PM Pledges £300m In Fight To Defeat Dementia

More than £300m is to be spent over the next five years on research, medical trials and training to tackle dementia, the Prime Minister has announced.

David Cameron plans to set up an international dementia institute in England in a bid to make the UK a world leader for research and medical trials.

A separate multimillion-pound fund will be launched to help establish an international investment scheme to discover new drugs and treatments that could slow down the onset of dementia or even deliver a cure.

Some 1.3 million NHS workers, from surgeons to hospital porters, will be given training in how to give those with dementia the best possible standards of care.

Businesses and public services will be encouraged to offer greater understanding and support for people with the condition.

Video: Dementia Plan Labelled A 'Travesty'

And a further three million volunteers are to be recruited to train as "dementia friends" to help care for sufferers. 

Mr Cameron said: "Dementia is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, and I am proud that we are leading the world in fighting it.

"Because of the growing strength of our economy, we can invest in research and drug development, as well as public understanding, so we defeat this terrible condition and offer more hope and dignity for those who suffer.

Video: Dementia Care: UK Plan Revealed

"That way, we can help make Britain a country that offers security in retirement for all."

Other pledges include having the majority of people in England living in "dementia friendly communities" by making shops, transport and other public places more accessible to people with the condition.

And initial dementia assessments by GPs will take place in an average of six weeks and will be followed by better onward support.

Video: Dementia: Threat To Humanity

There are around 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK with the number expected to hit a million within the next 10 years.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Our researchers, staff and volunteers who are delivering support to people with dementia nationwide now sit as part of a national movement more than a million strong. Dementia Friends is truly changing attitudes and capturing the public's attention.

"Together we are transforming lives today and reaching out for preventative treatments and a cure tomorrow. This Government has rightly prioritised dementia.

Video: Sept: Cost Of Dementia Care Soars

"We would all acknowledge the work that remains to be done, but the PM deserves credit for the phenomenal achievement in getting dementia on the national and global agenda and this has resulted in significant progress."

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Race To Find Girls Feared To Be On Way To Syria

Three schoolgirls are feared to have run away from east London with plans to travel to Syria and join Islamic State.

Police said the close friends were last seen on Tuesday morning as they left their homes telling their families they would be out for the day.

Instead they met and travelled to Gatwick airport before boarding a Turkish Airlines flight, which landed at Istanbul that evening.

The three - Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and a third female aged 15 who is not being named at the request of her family - are pupils at Bethnal Green Academy and have been described as "straight-A students".

Metropolitan Police Commander Richard Walton said he was "extremely concerned" for their safety.

He revealed the runaways are good friends with another 15-year-old girl who fled to Syria in December.

Kadiza Sultana, 16, Shamima Begum, 15, and an unnamed 15-year-old

"We are concerned about the numbers of girls and young women who have or are intending to travel to the part of Syria that is controlled by the terrorist group calling themselves Islamic State," Mr Walton said.

"It is an extremely dangerous place and we have seen reports of what life is like for them and how restricted their lives become.

"It is not uncommon for girls or women to be prevented from being allowed out of their houses or if allowed out, only when accompanied by a guardian.

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

Mr Walton added the teenagers' families were "devastated" but there was a "good chance" the girls were still in Turkey.

All three have mobile phones, and police are using Turkish media and social media in the hopes of reaching them.

Salman Farsi, spokesman for their local East London Mosque, said: "They have been misled. I do not know what was promised to them. It is just sad. We have not had anything like this before in our community.

"I think the girls need to know they have done nothing wrong. They have been manipulated."

The girls are students at Bethnal Green Academy, east London

A family friend of one of the missing girls told Sky News: "It's really sad what has happened.

"Maybe they need to educate people more, tell them about the risks of going to Syria, that it's not safe out there."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The idea of 15-year-old British schoolgirls setting off to Syria is very disturbing, and shows that more action is urgently needed to stop young people being drawn into extremism and conflict, and to help families and communities who are trying to counteract extremist recruitment messages."

The number of Westerners who have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join IS is thought to be about 3,000, including as many as 550 women, according to the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Former Metropolitan Police border control officer Chris Hobbs told Sky News that checks for people departing from UK airports made it a "walk in the park for jihadis and girls like this" to leave.

