NHS staff will be forced to have two jabs or lose jobs
Health groups say plans would force trusts to either fire staff or remove them from the frontline at a time when the NHS is already chronically understaffed
It seems that ministers are planning to enact new laws that will make vaccinations mandatory for NHS staff, leaving them to choose between getting two jabs and losing their job.
Sajid Javid will force NHS staff to have two Covid jabs, reports The Sunday Times, which states that the health secretary is seeking to bring in legislation that would make full vaccination a condition of employment.
The argument given by Mr Javid for doing so is that it would further protect vulnerable patients whilst staying in hospital, however, scientific advice listed on the government’s own website says that you can still catch Covid and pass it on when vaccinated.
Health groups, meanwhile, have kicked back against the plans – saying that this would force trusts to either fire staff or remove them from frontline duty at a time when the NHS is already chronically understaffed.
According to The Sunday Times, around 7% (106,351) of NHS staff in England have still not been vaccinated.
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News also emerged for the first time in The Observer yesterday that emergency Covid planning has now begun with local councils in England.
The paper reported that the UK’s health emergency committee has been in touch with local authorities to discuss bringing in more restrictions as part of Plan B.
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Last week, new Covid cases passed the 50,000 per day mark for the first time in three months. Mr Javid is currently putting together a new strategy with a blueprint due to be announced in the coming weeks.
He is expected to announce new measures including more community diagnostic centres, to open in football stadiums and shopping centres where scans and blood tests can be carried out and new surgical hubs for carrying out routine operations.
It is also expected that he will announce more deals with the private sector in a bid to cut the backlog that has accumulated in elective surgeries.
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Other plans to cut waiting list times include the removal of patients the Prime Minister and Javid believe should not be on there, such as those who are currently considered too obese to have minor surgery.
Mr Javid is also preparing to roll out booster jabs to the over 50’s after the Christmas holidays.
Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
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Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Georgina Pellant -
25th October 2021 
