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Connors Family Found Guilty Of Forced Labour

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 15 Desember 2012 | 16.12

Five members of the same traveller family who made their staff perform humiliating tasks have been found guilty of forced labour.

William Connors, 52, his wife Mary, 48, their sons John, 29, and James, 20, and their son-in-law Miles Connors, 24, were all convicted of conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour between April 2010 and March 2011.

Bristol Crown Court heard how the Connors would pick up the men - many of whom were homeless or drug addicts - to work for them as labourers.

Jurors were told the victims lived in squalid caravans on traveller sites as they moved around the country working on the Connors' paving and patio businesses.

Prosecutors said the men were paid as little as £5 a day for their work, which included emptying the buckets used as toilets by their bosses, and were forced to scavenge from dustbins for food.

Slavery court case The inside of a caravan occupied by two people who worked for the Connors

Some workers were beaten with broom handles, belts, a rake and a shovel, and one had a hosepipe forced down his throat, it was claimed.

By contrast, the court heard, their employers lived in large, well-equipped caravans, enjoyed holidays in Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean and drove luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce, a Mercedes A-Class and a Mini convertible.

Prosecutor Christopher Quinlan QC said: "It was a clear and unequivocal demonstration of control and dominance of one set - the family - over another.

"If you compare and contrast the lifestyles of the workers and bosses it is like comparing a Maserati with a clapped-out Zephyr."

Police began investigating the Connors following the discovery of a worker's decomposed body in a garden shed close to one of the family's caravan sites.

A fellow worker contacted officers in 2009 to say he had been recruited by William and Mary while living on the streets of Cheltenham.

He told detectives he had his identity documents taken from him, was rarely paid, received little food and lived with other workers in the same situation.

When the Connors family was placed under covert surveillance the following year, police recorded evidence of the men being assaulted.

Caravan sites in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire were raided in March 2011 and 19 men were rescued.

The Connors said their workers were "free agents" who were able to come and go as they pleased.

William and Mary insisted they were "good Samaritans" who provided vulnerable people with food, work and accommodation.

All five defendants had faced a second charge of conspiracy to hold another person in servitude but the judge ordered the jury to find them not guilty of that offence.

They are due to be sentenced on Monday.


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Man Arrested Over Bus Attack In Ipswich

A man has been arrested after a passenger was shoved off a bus in Ipswich, leaving him with a serious head injury.

It happened as the man, who is now fighting for his life in hospital, was travelling on a number 10 bus on Thursday evening.

Just after 6pm it stopped in Defoe Road near to the junction with Macauley Road and as he went to get off he was pushed.

It caused him to fall backwards and hit his head, leaving him unconscious.

The passenger, who is in his 60s, was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition.

On Friday morning, a 26-year-old local man was detained and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Earlier, police said three males were involved in the pushing incident and that they ran off into Macauley Road.

All three are described as white, of medium build, around 5ft 7in or 5ft 8in tall and in their late 20s.

One was said to be wearing a woolly hat and a grey bomber jacket, while another wore a grey hoodie under a jacket.

Police have impounded the bus and are reviewing CCTV footage. Officers have also been speaking to other passengers and local residents.

Malcolm Robson, the managing director of Ipswich Buses, said the firm was "very concerned" about the incident.

He told the Ipswich Star: "Our driver is back at work this morning and is very upset about it and we hope (the victim) makes a full recovery.

"We're doing what we can with witness statements and providing CCTV footage and are just helping the police in any way we can."

Anyone with information that could help police is asked to contact Ipswich CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Witches Coven: Child Sex Abuse Pair Jailed

Two men have been jailed for a total of 32 years after sexually abusing several children as part of a witches' coven in Cornwall during the 1970s.

Peter Petrauske, 72, and Jack Kemp, 69, were said to have donned ceremonial robes and pagan paraphernalia before abusing young girls.

Police believe one of their victims may have been as young as three.

During the three-week trial at Truro Crown Court, sex abuse victims said they were given money and sweets to buy their silence.

Petrauske, who described himself as the high priest of a white witches' coven in St Ives, Cornwall, was convicted of one count of rape, one count of aiding and abetting an attempt to rape, and one count of indecent assault, all by unanimous verdict.

Kemp was unanimously found guilty of indecent assault and indecency with a child, as well as seven other sexual offences by a majority verdict.

Jailing Kemp for 14 years and Petrauske for 18, Judge Graham Cottle told them: "The offences range from the extremely serious to the truly horrifying.

"(The trial) has featured ritualistic, sickening abuse of young, young children.

"The scars left are so obvious that it would seem extremely unlikely that either of them have any real prospect of recovery."

