Abu Qatada To Finally Be Deported To Jordan

Timeline: Qatada Legal Battle

Updated: 6:39am UK, Saturday 06 July 2013

Abu Qatada has challenged and ultimately thwarted every attempt by the Government to detain and deport him for many years.

Here is a timeline of the legal battle.

1993: Abu Qatada claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport.

1994: Allowed to stay in Britain.

1995: Issues a "fatwa" justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

1998: Applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

1999: April - Convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October - Speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

2001: February - Arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in a plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him with £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya".

December - Becomes one of Britain's most wanted men after going on the run from his home in west London.

2002: Arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

2005: Freed on conditional bail and placed on a control order but arrested again in August under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan.

2008: April: Court of Appeal rules deportation would breach his human rights because evidence used against him in Jordan might have been obtained through torture.

May - Granted bail by the immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June - Released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves into a four-bedroom house in west London.

November - He is rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears he plans to abscond.

December - Qatada's bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding has increased.

2009: Five Law Lords unanimously back the Government's policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the basis of assurances from foreign governments and it is ruled he can be deported to Jordan to face a retrial on the terror charges.

He is awarded 2,800 euro (£2,500) compensation by the European Court of Human Rights after the judges rule that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights.

2012: January - European judges rule he can be sent to Jordan with diplomatic assurances but not while "there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him".

February - He is released on strict bail conditions.

April - Rearrested as the Government prepares to deport him after Jordan gives assurances it will "bend over backwards" to ensure he receives a fair trial.

March - Qatada's legal team loses its bid to have the case heard by the Europe's human rights judges, clearing the way for deportation proceedings to continue.

May and August - Siac rejects Qatada's applications for bail.

October - Siac holds appeal hearing.

November - His appeal is granted and he is granted bail.

December - Qatada is moved to a larger residence in the greater London area.

2013:

March 9 - It emerges Qatada has been arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He is ordered to stay in custody and sent to Belmarsh.

March 21 - Police reveal the cleric is being investigated over extremist material.

March 27 - Home Secretary Theresa May loses her appeal over Siac's decision to allow Qatada to stay in the UK. The Home Office vows to appeal.

April 17 - The Home Office formally announces that it is seeking leave from the Court of Appeal to take the case to the Supreme Court.

April 22 - The Court of Appeal refuses permission to go to the Supreme Court, forcing the Home Office to appeal directly to the highest court in the land.

April 23 - Theresa May tells MPs she has signed a new treaty with Jordan that should pave the way to deportation, but warns it might take "many months".

May 10 - Qatada's barrister says he will go back to Jordan voluntarily if the treaty on the use of evidence obtained by torture, guaranteeing he will not be tortured, is ratified by the Jordanian parliament.

May 20 - Qatada is refused bail by the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission after "jihadist material" is found on a computer memory stick.

July 2 - The new treaty between Jordan and Britain is fully ratified, sparking claims Qatada could be on a plane within days.

July 3 - A Jordanian government official tells AFP the cleric is due back on Sunday.

July 7 - Due to be flown from RAF Northholt to Jordan

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Paul Gascoigne Arrested Over 'Drunken Assault'

Paul Gascoigne has been arrested after an alleged drunken assault at a train station.

The former football star, who left rehab in the US earlier this year, was held after the incident in Hertfordshire.

A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to a report of a man allegedly being drunk and disorderly at Stevenage railway station at 10.30pm on Thursday July 4.

"Officers attended the location and arrested a 46-year-old male on suspicion of common assault and being drunk and disorderly."

He was taken into custody but was not charged, police said.

The Mirror reported that Gascoigne had grabbed a security guard by the throat before attacking ex-wife Sheryl Gascoigne when she tried to step in.

According to the newspaper, he was bailed after being held in a police cell for 12 hours overnight.

Earlier this year, Gascoigne said he wanted to "get back to reality" after the latest health scare in his battle with alcohol addiction.

In March, the ex-England and Newcastle player told Sky Sports News: "When I'm drinking I forget about everyone.

"I don't realise the hurt I'm doing to others but, you know, I've got to think about the hurt I was doing to myself.

"People come up (and say) 'never touch a drink again'. I don't know (if) I'm going to touch a drink again. I just know that I'm not drinking today."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Father In Court Over Daughter's Murder

The father of an 11-year-old girl found strangled at her home has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Rebecca Thompson was discovered at the house in Holmefield Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Saturday, June 22.

Her father Simon Thompson, 52, was taken to hospital after being involved in a car crash in the early hours of the same day.

He has now appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Rebecca's headteacher paid tribute to the schoolgirl.

In a statement, Rita Cooper, head of Sacred Heart Primary School, said: "It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Rebecca who was in Year Six at Sacred Heart.

"Rebecca was a lovely girl who was hard-working and did well in her learning. She was looking forward to secondary school.

"The whole school is very distressed by this tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and friends."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

James Bulger's Parents 'Horrified' Over Ruling

The father of Merseyside toddler James Bulger has said the announcement that one of his killers is to be freed from prison "fills him with terror".

Ralph Bulger, in a statement issued through his solicitor Robin Makin, said the family was "disappointed and dismayed" by the decision to release Jon Venables.

