A new system for the handling of complaints against the police in England and Wales comes into force on Thursday 1 April 2004.

The independent police complaints commission appoints it supplier - anite public sector

Passengers on the 292 Borehamwood - Colindale bus are being urged to help the independent investigation into the shooting of Azelle Rodney.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has announced details of its first case under the new police complaints system that came into force on 1 April 2004.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to manage an investigation into allegations that a police officer assaulted a 22 year old man on Wednesday 1 June.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to supervise an investigation into allegations of misconduct made by a former West Midlands Police senior detective.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched its rebuilt and expanded web site today.

For Immediate Release

Employers are being reminded that they must stop paying Working Tax Credit via their payroll by the end of this month.

72% of the earliest vouchers issued have so far been used by parents to open a Child Trust Fund account and nearly 1.5 million Child Trust Fund accounts have been opened in total, Economic Secretary to the Treasury...

The tax rules governing pension schemes change on 6 April (A-Day), offering simpler and more flexible retirement arrangements - and an opportunity for people to review their own pension provisions.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced today that in its drive to deliver a more effective service to local businesses and individuals, eliminate duplication and improve efficiency, it is closing its office at...

Latest UK Regional Trade in Goods estimates show that total exports between Quarter three 2005 and Quarter four 2005 rose in ten out of the 12 regions and countries of the UK. Decreases were seen in London and ...

Contents: 1. VAT: Implications of the Court of Appeal Judgement in IDT 2. Hydrocarbon Oils: Introduction of the Hydrocarbon Oil (Registered Remote Markers) Regulations 2005 3. VAT: New version of form VAT 1614 " ...

The Government will introduce legislation in the 2006 Finance Bill, effective from today, to counter a complex tax avoidance scheme exploiting the tax relief intended for film production in the UK.

On 6 April (A-Day), new simplified rules come into effect around how pensions are taxed, offering simpler and more flexible retirement arrangements. This is what you need to know:

The Chancellor today announced that he has asked Sir David Varney to lead a review of HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) links with large business.

Expansion and investment in online tax services

In a significant move to combat alcohol fraud, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Chairman David Varney today signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Trade Associations representing UK spirits importers warehouse ...

Contents:

An Essex company has been fined £10,000 for exporting military listed body armour without the correct export licences, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Vestguard UK Ltd pleaded...

More than a million businesses are now eligible for simpler VAT - a single annual return and monthly payments. These include almost 19,000 accountancy firms, as well.

Individuals and businesses are being asked to contribute to the review of powers, deterrents and safeguards for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The public consultation is the second phase of a programme designed to...

In a move to improve transparency and accountability, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is pleased to announce a new external scrutiny arrangement with the Independent Police Complaints Authority (IPCC).

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is simplifying the way tax is collected from retirement annuities. It is part of a plan to help make sure that retired people don't pay more tax than is due on their annuities paid out...

Today is Pensions A-Day - the day the numerous tax rules governing pensions are replaced by a single regime.

Research undertaken by KPMG for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) shows that the burden of tax administration in the UK, at around 0.41 per cent of GDP, compares very favourably with other countries - the Netherlands ...

Today, sees the publication by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) of the Terms of Reference for the Review of HMRC links with large business, as announced by the Chancellor on Budget Day 2006.

Contents: 1. VAT: Interim position following the Court of Session's decision in Edinburgh's Telford College

A 39 year old Accountant and father of 3, Gregory Huggett is today beginning a 5-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 6 offences on 30th March 2006.

HMRC officers in partnership with the police have smashed an illegal nationwide fuel-laundering ring today.

More than three in four of the earliest Child Trust Fund (CTF) vouchers have been used to open an account according to quarterly statistics published by HM Revenue & Customs today.

A senior legal executive employed by a Hampshire law firm was today jailed for six years for his role in laundering more than £200 million from the proceeds of a complex VAT fraud, following a lengthy ...

Latest UK Regional Trade in Goods estimates show that total exports between Quarter four 2005 and Quarter one 2006 rose in six out of the 12 regions and countries of the UK. Decreases were seen in the North East...

