#Grenfell – fraud

[freenewsreport]

Ben Myers KC: Navigating the World of Business and Financial Crime

When it comes to the world of law, few names ring louder in the corridors of justice than Ben Myers KC. Known for his prowess in handling business and financial crime cases, Myers has made quite the name for himself. With decades of experience under his belt, he’s navigated through some of the most complex legal landscapes, taking on cases that make headlines across the UK. But who exactly is Ben Myers KC? How did he rise to prominence, and what makes him one of the most sought-after barristers in his field?

In this article, we’ll explore his legal career, highlight some of his key cases, and give insight into what makes him stand out in the high-stakes world of business, regulatory, and financial crime.

Who Is Ben Myers KC?

Ben Myers KC, a highly respected barrister in the UK, primarily focuses on business and financial crime. As a leading barrister at Exchange Chambers, he has been at the forefront of many critical legal battles. His legal acumen and no-nonsense approach have made him a go-to lawyer for complex criminal matters, especially those related to regulatory law and professional discipline.

His work isn’t just confined to business and finance. Myers handles general crime cases and has been involved in significant investigations, including advice on the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which was one of the most impactful disasters in recent British history.

A Leader in Business and Financial Crime

At the heart of Ben Myers KC's expertise lies his focus on business and financial crime. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill cases; they require an intricate understanding of the law and a keen eye for detail. Myers is often involved in prosecutions brought by major agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

But it’s not just about catching criminals—these cases are riddled with complexities, from navigating corporate structures to uncovering hidden financial trails. Myers has developed a reputation for being able to untangle these webs with ease, bringing criminals to justice while ensuring that legal proceedings remain fair and transparent.

Recent Notable Cases

When you think of Ben Myers KC, you can’t ignore his involvement in Operation Larkshot, a massive money laundering investigation. It’s one of those cases that you can’t help but wonder—how does one manage to piece together such an intricate puzzle of financial misconduct? But Myers thrives in these situations, working hand-in-hand with investigative teams to get to the heart of the matter.

Another feather in his cap is his advisory role in the legal aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. This tragedy left many seeking justice and answers, and Myers was there to guide legal professionals through the complex web of corporate negligence, regulatory oversights, and the harrowing human toll.

The Art of Managing Complex Cases

Handling high-profile cases is no easy feat. It requires not only legal expertise but also a deep understanding of human behavior, business operations, and, quite frankly, a whole lot of patience. Ben Myers KC knows this better than anyone. With each case, he’s diving into a new world of facts, evidence, and legal principles that he must master in order to effectively represent his clients.

He approaches every case with the same meticulous attention to detail. No stone is left unturned, and every legal angle is explored. This dedication to his craft is what sets him apart from other barristers in his field.

Why Choose Ben Myers KC?

You might be asking—what makes Ben Myers KC stand out from the crowd? For starters, his rankings in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 are a testament to his skill. These aren’t just numbers on a page; they’re reflections of countless successful cases and years of experience.

Clients seek him out not just for his expertise, but for his ability to break down complicated legal matters into digestible pieces. In a world where legal jargon can often be overwhelming, Myers offers clarity. He provides his clients with the assurance that no matter how complex the case, they are in good hands.

Experience Speaks Volumes

Over the years, Myers has built up a wealth of experience, and this shines through in every case he handles. Whether it’s regulatory law, general crime, or high-stakes financial litigation, he brings his A-game every time. And, oh boy, does it pay off!

It’s easy to see why so many high-profile cases land on his desk—he’s reliable, efficient, and unshakably confident in his legal strategies. In a profession where reputations are built on winning, Myers has secured his place as one of the UK’s leading barristers.

Ben Myers KC and Professional Discipline

While his work in business and financial crime is what he’s known for, Myers also dips his toes into the world of professional discipline. This area of law deals with holding professionals accountable when they breach the standards of their industry. It’s about integrity, fairness, and ensuring that the rules apply to everyone.

Myers brings the same level of expertise to these cases, ensuring that justice is served while maintaining the integrity of the professions he represents. He’s not afraid to challenge the status quo and push for accountability.

Challenges in Financial Crime Law

Navigating the world of financial crime is no walk in the park. Laws are constantly changing, and staying up to date is a full-time job. Ben Myers KC has mastered this aspect, keeping his finger on the pulse of regulatory changes and financial trends that could impact his cases.

He understands the nuances involved in these cases—knowing that even the slightest misstep could result in catastrophic consequences. That’s why he always prepares meticulously, ensuring that he’s ready to face whatever curveballs come his way.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

Let’s face it—financial crime isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, with the rise of new technologies, the landscape is becoming even more complex. From cryptocurrency fraud to global money laundering schemes, the game is changing. But Myers is one step ahead, always adapting to new developments and finding ways to stay relevant in an ever-evolving field.

