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Clarkson Hints At Possible Top Gear Exit

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 14 Maret 2015 | 16.12

Jeremy Clarkson has hinted he may be ready to leave Top Gear after being suspended over a bust-up with a producer.

Writing in his column for the Sun newspaper he appeared to refer to himself as a "dinosaur", explaining that "the day must come when you have to wave goodbye to the big monsters". 

He wrote: "Nature made a mistake when it invented the dinosaur. It was too big, too violent ...

"All the dinosaurs died and now, years later, no-one mourns their passing.

"These big, imposing creatures have no place in a world which has moved on."

Clarkson, 54, has been suspended over a row in which he allegedly tried to hit a producer, named in reports as Oisin Tymon. 

A petition calling for Clarkson to be reinstated has reached more than 840,000 signatures.

But the controversial presenter wrote: "You can start as many campaigns as you like and call on the support of politicians from all sides, but the day must come when you have to wave goodbye to the big monsters, and move on. 

"We lose one animal and get another. The world turns."

He goes on to say: "As you may have heard, I've been suspended by the BBC following a fracas at a North Yorkshire hotel.

"I don't intend to dwell here on what happened then or what will happen in the future. I'm sure you're as fed up with the story as I am.

"One of the things which has cheered me is how many people have expressed support in the last few days. I'm touched and grateful."

Clarkson is being summoned to appear before a BBC disciplinary panel that will decide his fate.

The panel will be chaired by Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland who conducted the investigation into Newsnight's false expose of Lord McAlpine.

The corporation has not revealed when or where the hearing will take place.

:: Read Sky News' interview with a family who say Clarkson launched into an expletive-ridden rant at the producer.

According to reports, he lashed out because he was unable to order a steak at the Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes, North Yorkshire, where the production team were staying.

The Sun and Daily Mirror said the hotel's chef had gone home by the time they arrived and they were only offered cold meat platters, although Clarkson had ordered a £21.95 steak.

The papers quoted a source who claimed Clarkson blamed Mr Tymon for not arranging hot food and said there had been a "scuffle".


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

More Funds Urged For Struggling New Mums

By Emma Birchley, East Of England Correspondent

A letter has been sent to the Chancellor urging him to allocate funds in the Budget to support women struggling to cope before and after the birth of a baby.

More than one in 10 women suffer from ante or post-natal depression.

But research by the parenting charity NCT has found that only 26% of NHS trusts offer them any specialist mental health support.

Now 29 organisations have signed the NCT's letter to George Osborne on the weekend of Mother's Day calling for that to change.

The organisations include The Royal College of Midwives, the Mental Health Foundation and Netmums.

Elizabeth Duff, senior adviser at NCT, said: "One of the things mothers really need is better services when they are suffering poor mental health around having their baby.

"So that's what we're asking Osborne to do - make sure there are services for those women."

Marianne Ryan, from Peterborough, struggled after her daughter Jessica was born with a genetic condition that affected her breathing and feeding.

She was given anti-depressants but had to wait 10 months for counselling.

And it was no better when she became pregnant with Edward, now five months old.

"I felt let down," she said.

"Nobody asked me how I was feeling during the pregnancy and when I asked about counselling they said it was not available.

"I could apply for it, but it would take a long time so there wasn't much point. It took quite a lot for me to admit it first time around.

"I felt quite ashamed so I was quite brave doing it again - but there was no help and you feel ashamed again and go home and get on with it."

Last year the Government allocated extra funding for mental health services.

But the organisations behind the letter say money must be specifically allocated to help mothers.

The letter states: "More than one in 10 mothers in the UK experiences some form of ante-natal or post-natal depression, yet despite the prevalence of this condition and the current political focus on parity of esteem between mental and physical health, there are still huge gaps in the services available.

"A commitment in the Budget to dedicated funds for treating perinatal mental health problems would help to reduce financial burden by ensuring the health service is better equipped."

Of the quarter of trusts which do provide some kind of support, half have just one member of staff to do the work.

Marianne is delighted that action is being taken.

"I think the letter is brilliant," she said. But she added: "I think it's a shame that it has to be done because it's pretty obvious that's what women need."

A Government spokesperson said: "It is vital that pregnant women and new mothers with mental health problems get the specialist care they need.

"This is why we have employed more than 2,300 more midwives and an extra 3,100 health visitors since 2010 to provide personalised care and support to women during pregnancy and the perinatal period.

"We are also ensuring that every birthing unit has trained specialist mental health staff available to support pregnant women and new mums by 2017."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Labour To Unveil Key General Election Pledges

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Ed Miliband is due to launch Labour's General Election pledge card, containing promises on the economy, living standards, the NHS, immigration and tuition fees.

The Labour leader will unveil the list of vows, which the party hopes will simplify its message to voters, at a pre-election rally of more than 1,500 party members and supporters in Birmingham.

The five pledges are:

:: Economy -  Labour claims it will balance the books and cut the deficit every year.

:: Living standards - Boosted by Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy bills until 2017.