"At the moment you go through security, you get on the plane, you might be checked by a private security guard," he said.

"Unless you're very unlucky you won't pass under the eyes of anyone from UK law enforcement.

"If you're on a watch list then you will ping the system. If you're not on the radar then the odds are you will get on the plane without too many problems."

Police have released descriptions of the girls: 

:: Shamima Begum, 15

Shamima is around 5ft 7in tall and was wearing black, thick-rimmed glasses, a black hijab, a light brown and black leopard-print scarf, a dark red jumper, black trousers and jacket.

She was carrying a dark blue cylindrical holdall with white straps. She is a British national of Bangladeshi heritage and speaks English with a London accent. She also speaks Bengali.

:: Kadiza Sultana, 16

Kadiza is described as 5ft 6in tall and slim, and was wearing black-rimmed glasses, a long black jacket with a hood, grey striped scarf, grey jumper, dark red trousers and was carrying a black holdall.

She is a British national of Bangladeshi heritage and speaks English with a London accent. She also speaks Bengali.

:: Third Missing Girl, 15

The third girl, who is not being named, is German but living in London. She is described as 5ft 6in tall and slim. She was wearing black, thick-rimmed glasses, a black head scarf, a long dark green jacket with a fur-lined hood, a light yellow long-sleeved top, black trousers and white trainers.

She was carrying a black Nike holdall. She speaks English and Amharic.

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Firefighters Battle Industrial Blaze In Erith

Almost 100 firefighters have battled to get a blaze inside a block of industrial units under control.

The smoke and fire from the blaze in Erith, southeast London, could be seen from miles away.

More than 50 people called emergency services to report the fire, which happened at around 2am in Yarnton Way.

A storage warehouse was completely destroyed, and the blaze also affected two adjacent units.

The cause has yet to be determined. Pic: George Bash

While no homes were affected, the London Fire Brigade advised people living near the scene to close their doors and windows due to large volumes of smoke.

Station Manager Norman Perry said: "Fire crews worked hard to bring this under control. 

"The blaze was in an industrial area and we managed to stop it spreading to any residential homes.

Firefighters at the scene of the blaze

"We are likely to be at the scene throughout the morning damping down pockets of fire."

The fire was under control by 5.40am.

The cause has yet to be determined.

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UK Soldier Leaves Base To Fight Islamic State

A serving British soldier has left his army base and travelled to fight with Kurdish forces against Islamic State in northern Iraq.

The 19-year-old serviceman said he was joining the Peshmerga in their battle against the extremists because he wanted to help them.

The man, who is not being named, told his parents of the news in a text message a couple of days ago and has informed friends he intends to spend a year in the region.

He travelled via Dubai - telling his family he was taking a holiday there - and is not officially AWOL as he is currently on leave.

However, an Army source said that if the soldier outstayed his period of leave he would face disciplinary action for going AWOL.

The soldier has been in the Army since leaving school at 16 and is known to have been been learning Arabic.

One text message to his family said: "I've gone to join the Kurds in Syria and Iraq. I'm with other British people and a Canadian at the moment.

The soldier believes he can make a difference to the Kurds' cause

"I don't know how to explain it to you but I really want and need to do this and I will be safe."

Another message said: "I have good skills and I can speak the language I can help these people and help with this fight."

Video: 19 Feb: Ex-Public Schoolboy Fights

And a third said: "I'm so sorry to put you through this but I do good, I will get in trouble for being AWOL but it's minor and no prison sentence."

His worried family have contacted Sky News. Correspondent Ashish Joshi said the soldier was "driven by his conviction that the Kurds need the help of the British, they need help with trained soldiers who can travel to the region".

"He speaks the language, he is travelling out there and he thinks he can make a difference to the cause."

Joshi added: "His mother is beside herself with worry. She wants him to be safe."

The soldier has said he intends to spend a year travelling between Iraq and Syria with Kurdish forces.

Video: 17 Dec: Britons Reveal IS Fight

An Army spokesman said: "We are aware of reports and are investigating."

It is not the first time Britons have gone to fight with the Peshmerga.

