Man Charged With Murder Of Beheaded Woman

A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 82-year-old Palmira Silva who was beheaded in north London.

Nicholas Salvador, of Gilda Avenue, Enfield, north London, is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court later today, Scotland Yard said.

He faces a further charge of assault on a police officer.

Salvador had been taken to hospital and remained under police guard before being questioned by officers and charged.

Ms Silva was found collapsed in a back garden in Nightingale Road, Edmonton on Thursday before being pronounced dead at the scene.

The house in the busy street where Ms Silva's body was found became the scene of a major police operation after officers were called to the area.

Metropolitan Police officers said after the operation that there were no signs of a link to terrorism.

Tributes have been paid to the elderly woman of Italian descent who ran a nearby cafe.

Dilek Solma, 19, who works next door, said: "I'm so upset. She was a very smiley lady, always had a smile on her face, and loved the community."

Another shop worker Raj Thangavelselvaraj, 50, said: "She was a nice lady, she was a good lady to everyone. It's very sad."

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UK Airlines Axe Flights Due To Italian Strike

Several UK airlines have warned passengers of major disruption to flights as a result of a strike by Italian air traffic controllers.

Ryanair says it has been forced to cancel 96 flights to and from Italy. They include a number of flights serving UK airports.

EasyJet has had to axe a further 60 flights, including 20 in and out of the UK.

British Airways has also had to re-schedule a number of flights.

The four-hour strike is scheduled to last from 11.30am to 3.30pm UK time.

However it is expected to cause delays throughout the day, with more cancellations likely.

Ryanair has apologised for the disruption

Ryanair spokesman Robin Kiely said: "We sincerely apologise to all passengers who have had their travel plans disrupted by these unjustified ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) strikes."

The airline encouraged all passengers to check the status of their flight before travelling.

EasyJet said: "We are doing everything possible to minimise the impact to our customers and we are offering anyone flying to and from Italy during those times the opportunity to transfer their flight free of charge to another day to avoid the strike.

"They should go to easyJet.com to make changes to their flights."

Meanwhile a spokesman for BA said: "We are doing all we can to minimise disruption to customers affected by the threatened strike.

"We have re-timed a number of flights and are using larger aircraft where possible to help more customers, from cancelled flights, fly to where they need to be.

"We are advising customers flying to and from Italy to keep checking the very latest information on our website."

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Ashya Can Be Flown To Prague, UK Judge Says

Brain tumour patient Ashya King can be taken to a clinic in the Czech Republic to receive treatment not available in England after a High Court judge approved his parents' request to do so.

Mr Justice Baker approved the move following telephone discussions between lawyers representing Ashya's parents and the hospital in Southampton where he was being treated.

He is expected to give more details of the agreement reached at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Monday.

It is not clear when five-year-old Ashya will travel to the Czech capital Prague.

Ashya's parents Brett and Naghemeh King answer questions from the media

He is currently in hospital in the coastal town of Malaga in southern Spain after being made a ward of court.

That happened after his mother and father took him from Southampton General without permission to receive proton beam therapy, which is not available on the NHS.

They went to Spain where they have a property they planned to sell to pay for the treatment, which costs tens of thousands of pounds.

Soon after, Brett and Naghemeh King, who have six other children, were detained under a European arrest warrant issued by the UK.

Mr and Mrs King arrive to see Ashya in hospital

They were freed from prison on Tuesday night after the case against them was dropped amid a public backlash, and were later reunited with their son at the Materno-Infantil Hospital in Malaga.

Earlier, the Czech Proton Therapy Centre in Prague said it would help transport Ashya and his parents to the city.

Spokeswoman Iva Tatounova told Sky News: "We have a private jet ready when needed to transfer Ashya from Spain.

"We were asked by Spanish and UK specialists if we are ready and how the transportation will be provided.

The Proton Therapy Centre in Prague

"We told them we are ready and we can arrange it. If the court allows it and the parents agree with the treatment we can transport them here."

The centre said it had seen Ashya's medical records and believes proton therapy will be suitable for him. It said it could provide all the care he needs.

Once Ashya arrives there, Mr Justice Baker said the boy would cease to be a ward of court.

A fundraising page set up to help pay for his treatment has so far raised more than £41,000, while charity Kids'n'Cancer UK said it had agreed to pay the £100,000 needed for the therapy, plus living costs, after donors pledged £35,000 in 24 hours.

Ashya receiving treatment in hospital

Mr and Mrs King said they removed Ashya from Southampton General because they were not happy with the treatment on offer there.

They said they informed staff of their plans to take him abroad although they did not give a date for fear they might be stopped.