:: NHS - Labour says it will recruit 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 more GPs.

:: Immigration - People who come to the UK will not be able to claim benefits for at least two years.

:: Young people - Tuition fees cut to £6,000, more apprenticeships and smaller class sizes.

Launching the card, Mr Miliband will say the choice at this election is not simply between parties and leaders, but between different visions of our country.

"The choice is between the pessimists or the optimists, fear or hope, the few or the many, the good of some or the good of all," he is expected to say.

"Today I urge the British people to choose optimism, to choose a country for the many, to choose the good of all, to choose hope - and to recognise that when working people succeed, nothing can stop us as a country."

On the economy, the Labour leader will say: "The Tories promised to eliminate the deficit and they have failed. They've made the cuts but they haven't cut the deficit as they promised."

And on living standards, he will say: "We will stand up to the big energy companies."

On the immigration pledge, a response to pressure from Labour MPs who fear damage by UKIP, Mr Miliband will say: "We will not countenance systems and rules that damage the interests of all those people working hard and trying to get on.

"That's why we say we will have fair rules on immigration. People will have to wait for at least two years until they can claim benefits."

It is not the first time Labour has unveiled a pledge card. Tony Blair and John Prescott did so successfully in 1997, winning a landslide general election victory.

But the pledges were very different in 1997. First was cutting class sizes, second was quicker punishment for young offenders, third was cutting NHS waiting lists, while getting under-25s off benefit and no rise in income tax made up the other two.

Responding to Mr Miliband's speech, Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said: "The real choice at this election is between the stability and strong leadership of David Cameron and the Conservatives working to a long-term economic plan, securing a better future for Britain.

"Or Ed Miliband carried into Downing Street in the pocket of Alex Salmond and the SNP - meaning more borrowing, more debt, higher taxes and weaker defences."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Family: Clarkson Said He'd Have Colleague Fired

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 13 Maret 2015 | 16.12

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is facing new allegations over the "fracas" at a Yorkshire Dales hotel that led to his suspension by the BBC on Monday.

Four members of the same family who overheard the row say Clarkson told a colleague he would have him fired because there was no hot food at the end of a day's filming.

The Ward family from Leeds told Sky News that Clarkson ranted for up to half-an-hour at the Simonstone Hotel near Hawes and say they were shocked at his language and the way he treated his colleague.

They also claimed he criticised the BBC, saying it was "getting worse".

Sue Ward, 54, a medical receptionist, described Clarkson's behaviour towards the unnamed employee as shocking.

"He said he hadn't done his job properly, it was ridiculous that there was nothing to eat, obviously there was lots of expletives in between all this, and that he would be losing his job, he would see to it that he would lose his job," she said.

"Even someone who's really inept at their job should be told properly, in a proper manner," she said

"But the fact that it was in a public place, I didn't want to listen to that language."

Sue's brother in law Bob Ward, 60, said Clarkson arrived with his co-presenters by helicopter at around 9.30pm and refused to have his picture taken.

"I said 'Any chance of a selfie Jeremy?' and he said 'No, not with the day I've had today'."

Within minutes, Bob's wife Denise, 51, said Clarkson was shouting and swearing and had spoiled the evening they had been looking forward to.

"We were sort of, 'Ooh, celebrities, will we see them?' and then it was just the shock of how can someone be so rude?" she said.

"It was just the swearing and the length of time and this poor guy that he was ripping into," she added.

Top Gear is the BBC's biggest global brand, worth more than £50m a year, but with Clarkson suspended the next three episodes have been scrapped.

The only Top Gear fan among the Ward family, Sue's husband Alan, 56, agreed with the three quarters of a million people who have signed an online petition for Clarkson to keep his job.

"He's brash, we know what he's like, he's been in trouble before and I think he'll be in trouble again," he said.

"I think he'll continue to do that job because without Clarkson there's no Top Gear."

Sky News has approached Clarkson for a comment but he has not responded.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Clarkson's Twitter profile has changed from saying, "I am a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear" to "I am probably a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear".

One fan responded by tweeting "brilliant", while an opponent wrote "You'll soon be changing the verb tense in your profile then?"


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Service To Mark End Of Afghanistan Conflict

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

A memorial service will take place at St Paul's Cathedral today to mark the end of the Afghanistan conflict.

It will be attended by veterans of the campaign as well as next of kin of the 453 service personnel killed in the 13-year war.

They will be joined by the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry.

David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have also been invited.

A Memorial Cross made from used shell cases will be processed through the cathedral by representatives from the RAF, Royal Navy and Army.

It will be blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury before it is taken to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire as part of a permanent installation.

After the service, a parade of servicemen will march through the streets of London ending at the Guildhall in the city.

It will be made up of veterans representing many parts of the military.

There will also be a flypast of aircraft that flew in the conflict: a Sea King helicopter, two Chinooks and two Apaches, followed by an RAF C-130 Hercules and two Tornado fast jets.

