Rotherham Worker 'Told To Give Girls To Abusers'

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

A whistleblower who repeatedly tried to expose the full extent of child sex abuse in Rotherham has told Sky News that a manager actively encouraged her to release underage girls into the hands of abusers.

In an exclusive interview, the former residential care worker said that when she alerted senior staff about men frequently waiting outside children's homes to take the girls away she was told: "Let them go!"

The former employee says she even confronted some of the abusers herself in an attempt to prevent them taking the children away and now fears reprisals.

Helen - not her real name - said: "I even went down the path and told [the men] 'Look! They are children. You are not having them!' 

"One of the girls said to me: 'Don't let me go!'  They said: 'The longer you f*****g well delay this the more we'll take it out on her.'"

Video: Rotherham: Hundreds Of New Cases

Over almost 17 years the former employee worked in most of the local authority children's homes in Rotherham and says she submitted several written reports warning managers that underage girls were being drugged and raped. 

She claims her warnings were ignored and that she was treated as "a thorn in the authority's side".

"It was like letting them out to be raped ... When I rang up a senior officer who was on call, when I needed advice about these Asian men coming to the units taking the children, she just said: 'Open the door and let them go.'

"Because I told the truth and I stuck up for the children and I was a proper child protection worker I was too much of a problem for them. They were hiding everything," she said.

Helen's life took a complicated turn after the warnings. 

Video: Rotherham Abuse Victim Speaks Out

She was sacked by Rotherham Council after she reported to the police that she had found "paedophile images" on her former partner's computer. 

She was dismissed after it was discovered she had stored wholly innocent photographs of some of the girls from a children's home on the same device.

The authority says an "appropriate" process was followed in relation to Helen's dismissal and that "a great deal of hard work is now taking place to address weaknesses in children's services."

But the former care worker says that several years later she still suffers from the "nightmare" of her treatment.

In tears, she told Sky News she had been driven close to suicide.

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1. Gallery: Who's Who in The Rotherham Abuse Scandal

   A look at some of the senior people who had official public roles at the time of the abuse. Roger Stone - Leader of Rotherham Borough Council from 2003 to 2014. Resigned when the report was published in August last year.

Shaun Wright - Former Police & Crime Commissioner and Cabinet Member for Children's Services until 2010. Resigned following intense pressure, three weeks after the report was published.

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Police Will Consider Bradford City Fire Claims

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

West Yorkshire Police says it will consider any new evidence relating to the deaths of 56 people in the 1985 Bradford City fire, following the publication of new allegations about the tragedy.

A new book alleges the Valley Parade disaster was one of nine major fires at companies or premises linked to the club's then chairman, Stafford Heginbotham.

It also claims the chairman, who died in 1995, was in deep financial difficulties prior to the fire and received total insurance payouts from the nine fires equivalent to £27m.

Author Martin Fletcher, who lost five members of his family in the fire, does not make any direct allegation about Mr Heginbotham's history of fires, but questions why they were not examined at the time.

The jury at the inquest in 1985 delivered a verdict of misadventure

"Could any man really be as unlucky as Heginbotham had been?" he asks.

In a statement West Yorkshire Police said: "Should any evidence come to light which was not available to Her Majesty's Coroner at the original inquest, then we will consider it and take appropriate action."

Sir Oliver Popplewell conducted a public inquiry into the fire and found it was caused by a dropped cigarette which ignited rubbish that had been allowed to accumulate, despite several warnings, beneath a wooden stand.

Sir Oliver, who was not made aware of Mr Heginbotham's link to previous fires in 1985, told Sky News that while they were "a remarkable coincidence" it did not change his original judgement that it was an "accident exacerbated by negligence".

"If we had been aware of these fires at the time of course they would have demanded further investigation, but I am not sure what they would have revealed," Sir Oliver said.

The fire claimed 56 lives

"In terms of the facts it was one of the more straightforward inquiries.

"The police compiled witness statements and there was no evidence of anything untoward. There was no suggestion or evidence of arson at my inquiry or subsequent civil prosecutions."

Former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, deputy leader of Bradford City council at the time of the tragedy, says he knew Mr Heginbotham "flew by the seat of his pants" in terms of the club's finances, but remains convinced by Popplewell's conclusion

"Stafford Heginbotham was one of those football club chairmen of which there were many at the time who flew by the seat of his pants," he said.

"I was deputy leader of the city council at the time and he did fly by the seat of his pants when it came to paying the bill for the police and so on.

"But I think the inquiry was very thorough at the time and I don't think there needs to be another because of this.

"I do not believe there was any sort of cover-up and in fact the inquiry led to a lot of recommendations on stadiums that together with the Taylor Report came up with the right answers for football."

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Missing Student 'Left Man's Home In Early Hours'

A man has told police a missing Glasgow student left his home in the early hours of Sunday.

