Metropolitan police

The next phase of COVID vaccinations will continue to prioritise people by age and not their occupation to avoid slowing down the rollout. People aged 40-49 will be the next in line to get a vaccine after all vulnerable groups and the over-50s are covered, the government said. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said this would provide "the greatest benefit in the shortest time". It added that prioritising occupational groups such as teachers and police could make the rollout more complex and could potentially slow the programme overall, leaving some vulnerable people at higher risk for longer. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Advertisement In a statement, a government spokesperson confirmed all four nations of the UK would follow the recommendations "subject to the final advice given by the independent expert committee". The spokesperson added that age had been assessed to be "the strongest … [Read more...] about COVID-19: People in their 40s first for phase two of vaccine rollout – no priority for teachers and police

The decision not to prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations for groups such as police and teachers has been described as a "deep and damaging betrayal" which "will not be forgotten". The government has announced people aged 40-49 will be the next in line to get a coronavirus vaccine after all vulnerable groups and the over-50s are covered. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said this plan would provide "the greatest benefit in the shortest time". But earlier this week, Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she felt "extremely disappointed" that officers had not been prioritised. Advertisement And on Friday, the national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales added his opposition. John Apter told the PA news agency: "There's real palpable anger from all levels within policing about how we have been completely disregarded and … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Plan not to prioritise vaccines for police and teachers a ‘damaging betrayal’

WASHINGTON: City officials in Washington on Monday (Jan 4) warned supporters of President Donald Trump not to bring guns to protests this week against congressional certification of his election defeat and enlisted hundreds of National Guard troops to help keep order. "We have received some information that there are individuals intent on bringing firearms into our city and that just will not be tolerated," Police Chief Robert Contee told a City Hall news conference, adding that anyone found doing so or provoking violence would be arrested. More than 300 troops will be on hand to support the city government, providing crowd control and aiding fire and rescue services, the DC National Guard said in a statement on Monday. They will be joined by the US Capitol Police, US Park Police and US Secret Service, Contee said. The district has some of the United States' strictest gun laws, and forbids open carry of weapons or possession of a handgun without a local licence. … [Read more...] about Leave your guns at home, Washington police warn pro-Trump rally-goers

WASHINGTON: Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday (Jan 6) in a bid to overturn his election defeat, forcing Congress to postpone a session that would have certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory. With drawn guns and tear gas, police evacuated lawmakers and struggled for more than three hours to clear the Capitol Building of Trump supporters, who surged through the halls and rummaged through offices in shocking scenes of chaos and mayhem. One protester occupied the Senate dais and yelled: "Trump won that election." Protesters overturned barricades and clashed with police as thousands descended on the Capitol grounds. Police declared the Capitol building secure shortly after 5.30pm (6.30am Singapore time), and lawmakers planned to reconvene at 8pm to resume the election certification. Video showed the Trump supporters breaking windows and police deploying tear gas inside the building. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief … [Read more...] about Guns and tear gas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss

BANGKOK: Hundreds gathered outside of parliament in Bangkok late on Friday (Feb 19), holding a demonstration that coincided with the censure debate against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha by opposition lawmakers inside the building. Thousands of police officers were on standby ahead of an expected parliamentary vote on Saturday, in anticipation of another protest. The censure debate began on Tuesday, led by an opposition that has said a 2019 election was engineered to ensure that Prayut remained in power five years after overthrowing an elected government. Prayut's administration says the vote was free and fair. The activists took turns speaking on a makeshift stage on the road leading to parliament, criticising the prime minister and his Cabinet for abuse of power, mismanagement and policy failures in various areas. "We know that it will be difficult to stop this government inside parliament," Sukriffee Lateh, a student activist, told Reuters. "So our … [Read more...] about Thai protesters decry government before no-confidence vote against PM