Conclusion

Ben Myers KC is a powerhouse in the legal world, especially in the realms of business and financial crime. His experience, combined with his sharp legal mind, makes him the go-to barrister for complex, high-profile cases. From managing intricate financial investigations to advising on catastrophic events like the Grenfell Tower fire, his impact on the legal profession is undeniable.

If you ever find yourself in need of a barrister who can handle the tough cases, you might just want to give Ben Myers KC a call. One thing’s for sure—he won’t disappoint!

[itsrattysworld]

Without Prejudice Mervelee Myers Find My Purpose Mental Health SEND Advocate Turn Activist To Safeguard Children Young People Adults Made Vulnerable From LEYF Cohorts With Friends In High Places HMCTS CPS CJS DBS Career Criminals Members Of UEL Richard Harty MIC Abusers Reviews Online During ET/EAT Judge Freer Give Barrister Samantha Jones The Reference To Be On Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel Duchess Kate Launch Child Mental Health Stockwell Nursery Theresa May Government Rejected Petition Social Media The Cyberbullies Target MM Harvest Intellectual Property Copyright Images CPPDP June O'Sullivan Will Be Sectioned For Protection Of Employers Users Of LEYF 19/9

Refer to 23 June 2022 MM Celebrate Windrush Day Refer to Refer to Without Prejudice Mervelee Myers The Strong Woman Share Action Fraud Party To Met Police Hate Crimes Systemic Discrimination Against Me Covering Barclays Santander Nationwide Financial Ombudsman Services Refer To South London Press 2004 Emma Martin-Hamilton Get YouTube Trustpilot To Remove Posts PC Edward Allen To Cyberbully Me…

[cloakedtruth]

So let's get this straight. Phase 1 - Files Exist. Fire Service blamed. Said they should have reacted to the fire better. Absolute BULLSHIT!! Don't cover a fucking building in flammable cladding to save a few pounds. Phase 2 - Files don't exist. Likely to have exposed the major failings of the local council and developers. Likely to have resulted in corporate manslaughter charges...... Files magically disappear. What's funny here is that the #Metropolitan #Police and more importantly #GCHQ can recover and restore files from criminals that were deleted, in some cases using sophisticated deleting methods from years back. But can't find files that must have existed only weeks/months before. If the hard drive exists... The files exist. There would be back ups for sure. #Grenfell #Investigation #Corruption #Fraud #Criminal #Majorfraud https://www.instagram.com/p/CFT-rfflDPe/?igshid=1q8sdx1fbqo02

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Tories pass Grenfell costs onto tenants

In 2017, at 72 people were burned alive when London's Grenfell Tower went up in flames. It had been skinned in highly flammable "decorative cladding" to make it less of an eyesore for rich people in nearby blocks of luxury flats.

That charnel house was the opening act on a yearslong odyssey of cruelty that just reached a new climax in Parliament, as Tory MPs ensured that working people - not landlords, developers or manufacturers - would fit the bill for removing cladding from their homes.

Here's what happened, and what's happening. After Grenfell, there were a series of (ahem) burning questions. For example: where would the people who lost their homes live? This fell to the (Tory) Kensington Council, which had been trying to oust poor people for years.

Kensington Council found a way to realise its twin goals of discouraging poor people from living in the borough and doing the absolute least to satisfy its legal obligations: it had the Grenfell survivors bid against their neighbours for homes:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-fire-survivors-bid-permanent-homes-housing-kensington-council-rbkc-a7905341.html

With that question settled (!), the next question raised by Grenfell was, "Do I live in a building with flammable cladding, and if so, what happens next?" These should have been easy questions to answer, but Tory MPs did everything they could to keep the nation in the dark.

Take the question of who should pay to make homes safe. Tory MPs had repeatedly voted down legislation that would have required landlords to pay to make their buildings fit for human habitation. One bill was voted down just months before Grenfell.

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/corbyn-tried-pass-law-make-homes-safe-last-year-conservatives-rejected-49103/

That the Tories voted against a bill that would protect tenants from landlords is no surprise. After all, David Cameron's 2012 "war on safety culture" paved the way for Grenfell, and the committee that killed the bill was composed of MPs who were mostly landlords themselves.

Neither the landlords, nor the parliament in their thrall, would pay to make the country's firetraps safe.