Various members of the Royal Family will then host three receptions at the Honourable Artillery Company, Horse Guards Parade, and the Guildhall.

A service will also be held in Kabul at the same time.

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  1. Gallery: A Timeline In Pictures

    October 7, 2001: US President George W Bush announces the US and Britain have started bombing Afghanistan

March 26, 2006: The first regular British troops of the Helmand Task Force unload their kit after arriving by helicopter to an American-run base in Lashkar Gah in Helmand

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Swedish Prosecutors Offer To Quiz Assange In UK

Swedish prosecutors have offered to question Julian Assange in London over sexual assault allegations against him.

The WikiLeaks founder faces an arrest warrant in Sweden over claims he sexually assaulted two women in 2010. 

Prosecutors had previously refused to travel to London, where Mr Assange has claimed asylum at Ecuador's embassy.

But lead prosecutor Marianne Ny, explaining the new stance, said some of the crimes Mr Assange is accused of will reach their statute of limitations in August.

"My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorean embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future," Ms Ny said.

"Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies in the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward."

One of Mr Assange's lawyers, Per Samuelson, welcomed the offer. 

He said Mr Assange would likely accept it after reviewing it in detail. 

"This is something we've demanded for over four years," he told The Associated Press.

"Julian Assange wants to be interviewed so he can be exonerated."

The 43-year-old Australian took refuge at the embassy in June 2012 after failing to stop proceedings to extradite him to Sweden.

He faces arrest if he leaves the embassy and has been under continual surveillance with police stationed outside the building.

Mr Assange said he did not want to go to Sweden as he feared he would then be extradited again to the United States for questioning over the publication by WikiLeaks of confidential information.

He denies the sexual assault allegations.

More follows...


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France Overtakes Britain In IS Air Campaign

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 12 Maret 2015 | 16.12

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

France has overtaken Britain as the second biggest contributor to the air campaign against Islamic State, Sky News can reveal.

The UK government has long claimed that position but since the arrival of French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf last month, the French are putting up more planes on more sorties over Iraq.

French warplanes now fly between 12 and 15 sorties a day, more than three times the amount of RAF jets.

There are more than four times as many French fighter jets involved in the campaign.

The Charles de Gaulle has 21 jets on board, including 12 Rafale, nine Super Etendard and a further 15 are based on land in Jordan and the UAE.

In contrast, the UK has eight Tornados based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, flying an average of two sorties a day in pairs.

The Tornados are supported by a Voyager refuelling aircraft, which also contributes to the French mission when needed.

The French also have considerably more personnel assigned to the campaign: 3,200 compared to 500 from the UK.

Sky News' research undermines David Cameron's repeated claim that Britain is the major partner to the United States in the air effort.

Only last week he told an audience: "The second largest contributor in terms of airstrikes and air patrols is Britain by a very large margin. I think you have to add up several other countries to get to the scale of what we're doing."

French officials told Sky News they do not see it as a competition but consider their military to be the second biggest contributor, not the RAF.

In response, the Ministry of Defence said British planes had carried out a greater number of airstrikes.

"We have been focussing our military contribution where it can have the most impact - airstrikes in support of Iraqi forces, providing vital intelligence, surveillance and air-to-air refuelling capabilities to the coalition.

"We continue to fly daily Reaper and Tornado missions and our Voyagers routinely refuel coalition aircraft, including French."

The international coalition has been flying missions over Iraq and Syria for 31 weeks.

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  1. Gallery: Sept: British Jets' First IS Combat Mission

    British jets armed with missiles have taken off on their maiden combat mission over northern Iraq

Two Tornado GR4 fighter jets left RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Saturday morning, the day after MPs approved airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq

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Child Rape Cases Rise As Fewer Suspects Charged

Less than a third of recorded child rapes lead to suspects being charged or summonsed, according to new figures.

The data was published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on behalf of the Rape Monitoring Group (RMG) which also revealed the offence has increased over the last five years.

There were 5,674 recorded incidences of child rape in 2009/10 and 7,775 recorded attacks in 2013/14, an increase of 37%.

Over the same period recorded adult rapes increased from 9,383 to 12,952, an increase of 38% and just 20% of cases led to a charge or summons.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "These figures are extremely disturbing and a shocking indictment of the widening justice gap created by this Government.

"Over the last four years, there has been a dire trend in recorded incidents of rape going up, but prosecutions and convictions going down. This report is the latest evidence of this appalling state of affairs.

"Rape and the sexual abuse of a child - are some of the most abhorrent and heinous crimes. And victims deserve justice."

Crime prevention minister Lynne Featherstone said: "The coalition Government is clear that every report of rape must be taken seriously, every victim must be treated with dignity and every investigation must be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

"The increase in the number of rapes being reported to police is encouraging as it shows more victims are finding the courage to come forward.

"We are also seeing year-on-year falls in the 'no crime' rate for rape, increases in the volume of prosecutions and longer sentences for rapists.

"Transparency and accountability have an important role to play in improving victims' confidence in the system."