The child abuse was only investigated further by police last year when Kemp was arrested in connection with another incident, causing rumours to spread around his home town of Falmouth and prompting the alleged victims of the historic offences to contact detectives.

Petrauske was backed up by female members of the coven who said that, while children were occasionally present, nudity never played a part in the ceremonies.

One female friend also described him as "a gentleman".

Kemp denied any involvement in paganism, saying it "wasn't his cup of tea", and said he was the victim of a bizarre conspiracy.

He said the girls were wrong to name him in the case.

Witnesses also named murdered pagan Peter Solheim and notorious Cornish paedophile Stan Pirie as among their abusers.

Solheim was a 56-year-old parish councillor whose body was found five miles off the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, by fishermen on June 18, 2004. He had been drugged and mutilated with a machete or an axe.

Kemp was cleared of five charges, while Petrauske was also found not guilty of one count.


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Flood Threat As Heavy Rain Hits South Coast

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 14 Desember 2012 | 16.12

Britain is on flood alert this morning as high winds and heavy rainfall begin to sweep in from the South West.

The Environment Agency has warned residents - many still mopping up after last month's widespread flooding - to brace themselves for a combination of heavy rain and storm surges.

Thirteen flood warnings have been issued across the South West and Wales, while a further 47 areas across Scotland, England and Wales have been told to prepare for possible flooding.

The Environment Agency has also issued a flood alert near Swansea and Port Talbot.

The ground in parts of south and west Wales remains saturated from last month's heavy rainfall, the agency said.

Between 20mm and 30mm of rain is expected to fall over the next 24 hours in the South West and Wales.

High winds of up to 60mph will affect much of the UK, reaching up to 70mph in north-east Scotland.

Heavy rain has already started to fall across the South West, which will bear the brunt of the severe weather.

The public have been advised to stay away from seafronts, quaysides and jetties along the south coast to avoid powerful waves.

Nick Roseveare, of the Environment Agency, said: "We are keeping a close eye on conditions around our coastline and will issue flood warnings if the risk of flooding increases.

"The critical periods will be the early morning tides over the next three days.

"If they coincide with rain, there's a risk of tide-locking, where water is held in rain-swollen rivers and cannot escape into the sea because of the high tides. This could result in localised flooding."

Those in areas of risk have been urged by the Environment Agency to check their website and Twitter feed for the latest updates, or to call the floodline on 0845 988 1188.


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Kids At Risk Of Rickets Due To Lack Of Vitamin D

Doctors fear a return of the 19th century disease rickets as the number of children suffering from vitamin D deficiencies increases.

There has been a four-fold increase in the bone disease - which has been relatively uncommon in the UK since the 19th century - over the last 15 years.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said poor intake of vitamin D is also resulting in higher incidences of diabetes, tuberculosis and multiple sclerosis.

Doctors have called for widely available and low-cost supplements and the fortification of foods with vitamin D to stem the problem across the UK.

Professor Mitch Blair, officer for health promotion at the RCPCH, said: "We know vitamin D deficiency is a growing problem - and localised research reveals startlingly high levels of vitamin deficiency amongst certain groups including children.

"People can only get a fraction (10%) of their recommended daily amount of vitamin D through food and very little from sunlight.

"So getting out in the sun more or eating more oily fish isn't going to solve the problem.

"Lack of vitamin D is related to a plethora of serious illnesses in children and adults that could be prevented through relatively simple steps such as taking supplements."

The RCPCH said there needed to be a greater knowledge among healthcare professionals and better public awareness about Vitamin D-related disease.

Vitamin D deficiency is thought to affect a quarter of children across the UK.

:: Rickets is a softening of bones in children due to deficiency or impaired metabolism of vitamin D, phosphorus or calcium, potentially leading to fractures and deformity.


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Savile Revelations Spark NSPCC Abuse Campaign

The NSPCC has launched a campaign in a bid to prevent people thinking sexual abuse is a problem from the past following the Jimmy Savile abuse revelations.

The children's charity is worried that due to many of Savile's victims being abused in the 1970s and 1980s, people may believe sexual abuse is not as common now as it was then.

The charity also fears people still do not know where to turn for help or that they will hesitate to report child abuse until they feel 100% certain.

Peter Watt, director of the NSPCC helpline, said: "By bravely speaking out, Savile's victims have done a great public service in raising awareness of child sex abuse and its long-lasting, devastating effect on victims.

"Our advert aims to remind people that child abuse remains a widespread problem and children are still abused today.

"To end their suffering and bring their abusers to justice we must all act now. Savile's victims waited decades to be heard and helped. We can't let this happen again.

"With this advert we want to send out a clear message about how vitally important it is to act on your suspicions and that the NSPCC is here to help you do this.