He said: "In 2011 the Parole Board determined that it was 'not safe' for Jon Venables to be released. It is not known what has changed. No reasons for the decision have been given.

"The decision to release Jon Venables is misguided and fills Ralph with terror.

"Ralph fears that an innocent person may be mistaken for Jon Venables and be injured or even killed.

James Bulger was tortured and left dead on railway tracks in Liverpool

"If such occurs then Ralph will feel guilty of not having done enough to have prevented such an obvious tragedy.

"For Ralph and his family the living nightmare continues and is exacerbated by the problems now created by the reckless decision to free Jon Venables without any publicly disclosed safeguards."

Venables, now in his 30s, was jailed in 2010 after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children while on parole from his life sentence for killing two-year-old James.

He was originally jailed for life alongside 10-year-old classmate Robert Thompson in 1993 for the abduction, torture and murder of James in Bootle. This year marks the 20th anniversary of James's murder.

The two boys were released on licence with new identities in 2001.

James's mother Denise Fergus is dismayed by the decision to free Venables

Earlier this year James' father and mother, Denise Fergus, both addressed Venables' parole hearing and pushed for him to remain in prison.

Mrs Fergus, who broke the news of Venables' release on her Twitter page, said: "I got a call from the Probation Service, but they only told me that the parole has been approved and that preparations are being made for his release.

"I have not been told what conditions they are going to impose and even whether he will still be banned from entering the county of Merseyside."

She added: "I've been fighting for justice for James for 20 years now and I will continue to do so."

A spokesman for the Parole Board said today: "We've had confirmation that all parties have been told and we can confirm that it was a release decision. He (Venables) will be released."

Ralph Bulger addressed Venables parole hearing earlier this year

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The re-release of life-licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

"Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions.

"Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them."

Venables' former solicitor Laurence Lee said: "My thoughts go out to Denise Fergus and the rest of James Bulger's family.

"But the Parole Board have decided that he can be freed and he can't be kept inside forever.

"Jon Venables may be at liberty but he will never be free."

Mr Bulger released a book - titled My James - earlier this year in which he described blaming his former wife for letting their son out of her sight.

He also said he drank two bottles of whisky a day to escape the pain and that he considered suicide after his son's murder.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Third Of Children Think Of Suicide By 16

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Almost a third of children have considered or attempted suicide by the time they turn 16, according to a new survey.

Research for the new mental health charity MindFull also shows that 29% had self-harmed because they felt "down".

The charity is so alarmed by the finding that it is offering 11 to 17-year-olds immediate access to free online counselling with professionals and says it will be working with schools to educate young people on how to cope with mental health issues.

The YouGov poll of over 2,000 young people found almost half of those suffering from depression failed to get the support they needed.

Emma-Jane Cross, founder of the charity, said children are being let down or simply ignored by those they turn to.

She said: "It's unacceptable that so many are having to resort to harming themselves on purpose in order to cope, or worse still are thinking about ending their own lives.

"Early intervention is proven to help prevent adult mental health problems, so swift action must be taken now if we are to avoid a legacy of serious long-term mental illness."

According to the charity, many young children feel down because of stress at school, because they are worried about their future and because they feel they are not "good enough".

Nearly a third said they had thought about or attempted to end their life

April Plater began self harming at the age of 12, cutting her arms, legs and even face as a release from her depression.

She was overwhelmed by problems at home and school, but people she turned to dismissed them as just "teenage troubles".

Now 17, she told Sky News: "After a while of self harming I wasn't getting the release I was originally.

"It was almost like an addiction. So then the suicidal thoughts started to come, because I wasn't getting that satisfaction and I was still not talking about my issues."

Labour leader Ed Miliband and psychologist Tanya Byron are supporting the charity.

Professor Byron said: "Just as we look after our children's physical health, it's vital that we also offer support for their mental wellbeing.

"Children and young people are clearly not getting the help they need and that's why this new online support from MindFull is so important."

:: The Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope, round the clock, every single day of the year. Call 08457 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org or find local branch details at www.samaritans.org.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Madeleine McCann: New UK Police Investigation

By Michelle Clifford, Senior News Correspondent

Detectives are targeting 12 British potential suspects as they launch a new investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

A Metropolitan Police team says they are among 38 "persons of interest" in the case and they are working on the assumption that Madeleine - aged three when she went missing in 2007 - may still be alive.

Officers have completed a two year review of the stalled Portuguese inquiry and say they are moving to an "investigative stage".

They now intend to pursue further information on the dozens of individuals they want to speak to over the suspected abduction of Madeleine from her family's holiday villa in Praia da Luz.

Kate and Gerry McCann said they "warmly welcome" the latest development in the search for their missing daughter.

The Met intends to apply to issue formal requests to Portugal for evidence to be gathered and to allow a team of British officers to be present during the process.

The working relationship between UK and Portuguese police is now said to be "positive and focused" after previous attempts at cooperation faltered amid intense interest in the case.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is heading up the inquiry, calls this "a critical moment" in the the search for Madeleine.

Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry say they "warmly welcome" the new probe

He said: "We have been in a unique position over the last two years in drawing together three strands - Portuguese, UK and private investigators' material.