Karen Buckley, 24, was seen on CCTV leaving the Sanctuary nightclub at around 1am in the city's West End with the man.

Officers tracked down the man, who told them Ms Buckley left his home in Dorchester Avenue at around 4am.

She has not been heard from since.

Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr told a news conference the man has given a full account of what happened and was not currently being regarded as a suspect but is "helping" with enquiries.

Ms Buckley pictured hours before she went missing. Pic: Facebook

The detective said a handbag believed to be Ms Buckley's had been found in nearby Dawsholm Park shortly before he spoke to reporters.

Det Supt Kerr said her parents had told police it was typical for her not to use taxis and, as a result, it was possible she may have tried to walk home.

Video: Missing Student: Handbag 'Found'

He appealed for anyone who had seen Ms Buckley - a Glasgow Caledonian University student from Cork in Ireland - to get in touch.

Her family have flown to Scotland from Ireland to help with the search.

Her mother, Marian, told the news conference: "We just want Karen home safely, we are desperate. She is our only daughter, we love her dearly.

"If anybody has any information please come forward, we would dearly appreciate it."

Ms Buckley's father, John, said: "If anybody is holding Karen, if anybody knows anything of her, please return her. Please let's have her back. We love her to bits."

Ms Buckley arrived at the club with friends at around 11.45pm on Saturday and at around 1am she told them she was going to the toilet.

But she failed to return and left her jacket at the club.

Det Supt Kerr emphasised that Ms Buckley was widely travelled and was "aware of how to take care of herself".

But he said it was "very out of character" for her not to return home.

Police also want to find out more about a grey car seen on the roads between Milngavie and Drymen, north of Glasgow, between 11am and 3pm on Monday.

A major search is under way in Glasgow, with police carrying out door-to-door inquiries and examining CCTV.

Ms Buckley is between 5ft and 5ft 2in with brown eyes and dark hair which had long black curly extensions in it.

She was last seen wearing a black jumpsuit, red high-heeled shoes and carrying a black handbag.

She speaks with an Irish accent.

Ms Buckley lives with three other students in a flat in Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow.

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Second Arrest Over Syrian Preacher's Murder

A second man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Syrian-born preacher Abdul Hadi Arwani, who was shot dead in northwest London.

Police say the 61-year-old man is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Mr Arwani - a critic of the Bashar al Assad regime -  was found shot dead in his Volkswagen Passat in Wembley on 7 April.

News of the second arrest came after Leslie Cooper, 36, appeared before Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court charged with Mr Arwani's murder

Police also said officers had been carrying out a number of searches in London, including areas within the An Noor Cultural and Community Centre in the west of the city.

Rob Davis, from the CPS London Homicide Unit, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Leslie Cooper, 36, with the murder of Abdul Hadi Arwani.

Mr Arwani was found shot dead in his car

"Mr Arwani was shot dead in the Greenhill area of London on 7 April 2015.

"This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"Mr Cooper will appear before Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on 14 April 2015.

"Mr Cooper now stands charged with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial.

"It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

Mr Arwani, a father of six, was an imam at the An Noor mosque in Acton, west London, between 2005 and 2011.

He is thought to have fled Syria as a teenager in 1982 after surviving the Hama massacre.

Mr Arwani is believed to have attended protests against Assad outside the Syrian embassy in 2012.

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Bus Stop Rapist Stalked Three Other Women

Video: Bus Stop Rapist Caught On CCTV

A man who left an 18-year-old woman for dead after a brutal sex attack at a bus stop had already stalked three women that night before choosing his victim.

Detectives hunting the rapist have found CCTV film of him following the three potential victims in Beeston, Leeds.

One terrified woman turned around to find herself only inches from the attacker.

Another had a near escape by fleeing on a bus, and the third remains unaware of how close she was to danger.

He spotted his fourth target - a petite teenager - waiting at a bus stop in Beeston Road.

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1. Gallery: Police Hunt Bus Stop Rapist

   An e-fit of the suspect. Pics: West Yorkshire Police

The rock used in the attack

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The man, thought to be in his early 20s, dragged her into a garden and battered her 20 times with a rock, fracturing her skull.

The 10-minute attack was caught on CCTV at 10.45pm on 6 March.

After his image was released, two women contacted West Yorkshire Police saying they believe he had followed them too.

Officers then found footage of him stalking three potential targets in the city from 9pm.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, leading the hunt, said: "He had been in Leeds city centre looking for victims - but didn't get what he wanted and moved on.

"His first target was a woman in her 20s who had parked her car. He is seen walking behind her, six inches from her back pocket.

"She was so concerned she got on a bus that took her miles from where she was going."

The man, wearing a zip-up bomber jacket over a green Puma hoodie, was then filmed stalking an unidentified woman before going out of sight of CCTV cameras.