Former public schoolboy Macer Gifford gave up a job in the City to sign up with Kurdish fighters battling IS in northern Syria.

And ex-soldiers Jamie Read and James Hughes told Sky News how they dodged bullets during chaotic patrols with Kurdish forces.

They also said they vowed to kill each other rather than get captured in a death pact.

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Chelsea Suspends Three Fans Over Racist Chant

Chelsea have suspended three supporters as the club investigates racist chanting and a black man being pushed on the Paris Metro.

The commuter, Sylla Souleymane, appeared to be stopped from getting on an underground train by fans travelling to a Champions League game against Paris St Germain.

The incident on Tuesday evening was captured on video, including a chant of "we're racist and that's the way we like it".

The club said three people had been suspended from its Stamford Bridge ground and that they would be banned for life if there was "sufficient evidence of their involvement in the incident".

Chelsea said it had received "substantial information" following an appeal for witnesses and an investigation was ongoing.

Meanwhile, one of the Chelsea fans on board the train, Josh Parsons, appears to have been suspended by his employers.

The 21-year-old finance worker is not seen chanting and it is not clear whether he was involved.

It is not clear if Mr Parsons was involved in the offensive singing

But a statement posted on rhe Business & Commercial Finance Club's Facebook page said: "We are utterly opposed to racism in all of its forms and would never tolerate racist conduct among any employee.

"We are investigating the events in Paris and Mr Parsons will not return to work until we have conducted a full and thorough investigation."

Video: Fans Victim: Push Because Of 'Skin'

Mr Souleymane has said he thinks the fans who abused him should be jailed for their actions.

The 33-year-old told Le Parisien newspaper: "These people, these English fans, must be found, punished and must be locked up. What happened should not go unpunished."

He said he thought Chelsea and PSG should face sanctions because it was "also their fault".

The married father-of-three, who was born in Paris but grew up in the town of Val d'Oise, told Le Parisien the whole incident lasted about six or seven minutes.

Video: Racism Victim Calls For Prison Term

He said: "I wanted to get into the carriage but a group of English fans blocked me and pushed me away.

"I understood that it was Chelsea fans and I made the connection with the PSG match. I understand also that they were attacking me because of the colour of my skin."

Mr Souleymane said it was not the first time he had been a victim of racism.

"You know, I live with racism. I was not really surprised by what happened to me even though it was the first time it had happened on the subway."

Video: Chelsea Fans Condemn Paris Racists

At one point, staff from the train company tried to intervene to prevent any fighting, but he said they were more concerned with making sure the trains ran on time.

"I took the next metro and went back home without telling anyone, not even my wife or kids," he added. "What would I have told my kids? That daddy was pushed in the Metro because he's black?"

Mr Souleymane said he did not know he was at the centre of an international scandal until the paper alerted him to the video.

He said: "I did not know I had been filmed. The fact that I am now talking about it will give me the courage to complain to the police."

Video: PM: Chelsea Incident 'Disturbing'

Police in France said no arrests were made in relation to the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Since the video appeared on websites on Wednesday, the behaviour of the fans has been widely condemned across the French and English media, and by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

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Millions In 'Illegal' Parking Fines May Be Repaid

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Drivers could get refunds totalling tens of millions of pounds over "illegal" parking fines on private land.

The RAC Foundation claims "fines" of up to £100 for infringing conditions in private car parks may be illegal, and is calling on the Government to stop the practice.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Millions of drivers could be in line for a refund. We estimate that in 2013 alone, drivers might have been overcharged by some £100m."

Clamping on private land was outlawed by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, but charges for infringements of private car park conditions have grown to an estimated £100m per year.

Barrister John de Waal QC argues that this is likely to be several times more than compensation for a genuine loss, and would not be enforceable by the courts.

Video: Private Land Clamping Outlawed

"They should be seen by the courts as penalties, which means they are unenforceable," he said.

Pauline Welsh, 57, was charged £60 after parking on what she thought was council-owned land - meaning it would have been free during the evening.

"It's shocking, and it needs sorting," the retired teacher told Sky News. "It's just not fair."

Mrs Welsh's husband, Alastair, appealed against her ticket - and another incurred by their son elsewhere. Both were overturned.