"From that vast quantity of material analysed we have identified 38 persons of interest and 12 who are UK nationals, and it is from that position that we are able to move from review to investigation."

DCI Redwood added: "There is no clear, definitive proof that Madeleine McCann is dead.

"On that basis I genuinely believe there is a possibility she is still alive. And so I would like to ask the public to continue to look for her."

Madeleine vanished from her bedroom in the Portuguese resort in May 2007 as her parents dined with friends nearby.

The local police investigation was called off a year later, yielding few clues into her disappearance or whereabouts.

In 2011, the Met launched its review of the case and earlier this year it was reported that around 20 "persons of interest" had been identified.

The Home Office said in June that it was prepared to fund any continuing investigation.

Met detectives have made 16 visits to Portugal and officers have met and shared their findings with key members of both the Policia Judiciaria and the judicial authorities.

A spokesman for the McCanns said: "Kate and Gerry warmly welcome the shift in the Met's emphasis from review to investigation.

"It is clearly a big step forward in establishing what happened and, hopefully, towards bringing whoever is responsible for Madeleine's abduction to justice."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-Police Chief Bettison Faces Lawrence Probe

Former police chief Sir Norman Bettison has been referred to the police watchdog over claims officers tried to smear Stephen Lawrence's family.

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said he had "significant concerns" about Sir Norman's conduct when he was Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police in 1998.

He said documents had emerged relating to Sir Norman's involvement in the Macpherson inquiry - a probe of the Metropolitan Police's investigation into the teenager's murder.

The documents refer to Sir Norman "commissioning a report to be prepared in respect of a key witness" at the inquiry.

"This may suggest an attempt to intervene in the course of a public inquiry and influence the manner in which the testimony of a witness, who was due to present evidence before it, was received," Mr Burns-Williamson said.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in 1993

He went on: "This is a matter which needs to be thoroughly investigated and, if wrongdoing is demonstrated, those responsible must face the consequences of their actions.

"Doreen Lawrence (Stephen's mother) and her family need their treatment by the police service reviewed independently and this must be done as a matter of urgency.

"I am sure the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will do the same for these separate issues of concern indicating possible corrupt practices in the later period around the Macpherson Inquiry."

It comes days after Ms Lawrence met Britain's top policeman, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, over claims by a former undercover officer that the Lawrence family were subjected to a "smear" campaign shortly after the 18-year-old's killing in Eltham, southeast London, in a racist attack.

The officer, Peter Francis, said his superiors wanted him to find "dirt" that could be used against the Lawrences.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has also started a Lawrence investigation after claims the force's Special Branch sent a memo in August 1998 to all divisions seeking information on "groups or individuals" expected to attend the Manchester-based Macpherson inquiry.

GMP referred itself to the IPCC over the matter.

Home Secretary Theresa May, who has met with Ms Lawrence, said earlier this week that the claims could be examined by two existing inquiries - a police probe into the activities of undercover officers and another led by Mark Ellison QC into allegations of corruption in the original investigation into Mr Lawrence's murder.

But Ms Lawrence said she did not trust the existing police-led investigation into undercover officers and expressed shock that her family was targeted.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prisoners To Be Moved To Jails Near Home

A network of 70 resettlement jails that will prepare offenders to be released into the area in which they live has been unveiled by the Justice Secretary.

Existing prisons up and down the country will function as resettlement prisons, with a trial starting in northwest England in the autumn, as part of a prisons shake-up.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling hopes the move will cut the risk of reoffending.

Mr Grayling has also announced plans to build a £250m super-prison in North Wales as well as revealing a raft of prison closures covering some 2,600 inmate places in January.

Mr Grayling said: "Rehabilitation in the community must begin behind the prison walls and follow offenders out through the gates if we are to stand a chance of freeing them from a life of crime.

"Currently a local area could expect to receive offenders from dozens of prisons across the country - this is hopeless.

"It is little wonder we have such high reoffending rates when you have a prisoner leaving HMP Liverpool, given a travel permit to get them home to the south coast, and then expected to simply get on with it.

"This approach is a significant step forwards in our reforms to tackle reoffending and lays the groundwork for building a genuine nationwide network of 'through the gate' supervision and support for all offenders."

The Government wants every offender released from custody to receive statutory supervision and rehabilitation in the community.

Mr Grayling hopes the move will cut reoffending

The Offender Rehabilitation Bill currently before Parliament will extend statutory supervision to 50,000 short-sentenced offenders each year, who will serve their time in custody in a resettlement prison and come out to a tailored package of supervision and support.

The women's estate is subject to a separate review announced by the Justice Secretary in January, which will report later in the summer.

Paul McDowell, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro and a former governor of Brixton Prison, welcomed the move.

He said: "We are still sending too many people to prison when they could be better dealt with in the community - especially many of those serving short prison sentences.

"But putting communities at the heart of the criminal justice system through the development of resettlement prisons is a step in the right direction."

Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "The idea of resettlement prisons is a good one - prisoners being integrated back into communities where they have family and friends could lead to reduced re-offending and fewer victims of crime.

"However, this is another example of reality being very different from rhetoric. These plans amount to a substantial reorganisation of our prisons system, and it's not clear how it will be funded. Nor is it clear what will happen in London where there is an estimated shortfall of 8,000 places."

