support the Conservative Party and six points less likely to support Labour than someone who had not.
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It’s also notable that students who took any of history, geography, foreign languages or religious studies were more engaged in politics. They were more likely to name a party they would vote for, rather than saying they wouldn’t vote.
Our findings may add a different angle to debates about curriculum reform. Recent governments have favoured increasing participation in STEM subjects, often to the detriment of subjects like the creative arts and languages. Our study suggests that this might in turn have consequences for young people’s politics.
Either way, our results show that what you learn in school is likely to shape your world view beyond the classroom.
Overnight, RMG Living said it received a generic communication referring to the placement of a suspicious package.
Bosses say that they believe it was a “mischievous message” but told residents to report anything suspicious to the police.
In a message to residents, the company said: “Overnight we received a generic communication referring to the possible placement of a suspicious package, which was not specific to your development.
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“If you see anything suspicious, please report it to the police.”
RMG manage numerous properties across the North West, including Greenmount Court in Heaton.
The former officer is due to face the hearing later this month
A former Cambridgeshire Police officer has been accused of sending messages that “implicated him in class A drug use”. Former PC Kyle Carter-Lawrence is due to face a misconduct hearing on Thursday, March 26.
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Mr Carter-Lawrence is facing a total of seven allegations made against him. This includes sending “inappropriate messages” to WhatsApp groups and using “language which failed to treat people with respect and courtesy”.
Three of the allegations relate to a Whatsapp group which Mr Carter-Lawrence was a member of between June 10, 2016 and March 24, 2024. it is alleged that he sent inappropriate messages to the group, used language which failed to treat people with respect and courtesy, and used discriminatory language.
Mr Carter-Lawrance is also alleged to have sent messages that implicated him in class A drug use. He was present when inappropriate and drug-related messages were sent by others. He’s also alleged to have sent similar messages on a 1-2-1 chat with another police officer.
Allegation 4 alleges that Mr Carter-Lawrance “failed to report or challenge the conduct of the fellow officer in the Whatsapp group”. Allegation 5 is that he made “inaccurate declarations in his police recruitment vetting paperwork and failed to correct these once serving as a police officer.
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Allegation 6 states that he failed to “declare his association with people whom he had grounds to suspect were involved in crime, were conducting themselves inappropriately or who had potential to damage the reputation of the police service.”
The final allegation Mr Carter-Lawrance faces is that he shared police data without policing purpose and not in the court of his duties.
The hearing is set to take place at 2pm at Lysander House, in Tempsford.