Figures from the British Parking Association show motorists won 49% of the 57,500 appeals made every year on average.

Professor Glaister called on the Government to set out what a reasonable charge should be.

"They allowed a system of ticketing to emerge which is barely regulated. In effect, drivers have been short-changed," he added.

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Man Arrested Over Becky Godden Murder

A 51-year-old man has been arrested over the murder of Becky Godden, who went missing in 2002.

Miss Godden, 21, was killed and buried in a shallow grave on farmland at a Cotswold beauty spot, but her remains were not found until almost a decade after she disappeared.

Superintendent Sean Memory, of Wiltshire Police, said: "We can confirm that a 51-year-old man from Swindon was arrested today on suspicion of the murder of Becky Godden (also known as Rebecca Godden Edwards).

"He has been interviewed and inquiries continue."

Miss Godden was last seen on December 27, 2002

The last sighting of Miss Godden was by a police officer on 27 December, 2002, in the Manchester Road area of Swindon.

In 2011, her remains were found buried in a field in East Leach, Gloucestershire.

In April 2014, a further bone was discovered at the crime scene.

Police have been continuing their investigation into her death in a bid to bring her killer to justice.

Officers have been handing out renewed appeal posters in the local area.

They have urged anyone who saw Miss Godden over Christmas 2002 and into the New Year to contact them.

Mr Memory has said: "We know that Becky was last seen on December 27 2002 and we need people to come forward with any information about where she was in early 2003. Did you see Becky over the New Year period?"

Miss Godden, who had turned to prostitution after becoming addicted to heroin, was not in contact with her family.

Her relatives had previously paid for private rehabilitation treatment in an effort to help her get off drugs.

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Thousands Risk Health Over Cosmetic Surgery

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Correspondent

Thousands of people are putting themselves at serious risk by "recklessly" rushing into having plastic surgery procedures.

The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) has launched a new campaign, Think Over Before You Make Over, urging people to think carefully before going under the knife.

Their research suggests nearly a quarter of all people having cosmetic surgery in the UK do not check their surgeon's credentials and over a fifth are not aware of the risks associated with their chosen procedure.

BAPRAS President and Consultant Plastic Surgeon Nigel Mercer told Sky News: "You would check your electrician's credentials. You would check your plumber's credentials. Why on Earth wouldn't you check your surgeon's credentials?

"Deals have an enormous impact on this market. We've seen Groupon deals for cosmetic surgery and it's mind-boggling when you think about that.

Video: Big Rise In Cosmetic Surgery

"You wouldn't go for cut price brain surgery or cut price gall bladder surgery - you would want the best that you can get.

"Cosmetic surgery is not something to be taken lightly and yet thousands of people are putting themselves at serious risk by rushing in to major procedures recklessly, without consideration for their own safety."

According to BAPRAS, those who rush into surgery usually regret it. 59% of patients who have an op less than two weeks after their first consultation find they are less confident in their appearance afterwards.

Anyone considering cosmetic surgery is advised to ensure a surgeon is properly qualified and has substantial experience, as well as checking that they are on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register for the discipline in which they have trained.

Suzie Adams, 40, from Bridgwater in Somerset had her life destroyed by cosmetic surgery.

After three caesareans, she flew to Prague for what she calls "a tidy-up and a tummy tuck".

She thought she was getting a good deal but she was left disfigured and developed septicaemia from her infected wound.

She then had to endure months of follow-up treatment, forcing her out of her job.

"The long term effect it had on me? It devastated me," she said.

"I hated my body - it was worse than when I started. I didn't like anybody seeing me, even my children or my partner. I felt like a freak.

"I forced myself to look in the mirror every day to remind myself of the mistake I made because I shouldn't have gone abroad. I should have stayed in this country. 

"My advice to other people is - if you can afford to have it done in the UK, have it done in the UK because the after care is never there. They like to take your money and then that's it.

"I risked my life going over there and if could turn the clocks back I wouldn't have done it."

On the issue of people seeking cheaper surgery abroad, Mr Mercer added: "British people think if they go to Thailand the hospital will be the same as the hospital here.