Juliet Lyon, the director of the Prison Reform Trust said: "Resettlement and rehabilitation do matter, but until and unless you reserve prison for serious and violent offenders, you cannot hope to cut sky-high reoffending rates or maintain safe and decent regimes."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adult And Child Found Dead In Merthyr Tydfil

The bodies of an adult and child have been discovered at a home in South Wales, police say.

Officers found the pair dead after being called to the property in Church Street in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil, at around 4.20pm.

The area has been cordoned off and house-to-house inquiries are under way.

Police have yet to confirm the age or sex of the two victims.

Borough councillor Gareth Lewis said he found out about the incident on Twitter, and said it would be wrong to speculate on the nature of what had happened.

"All we know is that a child and somebody else, perhaps a young adult, have lost their lives," he said.

"It is a very close-knit community, the people are very nice and will help the police as much as possible with their inquiry.

"The information started to spread online, and it will have a big impact on this community and its people."

Troedyrhiw is part of an old coal mining area, which Mr Lewis described as a "typical, traditional Valleys community".

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wales Approves Organ Donation Opt-Out Law

People in Wales will be presumed to have given consent for organ donations unless they opt out after a vote in favour of the law.

The current system, which operates across the UK, relies on people signing up to a voluntary scheme and carrying a donor card.

But Welsh ministers keen to drive up low transplant rates say the new scheme - set to come into force in 2015 - will save countless lives.

The new bill for Wales to adopt a system of presumed content passed its final stage in the Welsh Assembly, despite objections from religious groups on moral grounds as well as concerns about it adding to the distress of bereaved families.

Assembly Members voted in favour of the bill by 43 votes to eight, with two abstentions.

The Kidney Wales Foundation welcomed the vote, saying it "gives new hope for all those waiting for a transplant in Wales and will gladden the hearts of those in the UK who see this as a sign that other parts of the UK may follow this vote".

The organisation said one person dies every week in Wales - and three die every day in the UK - while waiting for an organ transplant.

Ministers insist the scheme will be implemented sensitively - saying they will launch a major publicity drive so people are fully informed about which choice to make.

The British Medical Association's spokesman in Wales said: "A few years ago, Wales was ready to lead the UK on banning smoking in public places, but we didn't have the necessary legal powers.

"This time we are delighted that our National Assembly has shown the rest of the UK the way forward and fully support its implementation."

The Welsh government said it hoped the new law would increase donors by a quarter. It will mean people would have to choose not to donate their organs and would apply to over-18s who died in Wales if they had lived in the country for more than a year.

Organs made available under the scheme could be used anywhere in the UK.

Despite five years in the making, the issue was still hotly contested for five hours before the vote with AMs from the Assembly's four parties mulling over more than 70 amendments.

Clwyd West AM Darren Millar voiced his objections saying: "I'm opposed in principle to a system where organ transplantation becomes a passive act, and consent for it is presumed, or as the Bill puts it deemed, by the state."

But his Tory colleague Angela Burns said she was still undecided right up until voting time.

Plaid Cymru's health spokeswoman Elin Jones said the Bill was an "important piece of legislation", but added it needed to be supported by an awareness campaign.

Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams acknowledged the issue was an "incredibly emotive" one, but said the Bill would save lives.

Celebrity doctor and Embarrassing Bodies TV presenter Christian Jesser tweeted: "Having an opt out system for organ donation has not removed any rights from you. You can still opt out. That's the point!"

However, those views were not shared by campaign group Patient Concern, whose spokeswoman Joyce Robbins said: "This legislation will result in human bodies being treated like clapped-out cars. You strip them of parts for re-use, unless the owner prefers to scrap the whole vehicle."

The Christian Medical Fellowship branded the presumed consent model "unethical". Its chief executive Dr Peter Saunders said: "It should be encouraged as a gift, but this system lays the framework for the taking of organs as a right. That is a very dangerous precedent indeed."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Territorial Army To Be Renamed In Shake-Up

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Defence Secretary is due to announce that £1.8bn will be invested in a restructured reservist force over the next decade.

Philip Hammond will set out a new package for reservist soldiers and their employers when he unveils the Reserve White Paper in the House of Commons.

He is expected to announce a major expansion in the part-time force and unveil plans for a special £42m equipment budget.

Training will also be boosted, with more exercises held overseas and smaller firms given financial incentives to let staff join up.

Details about which Territorial Army regiments are to disband are due to be revealed, although defence sources point out that new ones will also be created.

The White Paper will also confirm a change in name with the TA, which senior military officers feel has a Dad's Army connotation, becoming The Reservists.

Philip Hammond says employers will benefit from the changes

Thirty-six TA centres will also be "vacated", although that is far less than the 88 predicted based on early calculations.

They will not be sold off, but instead used for other purposes. A total of £80m will be spent refurbishing the remaining centres, with 68 major units for the reserve force.

Companies will also be given more notice of training and deployments so they can plan for the temporary loss of staff.

Mr Hammond will promise to listen to the concerns and views of businesses to ensure their co-operation.

Speaking to Sky News, he defended the changes, saying: "The White Paper allows us to set out our vision for the future of reserves. We need the support of employers to make this work.

