Mark Denton: Two Men Charged With Murder

Two men have been charged with the murder of Mark Denton, who died from serious injuries in Hartlepool on New Year's Eve.

The pair, aged 21 and 23, will appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court today, said a statement from Cleveland Police.

A 17-year-old has been released without charge.

Police said Mr Denton had been at a party in Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, on December 31.

Officers cordoned off the property on New Year's Day to carry out a forensic examination.

Police cordoned off a house in Hartlepool on New Year's Day

Mr Denton's family said his death had left them "devastated and heartbroken".

A statement said: "He was a loving uncle, brother, son and boyfriend and he will be sadly missed by everyone.

"Our hearts will never heal from the loss of Mark, he was a larger than life character and our loss is immeasurable."

Mr Denton is understood to be have been a promising middleweight amateur boxer when he was younger and was well-known in the local boxing community.

A Facebook page has been set up in tribute to him.

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Riot Payouts: Victims 'Failed By PM And Mayor'

Labour has accused David Cameron and Boris Johnson of breaking promises to more than 130 victims of the London riots who have made compensation claims but are yet to received a single penny.

The Opposition said of all the claims, less than 16% of the requested cash has been paid out more than two years after violence and looting broke out across the capital.

Shadow home office minister Steve Reed, who uncovered the figures through freedom of information requests to the police, claimed  the riot victims felt "abandoned and ignored by the Government and the Mayor of London".

"With the eyes of the country on him, David Cameron promised the victims of the riots they would not be forgotten and would not be left out of pocket," he said.

"It's disgraceful there are still residents and business owners in London facing financial hardship because they have received either too little compensation or nothing at all."

But a spokesman for Mr Johnson's mayoral office for policing and crime said it was "simply untrue to say that people are yet to receive a penny" following the violence.

A carpet showroom in Tottenham was among the buildings torched

"All of the outstanding claims are either funds owed to insurance companies, or to settle under-insured elements of claims," he said.

"Everyone who wasn't insured and made a valid claim has been paid, and over 96% of insured claims have been settled. Only the most complex cases remain.

"In the last year the number of outstanding claims has reduced by over two thirds. During the summer the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime met with a number of claimants and the insurance industry to hear their concerns and to help resolve the final issues around remaining cases, so that they are moved forward in a timely manner."

Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims Minister Damian Green said the Met police and the Mayor's office were "working hard to resolve" the outstanding claims "as quickly as possible".

He added: "In order to make sure the compensation is as quick and efficient as possible in future, the Home Secretary commissioned an independent review in to the Riot Damages Act, which made several recommendations. We will be launching a public consultation on next steps early this year."

The figures released by the Met showed 3,447 claims had been made by March 31, 2013, and 3,535 claims by November 6, 2013. By March 31, 2013, £250.1m had been claimed, and by November 6, 2013, claims had reached £299m.

Cash totals paid out by the Met Police were £35.8m(14.3%) on March 31, 2013, and £46.9m (15.7%) on November 6, 2013.

The total number of outstanding claims on November 6, 2013, was 133.

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Libya Warned UK Ahead Of WPC Fletcher Murder

Warnings the Libyan People's Bureau in London had a stockpile of weapons and "assassins" were downplayed ahead of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, it has emerged.

Even on the eve of the policewoman's murder in April 1984, Libya warned twice that there would be repercussions if Britain allowed an anti-Gaddafi protest to go ahead outside the St James's Square bureau.

The warnings were disregarded - with the British ambassador in Tripoli so convinced nothing would happen he even put a bet on it.

The threats from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime and the intelligence reports on the threat from the People's Bureau are disclosed in 1984 documents released by the National Archives, in Kew, southwest London.

WPC Fletcher was shot on April 17, 1984 when a gunman inside the bureau opened fire with a submachine gun on the protesters and police. She died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Police officers surround shot WPc Yvonne Fletcher

Although there had already been a number of blasts in London and Manchester aimed at opponents of the Libyan regime, nothing in the documents suggests the warnings were passed to the officers outside the bureau.

The murder led the UK to sever diplomatic relations with Libya.

No one has ever been convicted of her killing, although Col Gaddafi did admit responsibility for her death in 1999 and agreed to pay her family compensation.