In a statement issued after the judge's ruling, the hospital said: "Today's judgement will allow Ashya to get the treatment he urgently needs without any further delays.

"Throughout the period that we cared for Ashya and over the last few days, our only interest has been his health, medical treatment and welfare.

"We will continue to support any clinicians involved in his future care with advice and information."

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Witness: Suspect 'Was Fighting' With Police

Woman Found Beheaded In Back Garden Named

Updated: 9:29pm UK, Thursday 04 September 2014

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 82-year-old woman was beheaded in broad daylight in a suburban back garden.

Palmira Silva, a widow believed to be of Italian descent, was found at an address in Edmonton, north London just after 1pm after police received reports of a man with a knife in Nightingale Road.

Other potential victims escaped in what appears to be a random attack, Sky sources say.

Police say they do not believe there is a terrorist motive but have not confirmed if Ms Silva, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was beheaded.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "They haven't confirmed that the woman has been beheaded, refusing at this stage to discuss the injuries she's suffered.

"But we are on very good sources reporting the fact that the woman was found decapitated and police are certainly not telling us that we're wrong in doing that."

Witnesses reported seeing a man running around the area as police arrived and he was seen attacking a car.

The first report police received said a man was attacking an animal, a cat or a dog.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, described seeing a man brandishing a machete and shouting about cats.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was cornered in a house by officers after moving through a number of back gardens.

Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford said: "Officers who attended the scene have evacuated a number of those people from those premises to make them safe.

"During that period they distracted the man from carrying out any further attacks."

An attempted attack on two people at another address in Nightingale Road is also being investigated. Police say they believe they were able to get out of the house without being injured.

One witness has told Sky News a man was "fighting" with police.

The suspect was detained by firearms officers and taser stun guns were fired.

One officer was injured during the arrest and is believed to have suffered a broken wrist.

The man was injured in the arrest and is being treated in hospital, where he is under guard.

Police will then determine whether he can be interviewed.

A weapon has been recovered but police have not revealed what it was.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, who is leading the investigation, described it as a "a highly visible attack in broad daylight".

He said: "I can understand why this may cause people concern, however we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else at this stage."

Residents are still waiting to be allowed back into their homes and the road remains cordoned off as forensic officers continue their work.

Ms Silva's next of kin have been informed.

A neighbour who knew her said she was "such a sweet lady" who went to work every day in a nearby cafe.

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Woman Found Beheaded In Back Garden Named

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 82-year-old woman was beheaded in broad daylight in a suburban back garden.

Palmira Silva, a widow believed to be of Italian descent, was found at an address in Edmonton, north London just after 1pm after police received reports of a man with a knife in Nightingale Road.

Other potential victims escaped in what appears to be a random attack, Sky sources say.

Police and ambulance crews are at the scene. Pic: redbutdred

Police say they do not believe there is a terrorist motive but have not confirmed if Ms Silva, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was beheaded.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "They haven't confirmed that the woman has been beheaded, refusing at this stage to discuss the injuries she's suffered.

"But we are on very good sources reporting the fact that the woman was found decapitated and police are certainly not telling us that we're wrong in doing that."

Police officers at the scene of the stabbing

Witnesses reported seeing a man running around the area as police arrived and he was seen attacking a car.

The first report police received said a man was attacking an animal, a cat or a dog.

One local resident, who did not want to be named, described seeing a man brandishing a machete and shouting about cats.

Sky sources say it was a random attack

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was cornered in a house by officers after moving through a number of back gardens.

Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford said: "Officers who attended the scene have evacuated a number of those people from those premises to make them safe.

"During that period they distracted the man from carrying out any further attacks."

Witnesses reported seeing a man running around the area

An attempted attack on two people at another address in Nightingale Road is also being investigated. Police say they believe they were able to get out of the house without being injured.

One witness has told Sky News a man was "fighting" with police.

The suspect was detained by firearms officers and taser stun guns were fired.

It is not known what weapon was used

One officer was injured during the arrest and is believed to have suffered a broken wrist.

The man was injured in the arrest and is being treated in hospital, where he is under guard.

Police will then determine whether he can be interviewed.

A police officer was injured as the man was arrested

A weapon has been recovered but police have not revealed what it was.

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, who is leading the investigation, described it as a "a highly visible attack in broad daylight".

He said: "I can understand why this may cause people concern, however we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else at this stage."

Police described the incident as a "highly visible attack"

Residents are still waiting to be allowed back into their homes and the road remains cordoned off as forensic officers continue their work.

Ms Silva's next of kin have been informed.