"But we also need to make sure that the benefits of reservist training, the skills that reservists learn, can be properly recognised and deployed in their civilian workplace to make them better employees.

"An additional financial incentive over and above the reimbursement of costs that we already provide is our way of recognising that pressure that it puts particularly on smaller employers."

But Neil Carberry, the Confederation of British Industry's director of employment and skills, said small businesses were willing to work with the MoD but fear being told what to do.

"What we want to see is not a 'thou shalt do this' when you employ a reservist from the MoD, but rather a 'let us tell you how we can work together' to make employing a reservist a really enjoyable experience," he said.

The Ministry of Defence needs to dramatically increase the size of The Reservists. The total reserve force, made up of all three services, currently stands at around 22,000, of which around 19,000 are in the Army.

But the aim is to expand it to 35,000 members, 30,000 in the Army. A big marketing drive has been put in place including a recent series of adverts broadcast live from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

The Head of the Army, General Sir Peter Wall, admits the key challenge will be recruiting the numbers needed, but is confident that will be achieved.

"There is a cultural shift required here, there is a sort of experimental nature here, but we need to remember that historically we had a big reserve and when I joined the Army a few decades ago it was over 100,000 in the reserve," he told Sky News.

"We also need to remember that other nations make far more use of reserve manpower than we do, particularly the American army, which you wouldn't necessarily associate as being that situation and if we emulate what they've been doing then I think we'll be fine."

The Reservists will train alongside the regular troops. There will be more overseas exercises for them and both the reserve and regular force will train together ahead of deployments.

Sergeant Gary Shepard is a lorry driver and a member of The Reservists. He foresees no problem with a closer working relationship.

"I'm actually an ex-regular soldier, but when I joined 1 Para we integrated very easily and within a few weeks they actually forgot we were part-time," he told Sky News.

"What we do is 'beat-up' training prior to going and joining them (the regulars) so that we're on the same level as they are." 

However, the restructuring is not out of choice but financial pressures. The regular Army is being cut to 82,000 personnel, the lowest level for more than a century.

Although the MoD escaped the worst of the budget cuts in the recent Spending Review, the military is still undergoing a major restructuring following the Strategic Defence and Security Review a few years ago.

There will be a fourth and final round of redundancies early next year which will largely affect the Army.

Dan Jarvis, a former soldier and now a Labour MP, has his doubts. He said: "Let's be clear, these decisions are being made not about capability, but about saving money.

"The Government has considerable challenges ahead to recruit the number of reservists it needs.

"We accept and understand that changes do have to be made, but it will be a difficult a process to make all those changes happen smoothly and effectively."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Health Tourism: Foreigners Face £200 NHS Levy

Foreigners face being charged around £200-a-year for using the NHS in an attempt to tackle so-called health tourism.

Ministers will outline plans to introduce the charge for foreign workers and students who come to the UK for more than half a year.

The Department of Health said it would make sure migrants contributed towards healthcare costs without adding to NHS red tape.

A public consultation will be launched about the move, which would form part of a raft of changes to immigration laws.

Foreigners could be given a temporary NHS number which flags up to the system that they should be paying for treatment.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Sky News: "Hard-working British families pay their taxes for the NHS and we think that people coming from overseas should make some contribution as well.

"At the moment we don't track properly who should be paying and who shouldn't and the result is it is costing British taxpayers a lot of money."

Mr Hunt rejected claims the levy was too low, suggesting it could raise £100m, which would pay for 1,000 GPs.

He will say later: "We have been clear that we are a national health service - not an international health service - and I am determined to wipe out abuse in the system.

"The NHS is a national treasure and we need to work with the entire health system to develop plans and make sure it is sustainable for years to come."

Mr Huntwill also outline plans to end free access to GPs for short-term visitors and pledge to cut the bill for treating tourists, which currently stands at £200m.

But he has already made clear foreign patients would not be refused treatment in an emergency. In those cases, efforts to recoup the money would be made later.

The changes are part of a Government-wide push to cut down on abuse of British services, but doctors warned they feared becoming a "form of immigration control".

Clare Gerada, chair of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "I don't think we should be turning the GP surgery into a border agency."

Dr Gerada also warned immigrants with highly infectious conditions could end up "wandering around for fear of being charged" or going to more expensive emergency units, which could cost more.

And she accused the Government of failing to "find the facts" about the actual cost of NHS use by immigrants and launching a "rushed consultation".

"We need to make sure that what comes out the other end is sensible, proportionate and fair and doesn't cost us all much more money and put us at much more risk than the current situation which is one that, even at the worst estimates, is a tiny proportion of NHS costs," she said.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron said immigrants could not expect "something for nothing" in the UK.

But shadow health minister Liz Kendall said: "In its three years in power, the Government has a poor record on announcing policies that sound good, but prove to be completely unworkable.

"We will have many questions to ask about the details when they are published, but the key tests for their proposals are: can they be properly enforced and will they save more money than they cost to put in place?

"The public and NHS staff must be confident that any new measures are about getting taxpayers a better deal and ensuring fairness, not playing politics with our NHS."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

School Summer Holiday: Six-Week Break Could Go

State schools are to be allowed to set their own term times, under plans that could signal an end to the traditional six-week summer holiday.

