Police Admission Over Cliff Richard Home Search

South Yorkshire Police have admitted working with the media before searching Sir Cliff Richard's home in Berkshire.

They said when they were contacted by BBC journalists with information about an investigation, they decided to "work with them in order to protect the integrity" of that probe.

They added: "Since the search took place a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful".

Sir Cliff, 73, has said he did not know officers were planning to search his penthouse apartment on the Charters Estate in Sunningdale and only learnt about it through media reports.

Unmarked police cars leaving the Charters Estate

A search warrant was granted after a historical claim of sex assault was made involving a boy who was under the age of 16 at the time.

The accusation, which Sir Cliff has dismissed as "completely false", relates to an event held by American evangelist preacher Billy Graham in Sheffield in 1985.

A total of eight officers from South Yorkshire and Thames Valley police forces spent about five hours at Sir Cliff's home on Thursday, leaving with a number of items at around 3.30pm.

No one was arrested and police stressed the investigation was in its "really early stages".

Sir Cliff performing at the O2 Arena in London

Detectives said a number of people had contacted them with information following the search.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Sir Cliff, who is in Portugal, said: "For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. The allegations are completely false.

"Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.

"However, the police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except, it would appear, to the press.

"I am not presently in the UK but it goes without saying that I will co-operate fully should the police wish to speak to me."

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said the inquiry is not part of Operation Yewtree, Scotland Yard's investigation into historical sex crimes launched after the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans said "questions have got to be answered" over Sir Cliff's claims the press had been notified about the search.

Mr Evans, who was cleared of a string of alleged sex offences at a trial earlier this year, told Good Morning Britain: "It appears the press knew what was happening before he did.

"A press helicopter was up before the police even arrived - he is quite right to be angry about that. Questions have got to be answered."

Born Harry Webb in Lucknow, India, in 1940, Sir Cliff has become one of the most enduring pop stars of his era, with hits including Devil Woman, Living Doll and The Young Ones. He was knighted in 1995.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Airport Shut After Landing Gear 'Failure'

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is closed until mid morning on Saturday after a plane's landing gear apparently malfunctioned.

South Yorkshire Police told Sky News they believed the wheels did not come down properly as it made its approach.

Eyewitness pictures show the small plane tilted to one side with its wing tip in the air and a fire engine on the scene.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it took one person to hospital with injuries that are believed to be minor.

The airport, also known as Robin Hood Airport, said on its website: "At approximately 19.30pm today Friday 15 August, there was an incident involving a LinksAir flight at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

"The aircraft was returning from Belfast City Airport and suffered a problem with the undercarriage during landing.

"The aircraft remains adjacent to the runway and cannot be moved until aircraft investigators arrive on site.

"As a consequence the Airport is currently closed and is not expected to reopen until mid morning August 16th.

"Passengers due to travel from the airport should contact their airline for the latest information regarding their flight."

Thomson Holidays said two of its planes that were due to arrive at the airport were diverted to East Midlands Airport.

One outbound plane going to Ibiza would depart from Manchester Airport, the travel company said.

No decision had been made about its two flights out in the morning.

LinksAir is a small UK airline operating British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, and runs scheduled flights from Doncaster Sheffield, Belfast City and The Isle of Man.

Other operators using the South Yorkshire airport include First Choice, Thomas Cook, Flybe and Thomson.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

One Dead As Sick 'Migrants' Found In Container

A dead man is among more than 30 suspected illegal immigrants found in a container at Tilbury Docks.

At least 19 of those discovered, including seven children, have been taken to Basildon Hospital with "significant health problems".

Basildon Hospital said on its Twitter feed that it is "responding to a major incident".

Basildon Hospital is responding to a "major incident"

It added: "A&E is open, but please be aware that waiting times may be extended."

A spokeswoman for the hospital said they are providing treatment for 19 people including seven children.

She added: "They are all currently being assessed."

The suspected immigrants were found at Tilbury Docks

Essex Police were called after the people were found on the container, which arrived on a ship from Zeebrugge in Belgium and was being unloaded at 7.35am.

A police spokesman said: "Thirty one people, including adults and children of both genders, were found inside.

"One man has sadly died and the others have significant health problems.

Ship freight containers sit at Tilbury

"They are being treated by ambulance crews and are being taken to local hospitals."

Police are dealing with the incident alongside staff from Port of Tilbury, UK Border Force and the East of England Ambulance Service, the spokesman said.

