5 d. ago UK government owes children apology for damaging Covid errors, inquiry hears

Children’s commissioner during pandemic says long lockdowns caused explosion in vulnerability among youngThe government should apologise to children for the damaging mistakes and policy errors it committed during the pandemic, the former children’s commissioner for England has told the Covid-19 inquiry.Giving evidence to the inquiry’s public hearing on Thursday, Anne Longfield said a “doom loop” of fatalism among ministers meant the government failed to do more to help children. She argued that the prolonged lockdowns and school closures were responsible for the explosion in mental health, welfare and behaviour difficulties still being experienced by children and young people. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Firms ‘did not know’ machete was in parcel delivered to Southport attacker

The Southport Inquiry heard the machete was sent without age-verified delivery.

Events

6 d. ago Southport killer inquired about buying crossbows online in 'discreet packaging' when he was just 15, inquiry hears

Axel Rudakubana asked two firms if the weapons would be concealed in plain parcels and if he needed to prove he was over 18 when they were delivered.

Events

6 d. ago Southport attacker contacted retailers about ordering crossbows, inquiry told

Axel Rudakubana emailed two archery retailers when he was 15, the inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall heard on Wednesday.

Events

7 d. ago Covid exercise messaging left children stuck indoors, UK inquiry hears

Children not allowed out partly because their exercise – playing – looked too much ‘like fun’, says campaignerChildren were stopped from playing outside during Covid partly because it looked “like fun” and did not fit with the seriousness of the restrictions, the UK’s inquiry has heard.Alice Ferguson, the founding director of Playing Out, which campaigns for children’s freedom to play outside, told the inquiry that play was fundamental for children’s health and wellbeing, especially play outside with other children. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Southport killer bought machete with ID of man in his 60s living 200 miles away

Earlier this month the inquiry heard how between January 2022 and October 2023, Rudakubana ordered a bow and arrow, two machetes and the ingredients to make the biological toxin ricin

Events

7 d. ago Covid inquiry hears lockdowns led to increase in kids’ suffering and abuse

Chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett said the pandemic’s impact on children and young people had been 'severe' with some kids being subjected to 'grievous harm' by carers during lockdown

Events

8 d. ago Southport attack where three young girls were murdered would have been 'severely worse' if door was locked, dance teacher tells public inquiry

Leanne Lucas, who was injured during the attack, was due to give evidence at the Southport Inquiry , but Liverpool Town Hall heard she was 'not fit'.

Events

8 d. ago Covid inquiry hears of ‘grievous harm’ suffered by children behind closed doors

The latest module of the inquiry will also examine the impact of learning moving online in lockdowns.

Politics

8 d. ago No need to ‘reinvestigate’ report into fatal rail derailment, says sheriff

An inquiry hearing heard there is no dispute around a Rail Accident Investigation Branch report into the crash in which three people died.

Events

1 week ago Axel Rudakubana's taxi driver accepted new passenger minutes after seeing 'screaming children' fleeing for lives

The Southport inquiry heard the taxi driver saw six and seven-year-old children "stampede for their lives" but he drove away from the scene

Society

1 week ago Taxi driver saw ‘stampede’ of children fleeing Southport attack, inquiry hears

Gary Poland told the Southport Inquiry he left the scene because he believed he heard gunshots.

Events

1 week ago Southport killer's taxi driver admits he 'went into panic mode' and sped away from massacre despite hearing screams

Gary Poland, 56, told the public inquiry he thought he heard four or five loud bangs after dropping off Axel Rudakubana, 17, and assumed he had a gun and was shooting at people.

Events

1 week ago ‘Difficult’ to understand how one person caused so many injuries, inquiry hears

Chief Inspector Andrew Hughes, who was on duty in the Merseyside Police control room on the day, gave evidence at Liverpool Town Hall.

Events

2 w. ago Southport killer's taxi driver 'waited 50 minutes' to call 999 despite hearing 'screaming' moments after dropping him off outside dance class, inquiry hears

Gary Poland, who picked Rudakubana up from his home in Banks, Lancashire, on July 29 last year, took nearly an hour to call 999 despite hearing children scream.

Events

2 w. ago Southport killer's 'targeting of women and girls' exposed in phone records

Analysis of Axel Rudakubana's Nokia phone reveals he 'specifically targeted women and girls' the Southport Inquiry into the mass attack has heard

Events

2 w. ago Southport killer saved dance party address in phone to 'remember where to go'

Axel Rudakubana, who horrifically stabbed three young girls to death in July last year at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party, had saved the location in Southport in his phone, an inquiry heard

Events

2 w. ago Hero police officer charged in to arrest Southport killer during knife rampage with just a baton despite being warned 'You need a f****** gun mate', inquiry hears

Sgt Greg Gillespie was warned by a member of the public who had come to the children's aid 'You need a f***** gun mate, that's doing nothing' before he went inside

Events

2 w. ago Adult Southport survivors tell of 'vile abuse' they received on social media after Axel Rudakubana's attack

The adult Southport survivors experienced 'vile abuse' on social media after Axel Rudakubana's launched an attack on the dance class last summer, the public inquiry has heard.

Events

2 w. ago Southport killer was discharged from mental health services six days before attack, inquiry hears

Chronology of Axel Rudakubana’s engagement with Camhs published and inquiry hears statement from killer’s brotherAxel Rudakubana was discharged from mental health services six days before he murdered three young girls and stabbed several others at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, it has emerged.The inquiry into the atrocity was told on Wednesday that a risk assessment was undertaken on Rudakubana, then 17, a week before the attack in July last year. Its findings have not been disclosed. Continue reading...

Events