Contents: 1. VAT: Hire of staff by employment bureaux: Invitation to contribute to HMRC review

A fraudster was today sentenced to six years imprisonment for his part in an estimated £57m mobile phone VAT scam following a lengthy investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Contents: 1. VAT: New reduced rates for supplies of contraceptive products and welfare advice and information

5 people were found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of their involvement in the large scale smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol into the UK. The duty and tax evaded amounted to over three million pounds.

The first year achievements and longer term goals of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are set out in the 2006 Spring Report published today.

New guidance aimed at helping businesses who want to utilise computers systems to comply with their Value Added Tax (VAT) obligations has been launched by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the British Standards Institute...

Contents:

A series of new approaches exploring simpler and less time-consuming ways of helping taxpayers comply with their responsibilities were announced today by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

A Birmingham businessman pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a total of three years and nine months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, 6 July, following the repeated illegal use of red diesel, resulting...

(Issued on behalf of the European Anti-Fraud Office)

An estimated 1.5 kilos of opium, thought to be worth around £22,000, has been found by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers in a consignment of chocolate bars being imported at Nottingham East Midlands...

Contents: 1. Proposed change to the registered dealers in controlled oils (RCDO) scheme: Inclusion of aviation turbine fuel (AVTUR)

Contents: VAT - Implementation of changes to VAT accounting rules ('reverse charge') for businesses trading in mobile telephones, computer chips and certain other goods; and further consultation with affected businesses...

A new comprehensive double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Poland was signed in London on 20 July 2006 by the Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo MP and the Deputy Finance Minister of Poland, Jaroslaw...

Legislation has been passed which exempts from tax compensation payments paid by UK and foreign banks & building societies to Holocaust Victims or their heirs.

A Colombian cocaine gang living in London have been jailed for a total of 57 years at Southwark Crown Court, after being convicted of harbouring 108 kilos of cocaine worth £7.2 million.

The Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, MP, has announced details of the UK's treaty negotiating priorities for the year to 31 March 2007.

With the summer holiday season now firmly upon us, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is urging travellers to "know before you go" what the limits are for cigarettes, alcohol, tobacco and other goods brought back from ...

Seven people, including two former Customs officers, were today jailed for a total of 25 years for their involvement in the smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol worth over £7 million, following a successful...

Contents:

More young people are receiving support through child benefit thanks to Government measures to extend eligibility which came into force this year, Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo announced today.

A consultation document setting out how the powers and accompanying safeguards used in the investigation of tax crime could be updated is published today by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

New rates of interest are announced today. They cover quarterly instalment payments and early payments of corporation tax not due by instalments, in respect of accounting periods ending on or after 1 July 1999. ...

A Reading gun smuggler was today jailed for seven and a half years at Oxford Crown Court following an HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation.

Water consumers were saved from footing a £1 billion bill for improvements to bathing waters in the UK, following a compromise on new improved standards reached by the European Parliament and the EU's ...

CCWater today strongly welcomed the initiative by the Government to develop a water sustainability plan. This is designed to encourage households to reduce consumption and use water more efficiently and involves...

CCWater expresses concern and disappointment at inconsistencies in the reporting and handling of complaints by Southern Water

The future of water resources in England and Wales looms large when the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) meets for the first time in public next Tuesday morning (1 November).

The regional water champion representing Severn Trent customers has expressed its concern that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating the company, and has been pressing Ofwat and Severn Trent to ensure ...

Tell consumers more about free extra help, consumer champion urges

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) today named its 74 new members, who will champion the interests of water consumers in England and Wales.

Consumers get a good deal out of the water industry in England and Wales - but there is no room for complacency as the industry reaches a cross-roads in its relationship with consumers, the champion for water consumers...

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) today responded to criticism by the Public Accounts Committee of energywatch and Postwatch. Criticism revolved around the lack of consumer research in the early stages of...

Consumer expectations of water and sewerage service: "keep it coming nice and clean, take it away and bring it back again"

Water champion to act as 'eyes and ears' for consumers as competitive market opens

Severn Trent has announced an increase in profits from the water and sewerage company totalling £240m. This was the major contributor to the company's group profits.

The champion for water and sewerage consumers in England and Wales has urged the industry to demonstrate to consumers that its financial success is matched by continuing improvement in service to consumers.