A neighbour who knew her said she was "such a sweet lady" who went to work every day in a nearby cafe.

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Man Shot Dead By Police In Knife Incident

Police have shot dead a man who was threatening a woman with a knife at a house in London, Scotland Yard said.

The incident happened at a property in Islington and it is understood the man and the woman knew each other.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said the woman was unharmed and is being treated for shock.

The man was treated at the scene in Shepperton Road but died on the way to hospital.

Police had sent a negotiator to the scene at 11.19pm on Thursday following reports the man had broken into a house.

Rosa Whiteread, 28, a primary school teacher who lives in the street, said: "I was asleep and I heard shouting - it woke me up. It must have been around 12.30 at night.

"I looked out of the window and I saw lots of police, there must have been around a dozen of them. I asked them what was going on, but they said they couldn't tell me.

"I'm not sure if the police were armed, but I saw a police dog. It's shocking."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I heard lots of shots - three or four. Like a bonfire. I've never heard anything like it before. It was really scary.

"There were a lot of police with guns. It was very scary. The people who lived there moved in around a year ago - I thought the man was her son."

Neil Basu, Specialist Crime and Operations officer with the Metropolitan Police, said: "Initial reports were that a man had broken into the house and officers were faced with a man threatening a woman with a knife.

"Police negotiators and the London Ambulance Service were call called to the scene. The man was shot by police and treated at the scene but pronounced dead en-route to hospital.

"The woman is unharmed but in shock. We believe the man and women were known to each other but we cannot confirm the nature of that relationship. The man is a 40-year-old black man who was born in Islington.

"In the last 24 hours we have seen a number of high-profile incidents. Those kind of incidents are very rare indeed and London continues to be a safe city."

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Police Asking Victims To 'Investigate Own Crimes'

Hard-pressed police forces are "encouraging" victims of high-volume crimes to carry out their own investigations, a policing watchdog has warned.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said the "emerging trend" was identified in an investigation into 43 forces in England and Wales.

In a report summarising its findings, HMIC said its inspectors had witnessed call-handlers asking victims of offences like vehicle crime and "burglaries of properties other than dwellings" to assess the likelihood of the crime being solved.

It said some forces asked victims whether there was any CCTV footage of the area, any potential fingerprint evidence and whether the victim knew if there were any witnesses to the crime. 

In some cases victims were asked to interview their neighbours and to search for their property on second-hand sales websites.

"HMIC finds this expectation by these forces that the victim should investigate his own crime both surprising and a matter of material concern," the report said.

"The police have been given powers and resources to investigate crime by the public, and there should be no expectation on the part of it."

Inspector of Constabulary Roger Baker, who led the inspection, said overall police forces have "done a good job in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour".

Some high-volume crimes are 'on the verge of being decriminalised'

However he said the emerging trend suggested many officers have essentially "given up" on investigating high-volume crimes.

"It's more a mindset, that we no longer deal with these things," he said.

"Effectively what's happened is a number of crimes are on the verge of being decriminalised.

"So it's not the fault of the individual staff, it's a mindset thing that's crept in to policing to say 'we've almost given up'."

The report, named 'Core Business: an inspection into crime prevention, police attendance and the use of police time,' investigated a number of aspects of modern policing, including response to calls, quality of investigation and the use of technology.

Among its findings, HMIC said some forces were losing track of suspects and wanted persons as their systems for actively pursuing them were not up to scratch.

It also identified a policing "postcode lottery", saying attendance rates at crime scenes varied widely between police forces.

In the year to November 30, 2013, for example, 100% of crimes in Cleveland were attended by a police officer.

In Warkwickshire, however, that figure stood at just 39%.

The report also criticised the use of technology in policing across the board as "inadequate."

Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey said: "The HMIC report provides damning evidence that the decisions made by this Tory-led government are hitting the public ever harder with victims being let down and, extraordinarily, some even being asked to investigate their own crime.

"Theresa May has cut more police officers than any other country in Europe. With 16,000 gone, the thin blue line is being stretched ever thinner."

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Calais Migrants Caught On Video Rushing Ferry

The mayor of Calais has threatened to shut the port after 100 migrants tried to storm their way onto a ferry to Britain.

Police and port security were overwhelmed as the group forced open a gate and climbed over security fences before running towards the docks.

Ramps to the ferries had to be raised to prevent the men boarding the ships as a larger group of 150 migrants gathered outside the dock entrance.

The men were chased through the port by police and security

Video showed the group being chased through the port by police as lorry drivers looked on.