"Our trained counsellors will discuss your concerns and the best course of action."

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the Savile scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against the the BBC presenter and DJ himself, mainly alleging sexual abuse, Scotland Yard said.


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Victims 'To Get Voice' As Asbos Scrapped

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 13 Desember 2012 | 16.12

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

Victims of anti-social behaviour will get to have a say in how offenders are punished under plans put forward by the Government.

The so-called Community Remedy forms part of draft legislation that could become law in 2014.

The changes, based on a Government white paper published in May, will slim down existing laws, with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) being scrapped on the grounds that they were seen by some offenders as a badge of honour.

Home Office minister Jeremy Browne said victims of anti-social behaviour would be able to have their say on out-of-court punishments of offenders.

"Victims of anti-social behaviour and low level crime often feel powerless," he said.

"Our reforms will place power back in the hands of the people, giving them a proper say in how their local area is policed."

The plans have been welcomed by Joanne Binns, 39, who was driven from her Leeds home six years ago by a gang of youths.

"It was like no matter what I did, they were tormenting me and my family. We couldn't go anywhere, we couldn't sit in our own home," she said.

Graffiti Victims could ensure offenders are made to repair vandalism under the plans

It took a year to bring some of the offenders to court, by which time she said she had had enough.

"Even in our own home with the curtains closed there were bricks getting thrown, graffiti drawn on our house, it was just a life of hell," she said.

In the six years since then, Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police say they have worked with other agencies to create a more effective system to deal with anti-social behaviour.

Police Superintendent Keith Gilert, the council's chief community safety officer, believes many of the Government's proposals will help them to do even more.

"What we find here in Leeds is that an awful lot of these issues can be dealt with at quite a low level and can be resolved through mediation and negotiation between the parties," he said.

Under the changes, more punishments would be dealt with outside the court system, with police, councils and others working together to create a local 'menu' of ways to deal with offenders.

Victims could be asked whether they want an offender to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract, take part in alcohol or drug treatment, pay compensation or repair damage.

Ms Binns, who now works with her council to improve communities, says she cannot wait for the Bill to be passed.

"With Asbos they can tell them where not to hang around, where not to go, but they can't tell them to go on a drug rehabilitation course," she said.

"With the new Bill we can, so it's going to help perpetrators, but also give the victim a voice, and that's what my main concern is."

The draft legislation is now open to public consultation and will be scrutinised by the Home Affairs Select Committee.


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Two Charged After Boy Dies From Drug Overdose

Two people have been charged with manslaughter after a toddler died from a heroin overdose in Wolverhampton earlier this year.

A 29-year-old man and 33-year-old woman have been accused of causing or allowing the death of 23-month-old Daniel Jones.

He was pronounced dead by paramedics who responded to a call to a house in the city at 6.15am on May 29.

Daniel's death was initially treated as unexplained by police but recent forensic tests showed he died from a heroin overdose.

The suspects were detained by police in Penn, Wolverhampton on Wednesday and are due to appear at the magistrates' court today.


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Fracking Given Green Light From Ministers

The Government has lifted a ban on the controversial process of shale gas exploration known as fracking.

Ministers have allowed gas company Cuadrilla to resume operations in Lancashire, which were halted in 2011 when test-drilling caused two minor earthquakes.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said exploration could now continue in the county but will be subject to regular seismic risk assessments.

Fracking involves drilling holes deep into the ground and then using high-pressure liquid to fracture shale rocks to release gas trapped inside.

Cuadrilla believes it could supply a quarter of the UK's gas needs from the resource in Lancashire, leaving the country less reliant on foreign imports from Qatar or Russia.

There are also hopes it could help bring down energy prices.

The decision by Energy Secretary Ed Davey came after the Treasury had signalled its support for the budding industry, proposing tax relief for shale gas and unveiling a gas generation strategy.

Environmentalists argue that the fuel has no place in the move to a low-carbon economy and insist continuing to rely on gas could stop the UK meeting its emissions targets.

There are also concerns that fracking can cause local environmental problems, including polluting water supplies and damaging development.

Friends of the Earth senior energy campaigner Tony Bosworth said: "Gambling on shale gas is a risk we don't need to take - developing our huge clean power potential and cutting energy waste will create jobs, reduce our fossil fuel dependency and keep the lights on."

The move to let Cuadrilla resume its work will also have consequences for other companies keen to potentially exploit the resource elsewhere in the UK.

Its chief executive Francis Egan told the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee earlier this week that he believes it can provide 25% of the UK's gas demand.

He insisted that pursuing fracking would have huge benefits, including creating tens of thousands of jobs and raising significant tax revenues.