According to the newly released documents, Oliver Miles, the British ambassador in Tripoli, was summoned to the Libyan foreign ministry the night before WPC Fletcher was shot.

According to Mr Miles' telegram to the Foreign Office (FCO), he was told: "The Libyan government would not be responsible for the consequences if the demonstration took place and they might include violence."

However, he said he responded by saying that "threats of violence did not impress the British Government".

Mr Miles reported how the Libyan desk officer who showed him out "seemed as little impressed by this performance as I was".

A memorial plaque for Yvonne Fletcher at St James's Square

He signed off nonchalantly, writing: "I made a bet with him that no such demonstration will take place. Grateful to know the outcome."

According to a briefing note prepared for Home Secretary Leon Brittan, Libyan officials turned up outside the Foreign Office itself with a message for the duty officer similar to that given to Mr Miles in Tripoli.

The note said: "They said that if the demonstration went ahead they would not be answerable for the consequences."

It was dismissed by the duty officer according to the note, which said: "This last is a standard Libyan line: we did not regard it as particularly significant at the time, though the act of calling at the FCO in the middle of the night was unusual."

The duty officer did contact Scotland Yard and the Home Office to let them know what had happened.

The records also showed that Mr Brittan was angry with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's quick acceptance nothing could be done to arrest those inside the People's Bureau because of diplomatic rules.

He told Mrs Thatcher that she had "already accepted that we would allow a murderer to go free."

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

A&E Visits: Third Of GPs Back Charges

By David Crabtree, Sky News Correspondent

A third of GPs are in favour of making people pay if they make unnecessary visits to hard-pressed accident and emergency departments.

A new survey asked GPs whether people should pay £5 or £10 for each visit, with the money being refunded if their attendance was found to be justified.

The poll was carried out by the Press Association for Doctors.net.uk, an online network for doctors, and involved canvassing 800 GPs across England.

One in three (32%) family doctors said introducing patient fees for some visits would be the most cost effective way of cutting unnecessary A&E attendance.

Four in 10 (39%) said placing a GP surgery, with extended opening hours, adjacent to every emergency department would help reduce the numbers seeking A&E help and cut spiralling hospital admissions.

Another 11% thought more NHS walk-in centres would help ease the strain, while 8% believed that an improved 111 phone service - set up to replace NHS Direct - could provide the answer.

People using the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham were sceptical about paying for A&E.

George Price said: "It might stop people going because of the cost and others might think that paying a tenner was a good deal to be seen by and A&E doctor, it sounds like a bad idea to me."

Carole Bailey, who was visiting a relative, had reservations about how it would work.

She said: "Who is going to say someone is wasting their time?

"Most people who go must think they are really ill and where do you draw the line?"

Dr Tim Ringrose, chief executive of Doctors.net.uk, said: "It may be a clear departure from the traditional NHS vision, but many doctors are now saying that radical action has to be taken to reverse the 'free at the point of abuse' culture that is a key contributor to the current emergency care crisis in some areas."

Helen Stokes-Lampard, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Charging patients for the use of emergency departments would put us on the slippery slope towards the Americanisation of healthcare - where only those who can afford it get the care and attention they need.

"Doctors have a duty to provide healthcare to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Patients seek healthcare when they are at their most vulnerable and if they attend A&E, it is usually because they don't know where else to turn.

"Emergency departments are really struggling but the way to solve the crisis is to adequately fund general practice, so that family doctors can provide more care for patients in the community.

"GPs conduct 90% of the NHS contacts for just 8.39% of the NHS budget. If general practice was better funded many people who are seen in emergency departments could be seen by a local GP."

The survey also found that the overwhelming majority believed that changes announced by the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in November regarding GP contracts would do little to ease the pressure on A&E units.

The poll found that three quarters of GPs (74%) disagreed that giving older people a named GP would cut the numbers ending up in A&E.

Just one in 10 doctors agreed this would help alleviate pressures on the system.

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Help To Buy Scheme Numbers Treble In Two Months

The number of people attempting to get on the property ladder using the Government's Help to Buy scheme has trebled in the last two months.

In November figures showed in the first month of the scheme's launch more than 2,000 people had put in offers on homes and applied for a Help to Buy mortgage -  that has now topped 6,000.

Nearly 750 homeowners have completed their purchases and hundreds were able to spend Christmas in their new homes.