The new Deregulation Bill means local councils will no longer be able to tell their schools when terms should start and end.

It paves the way for individual schools to introduce longer terms and cut the length of school holidays.

The move was announced just weeks after Education Secretary Michael Gove suggested the current school year is out of date and that children should have shorter holidays.

Under the current system, state school pupils usually get two weeks off at Christmas and Easter, six weeks in the summer, and three week-long half term breaks.

School days usually run from around 9am to 3pm, or 3.30pm.

If the proposals are passed, the changes affecting local authority-run schools would come into effect in September 2015.

Michael Gove says shorter school days and term times harm British pupils

Academies and free schools - which are semi-independent schools that are not under council control - already have the freedom to set their own term dates.

All state schools will still be required to open for at least 190 days of the year, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

But the decision is expected to face opposition from some teaching unions, who argue teachers and pupils already spend long hours in the classroom.

A DfE spokesman said: "It is heads and teachers who know their parents and pupils best, not local authorities.

"So it is right that all schools are free to set their own term dates in the interests of parents and pupils."

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "Deregulation shouldn't be a major issue as a large proportion of schools already have the ability to set their own term dates.

"Most schools choose to follow the local authority calendar because they know that it's better for parents who have children in different schools and teachers who want their holidays to coincide with their children's.

"The problem will come if no one is responsible for creating a co-ordinated calendar for an area and it turns into a free for all.

"Somebody needs to take the lead locally on deciding term dates and it makes sense for this to be the local authority, even if schools aren't required by law to follow it."

In a speech in April, Mr Gove called for longer school days and term times, claiming pupils are at a "significant handicap" compared to youngsters in East Asian nations who benefit from extra tuition and support from teachers.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organ Donation: Wales Set To Approve Opt-Out

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Reporter

Wales is expected to become the first part of the UK to bring in an opt-out scheme for organ donation.

The Welsh Assembly will hold the final vote on the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill later, which if enacted would bring in a system of "presumed consent" for organ donation.

Under the proposals, people in Wales will have to clearly indicate that they do not wish to give their organs when they die in order to be excluded from the donor register.

Kidney Wales Foundation (KWF) has campaigned for the proposed change in the law for the last five years and believes that donor organ availability could be boosted by up to 35% if it goes through and many more lives could be saved.

"The UK is one of the lowest donor rate countries in Europe," said Roy Thomas, KWF chief executive.

"The new Bill is new progressive law. We are proud to have led the debate in favour of this law.

"When introduced in Belgium only 2% opted out, currently only around a third of the Welsh population is on the organ donor register and this is around the same for the UK as a whole."

Those against the proposals claim it will cause extra distress for bereaved families and could put medical staff in a difficult position.

The UK currently has one of the lowest donor rates in Europe

Laura Raffour's four-year-old daughter Ava was born with a life-threatening liver condition and underwent heart surgery and two liver transplants before her first birthday. In total she has undergone over 60 operations.

Ms Raffour, who is now on the organ donor register, said: "Ava has been given a second chance at life and I want other people, young and old, to also have a better quality of life.

"For us, organ donation comes down to the premise that if you're willing to take, you should be willing to give. Simple as."

In 2004, Gaynor Taylor from Barry, South Wales, lost her 23-year-old champion skater son Richard in a freak accident.

They had never talked about being an organ donor but Ms Taylor eventually agree to donation.

She only later found out that Richard put his name on the NHS Organ Donor Register without telling anybody.

"While we were in favour of organ donation, knowing his wishes made the whole process a lot easier to accept and meant we had done the right thing by him," she said.

"Making a decision on whether to allow donation is a very difficult decision at the most traumatic time.

"Six people's lives were saved as a result of donating Richard's organs and the recipient of Richard's heart went on to win gold at the Transplant Games which is an incredible story and proves something positive can sometimes come from tragedy."

If the legislation is passed, a two-year public information campaign will follow in Wales to ensure members of the public are fully informed on what the changes will mean and how to make their wishes known through a single organ and tissue donation register.

Yet a group of faith leaders and senior health professionals in Wales have issued a joint statement calling for a soft opt-out option, which would take into consideration the views of bereaved families.

The signatories, who include the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, and the Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff, George Stack, said: "The law must be amended in this way if it is not to be inhuman, unfeeling before the suffering of relatives, and a danger to the public trust and support which are necessary for the practice of organ donation to flourish.

"Without this there is a real danger that the law could backfire."

One person dies every week in Wales waiting for an organ transplant. The figure for the UK as a whole is three people a day.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Child Sex Abuse Live Streaming 'On The Rise'

Child sexual abuse streamed live online through services like Skype has been highlighted as an emerging threat by experts.

Figures show an increasing number of offenders have been targeting vulnerable families overseas to set up live access to children over webcams in exchange for payment.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre's (Ceop) annual report also warned that fears were growing of child sexual abuse in Brazil ahead of the country's influx of visitors for the World Cup and Olympic Games.

In 2012, Ceop received 8,000 reports of indecent images of children being shared - with a two-fold increase in the total number of images and videos on previous years to 70,000.

Ceop chief executive Peter Davies said: "Our assessment shows that, sadly, there are still too many children at risk and too many people who would cause them serious harm.