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Ex-Royal Butler: 'Max Clifford Sold Me Out'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 12 Desember 2012 | 16.12

By David Bowden, Sky News Senior Correspondent

Just days after being questioned by police in connection with alleged sex offences, which he says are completely untrue, Sky News has learned that Max Clifford is being sued by one of his former clients for alleged breach of confidentiality - accusations the publicist denies.

Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell claims he hired Mr Clifford in a bid to limit bad press coverage about him a decade ago, but now the former royal servant alleges that rather than stopping stories Mr Clifford passed them on to The News of the World.

His lawyer Mark Lewis says Paul Burrell claims that Mr Clifford asked him to write down personal details which he feared might be uncovered by the media so that he could deal with them if they appeared, but instead of keeping the details confidential it is alleged Mr Clifford faxed the handwritten documents to the News of the World.

He said: "The police say they raided the News of the World's offices and there is a fax header there showing that things were sent from Max Clifford Associates to the News of the World concerning Paul Burrell. Paul's own notes, Paul's own handwriting that he'd given to Max suddenly finds itself at the News of the World."

But Mr Clifford has issued a robust response.

"The claims made by Mr Burrell have no merit. His allegations are opportunistic and are denied," he said.

"It is an affront to common sense to suggest that Mr Burrell, who has sold stories to the newspapers, made countless appearances on TV and has even written a book about his dealings with the royal family, now feels able to claim that any information he provided was confidential.

"We will defend these claims in court and will be asking the judge at the earliest opportunity to strike out these claims as having no prospect of success and an abuse of process."

Mr Clifford has made a very successful, very lucrative and high profile career managing the publicity of some of the world's biggest stars and he has often spoken to the media on a range of PR issues.

If he was to have sold out one of his clients in the way Mr Burrell alleges then that lucrative career would be badly damaged.

Whatever the truth of these allegations, the coming together of the former butler to the one time most famous woman in the world and the publicist to the stars is bound to create a lot of interest.


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Finucane Murder Report Due To Be Published

By Vicki Hawthorne, Ireland Correspondent

A report investigating allegations of collusion in the murder of a prominent solicitor in Northern Ireland will be published later.

The killing of Pat Finucane is one of the most controversial in Northern Ireland's history.

He was shot 14 times by loyalist paramilitary gunmen on February 12, 1989, as he sat eating Sunday dinner at home in Belfast with his family.

When he was killed, Mr Finucane was at the peak of his career. He represented high profile republicans including IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.

He was also known for fighting human rights cases but his work with republicans made him a target.

Since his death, there have been widespread claims that the security forces colluded with loyalist terrorists to carry out the murder.

There have been a series of reports over the years which have indicated that collusion did take place.

Canadian judge Peter Cory reviewed a number of controversial killings in Northern Ireland and in 2004 recommended that the Government should hold an inquiry into the Finucane case.

The Finucane family, including his wife Geraldine, have always believed the security forces were involved in his murder and have long campaigned for an independent public inquiry.

Instead, last year, David Cameron ordered for a review of the case by QC Desmond de Silva.

The Finucane family await its findings with interest but are still pressing for a public inquiry.

Mr Finucane's son John said they would read the report "with an open mind" but criticised the move to have a "behind-closed-doors" review.

He told Sky News: "Today represents what we feel is an embodiment of a broken promise by the British Government.

"We have always been very clear - this represents more than just the case of my father. There are people on all sides of the community who we feel have been allowed to die to protect intelligence and we think that is wrong and should never have happened.

"To ensure it never happens again and restore public confidence in rule of law then there needs to be a public examination of what went wrong. Failing to do that will only lead to further myths and suspicion which will allow this wound to fester."


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Weather: Ice And Fog Hit Dozens Of Flights

Freezing fog has descended on parts of the UK, forcing airports to cancel flights - and more delays are expected.

Heathrow Airport says 70 flights due to take off on Wednesday have been scrapped.

A spokesman said further cancellations were likely as adverse conditions affecting large areas parts of the country worsen.

Flights to Warsaw, Nice, Stockholm, Aberdeen and several German cities are among those cancelled.

"We expect the fog to lift between 9am and 10am. Visibility is already improving," said a Heathrow spokeswoman.

"There have been some delays as well as cancellations. There is bound to be a bit of a knock-on effect during the day. Also, some European airports are also affected by the cold weather."

There are also 20 cancellations at London City Airport. Passengers are urged to contact airlines to check details.

Monday night was one of the coldest of the year, with temperatures falling as low as minus 10C (14F), with Scotland worst affected.

After another bitterly cold night on Tuesday, much of the country woke up to sub-zero temperatures this morning.

Fog, which has hit areas including central England, Wales and East Anglia, is expected to spread.