His third target, who is in her 40s, told police the stalker had followed her for some distance out of the city centre.

"She was so concerned she headed for a shop. On reaching it she is seen on film stopping and turning to see where he is," Det Supt Wallen said.

"As she does, she is face-to-face with him. He is only about an inch away."

Video: Leeds Bus Stop Attack Footage

The terrified woman ran into the store and eventually left when she thought he had gone.

But CCTV shows him skulking around the corner waiting for her to leave the shop.

Det Supt Wallen added: "She was terrified for her safety. She crossed the road, walked back towards Leeds and finally got a taxi home."

Both women said the man is about 5ft 9in tall and of Asian appearance.

Mr Wallen said the woman he left for dead is "traumatised" by her ordeal and scared to leave the house.

She escaped more serious injury because she wore a hijab and had her anorak hood up, giving some protection from the blows.

"The violence level was horrific," he said. "You can see him hitting her with a great deal of power.

"It leads you to think he has done this before. We also feel he has not been in Britain for long."

Police have the rapist's DNA but it does not match any found on the UK database.

They have issued an e-fit of the suspect and footage of him walking past a Tesco Express store in Burley Road, at the junction of Westfield Terrace, at about 9.45pm on the night of the attack.

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01924 334710, or via 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Mugger Who Attacked 92-Year-Old For £5 Jailed

A robber who knocked over and injured a 92-year-old pensioner to steal £5 has been jailed for 30 months.

Solomon Bygraves, 29, told Stanley Evans he was going to help him with his wheelie bag as he returned from a shopping trip.

But as soon as he was in the block of flats he lunged for the pensioner's wallet, knocking him to the ground.

CCTV footage played at London's Southwark Crown Court showed Bygraves running off as the pensioner falls to the floor.

Mr Evans remained lying in the entrance to the flats in Soho, central London, for 10 minutes after the attack on 31 January.

Bygraves has 21 convictions for 49 different offences including two for robbery.

Stanley Evans says his attacker should be punished

The judge, Recorder Andrew Mitchell QC, said the attack on Mr Evans, now 93, could have been fatal.

He said: "The victim in the case could easily have died, not through any other reason than just snatching something from him, and causing him therefore to fall down, and he could have just gone at that age."

"He was a very small, frail man and (Bygraves) must be more than 6ft."

The court heard Bygraves was out on bail for a domestic matter at the time of the attack.

He was coming down from Class A drugs when he spotted the "vulnerable old man" return home with his shopping.

Richard Sedgwick, prosecuting, said: "Mr Bygraves is an exceedingly large man.

"There appears to be some evidence of targeting - the age and the size difference point to that.

"Mr Evans presents as an easy victim."

Outlining the attack, he said: "Mr Evans is returning to his block of flats with his shopping. He is 92 years-old.

Solomon Bygraves, captured on CCTV during the attack

"The defendant follows him in behind him. There is a conversation. Mr Evans recalls it as being about visiting a friend inside the block of flats and helping him with his shopping.

"Mr Evans then waits for a lift. The defendant returns, accosts him, takes Mr Evans' wallet from him causing Mr Evans to fall to the floor where he is unable to rise from for some time."

The pensioner, a retired camera assistant who worked on films including the 1947 classic Brighton Rock, eventually managed to get to his feet and call 999.

The attack was branded as "totally unprovoked, callous and sickening" by police.

Mr Evans suffered a shoulder and arm injury in the incident.

Bygraves, who has bipolar disorder, initially denied the crime.

He said he went over to Mr Evans because he looked ill, the pensioner collapsed and he "panicked" and ran off.

But he later admitted it and has written a letter of "remorse" to the judge.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Evans said: "I believe that the man who robbed me should be punished for attacking a 93-year-old pensioner.

"He should not abuse his strength."

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Boy Who Died Skiing 'Was Daring Little Boy'

The family of a boy who died on a ski holiday in the Alps have described him as "daring outgoing determined little boy".

Carwyn Scott-Howell, from Wales, was also described as a "very competent skier and snowboarder".

The boy died when he fell around 160ft from a cliff edge after losing his way in the Alpine resort of Flaine on Friday.

In a statement released through the Foreign Office, his family said they were enjoying their last ski run together when Carwyn's sister "lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead".

The statement said: "Carwyn was an adorable caring person who gave so much love.

The ski resort of Flaine, in France. Pic: Dan Kamminga

"Very daring outgoing determined little boy who's handsome smile lit up any room and made life full of laughter with never a dull moment. Seven years is too short a time to be an angel in the sky.

"Carwyn was a very competent skier and snowboarder who had started skiing at the age of three and spent several weeks each year skiing. We had spent the most happy ski holiday together in the French ski resort of Flaine."

