Met Names Undercover Cops Accused Over Affairs

The names of undercover policemen who allegedly had relationships with female environmental activists have been made public for the first time.

A spokesman for the Met said: "In compliance with the order of Mr Justice Bean the MPS has confirmed in its defence that Jim Boyling and Bob Lambert were undercover police officers."

The High Court judge said last month that the police force could not use its "neither confirm nor deny" (NCND) policy after the women brought damages claims against the police.

The policy was brought in to protect the identities and safety of officers working undercover but the judge's ruling means it cannot be used in this case.

The female activists want compensation for what they say is the emotional trauma they suffered after being tricked into relationships with the police officers after they infiltrated the groups.

The women's claims for deceit, assault, negligence and misfeasance in public office arise out of long-term and intimate sexual relationships they had with four men who - unknown to them - were members of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), between 1987 and 2007.

The Met had initially refused to reveal the names and, following the ruling, if it had not done so would have been considered to have admitted to the claims.

Solicitor Harriet Wistrich of Birnberg Peirce and Partners, who represents the women, said: "The police have been on notice of this case for three and a half years and until this judgment, they have willfully refused to engage in any meaningful way with the most serious allegations put to them.

"Their ongoing refusal in the face of an overwhelming body of evidence in the public domain has greatly aggravated the distress caused to my clients, who want answers from the police as well as justice and accountability."

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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.

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.

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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 £2m home of Paul Kohler, 55, who is head of law at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

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 father-of-four Mr Kohler and attempted to tape his 50-year-old wife to a chair.

The alarm was raised by one of the couple's grown daughters and her boyfriend, who barricaded themselves in an upstairs room and called 999.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Kohler told the Evening Standard: "The first punch in the hall took my eye out, I thought I had lost the eye at that stage because it stopped functioning.

"But I just kept thinking of my wife and daughter and her boyfriend upstairs.

The man was spotted removing a pair of surgical gloves

"They got me on the floor but I managed to stand up and at one stage and trade blows with them."

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.

"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."

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

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.

Mr Kohler continues to receive 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.

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'Mum Arrested' After Girl Drowns In Hotel Pool

The mother of a three-year-old girl who drowned in a hotel swimming pool near Blackpool has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The youngster is believed to have been staying with her parents at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes, when 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.

The hotel's owner Chris Webb told Sky News that several other guests witnessed what happened in the pool and gave statements to the police.

Two guests tried to revive the girl before paramedics arrived.

It is understood that the girl's mother was in the pool at the time.

Police confirmed a 40-year-old woman, from Galashiels, Scotland, was arrested on suspicion of murder and child neglect. She remains in police custody.

Witness Carole Greenwood, who has lifeguard qualifications, told Sky News that she tried to rescue the child.

"Children in swimming pools should be looked after by their own parents. It is not necessary to have lifeguards necessarily because they are there to prevent accidents.

'Parents needs to be aware children can't swim, they are not strong swimmers and they need to wear flotation aids, especially little children."

Ms Greenwood said lifeguards had not been on duty because it was not the policy of private pools.

"Obviously I am devastated for this poor little girl, it's very sad.

"At the time, you are quite shocked because all your training is now coming into action.

"It's something you think you'll never, ever do, but I am satisfied I helped out in this case."

A guest called Darren, who did not want to give his surname, also told Sky News he had seen the little girl and her family having dinner at the hotel the night before.

"I saw them come out of the ambulance with what looked like a defibrillator," he said.

"My daughter saw the little girl being carried out by somebody."

He said the pool had been shut and "lots of police" had been at the hotel.

He described how he later saw the girls mother being led away by officers.

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.

The hotel refused to comment.

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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.

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Obesity Linked To Ten Most Common Cancers

Overweight and obese people are at greater risk of developing the 10 most common cancers, according to a major study.

The research suggests BMI was "positively associated" with cancers, including uterus, cervix, thyroid, kidney, liver and colon.

The findings, published in the Lancet medical journal, also suggest post-menopausal breast cancer and leukaemia were a heightened risk.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gathered data on 5.2 million people in the UK, of which nearly 170,000 developed cancer.