Ferry companies declared the port invasion a "huge intrusion" and ferry company P&O, who had a ferry at the quayside at the time, confirmed it closed all its ship's doors.

Lorry driver Mark Salt, who shot the video, said: "I checked into P&O for the crossing heard a lot of other truckers banging their horns by the border agency check point.

Ferry companies raised their ramps to prevent the men boarding the ships

"Then about 80-100 immigrants came into view heading straight for the ramps where a ship was about to dock. P&O staff, port workers and border agency security attempted to coral these guys away from the ramps."

The ship's crew reportedly turned their fire hoses on the men to prevent them boarding the ship. The ferry was delayed for about 45 minutes while it was searched by police and the crew.

Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart said she could block the port after meeting French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

Ferry companies using the port declared the invasion a 'huge intrusion'

"It would be illegal," Ms Bouchart admitted, "but today I want to make a strong gesture towards the British.

"The aim is to shut all the squats in Calais to control the influx so there are fewer migrants arriving in the town."

Ms Bouchart has criticised the British government for demanding security be increased at the port in Calais, but not offering a sufficient contribution towards the 10 million euro (£8m) annual cost.

Around 1,200 migrants live in makeshift camps in the town and make regular attempts to cross the channel by hiding in lorries bound for Britain.

Police attempts to clear the camps have led to violent confrontations with the men who mostly come from East African countries such as Somalia and Eritrea.

Ms Bouchart and Mr Cazeneuve have discussed opening a day centre for immigrants in the town and a night shelter for the women and children.

A Red Cross centre in nearby Sangatte was opened for migrants in 1999 but was closed in 2002 after it became overcrowded.

:: Did you see the attempt to board the ferry? Email news@sky.com

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Murder Hunt After Woman's Body Found In Field

Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a woman was found in a field in the New Forest.

Hampshire Constabulary's Major Investigation Team (HMIT) said police were called to the field on Lyndhurst Road, near Brockenhurst, at 4.42pm on Tuesday after the body was discovered.

It is thought the woman was tending to her horse prior to her death.

Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, who is leading the investigation said: "We are treating the discovery of a woman's body in Beaulieu as murder.

Police are patrolling the area near Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst

"I am unable at this time to provide any further information regarding the victim until all of the family has been informed and formal identification has taken place."

Sky News Reporter Charlotte Lomas said results of a post-mortem examination by a Home Office forensic pathologist could be revealed on Thursday.

She said: "Police are now patrolling the area. The field lies fairly close to a busy road.

"Officers are hoping that anybody with information will get in touch, especially if they were in the area between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesday afternoon."

A white forensic tent remains in the field where the woman's body was discovered.

Det Supt Barton said police patrols have been stepped up in the area.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) on 101 or via the website quoting Operation Biscotti.

Alternatively they can contact charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Rotherham Abuse Scandal: Twelve New Victims

Twelve more victims have come forward with allegations of child sexual abuse in Rotherham, police have said.

South Yorkshire Chief Constable David Crompton said the dozen had reported the claims since a damning report was published last week into a child sex exploitation scandal in the town.

The Jay Report criticised the failure of both Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police to respond to the abuse of 1,400 young people between 1997 and 2013.

The report detailed harrowing examples of girls from the town - many of them in local authority care - who were raped, trafficked and threatened with extreme violence.

It found senior council officers, elected members and police officers were aware of the problem for years but failed to tackle it.

Mr Crompton told an MPs' committee he now has 62 officers dedicated to dealing with child sex abuse, compared to just three in 2010 and eight in 2012.

South Yorkshire Chief Constable David Crompton faces MPs

And he said 104 convictions had been secured since the start of 2013, while 40 more suspects were on bail.

His force is conducting nine "multiple victim, multiple offender" investigations, including two in Rotherham, he said.

An independent inquiry by an external police force will look into the force's handling of sex abuse complaints.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May has said Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police were guilty of a "complete dereliction of duty" over the scandal.

Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, she said the Jay Report made "shocking reading," adding there was no excuse for victims' appeals for help being ignored.

Theresa May criticised Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police

She said: "We must ensure these perpetrators are brought to justice. We will not delay in taking action now to protect children who are at risk of sexual exploitation.

"All local authorities working with other public bodies, like the police, health and children's services, have a responsibility to keep our children safe."

Mrs May said she would be chairing meetings with other ministers to look at what happened in Rotherham and consider what can be done to prevent the situation happening again.

Her comments come as South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner is expected to face a grilling from MPs after his refusal to resign over the Rotherham abuse scandal.

Shaun Wright has faced mounting pressure to step down following the report

Shaun Wright was responsible for children's services at the town council for five of the 16 years when children were reported to have been targeted by gangs of older men.