The mortgages, once approved, would represent nearly £1bn of new lending to aspiring home owners who had previously been put off due to because of the size of deposit required.

Mr Cameron said he hoped the new year would see "thousands more realise their dream of home ownership".

"The new year is often a time when people look to make those big life-changing decisions like moving home or taking that first step on the housing ladder.

"But too many people have found themselves frozen out of the market in recent years as a result of the size of the deposit required.

"That is why as part of our long-term economic plan we introduced the Help to Buy scheme, so hardworking people with sufficient earnings can get on, fulfil their aspirations and enjoy the security of owning their own home."

Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said: "Any help for first-time buyers struggling to get on the property ladder is to be welcomed.

"But rising demand for housing must be matched with rising supply if this scheme is to bring the cost of housing within the reach of low and middle income earners.

"Instead, under this Government, house-building is at its lowest level since the 1920s."

Barclays and Santander will introduce their own Help to Buy products onto the market this month, joining Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, HSBC, Virgin Money and Aldermore who have all launched products over the last three months.

The expansion will mean two thirds of the entire UK mortgage market will offer products under the Help to Buy scheme, bringing home ownership to a growing number of people.

On average applicants are looking to buy homes worth £160,000, which remains below the UK average house price of £247,000.

They will face average monthly repayments of around £900 and have an annual household income of around £45,000. This means a Help to Buy mortgage represents 23% of borrowers' gross income.

Around three quarters are from outside London and the South East, while more than 80% are from first-time buyers.

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rail Fares Rise With Some Paying £5,000 A Year

Rail Fare Rises Revealed By Route

Updated: 2:21am UK, Thursday 02 January 2014

The rise in rail fares depends on the route passengers are taking. Here are some examples.

ROUTE                                   JAN 2013   JAN 2014     PERCENTAGE

RISE

Leeds-Wakefield                    £964           £992             2.9%

Basingstoke-London              £3,952        £4,076          3.13%

Ramsgate-London                  £4,864        £5,012          3.04%

Folkestone Central -London   £4,836         £4,984          3.06%

Bedford-London                     £4,172         £4,300          3.07%

Sevenoaks-London                £3,112         £3,208          3.08%

Cheltenham Spa-London        £9,184        £9,468          3.09%

Deal-London                            £4,864          £5,012         3.04%

Woking-London                       £2,896         £2,980         2.9%

West Malling-London             £3,876         £3,996         3.1%

Guildford-London                    £3,224         £3,320         2.98%

Dover Priory-London             £4,864          £5,012          3.04%

Ludlow-Hereford                    £1,992         £2,032          2%

Morpeth-Newcastle               £1,008         £1,040           3.17%

Milton Keynes-London           £4,620          £4,772           3.29%

Tunbridge Wells- London      £4,132          £4,260           3.1%

Aylesbury-London                  £3,632          £3,732           2.75%

Hastings-London                   £4,304          £4,432           2.97%

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bosham Murder Hunt As Woman Found Dead

A 55-year-old woman has been found dead at a family home she was looking after during the holidays in a picturesque south coast seaside village.

The victim, named by police as Valerie Graves, was discovered with a serious head injury at the house at Smuggler's Lane, in Bosham, near Chichester, West Sussex, on Monday at 9.50am.

Mrs Graves, of Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex, who had two grown-up children, had been staying at the six-bedroomed house with three members of her family while the owners, listed as Malcolm and Jane Chamberlain, and their two children were away over the Christmas holidays.

Police teams working at the house on Tuesday

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "They (the owners) have people staying in the house while they are away for the holidays, it could be friends, it could be family.

"It is not rented out, people come because it is a nice place to visit. We do not know who they were, they have been there since Christmas.

"There were cars parked in the drive, they were entirely well-behaved, they came gently and went gently, we heard absolutely nothing."

The home has children's play equipment in the garden outside

She added: "I am just very sad for our neighbours and for everybody. You can't imagine coming back from holiday to this, it must be just horrendous."

Police said that the death was being treated as suspicious and was being investigated by detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Fanner said: "At this stage we are keeping an open mind as to the motive, but we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area from late afternoon on Sunday, December 29 to around 9am on Monday, December 30.

"Please call us if you know anything, no matter how insignificant you might think it is. It could be important to the investigation.

