Jonathan Fagg

Former prison officer Martin Geddes, who suffered a serious assault at work, is calling for Tasers to be available more widely across England and Wales’s prisons. A limited trial has seen specialist officers deploy Tasers in five incidents at four prisons, without firing them, while the Ministry of Justice plans to extend access to 500 additional officers as part of a £15 million investment in protective equipment. Prison staff representatives support controlled use, but former governor John Podmore urges further evidence and the Howard League for Penal Reform warns that more weapons could escalate tensions and distract from overcrowding and poor prison regimes. Serious assaults and staff mental-health-related absences have both increased, highlighting the broader safety pressures facing prisons.

Islington’s fertility rate has fallen to one of the lowest in England, reflecting wider declines across London driven by high housing costs, expensive childcare and an exodus of women in their early thirties. Parents and long-term residents cite unaffordable homes, limited space and rising living costs as key pressures forcing families to move to outer boroughs or leave London entirely. Experts warn that shrinking child populations threaten the city’s future workforce and economic stability, prompting the London Assembly to call for emergency measures including child‑friendly housing standards and expanded play spaces. Younger adults cite financial insecurity and career pressures as obstacles to starting families, while some couples choose to remain child‑free. City and national officials highlight housing initiatives, childcare funding and parental leave reforms intended to support families.

Half of responding councils in England allow pavement parking through marked bays or signage, despite widespread complaints and accessibility concerns raised by disability groups. Wheelchair users and visually impaired residents report blocked pavements and reduced mobility, while some residents argue pavement parking is necessary on narrow streets to maintain road access for emergency vehicles and buses. Birmingham and many other councils await new government powers allowing broader enforcement against dangerous pavement obstruction. Charities advocate for clearer national rules and minimum space requirements for pedestrians as vehicle numbers and widths continue to increase.