The Home Affairs Select Committee will ask Mr Wright to appear on September 10, along with Rotherham Council's chief executive Martin Kimber and director of children and young people's services Joyce Thacker.

Mr Wright has faced mounting pressure to step down following the Jay Report.

He quit the Labour Party last week after it threatened to suspend him over the scandal.

But he has so far refused to quit as police commissioner despite calls from a number of senior figures, including Prime Minister David Cameron.

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Nato Summit: Ukraine Crisis To Top The Agenda

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

World leaders will begin arriving in the UK today ahead of the start of a two-day Nato summit in Wales tomorrow.

Some 61 heads of state are expected to gather at The Celtic Manor Resort outside Newport, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine set to top the agenda of discussions.

Leaders will be joined by officials from the European Union, the UN, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

A further 5,000 delegates are expected to gather to discuss the future of the Nato alliance.

Speaking at Downing Street ahead of the summit, David Cameron has condemned the ongoing violence in Ukraine, describing it as "disgraceful".

He told an audience of international delegates in London on Tuesday night: "What's happening in the Ukraine right now is disgraceful and completely unacceptable.

Mr Cameron has described the violence in Ukraine as "disgraceful"

"Members of Nato want and deserve real reassurance that our Article V commitments are rock solid."

He said he wanted the upcoming conference to demonstrate a "very clear, unified and strong message" about the importance of Nato globally.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has also warned that Nato must show it still has the political will to fight back in the event of a Russian attack on any member states.

Western nations have repeatedly accused Russia of intervening militarily in the conflict in Ukraine. The claims have been denied by Moscow.

Mr Hammond said: "For Nato to maintain its credibility in the future, we have to demonstrate that we maintain the political will to act to defend ourselves and our interests.

"We have to be clear that we have not lost the appetite to intervene when our interests or our obligations require us to do so.

Mr Obama will travel to Wales after a visit to the Baltic states today

"If we lack, or are perceived to lack, the political will to respond - and to do so quickly - the credibility of that commitment to collective defence will be undermined, and the very fabric of this, most successful of alliances, will unravel.

"So we have to be clear with Russia, in particular, that while we support a political resolution to the situation in eastern Ukraine, there is a red line around Nato member states themselves that cannot be crossed."

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance is set to create a high-readiness force in Eastern Europe as a bulwark against potential Russian aggression.

Mr Rasmussen said the unit would be a spearhead that could be deployed at very short notice to help Nato members defend themselves against any threat.

The murder of another US journalist by Islamic State militants will also feature in bilateral discussions between Western allies at the summit.

US President Barack Obama will head to Wales after a visit to the Baltic States.

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Ashya King's Parents To Be Reunited With Son

The parents of Ashya King will be reunited with their son later today following their release from a Spanish jail last night.

The five-year-old boy's father says they are "relieved" to be free and are looking forward to seeing their son again.

"We are completely relieved. Thank you so much for your support," Brett King said.

"We are going as soon as possible to see my son. We have been dying to see his face for so long."

Their release follows a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop the case against them.

The Kings' oldest son Danny, who is in the coastal town of Malaga where Ashya is being treated, said he was "shocked" when he learned they were free.

Ashya King's father Brett is driven away after being freed from custody

"We have been waiting so long for this moment," he told Sky News.

"I just want to thank everyone who spoke out in favour of my parents, especially Nick Clegg and David Cameron."

Another brother, Naveed, said on Facebook: "BREAKING NEWS: My parents are now free! SPREAD THE WORD! WOW THIS IS AMAZING! SO OVERJOYED! WOW!"

Danny said Ashya was comfortable at the Materno-Infantil hospital, but he was the only English child there and the only one without a family member constantly by his side.

An international arrest warrant was issued after Mr and Mrs King took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital, where he was being treated for a brain tumour.

They were detained on Saturday near Malaga and taken to Madrid, where they were kept in separate jails, pending an extradition hearing.

Ashya with his mother Naghemeh

Their release came after the CPS announced it was seeking to withdraw the arrest warrant and would be taking no further action against them.

In a statement the CPS said: "We are now in the process of communicating this decision to the Spanish Authorities so that they can be reunited with their son as soon as possible."

The move was welcomed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said: "It's important this little boy gets treatment and the love of his family."

Earlier Mr Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg joined the mounting calls for Ashya to be reunited with his parents.

An online petition started by Ethan Dallas, 16, a friend of Ashya's brother Naveed, had attracted nearly 200,000 signatures at 5pm on Tuesday.