"We should all practice zero tolerance to child sexual exploitation and abuse."

The report said live streaming emerged as a key method of producing and distributing indecent images last year, a tactic that it said presents a particularly high risk in the developing world.

Sex offenders are targeting families and children in areas with extreme poverty, rising levels of access to the internet and poor child-protection policies, the centre said.

Concerns were also raised about the use of the so-called hidden internet - heavily encrypted forums and pages that allow abusers to cover their tracks when accessing indecent images online.

The number of UK users connecting to secret or encrypted networks each day increased by two thirds, one of the largest annual increases globally, the report said.

A total of 20,000 daily UK users of such networks are expected by the end of this year, although not all of these will use the hidden internet for criminal means.

Ceop found that there has been a 70% increase in the number of female victims under 10 years old.

The report comes shortly after five members of a seven-man sadistic paedophile ring found guilty of grooming vulnerable underage girls were given life sentences at the Old Bailey.

Two other defendants were both jailed for seven years.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police Pensions May Be Cut For Misconduct

Police officers should have their pensions docked for misconduct to clean up corruption in the service, a group of influential MPs has said.

In a report on policing standards, the Home Affairs Select Committee has recommended that a scale of fines should be established to tackle corruption.

The Committee has also called for a new code of ethics to be established and for all new officers to obtain a Certificate in Knowledge of Policing.

The report comes after fresh allegations were made against the Metropolitan Police that undercover officers spied on the family of murdered Stephen Lawrence.

Undercover officers allegedly 'spied' on the family of Stephen Lawrence

And there are currently at least eight investigations underway as a result of police failings, the MPs said, which have so far cost £23m.

Keith Vaz, Home Affairs Select Committee chair, said: "Broken systems of accountability and a patchwork of police standards and training, have allowed a minority of officers to get away with corruption and incompetence which is blighting an otherwise excellent service with dedicated officers."

He added: "The days of Dixon of Dock Green are over. The new landscape of policing requires a new type of police officer ready to meet the new challenges.

"Honesty, integrity and transparency are essential components of the policing DNA."

Police have been accused over the Plebgate affair involving Andrew Mitchell

Among the ongoing investigations is Operation Alice, into the so-called Plebgate affair, involving former chief whip Andrew Mitchell MP.

Others include Operation Elveden, into alleged corrupt payments between police officers and journalists.

One officer told the Committee that colleagues tempted with corruption often looked at what they could lose.

The pension was seen as a huge financial incentive to "keep your nose clean", the officer said .

But the group of MPs heard of numerous cases where police officers retire to avoid disciplinary proceedings, with no further repercussions.

Among them was Sir Norman Bettison, former chief constable of West Yorkshire, who stepped down while facing a disciplinary investigation over Hillsborough.

Simon Harwood, the officer dismissed for gross misconduct after the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 riots, had previously served with the Met.

But he retired on medical grounds in 2001 despite an unresolved disciplinary proceeding and was later re-employed.

The report said there is no way for chief officers or police and crime commissioners to stop officers from resigning to avoid disciplinary proceedings.

The Committee said the recently-formed professional standards body, the College of Policing, should "establish a scale of fines which should be docked from officers pensions in cases of the most grave misconduct".

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rotavirus: Babies To Get Vomiting Bug Vaccine

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky Reporter

A vaccination programme aimed at protecting babies against one of the most common causes of diarrhoea in young children begins today.

The rotavirus vaccination will be given to all infants aged between two and three months.

According to Public Health England, it will protect more than 675,000 babies from the highly infectious bug which causes diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and dehydration.

At the moment, almost every child will have had the viral infection by the age of five and it is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in infants and very young children.

The vaccine is already routinely used in many other countries

Children will receive the vaccine orally as two separate doses of liquid drops,.

Dr Paul Cosford, medical director at Public Health England, said: "Rotavirus is a highly infectious and unpleasant illness that affects thousands of young children each year.

"While most recover within a few days, nearly one in five will need to see their doctor, and one in 10 will end up in hospital as a result.

"Although good hygiene measures can help prevent spread of the disease, the best way to protect your baby from catching rotavirus is to get them vaccinated."

Vaccination experts believe the immunisation programme will halve the number of vomiting and diarrhoea cases caused by rotavirus, meaning fewer children end up going to their GP or to hospital.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP, told Sky News: "The vaccination has been routinely used for many years in other countries. Overall it looks extremely safe.

"It's given by a couple of drops in the mouth and it's a weakened form of the virus which you'd be exposed to anyway, but this way you're being exposed to a weakened form so you don't get the symptoms but you do build up an immunity."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Smethwick Fire: Massive Blaze At Recycling Plant

A blaze at a plastic recycling factory, described by firefighters as one of the biggest ever seen in the West Midlands, is believed to have been started by a single Chinese lantern.

Around 200 firefighters have been tackling the blaze at the site in Smethwick, on the outskirts of Birmingham.

An estimated 100,000 tonnes of recycling material and a factory unit are on fire, and crews have been battling to stop the flames spreading to neighbouring businesses.

Vij Randeniya, chief fire officer at West Midlands Fire Service, told Sky News: "We believe a Chinese lantern dropped onto some bales of plastic and, looking at CCTV, it would appear that was the cause.