"In fact, if you go to Belgium there are no regulations about what should be in an operating room, including oxygen and defibrillators. There are no regulations. So people need to be very careful."

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Two Missing 12-Year-Olds Found Safe

Two 12-year-old girls reported missing on Wednesday afternoon have been found safe and well, Merseyside Police have said.

Officers had been "increasingly concerned" for Leda Hassan and her cousin Kanni Rafiq after they disappeared from the family home in Arnold Crescent, Toxteth, Liverpool.

They were found in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A police spokesman said: "Both 12-year-old girls have been found safe and well in the past hour.

"Merseyside Police would like to thank all media who carried this appeal and can confirm that the appeal is now cancelled."

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Chelsea Fans Stop Black Man Boarding Train

Chelsea have condemned the behaviour of fans who prevented a black man getting on a train in Paris as "abhorrent".

A video shows the commuter trying to board a metro train at Richelieu-Drouot station in the French capital.

A group of supporters are seen shouting and gesturing at the man and chanting "Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea", before pushing him onto the platform as he tries to step into the carriage.

When he tries again to board the train, the man points to a space where he could stand but is pushed back as he steps forward.

The fans then chant: "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it."

The supporters are also heard chanting: "Where were you in World War Two?"

They are believed to have been travelling to the Parc des Princes stadium for Chelsea's Champions League game against Paris St Germain on Tuesday night, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

British expatriate Paul Nolan, who filmed the incident on his phone and posted it on The Guardian's website, said: "He was obviously completely shocked when they pushed him off.

"I don't think he realised who they were. He then tried to get on again and got pushed off a second time."

In a statement, Chelsea said it will take action if members are found to have been involved.

"Such behaviour is abhorrent and has no place in football or society," the club said.

"We will support any criminal action against those involved, and should evidence point to involvement of Chelsea season-ticket holders or members the club will take the strongest possible action against them, including banning orders."

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Energy: Big Six Profit From Switching Failure

A competition inquiry into the energy market has found suppliers routinely charging loyal customers up to £234 more per year.

The Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) update on its continuing probe into the sector also contained criticism of the energy regulator's powers - as reported by Sky News on Tuesday evening - saying excessive regulation at Ofgem may be creating barriers to new market entrants.

The key finding in the CMA's updated Issues Statement for consumers concerned the power of switching supplier, with the regulator declaring that long-term customers - many deemed vulnerable - were paying a higher price for failing to move between energy companies.

It said 95% of dual fuel customers of the so-called big six suppliers could have saved an average of between £158 and £234 a year by switching.

It found British Gas, SSE, Scottish Power, E.ON, npower and EDF, earned 12% more from a customer on a standard - instead of fixed - dual fuel tariff.

Video: Should You Trust Comparison Sites?

The report stated: "The evidence that we have seen to date also suggests that the gross margins that the six large energy firms earn are higher for customers on the SVT (Standard Variable Tariff) than for those on non-standard tariffs over the last three years." 

While the Issues Statement does not contain any formal conclusions by the CMA, the ongoing designation of industry regulation as a key focus will embarrass Ofgem at a time when its leadership is under intense political pressure.

Labour has vowed to freeze prices for 20 months if it wins the General Election in May, a pledge which sparked fury among big six suppliers.

They recently cut standard gas tariffs by up to 5.1% in response to a 30% dip in wholesale prices but argue raw energy makes up less than 50% of a bill and they have to pay up to three years up front for their supplies.

They point to the growing cost of green levies and network costs.

Crucially for the big six suppliers, the CMA found that their average profit margin across gas and electricity was 3.3%, with gas being the more profitable of the two.

But the report questions whether the market is working for consumers as almost half of households have been with the same supplier for more than 10 years.

This week, the Government launched a campaign with the slogan "Power To Switch", which is designed to encourage consumers to shop around to find cheaper energy deals.

Provisional findings of the CMA's inquiry will be published in May.

It is expected to stop short of recommending that the big six firms split their generation and supply arms - as some critics have demanded - to give greater clarity on profits.

Energy UK, the industry body which speaks for suppliers, said: "The energy industry continues to support the work of the Competition and Markets Authority and has already introduced a range of voluntary measures, moving towards greater openness and transparency.