Mr and Mrs King, from Portsmouth, took Ashya out of the country so he could receive alternative proton beam therapy in the Czech capital Prague.

They were apparently planning to sell their apartment near Malaga to pay for the treatment.

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Rotherham Abuse: Labour Suspends Members

The Labour Party has suspended four members in the wake of a report into the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

Jahangir Akhtar and councillors Roger Stone, Gwendoline Ann Russell and Shaukat Ali will now be investigated by the party.

All four held senior positions of responsibility in Rotherham in the 16-year period in which some 1,400 children are reported to have been abused by gangs of older men.

Labour said in a statement: "As Ed Miliband made clear last week large numbers of young people in Rotherham were systematically abused and then let down by those who should have protected them.

"It cannot be allowed to stand."

Some 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013

The announcement follows a damning report which criticised the failure of both Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police to respond to reports of abuse between 1997 and 2013.

For its part, South Yorkshire Police has announced it will launch an independent investigation into its handling of the allegations.

Chief Constable David Crompton said: "The investigation will properly and independently examine the role of both the police and council during the period identified and address any wrongdoings or failings, which will allow the appropriate action to be taken."

Mr Stone resigned as Rotherham Council leader last week after the publication of the Jay report.

He was the council cabinet member responsible for children's services between 2006 and 2010. He was also the elected official responsible for holding the police to account for their actions in South Yorkshire from 2012.

South Yorkshire Police has commissioned an independent investigation

Mr Akhtar stepped down as deputy leader of Rotherham Council last year after it was reported he knew about a relationship between a relative and an under-age girl in care.

He denied the allegations and was later cleared by police of any blame. 

A number of other high-profile figures in Rotherham have been called upon to consider their positions in light of the scandal.

Chief among them is Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire Shaun Wright, who was responsible for children's services at the town council for five of the 16 years when children were abused.

Mr Wright quit the Labour Party last week after it threatened to suspend him over the scandal, but has so far refused to resign despite calls from a number of senior figures, including Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire has refused to resign

Labour said Mr Wright and fellow former party member Maurice Kirk will now need approval from its National Executive Committee (NEC) before being able to rejoin the Party.

Labour also announced a series of preventive measures, including the establishment of a new "rigorous" selection procedure for Rotherham's local government which will be overseen by the NEC.

It said it had also told the Labour Group on Rotherham Council to establish a "scrutiny" committee on child protection.

The party warned that further action could follow, saying those responsible "must be and will be held to account."

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'Huge Leap In The Dark': Boris Island Rejected

Boris Johnson's proposal for a new four-runway airport to be built in the Thames Estuary has been rejected by the Airports Commission.

The grounding of an airport in Kent leaves three options for expanding airport capacity: two additional runway plans at Heathrow and one at Gatwick.

These are being considered by the Airports Commission, which was established by the Government to recommend the best option for expansion, and will issue its final report after next year's election.

How a Thames Estuary airport would have looked. Pic: Foster and Partners

Mr Johnson, who is against a third runway at Heathrow, spoke of his disappointment ahead of the decision, which was widely expected.

The London Mayor said: "In one myopic stroke the Airports Commission has set the debate back by half a century and consigned their work to the long list of vertically filed reports on aviation expansion that are gathering dust on a shelf in Whitehall.

"Gatwick is not a long term solution and Howard Davies must explain to the people of London how he can possibly envisage that an expansion of Heathrow, which would create unbelievable levels of noise, blight and pollution, is a better idea than a new airport to the east of London that he himself admits is visionary, and which would create the jobs and growth this country needs to remain competitive.

One of the proposals for a third runway at Heathrow

"It remains the only credible solution, any process that fails to include it renders itself pretty much irrelevant, and I'm absolutely certain that it is the option that will eventually be chosen."

Sir Howard Davies, head of the Airports Commission, told Sky News: "This would be a huge leap in the dark and we simply don't think it's a practical scheme."

He added there were "a lot" of reasons to rule the idea out.

Boris Johnson attends a rally against Heathrow expansion

"We think that it is too expensive; we don't believe that a future government would be prepared to spend the public money, between £30bn and £60bn that would be necessary to even the smaller version of his airport up and running," he said.

"We think that is too risky, the logistical problems of moving an airport 70 miles and of doing so in an environmentally extremely sensitive area are, we think, awe-inspiring and we're not entirely sure in fact it's the right model for London to think of one huge airport in a very diverse market where we think that competing airports produce a better solution."

The Heathrow and Gatwick options had been shortlisted by the commission last year, with Sir Howard announcing that further studies would be made on the estuary plan with a decision towards the end of 2014.