AMENDED VERSION

A team of scientists recently declared that 23 January is the most miserable day in the calendar - and consumers falling behind in paying their bills would agree as the financial splurge of Christmas and new year...

The Consumer Council for Water Wales (CCWater Wales) is the new water watchdog in your area. It will be holding its first meeting at the John Phillips Hall, University of Wales, Bangor on 31 January 2006, at 10...

Welsh consumers have a unique chance to influence the work of a new consumer body when the Consumer Council for Water meets in public next Tuesday morning (7 February) in Cardiff. The meeting will start with a discussion...

The Consumer Council for Water today said it would be doing all it could to ensure that consumers do their bit to save water as Southern England faces another year of water restrictions and localised drought.

The Consumer Council for Water has welcomed the appointment of Philip Fletcher as the Chair of the Water Services Regulation Authority (WSRA). The consumer champion is delighted that Mr Fletcher has been chosen ...

The Consumer Council for Water today reminded consumers and organisations that there are less than two weeks left to give views on its first work programme, to be delivered from 2006-07 to 2008-09. The consultation...

Consumers have a limited number of options to deal with the impact of higher water bills for 2006-07, which will land on doormats across England and Wales during the rest of February and first half of March.

The water champion for consumers in England and Wales today welcomed the Government's decision to grant Folkestone and Dover Water 'water scarcity status', thereby paving the way for the company to meter water usage...

With water bills set to rise above inflation again from 1 April, water customers should be careful not to pay for insurance cover for repairs to pipework and drains without checking their existing protection, the...

The Consumer Council for Water Midlands (CCWater Midlands) today welcomed Ofwat's call for money to be returned to consumers as a result of its investigation into allegations of mis-reporting by Severn Trent Water...

The Consumer Council for Water has supported the imposition of a hosepipe ban by Thames Water to take effect from 3 April 2006, describing it as a 'sensible precaution' to stave off further problems later in the...

Five key issues which consumers say matter to them will set the agenda for the Consumer Council for Water's (CCWater) activities. These issues were identified during recent customer research and are outlined in...

Frustrations expressed by business customers about delays in their efforts to switch water supplier have led the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) to urge water companies not to delay attempts by new entrants...

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) is advising customers in areas where there is a water shortage to abide by the current restrictions and use water as efficiently as they can.

Water companies should explain to consumers how they are affected by water resources management plans, the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) said today (Thursday).

Large business users are losing patience after waiting more than five months to switch water supplier.

The Consumer Council for Water has asked Sutton and East Surrey Water not to be gung ho in imposing new water restrictions as it starts to implement the first drought order since 1995 to allow bans on non-essential...

The Consumer Council for Water has urged the water industry and regulators to keep a level head in managing the worsening drought, and continue to give consumers sensible advice on how they can help.

Thousands of consumers are missing out on schemes to help people struggling with water bills, the water consumer champion said today.

The water consumer champion for England and Wales today acknowledged that Thames Water had considered the needs of consumers in its decision to defer applying for a drought order - although the company said today...

The consumer body representing water customers in England and Wales is asking Southern Water and Mid Kent Water not to be over-zealous when using new water restrictions they are being allowed to impose. The two ...

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) Eastern has called for the water industry to maintain consumer confidence and show what benefits it is delivering to customers as Anglian Water posted a 14% increase in profit...

The Consumer Council for Water is pressing water companies to show how they are delivering benefits for consumers as well as shareholders, against a background of the industry reporting strong profits for 2005-06...

The body representing water consumers in England and Wales has expressed interest in a proposal by a House of Lords select committee that wilful non-payers of water bills should be punished with a 'trickle' supply...

The Consumer Council for Water Northumbria has called for Northumbrian Water to work hard to maintain consumer confidence as it continued the recent trend of water and sewerage companies reporting an increase in...

The consumer body representing water customers in England and Wales today said a drought order for Thames Water could have a major impact on the lives and livelihoods of consumers in and around London.

The consumer body representing water customers in England and Wales today said that Thames Water missing its leakage targets for the fourth successive year was 'totally unacceptable' to consumers and would rub salt...