There was congestion on a number of major road routes, while a section of the A1(M) between junctions 39 and 40 in Yorkshire was closed.

On the railways, overhead wire problems caused 50-minute delays in the rush-hour between Bedford and Luton, while a broken-down train at Watford Junction in Hertfordshire also caused hold-ups.

An electrical supply problem led to delays to train services between Seaford and Lewes in East Sussex, while a signalling problem caused hold-ups to services in and out of another Sussex coastal station - Brighton.

In Scotland, a broken-down train at Bathgate led to delays between Edinburgh and Airdrie.

On the Tube, there were severe delays on the Metropolitan line between Rickmansworth and Amersham and minor delays on the rest of the line due to a lack of trains.

There were also severe delays between High Barnet and Finchley Central on the Northern line due to a signal failure at Woodside Park.

Another signal failure - at Arnos Grove in north London - led to delays on the Tube's Piccadilly line between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters.

The coldest spot in the UK on Tuesday night was Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands, where the temperature was minus 10.2C (13F).

  • Is your area affected by adverse weather? Get in touch here.

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Radio Prank Nurse: Post-Mortem Examination Due

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 11 Desember 2012 | 16.12

A post-mortem examination is due to be held later on the nurse who apparently took her own life after she fell victim to a prank call made to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge.

Tributes have been paid to Jacintha Saldanha, who was found dead on Friday days after she was tricked by two Australian radio hosts who called the King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

She transferred the presenters, believing they were the Queen and the Prince of Wales, to a colleague who divulged details about Kate's treatment for severe morning sickness.

Ms Saldanha, 46, from Bristol, was found dead in a block of nurses' flats close to the hospital, where she stayed while working in London.

MP Keith Vaz met her family on Monday and said they had been "devastated" by the loss of a "loving mother and a loving wife".

Flanked by Ms Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza and her two teenage children, Mr Vaz said: "They miss her every moment of every day, but they are really grateful to the support of the British public and to the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

Mr Vaz has called for the hospital to provide the family with more support and to hold an inquiry.

Nurse Jacintha Saldana and her two children Ms Saldanha's family have been left "devastated" by their loss

His criticism came after the DJs behind the call, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, broke their silence about the nurse's death.

Interviewed on Australian TV networks, the 2Day FM presenters said there had been a "tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected".

A tearful Greig told Today Tonight on Australia's Channel Seven: "There's nothing that can make me feel worse than what I feel right now. And for what I feel for the family."

Police in London have contacted their Australian counterparts with a view to interviewing the pair ahead of an inquest into Ms Saldanha's death.

In response to Mr Vaz's criticism the hospital said its chief executive John Lofthouse had spoken to the nurse's husband on Friday by phone and offered to meet him whenever he wanted.

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of 2Day FM, has suspended advertising on the Sydney radio station until further notice, ended Greig and Christian's Hot 30 show and suspended prank calls across the company.

Rhys Holleran, the chief executive of the firm, has said the station called the hospital five times to discuss what it had recorded before going to air.

Radio Djs Michael Christian and Mel Greig talk on australian tv show 'today tonight' about the telephone prank they played on now deceased nurse Jacintha Saldahna. Mr Christian and Ms Greig have spoken emotionally about the tragedy

Under Australian regulations, the permission of anyone on the receiving end of a radio prank must be sought before the call can be broadcast.

But the hospital denied on Monday that anyone within its senior management or media unit was contacted.

Mr Holleran insisted the appropriate checks were conducted before the pre-recorded item was broadcast, and defended the presenters in an interview late on Monday with Australia's Ten Network.

Asked if anyone in authority above the hosts was at the station when the call was made, he said: "I think that it is important that these two individuals did not recklessly just decide to put something to air."

He said the "went through a process", without going into details.

Southern Cross Austereo has announced it will donate all of its profits until the end of the year to a charity chosen by the family of Ms Saldanha. It is expected to be a minimum of AUS$500,000 (£326,000).

Ms Saldanha was originally from Mangalore in southwest India, according to reports which have named her children as daughter Lisha, 14, and son Junal, 16.

Scotland Yard said the post-mortem would be held at Westminster Mortuary and it was likely an inquest would be opened and adjourned at Westminster Coroner's Court later this week.


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Mixed Marriage 'More Accepted' In Britain

By James Matthews, News Correspondent

The British have become far more comfortable than they used to be with interracial marriage, according to a report.

Research by think-tank British Future also reveals that forthcoming census results will show a significant increase in the number of mixed race people living in the UK.

The organisation estimates that more than a million people in Britain are now of mixed parentage.

Its report, The Melting Pot Generation - How Britain Became More Relaxed About Race, says "mixed Britain is fast becoming the new normal" .