A casualty bureau is being set up.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

New CCTV Footage Of 'Panicked' Burglary Suspect

Police have released new CCTV footage of a suspect wanted over a burglary that left a man with "life-changing" injuries.

The suspect is seen removing a pair of surgical gloves as he walks across a car park within minutes of the attack at a home in Wimbledon, south London.

Detectives described the man as being "panicked" in the footage from the Wimbledon Theatre car park, shortly after 10pm on August 11.

The man is believed to be part of a four-member gang involved in the violent burglary at the home of leading London academic Paul Kohler, 55.

Paul Kohler (l) was left with severe injuries after the attack

The balaclava-clad gang had barged into the home of Mr Kohler and demanded money.

The men violently assaulted Mr Kohler and attempted to tape his 50-year-old wife to a chair.

The alarm was raised by the couple's two grown children, who barricaded themselves in an upstairs room and called 999.

Response team police arrived within minutes and apprehended two men, however the other two fled the scene on foot.

Detective Inspector Dan O'Sullivan, of Merton Burglary Squad, said: "This new piece of CCTV is crucial in the identification of one of the outstanding suspects, and we are calling to anyone who recognises this man to come forward.

The man was spotted removing a pair of surgical gloves

"It is my firm belief that this man and his other outstanding associate would have been stained with blood spatter from the violent attack inside the house."

It is still not known in which direction the fourth man headed after leaving the scene in Kings Road, SW19.

Both suspects are believed to be of Eastern European heritage and aged between 20 and 30.

Police are also keen to speak to anyone who saw a silver Volkswagen two-door cabriolet style car which was believed to have been used by the gang.

The last images of the suspect as he leaves the area in SW19

Mr Kohler remains in a south London hospital receiving treatment for multiple facial injuries, including a fractured eye socket, and bruising to his body and limbs.

The two men apprehended during the raid have appeared before magistrates charged with grevious bodily harm and aggravated burglary, and remanded in custody until August 27.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call the Met on 020 8649 3159. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murder Arrest After Child Drowns In Hotel Pool

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a three-year-old girl drowned in a hotel swimming pool near Blackpool.

The youngster is believed to have been staying with her parents at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes, where she got into difficulty in the water on Thursday morning.

She was pulled from the swimming pool and taken to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in a critical condition but died later.

A 40-year-old woman, from Galashiels, Scotland, was arrested on suspicion of murder and child neglect.

She remains in police custody.

Detective Inspector Nick Connaughton, of Blackpool CID, said: "This is a tragic situation where a young girl has lost her fight for life.

"We are now treating this sad death as suspicious and are investigating just how the child came into difficulties in the pool."

The Dalmeny Hotel, which overlooks St Annes beach, is described as a family-friendly resort with a heated indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants.

A spokesman for the 100-bedroom complex declined to comment on the girl's death.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murder Suspect Dewani 'Fit To Stand Trial'

A South African court has ruled that murder suspect Shrien Dewani is fit to stand trial for the honeymoon murder of his wife.

A mental health panel in South Africa unanimously decided that the 34-year-old businessman is not mentally ill and should be tried in October.

He is accused of the murder of his wife Anni Dewani in Cape Town.

Her sister Ami Denborg said: "It's a relief for all of us. We've been waiting quite a long time for this.

"I know this autumn is going to be tough for us but we still want the trial to start so that we can get the information we need, we can get to know what really happened.

"It feels like we're moving forward. It's still a long way to go but at least we're taking steps in the right direction, and this feels like a huge step in the right direction."

Announcing the decision, Judge John Hlophe said the trial date had been set for October 6.

"The draft handed in by the state is hereby made an order of the court," said Judge Hlophe, after receiving an expert assessment which stated Dewani was not mentally ill.

Today director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock told the Western Cape High Court: "The accused is not mentally ill.

"The accused is not certifiable in terms of the Mental Health Act."

The South African Press Association reported that Dewani's lawyer Francois van Zyl said the mental health panel had made a unanimous decision.

The panel included members such as Professor Tuviah Zabow, who was appointed by the court as a psychiatrist for Dewani.

"We are in agreement. There is no objection," Van Zyl said.

Dewani, whose family attended court, is expected to appear again on September 9 for a pre-trial hearing, before his trial starts on October 6.

The millionaire, from Bristol, is accused of ordering Anni's murder during their honeymoon in November 2010.

She was shot in the neck as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Dewani, who has not yet entered pleas, faces charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

He has previously claimed that the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through Gugulethu township.