They found that a person's Body Mass Index, a measure of body fat, was linked to 17 out of 22 cancers.

Dr Krishnan Bhaskaran, who led the study, said: "The number of people who are overweight or obese is rapidly increasing both in the UK and worldwide.

"It is well recognised that this is likely to cause more diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

"Our results show that if these trends continue, we can also expect to see substantially more cancers as a result. The higher the BMI, the higher the risk."

The study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council, also suggested growing obesity levels could lead to 3,790 more cancer sufferers per year.

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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."

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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.

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Petition To Stop Ched Evans' Sheffield Return

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Almost 60,000 people have signed an online petition urging Sheffield United not to re-employ disgraced footballer Ched Evans.

The striker is due to be released from prison in the autumn after serving a sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman.

Campaigners say his return to Sheffield would send out a damaging message about rape. 

Speaking exclusively to Sky News his girlfriend says he should be allowed to return to professional football.

Jurors found Evans guilty following a two week trial in 2012.

The Prosecution argued that when Evans had sex with his victim in a hotel bedroom she was too drunk to consent.

His friend and fellow footballer Clayton MacDonald was cleared of the same charge, but Evans was given a five-year sentence following a unanimous guilty verdict.

He will be released in October after serving half of his term.

Alan Smith, who is a member of the Sheffield United Supporters Club executive, told Sky News that he's been given an assurance that Evans will be returning to Bramall Lane.

He believes that most fans will welcome the club's former top goal-scorer back.

"He has served his time, he has served his sentence and we would have him back. Good players like that have got to carry on playing and if not for Sheffield United it would be for someone else, and we would regret that," he said.

But Rape Crisis England and Wales say they are seriously concerned about reports of Evans' possible return.

The organisation does not usually comment on specific cases, but has made a rare exception in appealing to the Sheffield club.

Director of communications Katie Russell said: "It is of course any convicted criminal's right to serve their sentence and then go back into employment. We absolutely stand by that.

"But at the same time we would urge Sheffield United to think very carefully about the message that they send when they immediately re-employ someone who's been convicted of such a very serious crime.

"If they choose to do that, which is their right, we urge them to seriously consider the impact that will have on huge numbers of their supporters and we urge them to make a very strong statement condemning sexual violence, condemning violence against women and girls and making it clear that misogyny, sexism, violence and sexual violence in particular won't be tolerated within football."

Ched Evans' girlfriend Natasha Massey told Sky News that he is determined to clear his name and rejected the possibility of being "in denial" about his guilt.

"At the time I was devastated. I was heartbroken, but the fact that Ched got charged with this crime, that kind of took over the fact that he had cheated so I dealt with that myself," she said.

"It wasn't nice for the whole world to know what happened. My boyfriend had sex with another woman and that wasn't nice for the world to see, but I stood by Ched and still do.

"If Ched wasn't a professional footballer we wouldn't be having this conversation, because that was his job before he went to prison.

"That's part of the whole rehabilitation process when you leave the prison and you go back to work. All Ched wants to do is go back to work, do the job that he loves, play football, score goals and then just come home and have a family life."

Ched Evans' attempts to overturn his conviction have twice been rejected, but his legal team has now referred his case to the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission in another effort to clear his name.

Sheffield United have refused to comment on reports that manager Nigel Clough has been to visit Evans in prison but has confirmed that the club was in contact with him "subsequent to his conviction".

Although some Blades fans at the club's Bramall Lane ground said they did not want the player back the majority - both men and women - said his return would be welcomed.

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Teachers Plan 'Parent-Friendly' League Tables

Headteachers are planning to publish their own set of league tables - which they say will be fairer to schools than the present system.

The current system, the Association of School and College Leaders says, serves the Government's "political aims rather than pupils' needs".

Under plans drawn up by the ASCL and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), parents will be able to judge a school not just by qualifications but by the ethos of the school itself.

Tables will cover GCSE results, extra-curricular activities, the curriculum and other details such as class sizes and subjects. The groups say that is what parents want.