Drinking water report shows there's still something to celebrate in the water industry

Consumer champion welcomes major programme on leakage as Ofwat avoids penalty shoot-out

Complaints about water companies to the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) totalled 6,274 across England and Wales in the first six months of its existence, according to the organisation's Annual Review published...

The organisation representing water consumers in the Midlands region today reveals the amount of complaints it receives from people who have problems with their water company. The Consumer Council for Water Midlands...

The regional water champion representing Southern Water customers today responded to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launching an investigation into the company. It is pressing Ofwat and Southern Water to ensure ...

The Consumer Council for Water Thames (CCWater Thames) today expressed its disappointment that customers of Thames Water faced another confidence blow, as Ofwat proposes a financial penalty on the water company. ...

Are we using water wisely? This and further questions will exercise the minds of 100 water consumers this weekend at a forum providing the basis for pioneering research on the future of water resources in England...

The Consumer Council for Water North West (CCWater North West) which represents water consumers in the North West has welcomed United Utilities recent improvement in tackling leakage. This reflects the increased...

Water consumers' champion the Consumer Council for Water has congratulated the majority of water companies in England and Wales for meeting or exceeding their leakage targets during 2005-06. However, it has warned...

Summer looks set to kick off its shoes this weekend as Met Office forecasters predict high temperatures and plenty of sunshine for large areas of the UK.

Don Touhig MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence, today announced a 90-day period of consultation over possible changes in the organisation and structure of the Met Office.

Parched areas of southern and south-east England are set to get their first significant rain for many weeks, as Met Office forecasters predict heavy rain spreading from the west through the weekend.

One of the key unresolved issues in connecting recent climate change with human activity has been the large difference between estimates of temperature trends above the Earth's surface from observations and models...

Hurricane Katrina will probably become the costliest hurricane to have struck the USA and will also prove to be one of the most deadly for many decades. It is hard to imagine, given the pictures of the devastation...

A new art competition for school children this autumn could mean you seeing your picture in an international album of weather pictures. The competition, organised by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), ...

EXPERTS from the Met Office are helping a leading UK airline operator reduce avoidable delays by up to 80%, thanks to a new forecasting service.

The 2005 hurricane season for the Atlantic was predicted to be one of the most active, and this year could see a record number of tropical storms.

A prolonged, severe winter is one of the biggest threats to the efficient day-to-day running of the country. With this in mind, the Met Office has given advanced warning to many of its customers and partners to ...

Britain can look forward to improved weather forecasts and flood warnings thanks to the introduction of brand new technology at a new radar site. The latest addition to the UK's rainfall radar network at Thurnham...

Hurricane Wilma has rapidly strengthened to become an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale and now rates as the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of lowest central pressure...

There was a small fire at the Met Office in Exeter at around 1130 today, which has significantly disrupted power supplies to a number of Met Office systems, including Operational Forecasting Systems.

Autumn looks set to deliver a spell of very strong winds and heavy rain for many parts of the UK, as a fast-moving Atlantic depression tracks across the country through Thursday and Friday.

Heavy rain is likely to pose problems over the coming days as Met Office forecasters predict several days of very wet weather for the UK.

Exceptionally strong winds, with gusts of 70-90mph, are forecast to affect parts of Scotland northwest of the Great Glen, this evening and overnight. Coastal areas and high ground will be the worst affected, where...

Met Office forecasters have issued an early warning of severe weather for northern Britain later this week, with winds of 80mph forecast for many areas.

Further evidence of the impacts of the changing climate has been revealed in a recent issue of Geophysical Research Letters, which claims that by the end of the 21st century, the warmest summer nights in the European...

In the run-up to a UN conference on climate change, water - one of world's most valuable resources - has been the focus for leading scientists at the Met Office's Hadley Centre. Experts there have studied the Earth...

Provisional figures for 2005 compiled by the Met Office's Hadley Centre and the University of East Anglia (UEA) show that the northern hemisphere is experiencing its warmest ever year.

Satellite data has revolutionised the way we see the atmosphere. It is a vital tool used in producing weather forecasts and monitoring the Earth's climate and oceans.

New observations show that man-made aerosols may be having a greater direct effect on our climate than previously thought.