"Today is the next stage in the process with conclusions expected later this year.

The industry will review today's releases over the coming weeks with a view to engaging further with the investigation. Individual members will be able to contribute to the debate as the rest of the investigation progresses."

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Search For Boy Who Fell Into River To Resume

A major search for an 11-year-old boy who fell into a river will resume later.

Emergency services were alerted just before 4pm on Tuesday after the boy fell into the River Towy in the Tanerdy area of Carmarthen.

Police, firefighters, a coastguard rescue team, the Ferryside inshore lifeboat crew and an RAF Sea King rescue helicopter were all involved.

Search teams are due to go back on Wednesday morning to look for the boy, who has not been identified.

Specially trained officers from Dyfed-Powys Police are supporting his family.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police and other emergency services will continue to search in the morning for an 11-year-old boy who was reported to have fallen into the River Towy."

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Man Arrested After Pensioner Attacked For £5

A man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery after 93-year-old Stanley Evans was knocked over by an attacker who fled with just £5.

The pensioner, who was 92 when the incident happened last month, was followed through the door at the block of flats in Soho, central London and attacked in a communal entrance area.

He lay on the floor for around five minutes before managing to take a lift up to his home before calling police.

The crime, which was captured on CCTV, was described by officers as an "unprovoked, callous and sickening assault on a defenceless pensioner".

A 29-year-old man was arrested in Camberwell in south London on Monday night.

The widower was left with a shoulder injury but did not need hospital treatment, but police say he has been left "living in fear of his safety".

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PM: Young Unemployed Will Work For Benefits

Young people out of work or not in education or training for six months will need to do unpaid work to claim benefits under welfare reforms drawn up by the Conservative Party.

The reforms mean people aged between 18 and 21 will have to do 30 hours of community work each week and 10 hours of job-hunting to qualify for benefits.

The work will begin from day one of their claim. It could involve preparing meals for elderly people or working at charities.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the reforms seek to end long-term youth unemployment and help youngsters understand that "welfare is not a one-way street".

The scheme - called the Community Work Programme - extends already-announced Conservative plans to abolish Jobseeker's Allowance, replacing it with a Youth Allowance.

Video: March: Welfare Capped At £119bn

Claimants will be required to undertake an apprenticeship or community work to receive their benefits after half a year on the Youth Allowance.

Mr Cameron is expected to announce the scheme during a speech in England's South East later today.

Speaking ahead of the speech, he said: "Our welfare reforms are a key part of our long-term economic plan.

"They are not just about saving money. They are about changing lives and making this a country that rewards work and gives everyone the chance of a better future.

"That is why we are taking further steps to help young people make something of their lives. Our goal in the next parliament is effectively to abolish long-term youth unemployment.

Video: Sept: Osborne's Fair Welfare Pledge

"We want to get rid of that well-worn path from the school gate, down to the jobcentre, and on to a life on benefits."

"For those 18 to 21-year-olds who have not been in employment, training or education for six months before they sign on, we are going to take intensive action.

"What these young people need is work experience and the order and discipline of turning up for work each day.

"So a Conservative government would require them to do daily community work from the very start of their claim, as well as searching for work."

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Two Men Held Over Fatal Tipper Truck Crash

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence over a tipper truck crash that killed four people.

The pair, aged 19 and 28, were held after their vehicle careered down a hill in Bath last week, killing three men in one car and a four-year-old girl.

The youngest victim, Mitzi Rosanna Steady, was out walking with her grandmother near a busy school when she was hit.

The three male victims, aged 59, 52 and 34, are thought to have died when the truck overturned at the bottom of the steep hill and smashed into their car in the city's Upper Weston area.

More follows...

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Murder Investigation After Three Found Dead

A murder investigation has been launched after three people were found dead at two properties in west London.

Police were called to a property in Westbourne Park Road, an area not far from Portobello Road market, were they found a 30-year-old man dead on a first floor roof on Friday.

His death is being treated as unexplained, the Metropolitan Police said.

On Saturday, officers went to inform the man's next of kin, but after entering the house they found the bodies of a man and woman inside. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Both are thought to have died in suspicious circumstances.