Theresa May (who found £1B to bribe the bigoted loons at the DUP) told local councils they shouldn't expect anything for cladding removal.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-cladding-scandal-council-funding-government-no-guarantee-local-government-budgets-a7809216.html

The rest of the country was just wising up to something May knew: there are hell of a lot of future Grenfells out there. Conservative councils had been on a highly flammable cladding buying spree, because it was 5.7% cheaper than the safe alternative.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/08/grenfell-tower-more-costly-fire-resistant-cladding-plan-was-dropped

The only reason the cladding was for sale at all was because the companies that made it had committed fraud, falsifying their safety reports (the "war on safety culture" had ended, making this kind of lethal fraud easy to get away with).

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-fire-latest-inquiry-london-cladding-building-safety-uk-celotex-a8362186.html

The local councils who'd saved pennies buying these fraudulent materials went into full CYA mode. They told their residents that information about which homes were affected needed to be kept secret, lest arsonists burn them all down (no, really).

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/16/towers-with-grenfell-style-cladding-at-risk-of-arson-and-terrorism

Still, the cladding had to be replaced, and so work began. The same property developers who'd padded their bottom lines by skimping on fire-safety and installing the cladding made millions replacing it.

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-fire-cladding-exclusive/exclusive-after-grenfell-fire-same-builders-rehired-to-replace-dangerous-cladding-reuters-finds-idUKKBN1E714Z

These companies sent gleeful notes to their shareholders announcing massive increases in their profitability:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/08/rydon-profit-rises-grenfell-tower-contractor

and the people who lived in the buildings got sent the bills:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/17/citiscape-croydon-2m-recladding-bill-prompted-grenfell-disaster

It's been four years since Grenfell, and at last, a new Fire Safety Bill is working its way through Parliament. The Lords amended it to shift the costs of replacing cladding to the landlords who bought it, the developers who recommended it, and the manufacturers who sold it.

But the Tory Parliament of Landlords voted the amendment down. Millions of English people (Wales, Scotland and NI are a different story) are now on the hook for £40-50K in costs.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2021/03/the-ultimate-grenfell-betrayal-uk-government-leaves-victims-of-cladding-crisis-holding-the-bill.html

They're already paying huge insurance premiums because their homes are deathtraps. Banks won't extend mortgages because their homes are deathtraps. They are obliged to spend hundreds of pounds a month for fire-prevention "walking watches" because their homes are deathtraps.

These leaseholds are the cheapest in the country and their residents are the most economically precarious leaseholders. Many are selling at steep discounts to cash buyers, losing everything.

A survey found 90% of the people in these buildings are experiencing declining mental health as a result of the inaction and uncertainty.

These people had nothing to do with the decision to convert their homes to deathtraps, but they are now stuck with the bill.

The three main manufacturers - Celotex, Kingspan, and Arconic - were all determined to have falsified their fire-safety test data and ignored whistleblowers who warned management about the risk.

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/12/how-they-built-grenfell

The newly privatised standards bodies - the British Board of Agrément, British Standards Institute, British Research Establishment - that certified the buildings also operate a revolving door with execs from firms whose work they certify.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/11/29/fir1-n29.html

None have paid a price. Quite the reverse! Arconic billed HM Treasury for £500k in furlough subsidies last year.

The £5.1b that Parliament has approved for cladding replacement does not come close to the total cost, and tenants are being stuck with the shortfall.

In particular, buildings with fewer than 7 storeys will get *no* subsidy - instead, the government will offer the people unlucky enough to live in them loans that they can't afford.

And while these are tenants, they can't move. They are "leasehold tenants" with 99-999 year leases: they don't own their flat, but they own the right to live there for a century. The building is owned by a freeholder - typically an aristocrat or financial speculator.

These leases are sold as though they were property - when a leaseholder "buys a flat," they actually buy the lease, typically with a mortgage. These leases are now underwater, because they are leases on deathtraps.

To move, they'd have to convince someone to buy their flammable leases. To stay, they have to borrow £40-50k to make their homes safe. They didn't create this situation, but the Tories have stuck them with the bill.

[alltimefavouritevideos]

10 Evil People Who Exploited Tragedies

[trulycertain]

Mum always tuts at me when I say I hate my country, because hey, we aren’t starving, we aren’t war-torn, we have rights for women, it’s not like this is Iraq...

Certainly, yes, and perspective is important, but smugness is dangerous. We currently have worse quality of life than the United States, we have one of the worst homelessness crises in the developed world, hate crimes are hugely on the rise, and we took in some of the least Syrian refugees in Europe. We’re somehow, remarkably, managing to be inhumane to those abroad and at home. 

Then there’s the whole Brexit stupidity, because people want to pretend we’re strong and independent when Britain has never been any such thing. Britain’s industries are dead and gutted, and even at their height, they relied on first colonialism and then imports. We are a tiny island with no industry and no empire; do people think that will magically change?