"We are educating the whole child," said the ASCL's deputy general secretary Malcolm Trobe, "not just taking them through the exams".

Final grade exams are not published in the DfE's data

He believes the Government's tables do not accurately reflect schools' actual achievements.

"For example, the league tables judge on the first entry grade, and not what is actually achieved," he said.

"So, the first grade may be a D, whereas the student's final result may be a B. It's unfair to the school not to include that."

The alternative tables will also be more concise, Mr Trobe explained.

"The DfE's tables are a myriad of columns and data which we think parents will find difficult to understand," he said.

"Ours aim to give parents the information they want in a clear and concise way they can readily understand, with the final examination grades included which, we believe, is an important piece of information that is missing at present."

Teachers believe extra-curriculum activities should be included in tables

The alternative tables are due to be published at the same time as the DfE's, 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.

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."

The news of the change comes as parents and children anxiously await A level results, which are due to be published on Thursday.

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Two People Found Dead With Gunshot Wounds

An elderly man and woman have been found dead with gunshot wounds in a village near Ledbury, Herefordshire.

West Mercia Police confirmed they had gone to an address in Bosbury, about five miles north of the market town, at 10.20am on Monday after family members raised concerns.

The pair were found dead at the property.

Their identity has not been released formally.

Police said an investigation into their deaths is continuing.

Detective Sergeant Tim Powell said: "This enquiry is at an early stage and we are looking into the cause of death.

"We are not currently looking for anyone else involved in this incident."

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Bank Gives Latest Signal On Rate Rise Timing

The governor of the Bank of England has said that weak wage growth will be more closely watched in relation to the timing of interest rate rises.

At a news conference to outline the Bank's quarterly Inflation Report, Mark Carney insisted that rises in bank rate - when they began - would be limited and gradual and he believed the financial markets broadly shared that timetable.

Economists and markets are expecting the first increase - from its historic low of 0.5% - either late this year or in early 2015.

A key factor in the decision-making timetable will be the public's ability to absorb interest rate rises, given current weak wage growth. 

Just an hour after it was confirmed that pay including bonuses slipped 0.2% in the second quarter compared to a year ago, the Bank announced it had slashed its forecast for wage growth in 2014 from 2.5% to a below-inflation 1.25%.

The Report signalled that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets bank rate, would place an increasing emphasis on the weak pay data in deciding when to raise interest rates.

Mr Carney refused to go further, insisting there would not be a "magic number" for wage growth that would prompt a hike.

The Bank's predictions for the wider economy were better, with UK growth figures upgraded from 3.4% to 3.5% for 2014 and unemployment was expected to drop more quickly, falling below a rate of 6% this year.

One factor supporting those who would argue for an earlier rate rise was a quicker-than-expected narrowing in the key measure of wasteful spare capacity - or slack - in the economy.

Mr Carney said it had fallen to around 1% of GDP, despite the fall in real wages, due to strong employment numbers.

He told reporters: "In light of the heightened uncertainty about the current degree of slack, the committee will be placing particular importance on the prospective paths for wages and unit labour costs."

Sterling fell more than 1.5% against the dollar in the wake of the governor's comments.

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Scottish Voters 'Anxious About UK Break Away'

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A survey of Scottish attitudes has detailed the country's hopes and fears over independence.

The Survey of Scottish Social Attitudes found a small rise in support for breaking away from the UK, but exposed reservations over the economy and of diminished international influence.

Researchers also found the gap in support between men and women had doubled in size.

Last year, 26% of women backed independence compared to 27% in 2014. The comparative rise among men was from 32% to 39%.

Researchers believe that women are more wary of the uncertainties of independence and so are less inclined to support it.

The annual survey's other key findings include:

:: Independence

In 2013, excluding undecided voters, 36% of Scots backed independence. This year, that's risen to 39%.

In contrast, those against independence numbered 64% in 2013. This year that has fallen to 61%.