Paul Ford, secretary of the Police Federation National Detectives' Forum, said: "Policing is under significant pressure through budget cuts and this is having an impact on the level of service that policing can provide to victims.

"Detectives have raised significant concerns on the levels of victim care that officers are able to offer and this is of huge concern.

"This demonstrates again that cuts have consequences."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Scrap Race Discrimination Laws, Says Farage

Race discrimination laws should be dropped and firms should be able to choose who they employ, Nigel Farage has said.

The UKIP leader said race discrimination by employers was no longer an issue but the main concern of people was Muslim immigrants who did not want to integrate and were an "especial problem".

Speaking in an interview with the former equalities chief Trevor Phillips, Mr Farage said the worries over discrimination by employers would have been valid 40 years ago but not now.

Mr Farage, who described UKIP as "colour blind", said: "I think the situation that we now have, where an employer is not allowed to choose between a British-born person and somebody from Poland, is a ludicrous state of affairs.

"I would argue that the law does need changing, and that if an employer wishes to choose, or you can use the word 'discriminate' if you want to, but wishes to choose to employ a British-born person, they should be allowed to do so."

Mr Farage said people were more worried there were Muslims who wanted to form a "fifth column and kill us" and that there had not previously been a group who wanted to "change who we are".

He said: "So don't be surprised if there isn't a slight increase in people's worries and concerns.

"You know, when you've got British, when you've got people, born and bred in Cardiff, with British passports, going out to fight for Isis, don't be surprised if there isn't an uptick in concern."

During the Channel 4 interview, he added: "There is an especial problem with some of the people who've come here and who are of the Muslim religion who don't want to become part of our culture.

"So there is no previous experience, in our history, of a migrant group that comes to Britain, that fundamentally wants to change who we are and what we are.

"That is, I think, above everything else, what people are really concerned about."

A Number 10 spokesman said: "Nigel Farage is wrong and desperate for attention. The laws are there to protect people from racial discrimination. It's deeply concerning he doesn't understand that."

Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "This is one of the most shocking things I have ever heard from a mainstream politician and demonstrates breathtaking ignorance.

"We have made huge progress on tackling racial inequality and discrimination in this country, partly because of Labour's strong anti-discrimination laws, but things are still far from perfect."

In tweets today Mr Farage stressed he was championing the improvements in issues regarding race but added that Britons were sometimes now discriminated against.

He accused the media of a "wilful misinterpretation of what I said".

His tweet continued: "I'm talking Britons, whatever their heritage, being discriminated against in favour of EU migrants."

It comes as Gillian Duffy, who famously tackled Gordon Brown about the immigration issue during the 2010 election campaign, told Sky News she would be voting for Labour and not for UKIP.


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Signed By 200,000

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Maret 2015 | 16.12

'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Signed By 200,000

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

An online petition calling for the BBC to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson has been signed by more than 200,000 people.

The Top Gear presenter was suspended and the show put on hold after he allegedly tried to hit one of the producers at the end of filming in Newcastle.

The producer involved in the alleged "fracas", said to have been over a lack of catering, has been named by the Daily Mirror as Oisin Tymon, 36.

The paper quotes a source as saying Clarkson "snapped" when he discovered no food had been laid on.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

"No-one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time."

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  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Signed By 200,000

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

An online petition calling for the BBC to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson has been signed by more than 200,000 people.

The Top Gear presenter was suspended and the show put on hold after he allegedly tried to hit one of the producers at the end of filming in Newcastle.

The producer involved in the alleged "fracas", said to have been over a lack of catering, has been named by the Daily Mirror as Oisin Tymon, 36.

The paper quotes a source as saying Clarkson "snapped" when he discovered no food had been laid on.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

"No-one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time."

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  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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Was Man Murdered For Exposing Paedophile Ring?

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs & Education Editor

Police investigating Westminster-linked child abuse are examining whether a man was murdered because he was about to expose a paedophile ring operating within a London council.

Sky News has obtained details of an internal investigation documenting sexual assaults and abuse carried out by officers within Lambeth Council in the 1990s.

The unpublished report reveals claims from those within the council that Bulic Forsythe, a manager in the housing department whose murder sparked a nationwide appeal in 1993, may have discovered council property was being used to carry out abuse.

That abuse involved senior figures in Lambeth who were using council premises for the rape of women and children, according to the report's remarkable findings.

They used the basement of Lambeth's housing headquarters, the report says, because "sexual assault could be performed without fear of interruption by other staff".

A senior staff member is accused of watching material with "sadistic, bestial and paedophile themes" which "may have been home-produced by staff of people with whom they associated".

One female staff member was subject to a rape on council premises "of horrendous proportions", such that she was still suffering from serious injuries one month on.

She described being raped alongside children and animals by senior figures in the council.

Although the report, which was prompted by alleged breaches of the council's equal opportunities policy, recommends a criminal investigation, its findings were never formally investigated by the police at the time.