If Britain had nowhere left to go, we wouldn’t be having a crushing Conservative victory every fucking year. I wouldn’t have to go and work in a food bank that is more crowded than ever, and I wouldn’t have to watch people cry because benefits are harder to claim than they have been in years, or because they’re disabled and terrified and they’ve just been given bullshit fit-for-work status; I wouldn’t have to watch people who’ve worked here back-breakingly hard for ten years and have kids born here be afraid they’re going to get deported and that their kids will never see them again; I wouldn’t have to hear that a fellow volunteer’s friend has been put on a cheaper insulin because there are fears about medicine trade after Brexit; I wouldn’t have to watch people desperately wave their status paperwork in front of me because they’re afraid that without citizenship papers, they’re not entitled to a basic fucking human right like food; I wouldn’t have to take the odd cup of tea to the bloke who sleeps under the porch and offer him a sandwich and lie to the police who come and ask if we’ve had any rough sleepers so they can move him on. I wouldn’t have to listen to my boss crow that the Tories are just cleaning up the messes Labour made, that Donald Trump did nothing wrong and Hillary Clinton is evil, that halal meat directly funds ISIS terrorism. I wouldn’t have to realise the majority of my generation seems to have forgotten, or never learned, that the miners’ strikes ever happened. I wouldn’t throw away the Suns and the Mails left on tables, disgusted, because the vast majority of our news is bullshit right-wing propaganda. I wouldn’t have a friend who when reporting her rape to the police, after being lured to a false “party,” was told, “Why did you go home with him when you had a boyfriend?��� I wouldn’t sit and cross out all the places we used to refer people to for debt counselling, for addiction help, for citizenship or homelessness crises, for benefit appeals, because we have to make a new list every two months due to all the closures and the lack of funding. There wouldn’t be four people begging just on my high street, twelve to a street in the city centre. I wouldn’t have to go to a memorial march because a man from my area froze to death alone on the street and wasn’t found for two fucking days. One in eight people in my city wouldn’t be homeless.

Sure, first-past-the-post voting has a hell of a lot to answer for, and without it, maybe we wouldn’t have such a fucked-up two-party system. But if this is genuinely what the majority of my country supports - policies of isolationism, benefits that are nigh-impossible to claim and degrading even if you’re doing everything that’s asked of you, the shutting down of immigration even from refugees, anti-homeless spikes, the selling off of council housing without building of new homes so that people in dire straits have nowhere to go... 

And sure, “but it’s not like people vote for all that! And people can be lied to! And you’re not accounting for propaganda’s influence! And people think the Tories are genuinely helping!” 

You know what I get from most Tories I know? “But money doesn’t magically come from nowhere.” Quite true. But weirdly, they’re too busy frothing at the mouth about “benefit scammers” and “halal meat terrorism” or “but my business will be affected!” to worry about tax evasion from companies like Amazon and Google, and tax-raising is “always a bad thing and taking your hard-earned money from you.” So where do they get the money from?

All it really means is that Tories are quite all right with denying money and resources to people so they and theirs can get it. All it really means is that Tories saw Grenfell and still thought voting pro-austerity was a conscionable decision. It’s always taken from “them” - the homeless, single mothers, ungrateful unions, ungrateful miners, ungrateful teachers, ungrateful junior doctors, immigrants, Muslims, the “not-really-disabled,” pretentious artists, LGBT people, “Zionists,” pick the flavour of the month, it’s always someone they don’t understand or give a shit about  - because “they” are bad and frauds and will destroy our country. Ask a Tory about this, and watch them shift uncomfortably and talk about “necessary tightening of the belt” and “the immigration crisis” and “the ringfenced NHS” (oh, aye, it is, but extending medicine patents and privatising it out from under us aren’t officially making spending cuts, and Tories just love loopholes) and try to avoid your point.

The best case scenario is that people voting are too fucking stupid to question right-wing propaganda that plays right into their prejudices, and the left are either being suppressed or not fucking turning up. The worst is that this result is pretty true to life. And if all that’s what the majority of my country stands for - if that’s what they think is a necessary evil, if they think others don’t deserve basic rights and humanity -

then yes, I fucking hate my country. I hate a majority of the British people. I’m disgusted with them and I’m disgusted with this place. The British public are fucking idiots, and “the turkeys have voted for Christmas.”

[yahoonewsdigest-gb]

'Fake Grenfell victim' held on suspicion of fraud

UK News

'Fake Grenfell victim' held on suspicion of fraud

A 52-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of fraudulently claiming to have lost family members in the Grenfell Tower disaster. The man is alleged to have attempted to gain money and housing by pretending relatives had died in the blaze. It is alleged he came forward in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and family liaison officers were assigned to him after he claimed he had lost his wife and son in the blaze.

However, we will robustly investigate any information about anyone who seeks to capitalise on the suffering of so many.