"Chinese lanterns have been involved in a number of incidents and firefighters have been campaigning for there to be better controls.

"They look really nice but they do pose a danger."

Two firefighters were taken to hospital and several more were treated at the scene, although their injuries are thought to be minor.

Mr Randeniya said firefighters were tackling "one of the largest fires we've experienced", with intense heat released from the burning plastics.

"These are difficult fires to extinguish and we anticipate being here for a number of days," he said.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

NHS Tourism: Govt To Announce Crackdown

Loopholes that allow migrants to wrongly access free UK health care will be closed under a crackdown on abuse of public services next week, Jeremy Hunt will announce.

The NHS bill for treating tourists, estimated to be up to £200m, will also be tackled as part of reforms being outlined by the Health Secretary on Wednesday.

Ex-pats, who currently face paying for care if they live permanently overseas, are set to be given guaranteed access to free NHS healthcare, but only once they have paid 10 years of national insurance contributions.

The changes are part of a government-wide push to cut down on abuse of British services but doctors warned they feared being turned into a "form of immigration control".

Mr Hunt will launch a consultation on introducing a tracking system that would mean a patient's NHS number is linked to their immigration status.

Plans to charge for GP services for people not eligible for free care are also being considered.

It comes after Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier this year that immigrants cannot expect "something for nothing" in the UK.

The new Immigration Bill, introduced during the Queen's speech in May, outlined plans for incomers accessing NHS services to make a contribution to the cost of their care, either with their own money or through their government.

Mr Hunt said: "No one expects health workers to become immigration guards and we want to work alongside doctors to bring about improvements, but I'm clear we must all work together to protect the NHS from costly abuse.

"We want a system that is fair for the British taxpayer by ensuring that foreign nationals pay for their NHS treatment.

"By looking at the scale of the problem and at where and how improvements can be made we will help ensure the NHS remains sustainable for many years to come."

The proposals include tightening up systems for claiming back the cost of treating thousands of European visitors every year from their home country.

An audit will be launched into how much overseas patients and short-term residents cost the health service.

Around £33m went on the treatment of foreign nationals in hospitals in 2011/12, of which around £12m was written off.

According to Department of Health research, less than half of overseas visitors using hospitals are identified and only half of their costs are recovered, but officials pointed to a 2003 report by insurers CCI that put the cost at between £50m and £200m.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Salford Body: Woman Found Murdered In Home

A murder investigation is under way after the body of a woman was found at her home in Salford.

Linzi Ashton, 25, was found dead after police were called to the property in Westbourne Road, in Winton, shortly before 6pm on Friday.

A post-mortem examination has yet to take place.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton said: "A young woman has been murdered and our thoughts are with her family and friends at what is obviously a totally devastating time for them.

"While it would not be appropriate for us to comment on how she died at this time, a full and thorough post-mortem examination will be taking place in due course to establish exactly how and when she died and following that we will be in a better position to provide more information.

"I want to reassure her loved ones as well as those in the local community that we have a team of highly skilled detectives already working on this case but if anyone has any information they think can assist please call us.

"There will be extra officers in the area to offer reassurance so please talk to them if you have any concerns or want to provide us with any information."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Meat From Diseased Cattle Sold By Defra

Meat from cattle slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is being sold for human consumption by Defra, the food and farming ministry has said.

The meat is banned by most supermarkets and burger chains, The Sunday Times reported.

Tesco, for example, rejects it because of "public-health concerns surrounding the issue of bTB and its risk to consumers".

But carcasses from around 28,000 diseased animals are sold to caterers and food processors every year.

The meat then finds its way into schools, hospitals and the military, or is used in products such as pies and pasties, the newspaper said.

A Defra spokeswoman said: "All meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo rigorous food safety checks before it can be passed fit for consumption.

"The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed there are no known cases where TB has been transmitted through eating meat and the risk of infection from eating meat, even if raw or undercooked, remains extremely low."

Cattle which test positive for bTB must be slaughtered. Unless a private slaughter is arranged, the animals are taken to slaughter by Defra, which then pays compensation to farmers based on the market value.

Compensation ranges from £81 for a dairy calf up to £1,717 for an older breeding bull. Payments for pedigree cattle vary from £639 to £4,471.

Meat from slaughtered cattle is sold with no warning to processors or consumers that it comes from a bTB-infected herd.

Asked whether the public should know whether or not the meat they are buying originated from a diseased cow, a spokeswoman for the FSA said: "The public do not need to know anything more about that meat other than it is fit for human consumption."

If an inspection of a carcass reveals tuberculous lesions in more than one organ or region it is declared unfit for human consumption and destroyed, she explained.

But if only the lymph nodes in one organ or part of the carcass is infected, then that area is removed and the rest is considered safe to enter the food chain.

She added: "Cooking this meat would be an additional safety step, but we would emphasise the risk even before cooking is very low."

The Sunday Times claimed Defra's reassurances contrasted with experts' warnings that rising levels of bTB in cattle are becoming a serious threat to human health.

Such claims have been used to justify a cull of tens of thousands of badgers which are said by some to help spread the disease between cattle.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More