Instead, the perpetrators within the council were dismissed from their positions. The report has never before been made public.

It also reveals that colleagues of Bulic Forsythe, whose family have long believed he was murdered to prevent him from blowing the whistle on events at Lambeth, also feared he had been killed as part of a cover up.

"The murder of Bulic Forsythe was seen by some witnesses as a possible outcome for anyone who strayed too far in their investigation or for those who asked too many questions," the report says.

"The panel heard evidence about Bulic Forsythe whilst he was working in social services visiting Hambrook House and speaking to a colleague and telling her that he was going to 'spill the beans'.

"Three days later he was killed," the report says.

Sky News showed the report to Kiddist Forsythe, 21, the daughter of Bulic Forsythe, who was born three months after his murder.

She said: "Some of the stuff that's in here, I honestly can't believe happened. I was very shocked.

"It's really clear the fear that operated in the council - it seems from the report my father felt that fear," she went on, adding he was scared that if he moved jobs "people in power could still get to him".

Sky News contacted a number of people who held senior positions in Lambeth at the time of the alleged incidents. All said the council had elements of dysfunctionality and was plagued by corruption and fear.

Dr Nigel Goldie, former assistant director of social services, said: "There were often rather strange things happening. Things going on behind the scenes that were never properly explained or known about.

"This was in the context of an organisation that displayed dysfunctional features."

There has been a renewed focus on events in Lambeth in the 1980s and 1990s amid growing evidence of a series of paedophile rings operating across England involving the abuse of children in care homes, in some cases allegedly by politicians and other senior figures.

The Metropolitan Police, which has been investigating events in Lambeth at the time under Operation Trinity, said it was considering the report as part of its investigation.

Detective Inspector Sean Crotty said: "This report provides the context to people who were abused in Lambeth.

"What we need is for people who were children at the time and who were abused to come forward."

Lambeth Council said it is supporting Operation Trinity and is working closely with specialist police investigators.

A spokesperson said: "Lambeth Council is determined to do all that we can to support this renewed push to tackle the issue, and ensure that offenders who had previously escaped justice are now held to account."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lambeth Council Abuse: Key Findings

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs & Education Editor

Details of an internal investigation documenting allegations of sexual assaults and abuse carried out by officers within Lambeth council in the 1990s have been revealed. They include:

:: There were two sites on Lambeth council property used to carry out sexual assaults. They were used for this purpose "on many occasions over the years".

:: Two private removal firms were "frequently" on site, and were believed to have removed evidence of equipment used during sexual assaults, and washed the area down. One firm had keys to all internal lockers, including a cabinet where evidence in a criminal case was kept and later went missing.

:: Items handed to police following the rape of a female member of staff by a colleague on council premises included a semen-stained blanket, soiled tissues, cassettes and a penknife.

:: Bulic Forsythe, a manager in the housing department, told colleagues he was going to "spill the beans" after a visit to one of these sites.

He clashed with an individual who held a senior position and is named in the report as the head of the ring involved in abuse, and then moved from the housing department to social services.

Whilst in social services Bulic told another colleague he believed the individual in housing could still 'get to him'. After his death in 1993, colleagues reported that a report he had compiled went missing from his office.

:: Three male employees, including one in a senior position, were suspended from their jobs in the housing department as a result of the internal investigation.

Despite the findings of rape and sexual assault, and possessing indecent images of children, they were suspended on grounds of a 'breach of the council's equal opportunities policy'.

:: The report recommends a criminal investigation into the allegations of rape, child rape and images of abuse. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed no investigation was ever undertaken at the time.


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Hillsborough Police Chief To Face Inquests

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 10 Maret 2015 | 16.12

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

The man who was in charge of policing on the day of the Hillsborough disaster will today give evidence to inquests into the deaths of 96 football fans.

David Duckenfield was match commander on 15 April, 1989, and has been heavily criticised for blaming Liverpool supporters for creating the incident.

The inquests have already heard that Mr Duckenfield, a former chief superintendent, gave the order to open an exterior gate to ease congestion at the Leppings Lane end outside the Sheffield stadium, but is alleged to have told officials that Liverpool fans had forced it open.

For many relatives of those who died in the disaster Mr Duckenfield is the most important figure from South Yorkshire Police to give evidence.

At the opening of the hearings last year the coroner, Lord Justice Goldring, told the jury that Mr Duckenfield was in overall control of "F" Division, where the Hillsborough stadium is based.

The police officer had been promoted just weeks earlier and had never been in charge of a match at Hillsborough before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Lord Goldring told the jury: "Whether that was a sensible decision may be something for you to have to consider." 

Members of the jury have been told that the then chief executive of the Football Association, Graham Kelly, went to the police control box after the match had been stopped and spoke to Mr Duckenfield.

Mr Kelly told an earlier hearing: "I said 'what has happened?' and Mr Duckenfield said 'the Liverpool fans have forced a gate'."

The officer in charge of the Leppings Lane turnstiles, Superintendent Roger Marshall, has already told the inquests that was a lie.