He says he was released unharmed but his wife's body was found in the abandoned car the next day.

His trial date follows a protracted legal battle over the seriousness of his mental health problems.

Dewani has been detained in a hospital in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and was extradited from the UK in April to face trial.

A panel of three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist assessed Dewani's mental health over 30 days.

Three men have been convicted and jailed over Mrs Dewani's death, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, was convicted of premeditated murder over the shooting.

Another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Student Cleared Of Knickers Plot For Jihadists

A 27-year-old woman who tried to smuggle cash in her knickers on a flight to Turkey has been cleared of funding jihadists in Syria.

Nawal Msaad tried to take €20,000 (£15,830) in rolled-up notes on a flight from Heathrow to Istanbul in January, the Old Bailey heard.

She did it for her friend Amal El-Wahabi, 27, whose husband Aine Davis, 30, asked for the money, after leaving Britain to join jihadists in Syria last year.

The plot failed when she was stopped at the departure gate and produced the cash, which had been hidden in a condom, from her underwear.

Ms Msaad, from Holloway, north London, and El-Wahabi, from northwest London, both denied making money available with "reasonable cause to suspect that it would or may be used for the purposes of terrorism".

The jury cleared Ms Msaad but convicted mother-of-two El-Wahabi after deliberating for five days.

El-Wahabi will be sentenced on September 12

El-Wahabi is the first Briton to be convicted under terror laws of funding jihadi fighters in Syria.

She wept in the dock as the jury returned its guilty verdict, saying: "I can't breathe, no, I can't breathe."

The pair are London-born of Moroccan descent and had been close friends for years, the court heard.

Ms Msaad, who had been studying human resources at London Metropolitan University, agreed to take the money in return for €1,000 in expenses, jurors were told.

When she was stopped at the departure gate, she said the three-day trip to Istanbul was a "short break" to buy gold for her mother.

Ms Msaad, left, said she never meant to smuggle cash to bankroll terrorism

She was taken into a private room and produced the cash from her underwear.

The smuggling arrangements were made days before in phone calls and WhatsApp messages between El-Wahabi and her husband and Ms Msaad.

The same day Ms Msaad was arrested, police seized mobile phones and computer equipment from El-Wahabi's home.

Davis, who used the Muslim name Hamza, kept in regular contact with El-Wahabi after leaving London to pursue a jihadist cause.

After six months, El-Wahabi, who was living on benefits, was coming round to the idea of joining him wherever he was, the court heard.

The jury was shown a "selfie" Davis sent her, as well as videos containing jihadist propaganda.

El-Wahabi denied knowledge of any terrorist activities or their funding.

When Ms Msaad went into the witness box, she accused El-Wahabi of "stitching" her up by not telling her where the money came from.

She insisted she had never meant to smuggle cash abroad to bankroll terrorism.

Davis, who was born in London with roots in Gambia, met El-Wahabi at a local mosque and became increasingly interested in Islam six or seven years ago, the court heard.

His current whereabouts are unknown. El-Wahabi will be sentenced on September 12.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Medical Chiefs 'Call Time On Failing GP Services'

GP services that continue to offer poor care to patients will be shut down, health regulators have said.

Surgeries are set to receive Ofsted-style ratings - where they will be deemed to be outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) chief inspector of general practice, Professor Steve Field, said from October failing practices will face being put into special measures.

Those given the lowest rating face closure if they fail to make the necessary improvements.

"Most GP practices provide good care," Prof Field said.

"We have confirmed this in our pilot inspections so far. But we can't allow those that provide poor care to continue to let their patients have an inadequate service.

"I want to do all I can to drive up standards in those that are not providing the services people deserve."

The regime could also see more doctors referred to the doctors' regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC).

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, added: "Whenever CQC's new inspection system raises concerns about the competency of individual GPs, the matter will be referred to the GP's local responsible officer and if necessary to the GMC.

"Family doctors are now subject to regular checks, but the inspections in England are bound to expose areas of weakness as well as good practice."

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee said: "It is important not to create a counter-productive blame culture based on isolated examples that would wrongly damage patient trust in wider GP services.

"We need to focus on providing support and enabling improvement in those GP practices that need help."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Record Numbers Off To Uni As A* Grades Rise

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

A record number of students have been accepted into university, with a rise in the number achieving top marks in their A-level exams.

Ucas, the organisation which handles the admissions process, said 396,990 young people had been awarded places on degree courses - up 3% on last year.