The statement went on to explain how the family became separated on their last run of the day on Friday afternoon.

"The family were all enjoying their last ski run over the small jumps and bumps at the side of the slope together, when Carwyn's sister lost her ski on a jump and at this point Carwyn skied ahead," it said.

The alpine resort of Flaine, in France

"The family cannot explain their feeling of utter devastation with a vast void in their hearts. The family would like to thank all their friends and family for their support at this time and the vast help from the British Consulate.

"The family now ask for time to grieve in private."

The family have a farm in the small village of Talybont-on-Usk in the Brecon Beacons, where Carwyn's parents Ceri and Rhys run an award-winning produce business and rent holiday cottages.

Liam Fitzpatrick, an independent county councillor for the village, said the community was "in absolute shock".

Carwyn had started skiing at the age of three. Pic: Facebook

"He was seven years old, it's horrendous. A tragic, tragic accident," he said.

"We just can't comprehend it.

"It's a small village and everyone knows each other, especially his parents who are well-known because of their business.

"There will be massive support here for them when they come back. The community will be ready to assist in any way it possible can.

"It's impossible to know what they are going through at the moment."

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Jail Threat As 'Revenge Porn' Law Comes In

Sharing sexually explicit images without consent carries a potential two-year jail sentence from today, as a new 'revenge porn' law comes into force.

The measure targets people who share images or video without permission and with the intention of causing distress.

They are often posted by an ex-partner and sometimes accompanied by personal details, such as a social media profile.

The new law includes uploading to the internet, sending by text, email or messaging platforms, as well as simply showing someone a physical or electronic image.

The Crown Prosecution Service says it "covers images that show the genitals but also anything that a reasonable person would consider to be sexual, so this could be a picture of someone who is engaged in sexual behaviour or posing in a sexually provocative way".

Campaigners hope it will dramatically reduce the number of cases of revenge porn and make it easier to get justice for victims.

Previously, a mix of existing laws, such as the Communications Act and the Protection from Harassment Act, were used to prosecute offenders.

Children as young as 11 have been victims, according to the police.

Calls for a bespoke law gathered momentum after recent high-profile leaks of intimate celebrity images featuring the likes of Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence and Tulisa Contostavlos.

Campaigner Hannah Thompson, 22, called the changes a "huge step forward".

She said: "I was a victim of revenge porn, and I spent months agonising over it and believing that it was my fault.

"This new law, along with the advice helpline, empowers victims and clearly displays that they are not at fault."

There were 149 allegations of revenge porn in the two and a half years to September 2014, according to eight police forces in England and Wales with data on it.

The vast majority were women but only six incidents ended with any kind of police caution or charge.

Other laws coming in under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act include increasing the maximum jail term for online trolls to two years, and making it illegal to possess extreme pornography that depicts rape.

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British Boy Killed In Alps Ski Fall 'Was Lost'

A British boy who died in a skiing accident while on a family holiday in the French Alps was skiing alone at his own request, according to reports.

The seven-year-old fell around 160ft from a cliff to his death in the alpine resort of Flaine on Friday.

He had been skiing with his mother, brother and sister but is understood to have asked to ski the day's final descent on his own.

His family became worried after he failed to reach the bottom of the slopes, prompting a search which ended when his body was discovered around three-and-a-half hours later.

The alpine resort of Flaine, in France

Michel Ollagnon, an officer with the Bonneville mountain rescue service, said the boy's body was spotted off his expected course by rescuers in a helicopter on Friday evening.

Police chief Patrick Poirot, the head of the mountain rescue division in the nearby town of Annecy, was quoted in the Daily Mirror saying: "Specialists are at the scene to try and determine exactly what happened and understand every element that led to this tragedy.

"Hypothetically we think that, after losing his parents, the little boy didn't know where to go and skied in the wrong direction.

"He's just seven-years-old. He left the marked ski slope and probably skied to the top of a cliff.

"He then stopped, removed his skis, walked a little way and then fell.

"He fell 50 metres."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they were aware of the death and are providing consular assistance.

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Aintree Racegoer 'Knocked OAP To The Ground'

Police are investigating after a video emerged appearing to show a Grand National racegoer deliberately knocking over an elderly man.

The video is believed to have been made outside the racecourse in Aintree where around 150,000 people attended the event.

In the footage, a racegoer walks along the pavement before knocking into the victim, who then falls to the ground.

Onlookers are heard gasping and seen rushing to the pensioner's aid before an ambulance is called.

The video appears to have been made by a friend of the racegoer and he shouts "text bomb" and "is there any need?" just moments before the incident, as he sniggers from behind his phone.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said officers are treating the incident as an assault and appealed for help in finding the victim.

"Merseyside Police has been made aware of a video showing a man shoulder-barging another, older man, over in a road near to the Aintree racecourse," he said.