:: Economy

In 2013, 34% thought Scotland's economy would be worse under independence. In 2014, the figure has increased to 44%

:: International influence

In 2013, 25% of Scots believed independence would make Scotland's voice weaker. In 2014, the figure has risen to 38%

:: Britishness

When forced to choose one single identity, the number of Scots describing themselves as British has increased from 15% in 2011 to 23% now.

:: Currency

On one of the key issues at the heart of the referendum debate, people were asked what currency an independent Scotland would be using a few years after breaking away.

Some 46% of respondents thought it would be using the pound. This is in spite of pro-Union parties warning that an independent Scotland would be denied the pound.

Some 18% said it would use the euro, while 17% said it would use a new currency.

John Curtice, the co-director of the Scottish Social Attitudes survey at ScotCen Social Research commented: "Although support for a Yes vote has increased during the last 12 months, more voters have in fact become nervous about the consequences of leaving the UK.

"Support for independence has only increased because those who are convinced it would be beneficial for Scotland are more willing to put their cross in the Yes box.

"However, at present there are still insufficient voters who are of that view to deliver a majority for independence."

Rachel Ormston, research director at ScotCen said: "In the final weeks of the campaign, capturing women's votes remains a key challenge, particularly for the Yes campaign.

"Put off by uncertainty and less likely to be persuaded by patriotic arguments around 'pride', women still need to be convinced that independence will deliver on the economy and other areas."

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Prisoners Lose Voting Rights Compensation Bid

A group of British prisoners have lost a compensation bid for being denied the right to vote.

However, the European Court of Human Rights said in its ruling that denying them the vote was a breach of human rights.

Ten prisoners took the case to the ECHR after being denied the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament on June 4, 2009.

The court ruled that was a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - right to a free election.

The judges said they had reached this conclusion because the case was the same as another prisoner voting case in the UK. In that case, the blanket ban was deemed a breach.

They accepted the UK had taken steps about the situation by producing a draft bill and a report from a committee which recommended that prisoners who were serving 12 months or less should be eligible to vote.

However, the judges observed, the legislation remained unchanged currently, therefore there was a violation of the convention.

As the court refused the prisoners' demand for compensation or legals costs, the Government will not have to pay out for hundreds of similar cases.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The Government has always been clear that it believes prisoner voting is an issue that should ultimately be decided in the UK.

"The Government is reflecting on the report from the Joint Committee on Prisoner Voting Rights and is actively considering its recommendations.

"This is not a straightforward issue and the Government needs to think carefully about the recommendations, which included new options for implementation."

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Panda Tian Tian Expecting, Says Edinburgh Zoo

It looks as though Tian Tian the panda is pregnant and may give birth at the end of this month, Edinburgh Zoo says.

The female half of the panda duo - Yang Guang is the male - is spending more and more time asleep, according to officials.

They have been watching her since she was artificially inseminated on April 13.

Tian Tian has a lack of appetite and is very sleepy

Iain Valentine, director of pandas, said: "The latest scientific data suggests Tian Tian the giant panda is now pregnant and that implantation has taken place; therefore, she may give birth at the end of the month.

"This is all very new and complex science and we still have a bit of time to go yet, as like last year, the late loss of a cub remains entirely possible."

The zoo's live webcam says Tian Tian is unlikely to be seen in the lead up to a possible birth.

"She is experiencing an increase in progesterone levels, which she will experience whether pregnant or pseudo pregnant, and this gives her a lack of appetite and make her very sleepy," it reports.

"If she is pregnant it is important we actively encourage her to spend as much time as possible in her off show den, where her cubbing box is, as this is the ideal area for her to give birth in."

Tian Tian, whose name means Sweetie, and Yang Guang - Sunshine - arrived at Edinburgh Zoo in 2011 on loan from China for a decade.

She was expecting last year but lost the cub late on in the pregnancy.

Pregnancy in pandas is notoriously difficult to predict so it will be known for sure only when Tian Tian gives birth.

Two colleagues from China are due to travel to Scotland within days, the zoo said.