Michael Goddard, a former police sergeant who shared the control box with the match commander, told the inquests that Mr Duckenfield "did not step up to the plate" as the disaster unfolded and had made a "gross error" in failing to consider the effect of opening an exterior gate.

Although Mr Duckenfield was in charge of policing the Hillsborough match he was not the most senior South Yorkshire Police officer at the stadium. Assistant Chief Constable Walter Jackson was the senior officer on call for the day. 

Asked during his evidence whether it had been right for Chief Supt Duckenfield to take control of the semi-final he said: "He had reached a senior rank in the service and you don't get to be a deputy divisional commander if you haven't got tremendous experience."     

Mr Duckenfield is due to give evidence at the inquests for four days.


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Police Forces Lose Track Of 396 Sex Offenders

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Police have lost track of almost 400 registered sex offenders they should be monitoring, include a child rapist who vanished two years ago, official figures have revealed.

Others have been off the police radar for much longer, one for 14 years.

Claude Knights, of the child protection charity Kidscape, said: "The horrifying prospect is that these offenders will have rebuilt their lives in communities who don't know them.

"Re-offending is high and particularly among those who have left the support system that was designed to help them."

Everyone on the register - currently around 60,000 - is required to say where they are living. They are monitored by police, probation officers and the prison service under the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).

But a total of 396 registered sex offenders have vanished after moving home without telling the authorities their new address.

Some of those missing are foreign nationals who may have returned to their own countries. That could include failed asylum seeker Patrick Kanda, 36, who was convicted of child rape.

He was monitored for several years after he was released from prison, but vanished two years ago from his home in Dagenham, Essex.

He is one of 167 offenders who have stopped reporting to monitors at the Metropolitan Police.

West Midlands Police has "lost" 39 registered offenders, Greater Manchester Police is missing 25, and Essex and Sussex have no contact with 11 offenders.

There are offenders missing from their homes in most of the UK's 45 forces, but only Scotland says it knows where all its 4,775 sex offenders are living.

The figures were revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association news agency.

Jim Gamble, who runs child protection consultancy Ineqe, said: "Offenders who have chosen to go off the radar should be pursued and punished.

"By disappearing they are removing the incentive for staying in the system for the many others who choose to comply."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and we are committed to ensuring the system is as robust as possible.

"Under this government more adult sex offenders are being imprisoned, and they are being imprisoned for longer. The latest published figures show there are more than 11,000 sentenced adult sex offenders in prison - up by more than 2,500 since 2010.

"We have also reformed civil orders by introducing new measures that give police and the courts further powers to restrict and monitor the activities of sex offenders and those who pose a risk.

"It is for the police to manage offenders in their area, but we work closely with forces to ensure legislation is effective and that officers have all the tools they need."


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Hammond Criticises Jihadi John 'Apologists'

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has criticised "apologists" who tried to blame Britain's intelligence agencies for radicalising the Islamic State (IS) militant known as Jihadi John.

He condemned critics who try to "excuse" terrorists by pointing the finger of blame at the security services.

"We are absolutely clear; the responsibility for acts of terror rests with those who commit them. But a huge burden of responsibility also lies with those who act as apologists for them," he said.

His comments appeared to be directed at Asim Qureshi of campaign group Cage, who said it was MI5's attempts to recruit Mohammed Emwazi - recently revealed in reports as Jihadi John - as an informer that led to him joining IS.

The agencies have been criticised for allowing Emwazi to travel to Syria - where he is believed to have beheaded Western hostages in videos - even though he had been known to MI5 since 2008.

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Mr Hammond said agencies are currently facing an "unprecedented" level of challenge in the face of a wide range of global threats.

"The sheer number and range of cases, old and new, amounts to the greatest challenge to our collective security for decades and places unprecedented demands on those charged with keeping us safe," he said.

"The emergence of groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and (IS) in Syria, Iraq and Libya, simply serves to underline the pace with which the threats to our safety and security from this source are evolving.

"It is only thanks to the dedication, and in many cases the brilliance, of our intelligence officers that we have succeeded to detect and contain these threats."

More follows...


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Crufts Poison Claims: Dog Owners' Devastation

Written By Unknown on Senin, 09 Maret 2015 | 16.12

The owners of a prize-winning Irish setter who they claim was poisoned at the world famous Crufts dog show have spoken of their loss.

Jagger, who died in Belgium the day after appearing at the show in Birmingham, was owned by Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers and Leicester-based breeder Dee Milligan-Bott.

Ms Lauwers wrote on her Facebook page: "To person (sic) who has done it, hope you can sleep well knowing you have killed our love, family member and best friend to our son."

Ms Milligan-Bott described the dog's painful death as a "heinous crime" claiming poisoned beef cubes were discovered after an autopsy, although a full toxicology report has yet to be released.

In a post on her Facebook page Ms Milligan-Bott said: "This (poisoning) resulted in a very painful death for our beautiful boy.

