Latest news with #PortsmouthCityCouncil
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Portsmouth council seeks funds for urgent museum upgrades
Museums in Portsmouth are to be cleared out and reorganised in an effort to help bring long-buried finds back into the public being presented to Portsmouth City Council have said the main collections store for Portsmouth museums, located at Hilsea, requires "urgent upgrades" and is currently unfit for 2018, the natural history collection had been without a curator for 30 years, leading to parts of the collection now being difficult to access and damaged by council, which runs the museums, say they will be recruiting for a new collections manager to lead the project, as well as new volunteers to help with basic cataloguing and conservation. Old cannons which can no longer be maintained may also be offloaded, according to council documents, and some cannons which have been lent out to other locations for decades may not be sought for return. Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: "At the heart of this plan is our commitment to making our collections as accessible as possible."To support this goal, we are exploring funding opportunities to upgrade our existing storage facility in Hilsea, ensuring it meets modern standards for accessibility and preservation."The council hopes to eventually create a new storage site at Lumps Fort, near canoe lake, on the seafront in Portsmouth. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- BBC News
Portsmouth City Council sees modern slavery referrals double
A city has seen the number of modern slavery cases double over the past year, a council has City Council has revealed a sharp rise in the number of modern slavery cases being to council documents shared during a recent meeting, referrals from Portsmouth to the National Referral Mechanism rose to 32 in 2024, compared to 16 in 2023. Of these, 30 involved individuals under the age of increase in referrals does not automatically point to more cases, the council explained, but is likely linked to growing awareness and improved recognition of modern slavery. Modern slavery includes people being forced to work, treated as property, controlled by employers, and having their freedom council is part of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Modern Slavery Partnership, with senior managers from both adult and children's safeguarding teams Hampshire, 350 potential victims were identified last Lee Hunt said: "Modern slavery is a scourge on our city's life – the government has got to continue funding it because it is a very miserable affair." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Rape charge against man staying in asylum hotel 'was kept secret to avoid stirring up community tensions'
Council chiefs have been accused of hushing up a rape charge against the inhabitant of an asylum hotel in order to avoid inflaming 'community tension'. The man was reportedly charged with rape and voyeurism following an attack on a woman on June 11, The Sun reported. He is believed to have been living at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, which has functioned as an asylum hotel. However, the man appeared in front of Portsmouth magistrates' on June 16 and he was remanded in custody - so he is no longer living in the hotel. But there are now allegations that members of Portsmouth City Council sought to keep the nature of charged man's accommodation secret in order to avoid community unrest. Portsmouth City Council members were reportedly briefed in private about the charges against the man. However, it has been claimed that councillors were warned not to mention that the suspect lived in an asylum hotel. It was also reported that Portsmouth Independents Party leader Cllr George Madgwick was urged not to share 'privileged confidential information'. A young girl waves to security officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on June 20 Councillor Madgwick said: 'This is precisely why the public don't trust politicians and public bodies: things are hidden that should be disclosed. Anyone involved in any form of cover-up from disclosure to the public should question their role in a publicly funded position.' There are also two other cases in England, one in Manchester and one in London, in which the fact that suspects lived in asylum hotels was not disclosed. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick called the small-boat crossings 'a national security emergency'. 'Women in towns with asylum hotels shouldn't have to live in fear. The authorities must trust the public with the truth and act to protect them,' he said. A government spokesperson said: 'Sexual violence of all types is a despicable crime, causing the most unimaginable harm to victims and survivors. 'We recognise the immense bravery shown by them throughout their pursuit of justice, and protecting them remains central to our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. 'We have already taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum, and will do everything in our power to pursue deportation from the UK so that these vile criminals are off our streets and paying the price for their crimes.'
The Irish Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Rape charge against asylum seeker in taxpayer-funded hotel kept quiet to avoid inflaming ‘community tension in cover up'
A RAPE charge against a man staying in an asylum hotel was kept quiet — as officials feared inflaming 'community tension'. There were also two other rape cases where it was not disclosed that the suspects were in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels. Advertisement 4 Council officials recommended rape charges against an asylum seeker living at a taxpayer-funded hotel be kept quiet Credit: Darren Fletcher Shadow Justice Secretary He went on: 'The illegal small-boat crossings are a national security emergency. "We've seen terrorism, murders and rapes from those who've come here illegally. It's outrageous. 'Women in towns with asylum hotels shouldn't have to live in fear. Advertisement READ MORE ON ASYLUM SEEKERS The authorities must trust the public with the truth and act to protect them.' The rape suspects were all housed in Home Office-funded accommodation in Portsmouth , London and Manchester. At Portsmouth, the alleged rape was followed by a concerted effort to keep secret the suspect's link to an asylum hotel. He was charged with rape and voyeurism after the alleged attack on a woman on June 11. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Police confirmed to The Sun he had been at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, used to house asylum seekers. The man appeared at Portsmouth magistrates' court on June 16. He was remanded in custody and is no longer at the hotel. Migrants dodge tear gas in sprint across beach to reach boats bound for Britain No statement was issued about the case but Portsmouth City Council officials were briefed privately. The Sun understands councillors were warned not to speak about the suspect's housing, with one council officer raising fears about 'community tension' if it was known. Advertisement Another senior official privately urged Portsmouth Independents Party leader Cllr George Madgwick not to share 'privileged confidential information' after he took to social media to express his frustration. 