"This is a rare incident for Bosham, which is a safe area. We have increased our neighbourhood policing patrols in the village and if anyone has any information or concerns, I would urge them to speak to one of the officers who are there."

Forensics officers were working at the home, which is valued at £1.5m and has children's playground equipment outside, on Tuesday morning. 

Bosham has a rich history and legend has it that King Canute  lived  in the village and it was there he ordered the waves to retreat.

Bosham church features on the Bayeux tapestry and King Harold sailed for Normandy from Quay Meadow in 1064.

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10.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Floods Warning For Start Of 2014

Heavy rain could bring more floods at the start of 2014, the Environment Agency (EA) has warned.

Forecasters say there is more bad weather to come, with the Met Office issuing a severe weather warning for rain on New Year's Day.

Counties at increased risk of flooding are Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Cumbria.

Parts of western Scotland are also at risk.

The EA has eight flood warnings in place in England and Wales, meaning flooding is expected, and 112 flood alerts, where flooding is possible.

The Met Office has said that as much as 40mm (1.6in) of rain could fall on higher ground or coastal areas, and there are likely to be gales of 50-60mph.

Heavy rain caused flooding in Scotland on Monday

The latest bad weather is set to push in from the Atlantic, crossing the UK from west to east.

With the ground already saturated, some minor flooding is likely, the Met Office said.

Sky meteorologist Chris England said: "Heavy rain over central and southern England and Wales will add to the flood risk there, while there will be gales over southern and western coasts and hills.

"Thursday will bring a spell of mostly fine weather, with just the odd coastal shower, but the next storm system will bring rain into Cork and Kerry by dusk.

"That rain will push across all parts overnight, clearing eastern England on Friday morning, but gales or severe gales following will bring squally showers to most areas.

"It will stay unsettled with further rain and strong winds into next week."

Councils are preparing for the worst, with emergency accommodation lined up in case people are forced to leave their homes.

The Local Government Association is urging people to look on council websites to keep updated with information.

Much of southern England is at risk from more flooding at the start of 2014

An EA spokeswoman said: "People travelling this week are reminded to check the latest flood updates ahead of making journeys and should not drive through dangerous floodwater."

To date, there have been 1,300 properties flooded across England. 

Seven people were airlifted to safety on Monday after heavy rain caused flooding in Scotland.

The group, which included four children, were rescued from a farmhouse near Closeburn in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, by a Royal Navy helicopter.

Rain forced families to be evacuated from dozens of homes and caused major road disruption.

Advice on what to do before, during and after flooding is available on the Environment Agency website or by calling Floodline on 0845 9881188.

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10.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adam Pickup: Body Found In Missing Teen Search

Police searching for teenager Adam Pickup have found a body they believe to be the missing student.

The 17-year-old had not been seen since the early hours of Saturday morning, when he got separated from his friends during a night out in Manchester city centre.

But officers searching for Adam - whose disappearance prompted a nationwide appeal - have discovered a body in an area near Deansgate Train Station.

Police say there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Chief Superintendent Nick Adderley, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "While formal identification has not taken place we believe this is the body of missing Adam Pickup. His family has been informed.

Adam left Fab Cafe in Portland Street and was seen later in Oxford Street

"This is a heart-breaking time for Adam's family and our thoughts are with them.

"Our initial indication is that that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, however speculation as to what may have happened will not give the answers Adam's family is looking for.

"We will now carry out a thorough investigation which includes a post-mortem examination.

"We would like to thank the media and the wider public for all their support during this appeal, including on social media."

Two men who were earlier arrested have been released without charge.

Adam was known to have left Fab Cafe on Portland Street at around 3.20am on Saturday morning.

Police had earlier released CCTV footage showing Adam walking down nearby Oxford Street along with an unidentified man and woman, who officers had urged to come forward.

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10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Navy Chopper In Flooded Farm Rescue

Seven people and two dogs have been airlifted to safety by a Royal Navy helicopter after a farm was flooded during ongoing bad weather in Scotland.

The group - which included four children - were rescued from a farm in Closeburn, near Thornhill, by a helicopter team working with night vision goggles.

"We winched Petty Officer (Taff) Ashman down to the ground about 50 yards from a barn," said Lieutenant Commander Rob Suckling from the helicopter crew.

"We then moved away to find a good landing spot while PO Ashman made his way to the farm.