"The timings from the autopsy will make it clear the only place this could have been given to Jagger was while on his bench at Crufts." 

Appealing for information to find the person responsible she said she was hopeful a fellow competitor was not involved.

"We can't and we won't think that this was the act of another exhibitor, if we thought this we couldn't go on, and the last 30 years would be a complete waste," she said.

"So I ask all of you to unite in finding the perpetrator who did this, and let's continue to produce and breed our gorgeous dogs who we are all so proud of."

Police in Belgium have launched an investigation and CCTV footage is being analysed from the event.

The Kennel Club, which organises the Crufts show, released a statement confirming the dog's death.

"The Kennel Club is deeply shocked and saddened to hear that Jagger the Irish Setter died some 26 hours after leaving Crufts," it said.

"We have spoken to his owners and our heartfelt sympathies go out to them.

"We understand that the toxicology report is due next week and until that time we cannot know the cause of this tragic incident."

Crufts presenter Clare Balding said the situation is "awful for all concerned".

The four-day show finished on Sunday, with Scottish Terrier Knopa named Best In Show. 


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Three Missing British Schoolgirls 'In Al Raqqa'

Three missing schoolgirls who left Britain to join Islamic State have crossed into Syria and are believed to be staying at a house in al Raqqa, Sky sources say.

Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport bound for Istanbul last month.

Authorities feared the teenagers, who attended Bethnal Green Academy in east London, were seeking to join the Islamist militants.

Sky's Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay said: "We're being told tonight that they've crossed into Syria through a crossing... which is not too far from Kilis.

"They're now apparently in a house that is owned or controlled - or at least hosted by - a British girl who had been in contact with them through the internet, and had brought them through Turkey and into Syria.

"We are told by... good sources within the city of al Raqqa that they are there, that they are safe.

"That is where they are staying - with this British girl who is hosting them.

"There's been a lot of discussion about where they are, (and) how they got there. But we are told they are now inside Syria, they are inside al Raqqa, and they are under the control of Islamic State."

Last week CCTV footage emerged which appeared to show the three teenagers at a bus station in Istanbul.

The girls were seen wrapped in heavy winter jackets, two with hoods pulled up, and carrying packed sports bags and holdalls.

The footage was recorded in the early hours of 18 February, less than 24 hours after the trio left their London homes, telling their families they would be out for the day.

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  1. Gallery: Three Schoolgirls From East London Go Missing

    These pictures were taken from Kadiza Sultana (l) and Shamima Begum's (r) Twitter accounts

Kadiza and Shamima are feared to be on their way to Syria with a third girl, 15-year-old Amira Abase

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Teenagers Killed As Car Hits Tree Are Named

Two teenagers who were killed when the car they were in hit a tree have been named as George Wharton, 14, and 13-year-old Rhys Baker.

The boys are thought to have been picked up by a 21-year-old just before 1.50pm on Saturday without the permission of their parents.

The driver is seriously ill in hospital and two other teenagers, Kameron Walters, aged 14, and 15-year-old Joshua Van Veen, remain in a critical condition.

The accident happened on the A62 Gelderd Road in Morley, Leeds. Superintendent Sam Millar, of West Yorkshire Police, described it as "a terrible tragedy".

Both boys who died were from the local area and went to the Bruntcliffe Secondary School and Morley Academy, where staff and pupils are now being supported by police.

Police say the blue Peugeot is believed to have overtaken another vehicle "at speed" before crashing.

Supt Millar said: "We are appealing for any witnesses to the specific incident but also the movements and behaviour of the car during the rest of the day.

"We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw the vehicle at the Tesco Express store.

"I would also like to praise a number of members of the public who stopped at the scene of the incident and helped in whatever way they could."

Friends gathered at the scene on Sunday to lay flowers and remember the victims.


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Five Teens Arrested As Four Die In Car Smash

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 08 Maret 2015 | 16.12

Five teenagers are being held on suspicion of dangerous driving after four people were killed in a collision between two cars.

Three 17-year-olds and a 68-year-old woman died and two others are in hospital following the crash in Powys, Mid Wales, just before 10.15pm on Friday.

The 68-year-old has been named by police as Margaret Elizabeth Challis, from the Merthyr area.

The teenagers who were killed - two males and a female - were all from Barry. They have not been named.

The crash happened as a number of vehicles travelled in a convoy on the A470 near Storey Arms, Brecon, between Libanus and RAC bends.

The two cars involved in the collision were a black Volkswagen Golf estate and a green Volkswagen Golf.

The teenagers were in the green Golf and Mrs Challis was a passenger in the black Golf estate, which was not believed to be part of the convoy.

Five male drivers, aged 17 and 18, who were in other vehicles, have been arrested, Dyfed Powys Police said.

The driver and front-seat passenger in the black Golf estate have been taken to hospital. The driver's condition is described as serious.

Superintendent Chris Curtis said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time.

"We are working with South Wales Police in order to provide support to the families affected and also the communities they live within.

"We will work with partners to ensure that the incident is fully investigated."