Formal identification has not taken place and a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

The identities of the victims have not been released.

No arrests have been made, but detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.

Scotland Yard said the 30-year-old had been arrested on 10 February on suspicion of affray and had been due to answer bail on Wednesday.

A spokesman said: "A referral will be made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on Monday."

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Rail Passengers Frustrated By Poor Service

By Katie Spencer, Sky News Reporter

Rail travellers on busy commuter routes say they are frustrated by delays and bad service, with less than half of passengers on some lines saying they are satisfied with their journeys.

A survey carried out by the consumer group Which? found services from England's South East into London are the most likely to be delayed.

Travellers on the Southern train company reported experiencing the most delays, while those least satisfied with their service were customers with the Thameslink and Great Northern / First Capital Connect routes.

Only 44% of customers with Southeastern said they were satisfied with their journeys, and Southern and Abellio Greater Anglia scored only 46%.

The results were based on responses from 7,309 travellers who were asked about journeys they had taken in the 12 months ending in November 2014.

Areas covered included availability of seating, cleanliness of toilets and carriages, as well as punctuality and value for money.

Travellers were also asked if they had experienced a delay on the last journey they had taken with their train company.

It comes as official figures show rail passengers are paying more for services, while Government funding is falling.

A report by the Office of Rail Regulation shows commuters are contributing an increasing amount to the cost of running the railways.

Official figures show the amount passengers are contributing to the funding of the railways stood at £8.6bn in 2013/14 - an increase of more than 6% on the previous year.

In the same period, the level of Government funding was just £3.8 billion, a fall of 8%.

Funding per passenger journey works out to be far less in England than it is in Scotland and Wales.

In England it works out to be £1.88 per passenger journey, whereas in Scotland it's £7.77, and £9.18 in Wales.

Alex Neill, director of campaigns for Which?, told Sky News: "We found commuters are really unhappy with the service they're getting.

"Seven of the 21 providers that we looked at scored less than 50%, which is a pretty poor result.

"People are fed up with overcrowded trains that are dirty, generally late and that are not good value for money."

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CCTV Shows 'Sickening' Attack On 92-Year-Old

A "defenceless" 92-year-old man was knocked to the ground by a mugger who grabbed his wallet and fled with just £5.

The victim was followed through a the door at the block of flats in Soho, central London, where he lives alone, and attacked in a communal entrance area.

The Metropolitan Police have released CCTV footage of the "sickening" attack, which shows the robber taking the wallet and leaving the pensioner on the floor.

Five minutes later the man managed to get to his feet and took a lift to his flat to call police.

The widower was left with a shoulder injury but did not need hospital treatment, but police say he has been left "living in fear of his safety".

Detective Sergeant Gemma Alger of the Westminster Serious Crime Unit said: "This is a totally unprovoked, callous and sickening assault on a defenceless pensioner.

"The victim is fiercely independent and has lived in London all his life. His confidence has been eroded as a result of the actions of this individual and now he is fearful about going out.

"I would urge anyone who has any information on who was responsible to contact us as soon as possible before he targets someone else."

The suspect is described as a black man, between 5ft 10ins and 6ft, slim and aged 20-30. He was wearing casual dark clothing.

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HSBC Issues Apology Over Banking Standards

HSBC has taken out full-page adverts in several national newspapers offering "sincerest apologies" for the standards in place at its Swiss operations eight years ago.

In the open letter to its customers, shareholders and colleagues, the bank's group chief executive Stuart Gulliver described recent media coverage about past practices at the Swiss Private Bank as a "painful experience".

The advert states: "We would like to provide some reassurance and state some of the facts that lie behind the stories.

"The media focus has been on historical events that show the standards to which we operate today were not universally in place in our Swiss operations eight years ago.

"We must show we understand that the societies we serve expect more from us. We therefore offer our sincerest apologies."

The advert was published in the Mail On Sunday and The Sun On Sunday

The bank added that since 2008 it had established a "much tighter central control around who are our customers".

It said it had also implemented tougher standards around tax transparency.

Earlier this week Mr Gulliver sent a memo to the bank's staff saying the revelations were painful and frustrating.