It points to famous mixed race people such as Jessica Ennis, Lewis Hamilton and Leona Lewis as being key influences on public acceptance.

Olympic heroine Ennis was born in Sheffield in 1986 to a Jamaican father and English mother.

At that time, a British Social Attitudes survey showed 50% of the public were against marriage across ethnic lines. The figure dropped to 40% in the 1990s and it now stands at 15%.

Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said under-30s were Britain's most tolerant generation.

"One in four of the over-65s still say that they would be uncomfortable about a child or grandchild marrying somebody from a different race, but that falls to one in 20 of those under 25.

"It ranked last out of 10 as a possible source of concern, with even worries about the idea of marrying somebody much richer being slightly stronger among the youngest group."

He said the "Jessica Ennis generation" are much more likely to be mixed race, with one in 10 children growing up with parents from different backgrounds.

"Over a million Britons will have ticked the census box as mixed race - and that is only half the story of the rapid growth of mixed Britain," he said.

"Twice as many people have ethnically mixed parentage - but over half of them choose other census categories, such as black or white."

The think-tank believes that Britain has a greater claim to "melting pot" status than the US.

It points out that in America most mixed race people marry someone from an ethnic minority - as with Barack and Michelle Obama - but three quarters of Britons with mixed parentage marry white people.


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Snoopers' Charter: Nick Clegg Urges Re-Think

By Katie Stallard, Media And Technology Correspondent

The Government must go back to the drawing board with its plans for new digital surveillance laws, Nick Clegg has told Sky News.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the coalition should have a fundamental rethink about the draft Communications Data Bill, dubbed the Snoopers' Charter by opponents.

He was responding to a critical cross-party report from MPs and peers who studied the proposals and accused the Government of using "fanciful and misleading" figures to justify them.

The Joint Committee also declared that the breadth of the draft bill would be "overkill".

Mr Clegg said: "Their report makes a number of serious criticisms - not least on scope; proportionality; cost; checks and balances; and the need for much wider consultation.

"It is for those reasons that I believe the coalition Government needs to have a fundamental rethink about this legislation. We cannot proceed with this bill and we have to go back to the drawing board."

Nick Clegg at CabinetHome Secretary Theresa May Nick Clegg wants a rethink but Theresa May insists there can be no delay

The Joint Committee questioned the scope of the measures, which would see records kept of all internet and mobile phone communications for 12 months, regardless of whether the individual was suspected of a crime.

Details of emails, internet phone calls and activity on social networking sites would be stored, but not the message content.

Lord Blencathra, who chaired the committee, concluded: "There is a fine but crucial line between allowing our law enforcement and security agencies access to the information they need to protect the country and allowing our citizens to go about their daily business without a fear, however unjustified, that the state is monitoring their every move.

"Whilst the Joint Committee realise that there are specific data types which are not currently available, and which would aid the work of law enforcement bodies and the security services, we are very concerned at how wide the scope of the Bill is in its current form."

He added: "The breadth of the draft Bill as it stands appears to be overkill and is much wider than the specific needs identified by the law enforcement agencies.

"We urge the Government to reconsider its zeal to future-proof legislation and concentrate on getting the immediate necessities right. We are confident that the safeguards already in the draft Bill, together with our recommendations to strengthen those safeguards, will do just that."

The committee also criticised the level of consultation with service providers, who would be required to gather the data, and questioned whether the sums added up.

The report said they expected the overall cost to the taxpayer to exceed the £1.8bn estimate by a "considerable margin", and that the Home Office figure for estimated benefits was "even less reliable".

"The estimated net benefit figure is fanciful and misleading. It ought not to be used to influence parliament in deciding on the relative advantages and disadvantages of this legislation," it said.

Nick Pickles, from the campaign group Big Brother Watch, told Sky News: "The committee has exposed weak evidence, misleading statements and fanciful figures, and unanimously rejected this draft Bill's proposal to monitor everyone's emails, web visits and social media messages.

"The complexity and sensitivity of the subject required a radically different process and a totally different bill.

"There are challenges, but they can be solved in a proportionate way that protects privacy, is based on what is technically possible and focuses on maximising the effectiveness of data already held."

Home Secretary Theresa May insists the legislation is needed to keep up with advances in technology and bring the law up to date.

A Home Office spokesman said: "This legislation is vital to help catch paedophiles, terrorists and other serious criminals, and we are pleased both scrutiny committees have recognised the need for new laws.

"We will consider the committees' recommendations carefully, but there can be no delay to this legislation. It is needed by law enforcement agencies now."


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HMS Audacious: New Super Submarine For Navy

Written By Unknown on Senin, 10 Desember 2012 | 16.12

By Alistair Bunkall, Sky News Correspondent

A £1.2bn contract has been agreed to build a new submarine for the Royal Navy.