"The incident is being treated as assault and officers are speaking to several people believed to have further information that could help the investigation.

"Inquiries are also being carried out to establish exactly when and where the incident occurred and checks are being made with local hospitals to see if further information can be found out about the victim and what his condition is now.

"We are grateful to the people who reported this video to us and we will endeavour to update them once further enquiries by officers have been made. "We would continue to welcome any information from anyone who witnessed the incident itself on 101. "

Earlier, police said the annual race had seen no arrests over its three-day course, thanking the public for making the event such a "safe and enjoyable occasion".

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One Dead As Stolen Ambulance Collides With Bus

The driver of a stolen ambulance has been killed after the vehicle crashed into a double-decker bus near York, according to Sky sources.

The person driving the ambulance - who police believe was not a paramedic or a member of ambulance staff - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the bus and five of its 16 passengers were taken to hospital after the collision on the A64, near the Flaxton junction, about 8.30pm.

Their injuries were not life-threatening.

Another person, travelling in a Toyota Yaris with one other, was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Motorists have been asked to stay away from the area.

North Yorkshire Police tweeted: "The A64 at #York, near the Flaxton junction, is closed in both directions due to a serious collision. Please avoid the area."

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the crash or saw either of the vehicles beforehand to contact police and quote reference number 556 of 10 April.

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

NHS Battleground: Parties Unveil Rival Plans

David Cameron has pledged to protect the NHS by meeting its funding needs "in full" and Labour is to announce plans to provide an extra 3,000 midwives to guarantee one-to-one maternity care.

While the countdown to the too close-to-call general election continues, the main parties are trying to win over crucial undecided voters for whom the NHS is a key issue.

The Prime Minister has promised to fund the five-year reform plan put forward by NHS chief executive Simon Stevens by pumping at least an extra £8bn a year into the health service by 2020. 

This will mean that over-75s will be guaranteed same-day access to GPs, patients will be able to see doctors out of regular office hours and the NHS will provide a full range of services seven days a week, according to Mr Cameron.

Mr Stevens predicted in a report in October that, if health spending rose only at the rate of inflation, growing demand for care would leave the NHS in England with a £30bn funding gap by 2020.

Video: A&E Waiting Times On The Rise

He said around £22bn of that could be met through "efficiencies", but the remainder would have to come from government funds.

Up to now only the Liberal Democrats had committed to finding the extra money.

Mr Cameron said his track record showed he could be trusted to protect the NHS, with annual spending up £7.3bn in real terms but he did not say where the extra funding needed would come from.

Speaking about his severely disabled son Ivan, who died in 2009, Mr Cameron added: "As someone who's been supported by the NHS at the most difficult time in my life, I'm utterly committed to ensuring it is there for everyone when they need it too.

"That's why I'm backing the NHS's own plan with the cash required to ensure it can continue to deliver an amazing service to patients and their families in the future."

Video: Row Over Tory Record On GPs

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said a strong economy was needed to support a strong NHS.

He added: "We need to do much more to ensure our vulnerable elderly can be treated in the community.

"That is why we are building on our decision to bring back named GPs for the over 75s, by ensuring that as a part of this they are guaranteed a same day GP service when they need it.

"This means family doctors can focus on giving elderly people the care they need and prevent unnecessary trips to hospital."

But a Labour Party spokesman said: "The Tories are briefing the same story they've done five times before. There is still no firm commitment, still no idea where the money coming from - and they still can't be trusted on NHS."

Video: Tories Try To 'Pull Wool Over Eyes'

And a Lib Dem spokesman said: "The Conservative ideological obsession with cutting the size of the state means they cannot afford this unfunded spending commitment.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party who has committed to giving the NHS the £8bn it needs and have set out how we will pay for it.

"Tory spending plans will not help the NHS but rather destroy vital public service and decimate basic entitlements."

Labour will publish a mini-manifesto later including a new right to a dedicated midwife before and after childbirth.

Joining Mr Cameron in seeking to highlight his own personal experience of the NHS, Labour leader Ed Miliband told of the "brilliant care" he and wife Justine received when their sons Samuel and Daniel were born.

Video: Miliband Makes NHS His Battleground

Evoking the popular 1950s-set TV programme, he said: "Call The Midwife shouldn't just be a TV programme from the past but part of our NHS future too.

"We need to ensure the NHS can offer every woman the personalised one-to-one care we expect from a modern and thriving health service.

"Our fully-funded plan will provide the extra staff including midwives needed to give them the time to care. Because it is time to care for our NHS."

:: Click here to make your own Government with our Shaker Maker

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-Met Chief Investigated Over Lawrence Claims

Former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens is being investigated over claims he failed to disclose information to the Macpherson inquiry into the Stephen Lawrence murder probe.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it was investigating the peer following a referral from the London force.