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack

Scotland Yard said he attempted to claim financial support after stating he had lost all his property. Police launched an investigation after there were inconsistencies in the man's stories. They also spoke to residents of the flat within Grenfell Tower where he claimed to live who confirmed he did not live at the address. Further inquiries revealed the man lived 20 miles away in Bromley, south east London and did not have a wife or child.

[sortyourlifeoutmate]

There is a man in the news. A sexual predator.

Doesn't really narrow it down...

Ahem.

He has been sentenced to life in prison for assaulting a number of women he met through online dating sites. And so he should.

But - this is the bit that is sticking out - he is appealing one of the charges because it relates to him having lied to a woman about him having had the snip only to later reveal to her (SURPRISE!) he lied.

She got pregnant as a result of this, by the way.

Now, this counted as rape (two counts, actually, as they had sex twice) by deception and you may think yourself "Well, yeah" but apparently they feel its worth appealing over.

To whit, this quote:

"The big question is can a lie turn consensual sex into non-consensual?"

Yes! Fucking yes you idiots! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Do you want me to talk slower?!

Okay, picture this.

Remember when there was the Grenfell fire? Kind of a horrible event? Remember when, following this, there were those who pretended to have been victims so they could get money?

"The big question is can a lie turn claiming compensation into fraud?"

Yes! Because that's THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT!

If you obtain consent by LYING then IT IS NOT INFORMED CONSENT THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT!

Fuck this guy!

And they're worried about the possible legal ramifications and I don't get that because it seems the only ramifications would be people who are pricks and liars getting what's coming to them.

Protip: Ig you lie to get what you want, you deserve everything that's coming to you.

Bonus protip: If you lie about having had the snip so a lady will have sex with you and you then message her later with a text saying "I have a confession. I'm still fertile. Sorry. Xxx" you deserve a whole lot more.

Argh!

[georgefancys]

Degüello Thoughts - spoilers holy crap spoilers!!!!

- HERE WE GO LADS

- i definitely know that guy

- omg i was watching misfits before and was wondering where i recognised this guy from, he plays jago

- i want to make a whole post about win bc i love her but i will just say that i respect her so goddamn much

- when does max ever not say two o'clock for the post mortem

- nice to know you can borrow p*rn from the bodleian

- OH MY GOD THEY REALLY DID THAT NOT HALF AN HOUR IN

- social commentary on the grenfell tower disaster anyone?

- everyone looking to bright for what to do is fucking amazing thank you

- box loosing his nerve is perfection, max yelling 'put that bloody cigarette out' is greater than perfection

- i don't need these bright feels in the middle of all this else thanks

- jago is accelerating up my list of favourite characters

- you ever just get the urge to hug morse and tell him everything's going to be all right

- oh good, the ACC is as corrupt as acc deare was. fantabulous. who saw that one coming amirite

- sod off bottoms i wanna know what happened to fancy and nero

- can bright please just go off once. i'm begging

- 'we are not friends, nor, am i very happy to say, are we ever likely to be' OH I'LL TAKE THAT AS GOING OFF

- wow they gave miss frazil more than one scene this episode

- if box killed george i'm gonna

- 'where've you been?' 'oh nearly getting in an impromptu shovel fight'

- morse straight up telling thursday he can't trust him hurts me

- okay thursday got his conscience back, that's good.

- they better had outright say 'X killed Fancy' bc i don't want there to be any ambiguity. i want to know who killed my boy.

- THEY FULLY SHOWED THE MASONIC LODGE. THEORIES ARE BEING CONFIRNED AS WE SPEAK. THIS IS NOT A DRILL

- the fucking? lodge master is that stone guy who threatened morse? i guess he's a mason in more ways than one 👈👈

- THANK GOD FOR THE PELICAN. I LEGIT NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK THEN.

- i want to cry honestly. thursday having to either risk getting arrested for assisting in fraud, or sell morse out to either his death or getting the shit beaten out of him and having his resolve finally broken. shit's hard to watch man. seeing thursday finally punch box though. 10/10.

- a) MORSE JUST CALLED MAX MAX

- b) don't fucking hurt max you bitches. at least we know he doesn't die i guess. we gonna get morse cradling him in his arms?

- the fact that we have fifteen minutes left to resolve everything is concerning me

- forget that earlier remark about me liking jago thanks. he killed my boy

- so everything's resolved! the heroin thing. the nero conspiracy thing. even the masonic lodge thing from season bloody two. bright's been promoted. MORSE IS IN THE HOUSE HE LIVES IN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. the Thursdays are happy. my concern: how the hell do we get to inspector morse stage where thursday and bright are gone?