Sir Howard Davies said he didn't think Boris Island was 'practical'

The issue of airports is a thorny one for Mr Johnson, who is trying to become the Conservative candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the election.

That constituency borders Heathrow and contains many people who depend on it for their livelihood.

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Ashya Should Be Reunited With Family, Clegg Says

The Deputy Prime Minister has told Sky News Ashya King should be reunited with his jailed parents as quickly as possible, saying the fact they are separated fills him with "horror".

Brett King and his wife Naghemeh remain in police custody in Madrid while a Spanish court considers whether to grant a British extradition request.

Ashya, who has a brain tumour, is under police guard at the Materno-Infantil hospital in Malaga, about 330 miles south of the capital.

He has not seen his parents since they were arrested on Saturday after taking Ashya out of Southampton General Hospital to seek specialist cancer treatment abroad.

Ashya's parents arrive at court on Monday

The five-year-old's six siblings are also being prevented from visiting him at the hospital.

Nick Clegg told Sky News it was a "heartbreaking" situation.

"I've got a five-year-old son and the idea of leaving him in a hospital with no contact with parents and siblings fills me, as I imagine it fills all parents, with horror," he said.

"I would like to see the family reunited and then hopefully people can calmly make a decision about what should happen next.

Naveed King, Ashya's brother

"Throwing the full force of the law at two parents who in a state of despair and anguish are acting they say because that's what they think is best for their child, doesn't seem to me to be the appropriate thing to do."

Former children's minister Tim Loughton wrote on Twitter that the Crown Prosecution Service should drop the case against the family, called on the police to apologise and for the NHS to fund treatment for Ashya.

Petitions on change.org calling for the release of the Kings so they can get medical treatment for Ashya have now gathered nearly 20,000 signatures.

Ashya and Brett King in a video the family posted online

Meanwhile, British police officers are understood to have arrived in Spain to question Ashya's parents.

Hampshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said he was aware the police's approach had led to a "significant amount of debate" but he would rather be criticised for "being proactive" than "potentially having to explain why a child has lost his life".

Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: "Hampshire Constabulary's role, as in many other cases, was to safeguard the interests of a very vulnerable sick young child and find Ashya."

The Crown Prosecution Service said the case was under "immediate review" and a decision on whether to prosecute would be made.

Ashya's grandmother Patricia King has accused the authorities of treating the couple "like murderers".

Patricia King earlier said her son was selling his holiday home in Spain to pay for proton beam therapy, which costs an average of £100,000 per person.

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Muslim Leaders Issue Fatwa Against IS Britons

Muslim leaders have reportedly issued a fatwa condemning Britons who fight for extremists in Iraq and Syria.

The fatwa, which The Sunday Times newspaper said had been issued by imams, is the strongest denunciation yet by the Muslim community of UK citizens who join militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, formerly known as ISIL and ISIS.

It comes as former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown accused Conservative ministers of "kneejerk" responses to the terrorism threat from extremists - and the US carried out airstrikes against IS fighters near Amerli in northern Iraq.

Air drops were also made to civilians in the area, as the Iraqi army evacuated people from the besieged town as Iraqi and Kurdish forces closed in on IS fighters.

A number of Britons are known to have joined Islamic State militants

The UK Government has raised the terror threat to Britain from "substantial" to "severe", although Home Secretary Theresa May said there was no evidence to suggest an attack was "imminent".

Issued by a learned Muslim scholar, a fatwa is an edict that may concern any aspect of Islamic life.

Technically it cannot be revoked and dies only with the person it is imposed on.

The Sunday Times reported six senior Islamic scholars have endorsed the fatwa, describing Britons allied to Islamic State cells as "heretics".

According to the newspaper, the fatwa says Muslims have a "moral obligation" to help those in war-torn Syria and Iraq, but that they should do so "without betraying their own societies".

Lord Ashdown said the terror threat should be countered 'without panic'

The term fatwa rose to prominence in the West in 1989 after the author Salman Rushdie was forced into hiding after having a "death fatwa" issued against him.

It was imposed by Ayatollah Khomeni, then Supreme Leader of Iran, who said Rushdie's book, The Satanic Verses, had "insulted" Islam.

Meanwhile, Lord Ashdown has argued in an article for The Observer that the current terror threat to the UK is one "one we have faced before and one we know how to deal with - effectively, without panic and without a whole new range of executive powers which could endanger our liberties".

"Indeed, when it comes to facing threats, it was surely far more difficult to cope with IRA terrorists slipping across the Irish Sea than it is to stop jihadis returning from Iraq," he wrote.