The probe was launched by the watchdog after a complaint by the murdered teenager's father Neville Lawrence last October.

The Met said the complaint was in relation to Lord Stevens' role when he was deputy commissioner and disclosure to the Macpherson Inquiry 17 years ago.

Sky' crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The accusation is when he was deputy commissioner in 1998 he had told Lord Macpherson in the course of his inquiry that no officer or former officer involved in giving evidence to that inquiry had been under investigation for corruption."

Brunt added he spoken to someone very close to Lord Stevens and he was "very angry he was subject to this investigation".

The Macpherson Inquiry into Scotland Yard's handling of the killing of the black teenager found evidence of "institutional racism" within the Met.

Stephen Lawrence was aged 18 when he was killed at a bus stop in 1993

Imran Khan, the solicitor for Stephen's mother Doreen, told Sky News: "Corruption was a very important issue as far as the inquiry was concerned.

"There was suspicion that the reason that suspects were not arrested as they should have been in time was because there was concern there was corruption amongst the police and suspects involved."

He added: "Had information come to the inquiry at that time, which led to those questions being answered, then it may be that Sir William Macpherson would have come to the conclusion that corruption played a part in the failure of the investigation as well as institutional racism."

Mr Lawrence reportedly asked the IPCC to examine whether senior officers provide "full, frank and truthful" information to the inquiry.

He also requested the IPCC look into claims that hundreds of files on past major police corruption probes were shredded, it was reported.

A complaint has been made by Stephen Lawrence's father Neville

Mr Lawrence told Channel 4 News: "I'm glad that they're actually doing what they were supposed to do because this is not the first time that we've asked them to look into it and they've come back with a negative result.

"I'm hoping that this time they're going to come back this time with a result that can help us to get further into the truth of what was happening during the investigation into Stephen's death."

Sky's Martin Brunt said a source close to Lord Stevens pointed out that an inquiry into similar accusations three years ago - the so-called Ellison Inquiry - had effectively cleared Lord Stevens of the allegations.

Stephen Lawrence was 18 when he was stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in an unprovoked racist attack at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.

A Met Police statement said: "Following the receipt of a public complaint in relation to Lord John Stevens, former Commissioner, the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on Tuesday, 4 November 2014.

"The complaint has been made in relation to Lord Stevens' role as the then Deputy Commissioner and disclosure to the Macpherson Inquiry.

"This issue was raised in the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review by Mark Ellison QC, published on 6 March, where he concluded there were defects in the level of information that the MPS revealed to the Inquiry."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pollution Alert As Britain Set For Hottest Day

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

The elderly and people with health problems have been warned to avoid strenuous activity because of harmful levels of air pollution expected to blanket parts of the UK.

The warning comes as forecasters say Britain could enjoy the hottest day of the year so far, with parts of eastern England predicted to reach highs of 22C (71.6F).

Eastern, central and southern England are forecast to be affected by "high" pollution today.

Parts of East Sussex and West Kent are expected to reach "very high" levels, according to the Government's UK-Air monitoring service.

Air pollution maps released by Defra

The high levels are due to domestic soot particulates, combined with dirty air from the Continent and some Saharan dust.

With the fine, settled weather conditions the pollution will be trapped over the UK for several hours.

Video: The Latest Weather Forecast

Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis, head of the air pollution group at Public Health England, said: "While most people will not be affected by short term peaks of air pollution, some individuals, particularly those with existing heart or lung conditions, may experience increased symptoms."

Dr Vadoulakis said in areas with very high pollution levels people should reduce physical exertion if they develop a cough or sore throat.

He added: "Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people should avoid strenuous physical activity.

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1. Gallery: Top Ten UK Cities For Air Pollution

   Nottingham is joint top of the list, with a PM10 level of 25. The WHO say most cities across the world are failing to meet safe levels for outdoor pollution

Thurrock is also joint top with a level of 25.

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Terrorism Officers Investigate Death Of Preacher

Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command are investigating the death of a Syrian preacher in north-west London.

Abdul Hadi Arwani, 48, was found in his Volkswagen Passat in Wembley with a gunshot wound to the chest on Tuesday morning.

Mr Arwani, a British national born in Syria, was living in west London and was a preacher at the An-Noor Mosque in Acton.

Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command unit have taken the lead in the investigation because of their "expertise in the management of investigations with international dimensions and an established liaison network abroad", Scotland Yard said in a statement.

Mr Arwani was found in Greenhill on Tuesday morning

The force said: "The investigation remains in its very early stages and officers remain open-minded about the motive."

A post-mortem examination into Mr Arwani's death will take place on Thursday. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

Mr Arwani is said to be a staunch critic of the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria. His is reported to have six children.

