Many police officers in the UK have been wearing a Body Worn Camera since 2005 but what other significant events took place in the UK during this year? For more information on body worn cameras, visit http://www.pinnacleresponse.com/body-cameras-and-the-law/.
Tony Blair was elected for his third team as Prime Minister and Britain implements the Civil Partnership Act allowing couples of the same se to enter into civil partnerships with the same rights and responsibilities as civil marriage. Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker-Bowles in Northern Ireland.
The London Bombings occur, rocking the transport network. Three explosions happened on the underground system and one on a bus. There were over 50 deaths and more than 200 people were injured as a result of this terrorist act. On a happier note, London won the rights to host the 2012 Olympic games.
One of the country’s biggest oil depots suffers a series of explosions leading to a huge fire near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.
Technological advances that occurred in 2005 include Steve Fossett breaking a world record by completing the first non-stop, non-refueled, solo flight around the world in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer and the Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse in France. Microsoft releases the Xbox 360 first in North America before unleashing the console on the rest of the world.
Some big films of 2005 included:
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Batman Begins
- Madagascar
- Mr & Mrs Smith
- War of the Worlds
- King Kong
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Elsewhere in the world some pretty major events were also happening. Hurricane Katrina hits the southern states of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. 80% of New Orleans was flooded terribly and some 1600 died during the hurricane. More bad weather affects the country this year with an F3 tornado hitting Indiana and killing 25 people making it one of the deadliest on record. A further tornado hits Kentucky, killing at least 22. Winter ice storms then leave almost 1 million without power on the Atlantic coast. In other news, George W Bush begins his second term as president of the United States and the video sharing website YouTube was created. Disneyland in California celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Weather conditions also hit Mexico and Central America with Hurricane Stan killing 1620 people. Bird flu claims many lives in Indonesia and also around the globe. Wild fires sweep through Portugal leaving 20 dead and thousands of acres destroyed and typhoon Damrey lands on China’s province of Hainan killing 16. Pakistan suffers a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Kashmir, leaving an estimated 70,000 dead and the same number of injured in this devastating natural disaster.
Pope John Paul II dies and is succeeded by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who took the name Pope Benedict XVI. More than 4 million people travel to the Vatican to mourn the passing of John Paul II. Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France for the seventh consecutive time and Angela Merkel takes over as German Chancellor.
Popular music at the time included The Black Eyed Peas, Foo Fighters, Destiny’s Child, Coldplay, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Eminem and Usher to name just a few.