He said Prime Minister David Cameron had initially seemed to be keen to avoid a rushed response.

But he argued Tory ministers had recently "indulged in a spasm of kneejerking which would have made even St Vitus feel concerned".

"And Labour, frightened as always when it comes to liberty and security, capitulates to the demand."

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Schools Struggling With Free Hot Meals Plan

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

Some primary schools will not be ready to give children free hot meals when term starts this week, it has been warned.

All state educated infants, year one and year two pupils in England are entitled to free school dinners from September under plans announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg last year.

A total of £2.30 is being allocated per pupil per day to pay for the scheme, but some councils and schools say they have not had the time or money to create the new kitchens and dining rooms that are needed.

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Middlesex will serve meals in the classrooms and use outside caterers until its new kitchen is completed next year.

The school's headteacher, Anne Lyons, told Sky News she supports the plans to give children free food but added: "We've had virtually no funding to implement this, other than the £2.30, which is why we don't have a kitchen.

"We've had to already buy our own furniture, tables and chairs, and so that is a strain on the budget."

Mr Clegg says the changes will ensure all children get a nutritious meal and will save parents and taxpayers money.

However, a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) published in August found 47% of councils questioned said they had not received enough money from the Department of Education to pay for the changes.

The LGA claimed on average those that were short would need to find around £488,000 to ensure all of the pupils got meals, which could mean taking money from other budgets.

In a statement, a Department for Education spokesman said 239 schools, around 1.5%, would not be ready to serve hot meals at the beginning of term, adding: "We have provided significant financial support to schools to help them deliver the policy, including over £1bn over the next two years to pay for the costs of providing the meals.

"Schools and local authorities have also received £150m of additional capital to help upgrade facilities, and we have allocated an extra £22.5m specifically to help small schools."

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Ashya's Parents Held After Missing Boy Found

The parents of Ashya King, who was taken out of hospital against medical advice, have been arrested after being found with their son in Spain.

Police say officers in the Malaga area pulled over the family's car at 9pm UK time and found the five-year-old and his parents inside.

The boy from Portsmouth, who underwent "extensive surgery" during an operation on his brain tumour seven days ago, has been taken to hospital.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead of Hampshire Constabulary said his parents, Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, were in custody after being arrested on a European arrest warrant.

"We don't have many details on Ashya's condition at this point in time but what we do know is that he was showing no visible signs of distress," he said.

"There are no winners in this situation. I've said all along that this must be a terribly distressing time for Ashya's family and I stand by that now."

An international search was launched after Ashya was taken on Thursday

He added that it was too soon to say when Ashya would come back to the UK but said Southampton General Hospital had been contacted so they can liaise with doctors taking care of him in Spain.

"Ashya's brothers and sisters were not in the vehicle," he said.

"We have located them. They're all okay, they're fine. They are actually in a hotel about 10 miles away."

He said a team of Hampshire police officers would now be travelling to Spain to continue the investigation.

It came as footage emerged on video-sharing website YouTube in which Ashya's father, a Jehovah's Witness, insists they had taken him from hospital to seek a cancer treatment not available on the NHS.

French media had picked up the story after Ashya was taken from hospital

"We were much disturbed today to find that his face is all over the internet and newspapers and we've been labelled as kidnappers, putting his life at risk, neglect," he says.

"There's been a lot of talk about this machine. As you see, it's all plugged in. We've got loads of these feeds here, we've got iron supplements and we've got Calpol.

"As you can see, there's nothing wrong with him. He's very happy actually, since we took him out of hospital. He's been smiling a lot more, he's been very much interacting with us.

"But I just wanted to say very quickly why we took him out of the hospital.

"The surgeon did a wonderful job on his head that took out the brain tumour, completely they reckon. But straight away afterwards he went into what's called posterior fossa syndrome, which means very limited moving or talking or doing anything."

Ashya is now being cared for in a Spanish hospital

He said he had spoken to specialists after Ashya's surgery and had requested proton beam treatment, which was not available on the NHS.

"Proton beam is so much better for children with brain cancer," he said.

"We pleaded with them for proton beam treatment. They looked at me straight in the face and said with his cancer - which is called medulloblastoma - it would have no benefit whatsoever.

"I went straight back to my room and looked it up and the American sites and French sites and Switzerland sites where they have proton beam said the opposite, it would be very beneficial for him."

Mr King also urged police to call off "this ridiculous chase".

"We're not neglecting our son, he's in perfectly good health," he said.

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions on religious grounds but are open to other medical procedures.

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