The deal, awarded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to BAE Systems, will safeguard 3,000 jobs at the company's Barrow shipyard in Cumbria.

The submarine, to be called HMS Audacious, will be the fourth of seven Astute Class boats being built for the Navy. It will join Astute, Ambush and Artful in the growing fleet.

The first two submarines, Astute and Ambush, are currently undergoing sea trials to test their systems ahead of full service. These trials assess their ability to dive to deep depths and fire missiles.

A further £1.5bn has also been committed to three submarines yet to be built, which will complete the fleet. It will allow vital preliminary work to start.

Commenting on the announcement, Rear Admiral Simon Lister, the MoD's director of submarines, said: "The Astute Class will become the jewel in the crown of the Royal Navy's Submarine Service and boasts much greater firepower and more advanced sonar and communications than ever before.

HMS Astute Audacious is the fourth of seven Astute submarines being built for the Navy

"These submarines represent a huge leap forward in technology and will operate all over the world with the Royal Navy.

"These boats provide the optimum capability a submarine can offer in land strike, strategic intelligence gathering, anti-submarine and surface ship warfare, and protection of the strategic deterrent."

The Astute class submarines are powered by nuclear energy which means they never need to refuel. In theory they can stay underwater forever, only re-surfacing to take on supplies for the crew.

They are fitted with the most advanced sonar systems available and are quieter than older submarines. The sonar system has the processing power of 2,000 laptops and can spot and track ships 3,000 miles away.

At around 320ft (97m) from bow to stern they are about 50% bigger than the Royal Navy's current Trafalgar Class submarines. They carry on board a mix of Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk land-attack missiles.

The submarines will also make their own oxygen from seawater. 

The money is coming from a pre-allocated budget. In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor said the MoD could have more time to spend about £1bn that it has yet to use from this year's budget.

It was thought that the Treasury might request the money be returned, but George Osborne has allowed the department a period of flexibility.


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DNA Database: £100m Bid To Cut Cancer Deaths

David Cameron is to unveil plans for a DNA database that could one day hold the genetic details of every person in Britain.

The £100m project will see 100,000 patients with cancer and rare diseases having their DNA fully mapped as part of a drive to revolutionise NHS treatment.

The project, to take place in England over the next three to five years, is aimed at saving thousands of lives - but there are concerns that it could pose risks to privacy.

The Prime Minister said he wanted to "push the boundaries" by introducing mainstream genetic sequencing for the first time.

"Britain has often led the world in scientific breakthroughs and medical innovations, from the first CT scan and test-tube baby through to decoding DNA," Mr Cameron said.

"By unlocking the power of DNA data, the NHS will lead the global race for better tests, better drugs and above all better care.

X-ray images of prostate cancer Doctors hope the database will help reduce cancer deaths

"We are turning an important scientific breakthrough into a potentially life-saving reality for NHS patients across the country.

"If we get this right, we could transform how we diagnose and treat our most complex diseases not only here but across the world, while enabling our best scientists to discover the next wonder drug or breakthrough technology."

Some critics of the project, known as the "UK genome plan", have voiced concerns about how the data will be used and shared with third parties, including with commercial organisations such as drug companies.

GeneWatch, a campaign group fighting for genetic science and technologies to be used in the public interest, has said anyone with access to the database could use the genetic codes to identify and track every individual on it and their relatives.

But Downing Street stressed that the genome sequencing would be entirely voluntary and patients will be able to opt out without affecting their NHS care. It added the data would be "completely anonymised before it is stored".

The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, said the NHS already analysed single genes in cancer tests and to check patients' risk of suffering side effects from treatment.

"At the moment, these tests focus on diseases caused by changes in a single gene," she said.

"This funding opens up the possibility of being able to look at the three billion DNA pieces in each of us so we can get a greater understanding of the complex relationship between our genes and lifestyle."

The £100m, which comes from existing NHS budgets, will go on training genetic scientists, mapping patients' DNA, and creating systems for handling the information.

The project that first sequenced a human genome in 2000 cost around £500m, but technical advances mean the bill has dropped dramatically to under £1,000 per person.


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Savile Police Arrest London Man In His 60s

Police investigating sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile and others have arrested a man in his 60s from London.

Scotland Yard says the man was held at 6.45am on suspicion of sexual offences and taken to a south London police station.

He was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation into allegations of sex abuse surrounding Savile and others, and falls under the strand termed "others".

The man is the seventh person to be questioned as part of the probe and the sixth to be arrested.

It comes after publicist Max Clifford was questioned by detectives on Thursday, before refuting the allegations and pledging to do all he could to assist the investigation.