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Dyfed Powys Police on 101.


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UK Kurds Mixed About Britons Fighting IS

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

"You lost one son but you have earned thousands of other sons."

That is the message from the editor of the UK's only Kurdish newspaper, Aladdin Sinayic, to the family of the first British person to die fighting Islamic State extremists.

Ex-Royal Marine Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, travelled to Syria in December to fight alongside Kurdish forces but was killed on Monday.

It is believed he quit his military career in order to join the fight against IS alongside Kurdish forces.

At the Kurdish Community Centre (KCC) in Haringey, north London, he is considered a hero.

One visitor to the centre told Sky News: "We think that these people must be very, very sensitive about Kurds and very intellectual. They have a big heart for us."

Another said: "When Erik's body is returned to the UK, we would like to do something special for his family - we want to invite them here and have a ceremony for them."

London is home to thousands of Kurds - a community united not by statehood but by language and culture.

Haringey is more than 3,000 miles from the fight against IS but the suffering of their people in the geocultural region of Kurdistan is at the forefront of their minds.

The walls of the KCC are plastered with pictures of Kurdish martyrs, many of whom have family in London.

"As long as we are awake we talk about these issues," says one man.

"It is part of our lives. Our minds have never been free of thinking about what is going on in Kurdistan."

Another added: "We came here two hours ago together, we are having our tea but at the same time we are talking about what is going on in Kurdistan.

"What, for example, is going to happen tomorrow?"

Telegraf editor Mr Sinayic believes the country's Kurdish community would like to see more Westerners travel to the Middle East to take on IS.

"When you see Britons or other nationalities going there and being in the fight, this is something very very important for us," he says.

"They are honourable."

But one British Kurd who has fought IS does not want to see other Brits risking their lives.

Security guard Yasir Abdullah is originally from Iraq but lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and four children.

Twice he has gambled everything by returning to his village to fight alongside other Kurds.

"I see on the TV what they're doing to the Kurdish or Arabs, or executing, everything, the bad things they do and we thought, we have to stand up to fight against this enemy of humanity," he said.

"But we don't want anyone coming over there to help us.

"We thank everybody - if they want to come over we thank them to not come over there.

"If they want to help us, tell the British Government and American Government more weapons. This is what we want."

Authorities go to great lengths to prevent UK nationals travelling to join IS but those wanting to fight against Islamist extremists seem to be free to do so.

But people who succeed in reaching the battlefield are held in high regard by a community that until recently has felt largely abandoned by the West.


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Cabinet Office Denies Cyril Smith Cover-Up

The Cabinet Office has denied trying to cover up information about Downing Street's knowledge of Sir Cyril Smith's abuse of young boys before he was knighted.

Documents show Margaret Thatcher was made aware of the claims about the Liberal MP before he was handed the honour in 1988.

The 19-page dossier of information on the decision to give Smith the knighthood contains several letters, including an undated one from a Political Honours Scrutiny Committee member to the then prime minister.

In the letter, marked secret, Lord Shackleton said police investigated Smith in 1970 for "indecent assault against teenage boys" between 1961 and 1966.

But, the letter noted, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided "there was no reasonable prospect of conviction".

The letter to Mrs Thatcher said the case was reported in the Rochdale Alternative Press and Private Eye, adding: "One may regret this kind of press reporting but it could be revived if an award to Mr Smith were made."

Lord Shackleton also said it would be "slightly unfortunate" if this "episode" stopped Smith, who died aged 82 in 2010, receiving the knighthood.

But he added: "We felt it right to warn the honours system would be at some risk if the award were to be made and announced."

The documents were released to the Mail on Sunday following repeated demands for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act since April last year.

The documents were only made public on Friday after an intervention by the Information Commissioner, the paper said.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "There is no cover-up nor was the Cabinet Office forced to release this information by the Information Commissioner.

"This is a sensitive and complex case and it is right that we considered advice from a range of officials. After considering the advice, the Cabinet Office decided to disclose information."

The newspaper reported a second letter to Mrs Thatcher, dated May 1988, said the committee had "some hesitation" about giving Smith the honour.

But, the letter continued, "so far as we believe and have been able to ascertain, his past history or general character does not, in all the circumstances, render him unsuitable".

The documents also reveal the country's most senior civil servant, then cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler, wrote to the DPP to find out why Smith was never charged over the alleged offences against boys.

He said the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee wanted to know if "the case against Mr Smith was not well founded: or whether it was a sound case, but that the evidence was not likely to stand up in court".

No reply from the DPP is recorded in the file, according to the Mail On Sunday.

Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who wrote a book about the allegations against Smith, claims both David Cameron and Nick Clegg "have colluded in covering this up".

"It involves their people and we should not have to learn about this piecemeal because of journalists pestering for information," he told the Mail on Sunday.

"Both men need to come clean and make a personal commitment to revealing everything that is now held by Government departments."

Smith served as the Liberal and later Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale between 1972 and 1992.


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