- SEASON 7 BABEY

[jerseydeanne]

Ashura is observed by Shia Muslims who are a minority in Islam. The Sunni majority don't like the Shia and don't observe Ashura. Over £26m has been raised for Grenfell residents and £21m has been distributed. They are being cautious with the money because of fraud. Several cases of fraud have been uncovered. There is an article in the Daily Mirror 11th March 2018 that tells of 15 members of one family falsely claiming £1m. That's one of several.

Thank you anon, I posted heaven results with a link a few hours ago. 🌸🌸😎😎bring a link 

[newstfionline]

What’s left

Karla Adam and William Booth, Washington Post, June 14, 2018

Exactly one year ago, a fire consumed 24-story public housing bloc Grenfell Tower, ultimately claiming the lives of 72 people--the deadliest fire in modern British history.

The tragedy has sparked a public inquiry and a national conversation about the inadequacies of Britain’s public housing. But at the center of it are the survivors and neighborhood residents, who are seeking “justice for Grenfell.”

Here are the stories of three.

The bereaved. Ahmed Chellat keeps the bedroom curtains closed so his wife doesn’t have to see the blackened high-rise where her brother and his family died. Still, it’s hard to escape memories of that night.

Chellat recounted talking on the phone to his sister-in-law as the inferno engulfed the building. About two hours in, she told him smoke was coming under the doors and that they were being instructed to move to another room. That was the last he heard.

And while government-sponsored commemorations have been cathartic, Chellat said support for the bereaved has been lacking: Some didn’t know how to find help, while others were scamming the system. Last week, nine people were arrested on charges of Grenfell-related fraud.

The resident. Each day, Teresa Griffin can be found tending to a makeshift memorial a block away from the sooty hulk of Grenfell Tower. The tribute wall is filled with fading messages written by her neighbors, people voicing anger and heartbreak.

Griffin knew people who lived and died in the tower.

She recalled watching people on the upper floors of the tower turn the lights on their mobile phones on and off, “like an SOS.” She saw children at the windows above, there and then suddenly gone behind thick blankets of smoke. She heard women screaming.

Many in the neighborhood describe evenings as the hardest. “That’s when the lights used to come on; people would come home from work,” Griffin said. “Now it’s like a dark hole.”

The survivor. Antonio Roncolato was one of the last to escape Grenfell Tower. Emergency services had told him to “stay put,” and so he did, for five agonizing hours, as his apartment slowly filled with smoke. Finally, he was rescued by two firefighters who led him down a smoke-choked stairwell.

He adored the view from that apartment, where he lived for 27 years, but he no longer wants to live in a high-rise.

“It’s one of those things you get very paranoid about,” he said.

[hannahfranaszek]

The Place of Words

After the briefing of our first project, I randomly selected my two words that I would have to base my book on; Vision and Political. I have attached some scanned images from my notebook exploring these two words and the many different words that can be associated with them.

Then I created 4 pairs of words (one from the vision list and one from the political list) that I found the most interesting/saw the most potential in regarding the brief. These were:

- Truth and Government (potential topics: electoral fraud, truth behind politicians e.g drug use, adultery, false information used to encourage political votes, Grenfell and the governments lack of support)

- Rebellion and Protest (potential topics: feminist protests e.g equal pay, equal rights etc., Police Brutality e.g Black Lives Matter, Brexit and the protest against it)

- Movement and Body Politics (potential topics: feminism and body politics)

- Tunnel and Media (potential topics: echo chamber/tunnel vision - media consumption/human interactions/social circles reinforcing political views and dividing people)

The next step was to narrow down my ideas by selecting and researching 3 topic ideas to explore their potential.

[michaelbradford-things]

What’s in store for tradespeople in 2019

What’s in store for tradespeople in 2019

2019 will be all about Brexit, whatever the outcome. The construction industry, along with the rest of the UK, is still awaiting clarity on what the future may hold and what it will mean for tradespeople and the wider construction industry.

However, besides Brexit, this year a range of regulatory updates and government-led initiatives are expected to have an impact on the construction industry, potentially affecting thousands of tradespeople across the UK.

Building Regulations and Fire Safety following Grenfell

Following the Grenfell tragedy in June 2017, the Government launched an independent review into building regulations and fire safety, which has now resulted in plans to overhaul building regulations.

The Government has now committed to a programme of reform focused on four key areas which include: introducing more effective regulations and accountability; clearer guidance; prioritising residents; and working with the industry to drive change.

A “radically-new system” was promised by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire in response to the tragedy, with the Government also introducing a ban on using combustible cladding on new high-rise homes. This piece of legislation came in effect in December.

The new implementation plan, Building a Safer Future[1], states: “The Government accepts the need to create, in law, a tougher regulatory framework, under which regulators will have greater powers and more opportunities to intervene throughout the lifecycle of a building.”