His son Morhaf Arwani, 20, said: "We are at a loss to understand what is behind this. At the moment we know as much as you do."

An-Noor Mosque has previously hosted the son of radical preacher Abu Hamza, and was the location for the November 2013 escape of terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, who dressed himself in a burka.

A statement posted on the wall at the mosque said: "We have with great sadness heard of the unfortunate death of Shaykh Abdulhadi Arwani who was the former Imam of the An Noor Cultural and Community Centre who served from 2005 to 2011.

"He will be sadly missed."

Mr Arwani is thought to have fled Syria as a teenager in 1982 after surviving the Hama massacre. He is believed to have attended protests against Assad outside the Syrian embassy in 2012.

:: Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Footballers May Be Among Jewel Heist Victims

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Some of the UK's top footballers could be among the victims of the Hatton Garden safe deposit raid.

Jewellers who store gems at the diamond centre in Holborn, central London, do commission work for a number of Premier League stars, a source told Sky News.

They work on high-priced orders for wives and girlfriends and for the footballers themselves.

"Players have almost unlimited spending power and love to outdo each other with extravagant purchases, especially where jewellery is concerned," said the source.

"It's only natural they would go to the renowned craftsmen of Hatton Garden to place their orders."

Video: Raid: How Thieves Gained Entry

The players affected are likely to play for the top London clubs, but it is thought stars of other clubs visit the dozens of jewellers in Hatton Garden when they are playing or partying in London.

Flying squad detectives said up to 70 safe deposit boxes were broken open, but they had not informed the victims because forensic work was still going on.

:: More on Europe's most notorious jewel heists

The raiders are believed to have broken into the building through the roof and abseiled down a lift shaft.

Video: Raid: 'Shock To The Trade'

Heavy cutting equipment was then used get into a vault, believed to be reinforced with thick metal and concrete doors, up to 2ft thick.

The stolen jewellery and precious stones, which could be worth millions of pounds, will already be out of the country, former Flying Squad chief Barry Phillips believes.

He described the heist as "sophisticated" and "highly organised" and said it would have been carried out by a "professional team".

Questions have been raised about security at the premises amid reports guards responded to an alarm on Friday, but left without checking inside.

Video: Raid: 'What's Going On?'

Safe deposit box owner Gerry Landon said he found the break-in "unbelievable".

"Apparently, as you may have read, the alarm went off at one o'clock on Friday and the security guards came down," Mr Landon said.

"They more or less looked through the window to see that there was no activity there - and then they left."

Neil Duttson, a diamond dealer who buys stones for private clients, said tracing gems stolen in the heist would be nearly impossible.

Video: Vault Customer's 'Shock' At Raid

"Once diamonds have been re-cut and polished there is no geological map," he said.

"I imagine they will be sat on for six months. You can expect some cheap diamonds will be coming on the market soon."

Police have not put a value on the goods stolen, but estimates vary widely from hundreds of thousands of pounds to £200m.

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'Ordinary Yorkshire Lads' Feared To Be In Syria

The families of two teenage boys believed to have travelled to Syria have said they are "in a state of profound shock" and are exrtremely concerned for their safety.

The seventeen-year-olds, named as Hassan Munshi and Talha Asmal, are thought to have fled to the country after travelling to Turkey on 31 March.

The pair, from Dewsbury, were last seen by their families on the day they are thought to have flown from Manchester airport to Dalaman.

A statement released on behalf of the two families said: "Our number one priority is to get Hassan and Talha back home ... and we implore anyone who may have any information whatsoever to get in contact with the police.

Kadiza Sultana, Shamima Begum and Amira Abase are thought to be in Raqqa

"These were just two ordinary Yorkshire lads who enjoyed the things that all young people enjoy at their age - both Hassan and Talha had a promising future as an apprentice and an A-level student respectively, and we are praying they will be back with us soon and are able to realise that future."

The statement added: "We would implore all parents to be extra vigilant, although as we found, it's near impossible to know your children have been groomed and brainwashed.

Video: IS Threat Gets Closer To Damascus

"Syria is a frightening war-torn place and we need to urgently educate our young children about the dangers posed by those who prey on impressionable teenagers."

Hassan is believed to be related to Hammaad Munshi, who was arrested by counter-terrorism police in 2006 at the age of 15 and later convicted over his role in a plot to murder non-Muslims, The Times newspaper reported.

West Midlands Police says it has been supporting the two families and carrying out extensive inquiries alongside the North East Counter Terrorism Unit.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Milsom said: "Syria is an extremely dangerous place and the public will be aware of the dangers these boys may face.

"The choice of returning home from Syria is often taken away from those that come under the control of Islamic State, leaving their families in the UK devastated and with very few options to secure their safe return."