Early figures coming into the Met Office for December are pointing to 2005 being a very warm, quite dry and sunny year, although there are regional variations.

England and Wales were basked in sunshine in December, provisional figures from the Met Office are showing.

Sir John Houghton CBE FRS, a former Chief Executive of the Met Office, has been awarded the prestigious Japan Prize for his original and outstanding achievements in science.

England and Wales have had the driest January for almost a decade, and some parts of the UK have had less than a quarter of their average rainfall so far this year, according to Met Office figures released today...

(Issued jointly by the Met Office and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

The number of named tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic set a new record in 2005, and today an international panel of scientists will be presenting findings on whether there is a link between recent tropical...

Forecasters at the Met Office are expecting the cold weather to continue across southern areas of the UK over the next few days. A raw easterly wind will bring an increasing risk of sleet and snow through Thursday...

Parts of southern England have had the driest two consecutive winters since 1920-22.

In September 2005, the Met Office made predictions about the coming winter. The final figures are now in for the months of December 2005 through to February 2006 and it is now possible to assess the winter of 2005...

Specialist forecasts from the Met Office are being translated in Urdu to ensure the wider community benefits from them.

Cold conditions so far this March are in stark contrast to the warm weather many places across the UK experienced this time last year.

In the UK, Monday 20 March 2006 marks the Spring Equinox. The day also traditionally marks the first day of spring, but what is it all about?

Every year thousands of people are affected by natural disasters. But two leading international experts said today (23 March) that working with organisations such as the Met Office helps them mitigate against the...

SPECIALIST television equipment which will help Senegal produce better warnings of severe weather, has been donated, by the Met Office, to the country's national meteorological service.

The Easter holiday weekend and first big 'get-away' of the season is just around the corner, with many people looking to the weather to play its part.

The Met Office is playing a key role to help the all-female British expedition team - the 'Arctic Foxes' - cross the Greenland ice cap next month.

The Met Office is receiving calls about a mysterious yellow dust appearing on cars and windows across various parts of the UK, especially along our east coast.

Gales and heavy rain are predicted by Met Office forecasters to affect the country through the rest of this week, as the weather turns very unsettled.

With the Bank Holiday weekend expected to have mixed weather across the country, prospects for the rest of the week look much more promising, if you are looking for more settled conditions.

The warm conditions that many areas of the UK have been experiencing look set to get even hotter through the coming week, Met Office forecasters are predicting.

Met Office forecasters are today issuing the first Heat-Health warning of the summer, as the UK looks set to have its hottest spell of weather so far this year.

A deep area of low pressure will bring unseasonably strong winds and heavy rain to northern parts of the UK, especially north-west Scotland and Northern Ireland later today (Tuesday) and through Wednesday, Met Office...

The Met Office has today issued further warnings of high temperatures affecting much of the UK, and has raised the Heat-Health alert to Level 3, the first time this level has been reached since the service was started...

1728 BST Monday 17 July 2006 sees MetOp, the first European polar orbiter weather satellite, scheduled for launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

The winter of 2006/07 for the UK is likely to be milder than the long-term average and wetter than the country experienced last winter, say Met Office long-range forecasters.

Forecasters at the Met Office are predicting the highest July temperatures ever recorded this week, with a 30% probability on Wednesday of breaking the all-time UK temperature record.

Met Office forecasters are expecting many places to remain hot and humid over the weekend, although some northern areas will be cooler. Heavy thundery showers on Saturday will be followed by a drier, less hot day...

Met Office forecasters are today saying the current heat wave is set to end over the next few days. Temperatures next week are expected to be lower, ranging from 19 to 25 Degrees C - much closer to the seasonal ...

July 2006 was the warmest month on record across the UK, the Met Office has declared today. With the final figures now available, the UK mean daily temperature for the month was 17.8 deg C, breaking the previous...

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Same-sex couples formed 3,648 civil partnerships in England andWales by 31 January 2006. Male couples formed 2,510 civil partnerships and female couples formed 1,138.

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The output price index for home sales of manufactured products rose 2.9 per cent in the year to February, unchanged from the rise in the year to January. Unadjusted, the index rose 0.3 per cent between January and...

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