The adverts come amid a political row over tax avoidance, with Labour leader Ed Miliband on Saturday vowing to carry out an inquiry into the UK's tax authority should his party win power in the next General Election.

Mr Miliband argued that people not paying their fair share of tax had left "a £34bn hole in the nation's finances" and threatened "the fabric of society".

Promising an "aggressive" review into Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if his party wins in May, Mr Miliband pointed to suspicions of "sweetheart deals" with wealthy firms.

This week Mr Miliband seized on allegations about tax avoidance by HSBC clients to brand Prime Minister David Cameron a "dodgy Prime Minister, surrounded by dodgy donors".

After a week of clashes between Mr Miliband and Mr Cameron, the former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke said there needs to be agreement on a "more sensible and defensible" system for funding political parties.

Mr Clarke told The Observer newspaper that the Conservatives should break their reliance on wealthy donors and embrace the need for more state funding of politics.

"I think the Conservative Party will be strengthened if it is less dependent on having to raise money from wealthy individuals," he said.

"What happens is that the Conservatives attack the Labour Party for being ever more dependent on rather unrepresentative left-wing trade union leaders, and the Labour Party spends all its time attacking the Conservative Party for being dependent on rather unrepresentative wealthy businessmen.

"In a way both criticisms are true. And the media sends both up.

"The solution is for the party leaders to get together, to agree, put on their tin hats and move to a more sensible and ultimately more defensible system."

:: There will be more on the HSBC tax row on the Murnaghan programme from 10am which will include an interview with Business Secretary Vince Cable. Watch live on skynews.com and Sky News - channels Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

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NHS Patients 'Feel Ignored And Sidelined'

The NHS is failing some the country's most vulnerable patients by ignoring complaints and failing to show compassion, according to a new report.

The Patients Association says many are left "uninformed" about their treatment, but are scared to complain because they fear recriminations.

Called 'Why our NHS should listen and be human', the report warns says most patients who raise grievances are driven by a desire to improve the system for others rather than punish staff.

The charity also says patients and their families understand doctors and nurses are not always able to answer their questions, but should be kept informed about their care.

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "Today's themes report demonstrates that too often patients and their families are treated without compassion, are uninformed about treatment and next steps, feel ignored and sidelined when they raise concerns or complaints.

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"In our report, Why our NHS should listen and be human, we have identified that patients are still being shown a lack of care, compassion and dignity.

"We have also reported that openness and transparency are key themes that patients and the public are concerned about.

"The NHS is failing many of the most vulnerable members of society and patients and the public have told us about inconsistencies in the provision of care, poor standards of care and compassion, and a lack of openness and transparency in communication between healthcare staff, patients and their families.

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"These themes can be summed up as a desire to be treated in a humane and caring way with compassion, dignity, openness and honesty."

The association said the NHS must improve its complaints procedures and the support it gives patients.

Ms Murphy added: "It is now time to stop the rhetoric; be honest with your patients and place them central to everything you do, patients and the public deserve nothing less."

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Abuse Inquiry May Probe Crimes Back To 1945

The offical inquiry into alleged child sex abuse may be extended to investigate crimes committed as long ago as 1945, according to Justice Lowell Goddard.

The New Zealand judge took over the inquiry after two other senior figures were forced to step down over establishment links.

The investigation is expected to focus on allegations of alleged wrongdoing dating back to 1970, but Justice Goddard says this could be extended.

The 66-year-old told The Mail On Sunday that fixed cut-off points for inquiries are "artificial".

"The terms of reference talk about going back to 1970, but there is a push from certain quarters to take it back to about 1945," she said.

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"A cut-off point is always a bit artificial - someone who falls on the wrong side of it is aggrieved."

The newspaper said Home Secretary Theresa May supports Justice Goddard's position on the possibility of extending the terms of reference.

Justice Goddard said she "wouldn't shrink" from summoning prominent people to give evidence at the inquiry.

"I don't feel intimidated. Nobody should be beyond the reach of the law," she said.

"Sexual abuse of little children has never been anything short of a serious crime and that does not alter through religious or cultural mores or a different era or time.

"If criminal offending is evident it will be handed to police. There are people who need to be given a voice about what has happened to them."

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