Meanwhile, the number of students achieving at least one A* grade rose 0.6% to 8.2%, although the number gaining an A grade or above fell by 0.3%.

The overall pass rate also fell for the first time in 32 years, with the number of students achieving an A*-E grade down 0.1% to 98%.

Students who received lower grades are expected to enjoy unprecedented access to university, with up to 30,000 new places created.

A decision by the Government to abolish the cap on student numbers could have a dramatic effect on this year's cohort, with fierce competition among universities seeking to attract school leavers.

Some were offering cash "scholarships", while others were offering reductions on accommodation and free tablet computers.

Mary Curnock-Cook, chief executive of Ucas, told Sky News: "Compared with their brothers and sisters two or three years ago, students will feel it's a little easier (to get into university)."

Coventry University, which is offering £1,000 cashback, said the giveaways did make a difference but did not unduly influence students.

Deputy vice chancellor Ian Marshall said: "Most students come to university on the basis of the subject they are interested in and the reputation of the institution."

The decision to expand the number of student places comes amid increasing concern about quality assurance in higher education and job prospects for graduates, with recent figures showing almost half of graduates were in non-graduate level jobs.

However, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "This shouldn't be about ever higher numbers - it should be about ever higher standards.

"An A-level is still a significant achievement ... and we want an A-level that future employers and universities have confidence in."

Rhasan Brunner, who received an offer to study at London Goldsmith's University, said he was deferring his place to take an apprenticeship.

The 19-year-old, who studied at Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney, northeast London, said students should think twice about doing degrees, which now cost up to £9,000 a year in tuition fees alone.

"That debt is going to stay over their head for quite a long time," he said.

"Plus jobs are really rare and scarce and quite competitive nowadays, so it doesn't really guarantee you a job after university."

Access to university has been expanding since the 1960s, when a report by economist Lionel Robbins advocated opening up higher education to all those who qualified by virtue of ability and attainment.

Two years ago, the Government abolished the cap on students with the highest grades, essentially paving the way for the expansion of the elite Russell Group of universities.

But the new expansion for students with lower grades - which could also include an additional 60,000 extra students next year - has prompted concerns about quality.

Jude Heaton, from Teach First, a charity set up to end inequality in education, said: "The risk is we create a two-tier system, where pupils from richer backgrounds go to the most selective institutions ... (while) people from poorer backgrounds have an almost second tier university education."

Earlier this week, social mobility charity Sutton Trust warned students from disadvantaged backgrounds are 10 times less likely to apply to the UK's 13 most selective universities.

There are also reports that today's results will confirm a deepening of the gender divide, as girls continue to shun STEM - science, technology, engineering and maths.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teachers To Publish Alternative League Tables

Headteachers will publish their own league tables to give parents more information about schools and to address concerns the Government's data serves "political aims rather than pupils' needs".

The rankings, which school leaders say will provide more information than Government league tables, will initially focus on secondary schools.

They will cover GCSE results, extra-curricular activities, the curriculum and other details like class sizes and subjects.

The proposals have been drawn up by two unions: the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

The independent school and academy group United Learning, and PiXL, which works with schools to raise standards, were also involved in the plan.

Teachers have expressed concerns about the current league tables, including a Government decision last year that only a pupil's first attempt at an exam would be counted towards a school's overall results.

Under the plans, secondary schools in England are being asked to submit their GCSE results for this summer.

The results, which are due to be released next week, will then be published on a new website later in the autumn, before the Department for Education publishes its data in January.

NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said the Government's data often failed to address pupils' needs.

"Schools must be accountable, but the Government's performance tables have become a sledgehammer to crack the system - too often serving political aims rather than pupils' needs and driving the wrong decisions," he said.

"This initiative will, over time, give parents stable, accurate and neutral information about schools.

"It is good to see the school leaders seizing the initiative and building a connection to parents that bypasses all the politics."

Jon Coles, chief executive of United Learning, said that over time a school's performance has become less about giving parents information, and instead become a way for successive governments to influence decisions headteachers make about running schools.

"This is too crude an approach to defining a great school or encouraging improvement and at different times, it has been detrimental in different ways," he said.

"For example, promoting too much focus on the C/D borderline, especially in English and maths, or promoting choices of qualification which do not serve individual children well.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We agree that information about school performance should be freely available to parents.

"That's why we have taken steps to make our league tables clearer and, in addition to our data, all schools must publish extensive information on their website - including pupil progress."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More