Richard Ault

Britain is facing exceptionally high wildfire risk as a fifth summer heatwave is expected to push temperatures above 38°C. England and Wales have recorded 1,017 wildfires in 2026, matching the total for the whole of the previous year, while drought affects most of England and all of Wales. High Peak in Derbyshire is identified as the constituency at greatest risk, followed by Calder Valley and Tiverton and Minehead. Andy Burnham is chairing a COBRA meeting and considering a ban on disposable barbecues, while fire chiefs urge the public to avoid ignition sources, follow local restrictions and report fires immediately.

A map based on Moorland Association data identifies High Peak in Derbyshire as the UK area most at risk from wildfires, followed by Calder Valley and Tiverton and Minehead. The report focuses on a continuing blaze at Dunwich Heath near Sizewell B in Suffolk, where firefighters say conditions have improved but remain dynamic. Half of England has been declared in drought amid heatwaves and low rainfall, while officials warn that climate change is increasing wildfire risk. The Moorland Association blames rewilding and excess vegetation, whereas Rewilding Britain attributes the danger primarily to hotter, drier conditions and degraded ecosystems, advocating better prevention, emergency-service resources, and restored wetlands and peatlands.

Middlesbrough has overtaken Blackpool as the area with the highest crime rate in England and Wales, excluding central London and the City of Westminster, recording 150 offences per 1,000 residents in the year ending March 2026. Blackpool ranked second at 146 offences per 1,000, followed by Manchester, Hartlepool and Bristol. Serious offences including sexual offences, stalking and harassment, robbery, drug crime and weapons possession increased, although total non-fraud offences fell by 1% year on year and the longer-term trend remains downward. Broadland in Norfolk had the lowest crime rate, at 35 offences per 1,000 residents.

Home Office data shows residential burglaries in the UK fell to 154,000 in 2025, an 11% drop from the previous year, though charge rates remained low at 5%. Urban areas continued to experience the highest burglary rates, with Middlesbrough leading when adjusted for household numbers, followed by Bradford and other northern cities. Affluent rural areas such as North Norfolk and Eden recorded the lowest rates. Disparities in burglary prevalence closely aligned with levels of deprivation, while police emphasised the importance of maintaining home security despite the national decline in offences.

Ofgem’s energy price cap has increased by 13 percent to £1,862 a year for a typical household, adding about £221 annually to average bills. The rise is linked to higher wholesale gas prices driven by conflict in the Middle East. National Energy Action warns that the increase will intensify financial pressures on vulnerable households, raising risks of energy debt, forced prepayment meters, and unsafe living conditions. The charity calls for urgent debt relief measures and expanded support under Ofgem’s Debt Relief Scheme to prevent further harm and reduce long-term costs.