4 Reform leader Nigel Farage has called for dismissals of the council officials involved Credit: Getty 4 Robert Jenrick MP has warned the 'perception of a migrant cover-up' was growing Credit: Getty Cllr Madgwick said: 'This is precisely why the public don't trust politicians and public bodies: things are hidden that should be disclosed. Advertisement Anyone involved in any form of cover-up from disclosure to the public should question their role in a publicly funded position.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said last night: 'The council officials who hid the truth about these serious allegations should immediately face the sack. "Decent people are getting angrier every day.' Portsmouth City Council effectively admitted it chose not to go public, saying it was informed of the charge ahead of the court hearing but left public statements to police. Advertisement A spokesman said: 'We knew the Home Office accommodation link would become public knowledge through the court proceedings and, based on events elsewhere in the country, were conscious there may be community tensions related to it.' Girl 'sex ordeal' EXCLUSIVE By Alex Diaz A MIGRANT living at an asylum seeker hotel raped a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, a court heard. Mohammed Akbari, 23, allegedly attacked her in bushes after they arranged to go to a park, having first met at a hospital. The teen felt dizzy after Akbari, from Iran, gave her an alcoholic drink, Uxbridge magistrates' court heard. She allegedly told him to stop the assault, in Harmondsworth, West London, on June 9. He claims she consented to sex. Akbari arrived in the UK last year, claiming he is Christian and at risk in Iran. He is in custody and will return to court on July 18. Two similar cases also saw no public statements issued about the suspects' links to asylum housing. One involved a 27-year-old man staying at a hotel in Kensington, West London. He faces multiple charges over a serious sex attack, including rape and attempted rape. Advertisement He pleaded not guilty on June 2 and was remanded in custody before a trial in October. In Manchester , a Jordanian with an asylum claim under way was charged with rape while living at a Home Office-contracted hotel. He appeared at Tameside magistrates' court last month and was remanded in custody until a crown court hearing next week. The man, 34, has yet to enter a plea. Meanwhile, an asylum seeker in a hotel in Yorkshire was charged with raping a girl aged 13 to 15 last Boxing Day. 4 There have been multiple assaults involving asylum seekers across the UK Credit: Alamy Advertisement Last night the Government said: 'We have taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum.' Our revelations come after an illegal migrant was jailed for raping a girl of 15, amid claims he did not understand 'cultural differences'. Afghan national Sadeq Nikzad, 29, pounced on the teen in Falkirk in October 2023. Defence counsel Janice Green told the High Court in Livingston there was a 'cultural barrier' with Nikzad's home nation where There is no suggestion any of the accused in the three latest rape cases are linked to Advertisement But the issue of alleged criminality by illegal arrivals was raised in an official report this week. A damning review by Dame Louise Casey found they are involved in a 'significant proportion' of live police investigations into child sex grooming gangs. The report found police and council leaders covered up the scale of Asian grooming gangs since concerns were first raised in 2009 as they feared being called racist or raising community tensions. Additional reporting: RICHARD MORIARTY 'Axe hate team' By Martina Bet LABOUR'S work on a definition of Islamophobia threatens to shut down efforts to tackle grooming gangs, a report has warned. The party's working group on anti-Muslim hate should be suspended immediately until after the new inquiry into the scandal, think tank Policy Exchange says. Report co-author Sir John Jenkins said a definition would be an 'undeniable act of two-tier policy'. The group says even a non-binding definition risks silencing victims. It comes days after Baroness Casey's report said officials failed to mention that perpetrators were Asian for fear of appearing racist.
The Irish Sun
30-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
UK's deepest lido is reopening this summer after three years – and an £8.75 million upgrade
THERE'S good news for outdoor swimmers, as Hilsea Lido is set to reopen in a matter of months. The outdoor swimming pool, which is the 4 The Hilsea Lido has been closed since 2022 4 The lido has been popular with Hilsea locals since the 1930s Credit: Portsmouth City Council The It closed its doors back in 2022 for a refurbishment - thanks to the Government's Levelling Up programme, the outdoor pool benefited from £8.75 million worth of investment. Along with a fully functioning pool, there will be new changing rooms, benches, tables, and a fountain. The CGI plans also reveal grass areas with sun umbrellas and sunbeds for relaxing next to the pool. Read More on UK Lidos According to At the moment, locals can't see the works as there's a protective tent over the site. There are heaters underneath keeping the temperature at 8 degrees which is crucial for the rendering to cure. Finishing touches are being made like the tiling, the pool base has been stabilised, and the original lagoons have been restored. Most read in News Travel To keep the pool going and without further need for work, a modern filtration system has been installed. Parts of the original lido have been removed, like the spectator stand which was declared unsafe during the upgrade. New £4million lido to open in UK next year 4 Hilsea is the nation's deepest lido and upgrades have been made to maintain it Credit: Facebook The mural has also been removed, but the government website says that the artist will return to paint another once the lido is up and running. It's not the first time Local residents then formed a charity called Hilsea Lido Pool for the People who took over its management. The lido re-opened its doors in 2014. After the current closure, the original plans said that the lido would reopen for its 90th anniversary, which is on July 24. No official opening date has been revealed just yet, but there is more information on the It reads: "The project is set to reopen in early autumn 2025, which is the same year the lido will celebrate its 90th anniversary." The opening of this And here are the 4 The Hilsea Lido will open in the next few months Credit: Portsmouth City Council