These new regulations mark the beginning of what is likely to be a thorough and extended period of change for the industry to keep abreast of.

Brexit and the construction industry

Construction output dropped towards the end of 2018 according to the Office of National Statistics, with the continued uncertainty of Brexit highlighted as a contributing factor.

Proposed Government plans for immigration post-Brexit has led to many trade associations raising concerns about the potential impact on the skills shortage, as currently 9% of the UK’s construction workers are from the European Union.

If a limit on low-skilled workers is introduced the industry will need to prepare for the fallout this will have.

Technology continues to be on the rise

With consumers becoming increasingly aware of (and comfortable with) using smart technologies, more suppliers are launching new products in smart home ranges to take advantage of the trend. Considering the growing popularity of these products, tradespeople should look at taking advantage of the increase in customer demand.

Wayne Lysaght-Mason, Managing Director of IronmongeryDirect, said: “Smart products are redefining the way that a property functions, and there is a clear need for tradespeople to keep well-informed of the developments involving smart technology. With basic home alarm systems now enhanced to monitor, control and interact with a home or business premises from a smartphone or tablet, we are just at the beginning of this smart tech revolution.

“There is still a demand for traditional products, but new smart alternatives should not be ignored. There are some fantastic products on the market, whether you want to specialise in security, lighting, heating or household appliances.”

New VAT rules for building trade in 2019

From 1 October 2019, new rules will be enforced meaning, builders, subcontractors and other trades associated with the construction industry will have to start using a new method of accounting for VAT.

The measure is designed to combat VAT fraud in the construction sector labour supply chain which HMRC argue presents a significant tax loss. HMRC has now published draft legislation to introduce the Reverse Charge for Construction Services.

Tradespeople are advised to keep up to date with the new rules later in the year.

IronmongeryDirect is the UK’s largest specialist ironmongery supplier, with over 17,000 products in stock, available for next day delivery when you order by 8pm Sunday to Friday and by 4pm on Saturday. Free delivery is available on orders over £45 together with free returns.

For more information, visit IronmongeryDirect.com or call their team of specialist advisors on 0800 168 28 28.

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/707785/Building_a_Safer_Future_-_web.pdf

What’s in store for tradespeople in 2019 was first published on http://ukconstructionblog.co.uk

Read Full Article: https://brandonholdensite.wordpress.com/2019/01/23/whats-in-store-for-tradespeople-in-2019/

[digitalmark18-blog]

Kensington council worker who stole £97000 from Grenfell victim fund and NHS jailed

New Post has been published on https://britishdigitalmarketingnews.com/kensington-council-worker-who-stole-97000-from-grenfell-victim-fund-and-nhs-jailed/

Kensington council worker who stole £97000 from Grenfell victim fund and NHS jailed

A former Kensington and Chelsea council employee who stole more than £60,000 from a Grenfell victims’ fund and used it for gambling and pampering sprees has been jailed.

Jenny McDonagh also took tens of thousands of pounds of public money from the NHS, bringing the total value of her fraudulent activity to £97,115.

The 39-year-old, who went on luxury holidays to Dubai and Los Angeles and dined in expensive restaurants, was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday.

McDonagh on the Thames Clipper during a journey paid for using the card of a Grenfell survivor (Metropolitan Police)

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Judge Robin Johnson told her: “You knew exactly what these funds were for and the importance of them for the residents.

“The scale of your dishonesty in this fraud beggars belief.

“I do not know your current financial position but I very much hope the funds can be recovered from you.”

McDonagh started working for Kensington and Chelsea council’s dedicated Grenfell Tower finance team in October 2017, after the disaster claimed the lives of 72 people and made many more homeless. 

Police said McDonagh stole five pre-paid credit cards intended to support survivors and arranged for them to be topped up from the council’s Grenfell funds. 

A picture of McDonagh taken on her birthday in a dress purchased from Hobbs for £99 using the card of Grenfell survivor (Metropolitan Police)

She then used the cards to withdraw cash and make personal purchases, including meals out, cinema trips, hair and beauty treatments and clothes, to a total value of £61,231.

McDonagh also used them to deposit £39,945 into her bank account, where transactions included £32,000 thousands of pounds spent on gambling websites – racking up around £16,000 in losses.

Trips to Paris and Iceland were bought, along with purchases in high street shops including “frivolous items”.

Colleagues told investigators that McDonagh “always had very vocal views of the Grenfell fraudsters, often talking openly about how disgusted she was with these people and that what they were doing was awful”.

One said: “Jenny would be very outspoken about the money the council were paying out to people. She would complain about the amounts of money being paid. To be then taking money from them is appalling.”