"On a personal level, they are very distressing for myself, my wife, my family and loved ones," he said.

"Anyone who really knew me all those years ago and those who have known me since will have no doubt that I would never act in the way that I have today been accused."

Also arrested in connection with the investigation have been Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis and a man in his 70s, reported to be former television producer Wilfred De'Ath.

The Metropolitan Police has said it is dealing with around 450 potential victims, the vast majority of whom claimed they had fallen prey to Savile.

The inquiry has been seperated into three strands: claims against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others.

More follows...


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Boy Killed By 'Teen Driver' At Caravan Site

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 09 Desember 2012 | 16.12

A seven-year-old boy has died after being hit by a BMW car allegedly driven by a teenager at a caravan site.

A 16-year-old boy is being questioned by police after being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The accident happened at the Shirenewton caravan site, east of Cardiff, south Wales, at around 3pm on Saturday.

"A seven-year-old boy from the caravan site was apparently in collision with a red BMW 3 series estate," a South Wales Police spokesman said.

"The boy was taken to the University Hospital of Wales where he later died from his injuries. Specially trained police officers are supporting the family.

"A 16-year-old youth from the area, who is believed to have been driving the BMW at the time, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is in custody and inquiries are ongoing."

Anybody who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


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Senior Bishops To Tweet Christmas Sermons

The country's senior bishops are set to tweet their Christmas Day sermons for the first time this year in a Christmas Tweet campaign.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams (@lambethpalace), the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu (@johnsentamu) and Archbishop Designate Justin Welby (@bishopofdurham) will also be joined by congregations and clergy from across the Church of England (@c--of--e).

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, churchgoers in the 16,000 parishes of the Church of England are being encouraged to live tweet the joy and meaning of Christmas to the 10 million UK Twitter users.

Rev Arun Arora (@RevArun), director of communications at the Archbishops' Council, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for parishes to take the good news of the first Christmas out of churches and into people's lives and homes.

Archbishop Rowan Williams Current archbishop Rowan Williams will take part in the Christmas tweeting

"It is the first time that the joy and excitement of Christmas will have been broadcast widely on Twitter. There are large numbers of social media enthusiasts to be found in pews and pulpits across the country.

"This is an invitation for them to join together to celebrate the joy of the Christ Child coming into the world, taking the real meaning of Christmas to a new digital audience. Churches from all denominations will be invited to broadcast their services via Twitter."

A Twitter spokesperson said: "Twitter brings you closer to the things you are passionate about - and for millions of people across the globe that is faith.

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu Archbishop of York John Sentamu completes the line-up of senior clergy

"It is fantastic to see the Church of England embracing Twitter and using it to share their Christmas message with new audiences."

The campaign will use the hashtage #ChristmasStartsWithChrist, which goes live on Christmas Eve.

Tweets can be expected from carol, crib and midnight services, before carrying on into Christmas morning when the highlights of the sermons at Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and Durham Cathedral will be tweeted.


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Top Tories Launch Gay Marriage Campaign

London Mayor Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Michael Gove are among more than a dozen senior Conservatives who have launched a new group to campaign for gay marriage.

David Cameron supports the plans to allow same-sex weddings to be held in places of worship and has promised a free vote, but more than 100 Tory MPs are expected to oppose the change in the Commons next year.

The new group has been put together by Nick Herbert, the former police minister who resigned from the Government in September's reshuffle.

As well as Mr Johnson and Mr Gove, it includes Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who is Catholic, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, an evangelical Christian, former Tory ministers Lord Fowler and Nicholas Soames and Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson.

In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph announcing the formation of the group, the 19 declared: "Marriage should be open to all, regardless of sexuality.

"We recognise that civil partnerships were an important step forward in giving legal recognition to same sex couples.

"But civil partnerships are not marriages, which express a particular and universally understood commitment."

Nick Herbert Former police minister Nick Herbert is spearheading the campaign

Mr Herbert, who is in a civil partnership, said changing the law was "the right thing to do".

"It is precisely because marriage is such a uniquely important institution that we should ensure that all couples who want to enter into it, regardless of their sexuality, can do so," he added.

"Conservatives who believe in marriage should feel this most strongly."

However, Mr Herbert insisted it would be wrong to "compel religious organisations to marry same-sex couples against their will" and called for legal "safeguards" to prevent it.

Under the proposals, due to be fleshed out this week, churches and other venues will be allowed to "opt in" to holding civil marriage ceremonies.

Ministers will offer a guarantee that no institution will be forced to marry gay people on their premises - but Tory MPs and religious groups have questioned whether it would stand up to challenges under the Human Rights Act.

Legislation is expected to be introduced before Easter, and could take effect about a year later - with the first ceremonies likely be held in spring 2014.


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