"No one was hurt and all seemed to be in pretty good spirits ... Apart from some low cloud on our way down to Dumfriesshire, conditions were benign and we managed to get the job done quickly."

The rescue came as Britain prepares for further storms. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for rain on New Year's Day in southern England and western Scotland.

There are fears of localised flooding in the southwest and southeast of England as a storm blows in from the Atlantic today.

Flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency (EA) as areas yet to recover from Christmas storms are expected to struggle to cope with further rain.

A person struggles with an umbrella in Tonbridge, Kent

Met Office spokesman Dan Williams said: "It won't be on a par with the winds we've seen in some of the recent storms, but exposed areas of the western coast and some of the south coast will see speeds of 50 to 60mph.

"There could be a fair amount of rain in the south and south west of England, with 10-20mm falling fairly widely, and up to 40mm in coast areas."

Some 1,300 properties have been flooded during poor weather across England. EA flood defences have protected more than 80,000 other properties from damage.

The Local Government Association has urged people to look on council websites to keep updated with information.

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10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

NHS: Migrants To Be Charged For A&E Care

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Political Reporter

Visitors and migrants who use NHS accident and emergency services in England are to be charged, ministers have announced.

The move is part of an extension of the NHS charging strategy intended to deter so-called "health tourists" while trying to recoup up to £500m a year.

Critics have accused the Government of trying to grab headlines rather than helping the NHS.

Ministers say no-one will be turned away in an emergency, but there will be a bill to pay afterwards for those from overseas.

Health Minister Lord Howe said: "Having a universal health service free at the point of use rightly makes us the envy of the world, but we must make sure the system is fair to the hard-working British taxpayers who fund it.

"We know that we need to make changes across the NHS to better identify and charge visitors and migrants. Introducing charging at primary care is the first step to achieving this.

"We are already looking at taking action and next year we will set out our detailed plans to clamp down on the abuse of our NHS."

Doctors' leaders warned the proposed changes could cost more to administer than they would actually raise for the NHS while deterring some people desperately in need of treatment from seeking care.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) council, said: "This could mean the system of administering the new charging system will end up actually costing more to run than it collects in revenue."

The announcement has been timed less than 48 hours before restrictions on migrants from Bulgaria and Romania end.

A major influx of immigrants could put additional strain on the NHS and other public services.

Labour argue ministers are putting spin before substance.

Lord Hunt said: "Labour is in favour of improving the recovery of costs from people with no entitlement to NHS treatment. Rather than more grand-standing, the Government needs to deliver practical, thought-through changes to make that happen.

"Instead this out-of-touch government is left asking doctors and nurses to act as surrogate immigration officials."

Also under the proposed changes, migrants and overseas visitors will have to pay for primary care services such as minor surgery carried out by GPs, while prescription charges will be extended.

There will also be higher charges for services which are subsidised for patients entitled to free NHS treatment, such as optical and dental care.

But consultations with GPs and nurses will remain free of charge, to ensure initial access remains to prevent public health risks such as TB, HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.

Details of the scheme are still being worked out and ministers won't have a full plan until March.

But the Government will be hopping its crackdown down on health tourism will resonate home and abroad.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Northern Ireland Talks Resume As Deadline Looms

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

Northern Ireland's main political parties are making one final push to resolve three contentious issues which have long hampered the peace process.

The talks chairman, US diplomat Richard Haass, has set a deadline of noon on Monday for agreement on flags, parades and the legacy of the past.

He and his vice chair Meghan O'Sullivan - America's former deputy national security advisor on Iraq and Afghanistan - returned to Belfast on Saturday.

The talks were suspended in the early hours of Christmas Eve, but Dr Haass says the proposals on the table are "extraordinarily close" to gaining support.

He said: "At some point we have got to fish or cut bait, that time has come."

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers said: "I'm sure all of us here in Northern Ireland wish the parties well in the final hours of the Haass process. I hope all sides will be able to show flexibility to make an agreement possible on these divisive issues.

"From my many conversations on this over recent days, I am encouraged about the prospects for agreement, although some key issues are yet to be resolved, particularly on the past."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness invited Dr Haass after weeks of unrest over flags and marches.

There were serious disturbances last December and January when Belfast City Council voted to limit the number of days the Union flag is flown on City Hall.