Video: May 2013 - Yarmouk Refugees

He urged anyone concerned that a friend or relative may be contemplating travelling to Syria to contact police or local safeguarding units.

The two teenagers are believed to have travelled on a Thomas Cook Airlines flight out of Manchester.

A spokesman for the company said: "Whilst we cannot confirm the names of any of our passengers who travel with us, we can reassure all our customers that we work closely with all authorities to ensure the safety of our flights in and out of the UK."

UK security services believe around 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join militant groups, with around half now back in the UK.

They include three teenage girls from East London, who are now thought to be in the Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold.

Video: Feb 2014 - Inside Yarmouk

Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana were last seen on CCTV at a bus station in Istanbul on 17 February.

Last week, nine Britons were arrested allegedly trying to cross into Syria from Turkey illegally.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

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All Passports To Be Checked On UK Exit

By Joanna Simpson, Sky News Reporter

New border checks are being introduced today which will require every passport to be thoroughly verified before a person can leave the UK.

The checks are being introduced at seaports, airports and tunnels which provide exit points from the British Isles.

The changes are expected to particularly affect cross-Channel and Channel tunnel travellers, who will now need to have their passports scanned.

As airlines currently gather passengers' information ahead of time, there is unlikely to be a noticeable difference in queues for passengers.

But there are fears of delays at peak travelling times while the changes are implemented.

Until now, many people have been able to leave the country without having their passport scrutinised. 

The Home Office says the changes will strengthen Britain's border security, adding that the implementation of the checks will be staggered at sites across the country.

The changes have led to fears of delays for some travellers

For the first month all passports will be scanned, but only 25% of passport holders will have their details verified.

In the second month 50% will be checked. By the middle of June, 100% of passports will be fully checked.

Security and immigration minister James Brokenshire said: "It is right that we have an immigration system that is fair, that tackles immigration and that clamps down on anyone who tries to cheat the system by staying here when they have no right to do so.

"Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK.

"Port and travel operators are experts in their business and know their customers best, which is why we've supported them to design and trial the systems for collecting data in a way that will minimise the impact on customers."

More staff have been brought in to cope with the new measures, but whether the changes will have a detrimental impact on passengers will not be known until peak travelling times, such as the summer months.

A P&O spokesperson said: "They have picked a quiet day for the introduction of the checks.

"The actual scanning of passports is quick, it's the verification that takes longer. We are hoping there will be a fairly seamless transition to the new system."

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Skin Cancer Rise Blamed On Package Holiday Boom

The cheap package holiday boom of the 1960s and 70s means pensioners are now seven times more likely to develop the deadliest form of skin cancer.

New figures from Cancer Research UK show that men aged 65 and over are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma than their parents' generation.

Older women are around five times more likely to develop the disease.

Each year, some 5,700 pensioners are now diagnosed with melanoma each year in the UK compared with 600 in the mid-1970s.

Older women are around five times more likely to develop the disease

Age is a big risk for melanoma, but the increase is blamed on package holidays which became popular in the 1960s.

Getting sunburnt once every two years can triple a person's risk of developing the disease.

Professor Richard Marais, Cancer Research UK's skin cancer expert based in Manchester, said: "It's important for people to keep an eye on their skin and seek medical opinion if they see any changes to their moles, or even to normal areas of skin.

"Melanoma is often detected on men's backs and women's legs but can appear on any part of the body."

Malignant melanoma is the country's fifth most common cancer overall and the second most common cancer in young adults aged 15 to 34.

Each year, 2,100 Britons die from the disease.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, said: "Sun damage accumulates over time so avoiding sunburn - and sunbeds - is key, as well as getting to know your skin type so you don't overdo it on the beach or even in the garden."

Retired teacher Sue Deans, 69, from Croydon, south London, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2000 after having a mole removed.

She said: "I was part of the generation where package holidays became affordable and you could go abroad nearly every year.

"I don't think there was much understanding at the time about the impact that too much sun can have on your risk of getting skin cancer."

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Warm Easter Weather To Continue All Week

The warm Easter weather looks set to continue into the week.

Temperatures could reach 21C (70F) in some places, when the average UK temperature for April is 11.4C (52F) and for England is 12.4C, according to the Met Office.

Two Great White Pelicans in London's St James Park

Despite many holidaymakers expected to return from the Easter break on Monday the continued high pressure will ensure conditions in most areas will remain settled for the rest of the week.

The South and South West of England will see the best of the warm weather while in northeast Scotland it will be sunniest while northwest Scotland could see some cloud developing.

Most of Northern Ireland, particularly the east coast, will also enjoy spells of sunshine.

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Most places will continue with the dry and sunny conditions - however, eastern coastal regions and Irish sea coasts may be affected by sea fog.

"It will feel warm in the sunshine today, with top temperatures of 12-18C (54-64F)."

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