Her crimes were discovered when a survivor came forward to claim a pre-paid card only to find that thousands of pounds had already been spent on it. 

Police enquiries revealed that McDonagh was already being investigated by the NHS Counter Fraud Unit for fraud offences, after being employed via an agency to work in finance at Medway NHS Foundation Trust in Kent.

leftCreated with Sketch. rightCreated with Sketch.

Over three weeks in May 2016, she obtained just over £35,000 by using trust funds to pay a supplier which did not exist and funnel the money into her own bank account.

Detective Superintendent Matt Bonner, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “McDonagh is a serial fraudster with no compunction for who she targets. 

“She knew she was taking precious funds intended for those who survived the Grenfell Tower tragedy, people who have already been through the most traumatic experience imaginable without then being caught up in McDonagh’s deception. 

“Likewise she took public money from the NHS, preventing it from being used for far more worthy reasons. Her actions are truly appalling.

“My thoughts remain with the Grenfell community at this difficult time, the genuine victims who should continue to be at the heart and centre of all we do.”

Edward Daffarn, a survivor of the fire and vice chairman of campaign group Grenfell United, told the court about the impact of the fraud on his community.

“It is like pouring salt on the wounds of bereaved residents,” he said, after the court heard Mcdonagh used a card in his name, which she topped up 17 times, with more than £50,000 passing through the account.

After she was arrested on 1 August she continued to use another remaining credit card to spend more money.

A spokesman for Kensington and Chelsea Council described McDonagh’s actions as “both shocking and unforgivable” after she entered her guilty plea last month.

McDonagh, of Willrose Crescent in Abbey Wood, admitted charges relating to the Grenfell fund including fraud by abuse of position, theft by employee and money laundering.

She also pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position relating to her time working for the NHS.

The case is the latest in a series of fraud prosecutions over money intended for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, amid harrowing inquests into the disaster.

Catherine Gould, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “McDonagh was outspoken to colleagues about Grenfell fraudsters whilst secretly and dishonestly siphoning money away from true victims.

“She abused the trust placed in her to take personal advantage of a national tragedy and the prison sentence reflects the seriousness of her deliberate deception.”

The CPS has requested that the court consider a Proceeds of Crime Order against McDonagh, which would allow it to recover any potential assets. 

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/grenfell-fraud-council-worker-stole-victims-money-jailed-nhs-jenny-mcdonagh-a8559156.html

[ralphmorgan-blog1]

Manager spent Grenfell cash on Dubai trip

Image copyright PA

Image caption Jenny McDonagh was ordered to surrender her passport and will be sentenced at a later date

A council worker has admitted defrauding around £60,000 from the Grenfell Tower victim fund.

Jenny McDonagh, 39, took cash meant for survivors of the tragedy and victims' grieving family members using pre-paid credit cards.

The Kensington and Chelsea Council finance manager spent the funds on trips to Dubai and Los Angeles, expensive dinners and online gambling.

McDonagh, described as a "serial fraudster", admitted fraud and theft.

She obtained the money "while being neither a survivor or bereaved family member", Scotland Yard said.

After the fire, McDonagh withdrew £62,000 over 10 months, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption The tower block fire in June 2017 killed 72 people

Prosecutor Robert Simpson described her as a "serial fraudster" who "lives beyond her means and gambles".

He said she used the stolen funds for a "trip to Dubai, Los Angeles, meals in expensive restaurants, hair appointments and personal luxuries for herself".

He added: "She spent quite a lot of money on online gambling. She spent £32,000, of which £16,000 was winnings and lost roughly £16,000 in online gambling."

McDonagh's marriage has since broken down, the court heard.

Image copyright PA

Image caption Jenny McDonagh is one of several people to have been convicted of fraud offences relating to funds meant for Grenfell survivors

McDonagh, of Abbey Wood, south-east London, pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud, one of theft and another of concealing criminal property.

She was released on conditional bail with an electronic tag and will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court at a date to be set.

Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot said "custody is the obvious place to go" and ordered a pre-sentence report.

'Unforgivable fraud'

McDonagh was also ordered to quit her current job as finance officer at a mental health charity and inform the police before taking on any further work.

Following her conviction a Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesman said the authority was "shocked" by the fraud and found McDonagh's actions "unforgivable".

"We take fraud very seriously and we have always taken action to root out Grenfell fraud wherever it takes place.

"On this occasion it was one of our own members of staff who managed to defraud the council by getting past our own systems and processes. This is both shocking and unforgivable.

"We discovered the fraud and took action straight away, including strengthening our internal processes.

"We apologise to the survivors and families for any distress this may cause."

Related Topics

London

Grenfell Tower fire

Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council

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