Theresa Villiers says she is 'encouraged' by the talks

Rioting flared during the summer marching season too when the Parades Commission prohibited an Orange Order return march at Ardoyne in north Belfast.

Agreement on when flags should be flown has proven most elusive and the parties may decide to defer that issue to another process after the next election.

They are said to be close to consensus on a new body for adjudicating where and when the loyal orders and republican groups are permitted to hold marches.

There is speculation that the bereaved and injured from The Troubles may be given a choice between continuing to pursue convictions or obtaining more information.

Some victims are concerned that the choice to obtain more information may come with some degree of immunity for those who provide details about their case.

The marathon session of talks will end six months of effort. Drs Haass and O'Sullivan have other projects and cannot return in January.

Fifteen years after The Good Friday Agreement, they are hopeful parties will find enough common ground to write the final chapter and turn peace on paper into peace in practice.

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ferry Rescue: Passenger Detained After Fire

A passenger suspected of starting a fire on board a ferry in the North Sea sparking an emergency evacuation has been detained by ship staff.

Inspector Andrew Dixon said: "It is unknown if the fire was started deliberately or accidentally.

"As a result of this incident the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred, be it deliberate or accidental, has been detained by ship staff ..."

Six people were winched to safety after suffering smoke inhalation.

The blaze began in the accommodation area of the MS King Seaways ferry soon after 10pm on Saturday.

Two RAF helicopters were scrambled to help injured passengers on the ferry, which was located about 30 miles east of Flamborough Head, near Scarborough.

The ferrry changed its course towards land (Pic: www.marinetraffic.com)

RAF Squadron Leader Dave Webster said 946 passengers and 127 crew were aboard the vessel when the blaze broke out.

"Thankfully the weather in the area is good. We haven't got any problems out in the North Sea with weather tonight - it's all been co-operative," he told Sky News.

"Winching from any large vessel is always demanding ... But we train for this every day, so thankfully it's almost second nature to the crews to be out doing this kind of activity."

The injured passengers were taken to Scarborough Hospital. The fire has been brought under control.

Two lifeboats from Bridlington and Filey have also been launched to assist the rescue, the RNLI said.

The rescue operation has been coordinated by the Humber Coastguard.

Bev Allen, Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard, said: "We have been in close contact with the MS King Seaways ... and sent resources to assist in the evacuation of those passengers and crew that were showing signs of smoke inhalation."

The ferry is operated by DFDS between North Shields and Ijmuiden in the Netherlands.

According to the DFDS Seaways website, the 26-year-old vessel has room for over 1,500 passengers and 600 cars.

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Anti-Smoking Campaign: New Ad Targets Addicts

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Smokers are being targeted by a new TV advertising campaign which aims to scare them into giving up.

Graphic images of polluted blood flowing through the body of a smoker and damaging cells in his brain are used to reinforce the message that smoking increases the risk of dementia and strokes.

The campaign, funded by Public Health England, was launched by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies.

"We know about the serious effect smoking has on the heart and lungs but smokers need to be aware of how much potential damage is being done to the brain and other vital organs through toxins in cigarettes entering the blood," she said.

"Smoking is the major cause of premature death, with one in two smokers dying prematurely from smoking related diseases, and it is extremely worrying that people still underestimate the health harms associated with it."

Government figures show more than one in five adults in the UK admits to smoking, at an estimated cost to the economy of £5bn per year in health costs, sick leave and lost productivity.

More than one in five adults in the UK admit to smoking

The TV advert, to be shown in England from tomorrow, along with a billboard advertising showing clotted blood dripping from a cigarette, has been welcomed by Joe Korner from The Stroke Association.

"It is well known that smoking harms our health but the link between smoking and stroke is less well known," he said.

"Stroke is a major cause of death and adult disability in the UK and you are twice as likely to have a stroke if you smoke. The more you smoke, the more your risk increases."

Smokers outside the Sant' Angelo restaurant in Wetherby in West Yorkshire who watched a preview of the advert said it encouraged them to consider giving up, or smoking less.

Jo Maltby, 40, has smoked for 20 years and says she tried to give up many times before.

"That probably would give me a bit more of an inclination to (give up) because I have children," she said.

"Obviously the more damage I do to myself the less chance they've got of me being around."

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10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More