 

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Criminal Probe Into Manchester's Police Chief

Greater Manchester Police's top officer is subject to a criminal investigation over a "poorly handled" inquiry into a suspected sex offender, the police watchdog has said.

Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy has been served with criminal and gross misconduct notices following investigations, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

A serving detective superintendent and a detective chief inspector have also been handed the same type of notices in relation to the investigation into the alleged sex offender.

The watchdog said a fourth officer, who is retired, will also be served with criminal and gross misconduct notices over the case.

Sir Peter, who joined the police in 1981, issued a statement, saying: "As a chief constable, you face making complex decisions on a daily basis about many high-risk and challenging situations.

"It is right that this decision-making is scrutinised and that I am held to account as part of this investigation."

One of the investigations relates to the victims of Harold Shipman

The IPCC has carried out three investigations - one was about the sexual abuse investigation, another looked into claims concerning serial killer Harold Shipman's victims and third probed allegations against a detective chief inspector.

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney has been served with a gross misconduct for his oversight in the disposal of body parts belonging to Shipman's victims.

It has been previously reported that tissue samples were taken from 12 of Shipman's female victims in order to confirm the cause of death.

They were stored for a number of years, but in 2011 police decided to "respectfully dispose" of the samples without letting the women's families know.

Relatives of Shipman's victims are being kept informed as the probe progresses and a major incident room has been set up, the IPCC said.

The investigation was prompted by allegations made by a whistleblower.

Investigators at the IPCC said they have a sizable number of GMP documents which relate to all three inquires and interviewed the whistleblower.

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Second Minister In A Week Quits Foreign Office

Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds has resigned - six days after Baroness Warsi quit over the Government's stance on Gaza.

Downing Street insisted the move was not a protest over government policy in the Middle East.

Letters released between the Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness and Prime Minister David Cameron suggested his resignation was agreed at the time of last month's reshuffle.

Mr Simmonds also said he would not be standing as an MP at the next general election in May 2015.

But the minister asked to continue to chair the UN Security Council - which took place last week.

Number 10 also insisted the resignation was not linked to Mr Simmonds failing to take part in last year's vote on military action in Syria - saying he set out his reasons for that at the time.

Sky's Political Correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "On the face of it, there are a lot of questions to be asked about a second foreign office minister going.

"There is a lot going on that requires the Foreign Office to be acting at the moment and people would say it is quite an inexperienced team.

"They lost Baroness Warsi last week with her complaints over Gaza. Now, Mr Simmonds is going, and there were other changes in the reshuffle including the Foreign Secretary.

"So, there are some questions about whether they have the wealth of experience they need.

"Downing Street insists that they do and that Philip Hammond is doing an excellent job in his role as Foreign Secretary."

Asthana added: "We all want to hear from Mr Simmonds as to exactly what he does think about the current situation."

Mr Simmonds told Mr Cameron in his resignation letter it had been "a huge privilege" to serve in the PM's government - and in his Lincolnshire constituency.

The junior minister also thanked the PM for allowing him to chair the UN Security Council meeting "as one of my last acts as a minister".

Mr Cameron said Mr Simmonds still had "much more to give" and had been an "incredibly loyal colleague, but also a good friend".

Tory MP James Duddridge will replace the Africa Minister at the Foreign Office.

Baroness Warsi last week attacked the the Government's "approach and language" during the month-long conflict in Gaza as"morally indefensible".

She added: "I always said long after life in politics I must be able to stand by the decisions I took or the decisions I supported. By staying in Government at this time I do not feel I can be sure of that."

More follows...

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Moves Up North

Weather warnings have been issued by forecasters as the remnants of Hurricane Bertha continue to move across the country.

After Wales and southern England were left drenched on Sunday, northern parts braced themselves for the unpleasant conditions today.

By early this morning the town of Lossiemouth, in Moray, Scotland, had recorded almost a average month's rainfall in just 12 hours, while Aberdeenshire saw gusts of 50mph.

A First World War flypast over the white cliffs of Dover involving three bi-planes escorted by modern-day Tornado GR4s to commemorate those who flew and fought in the Great War has been cancelled due to unstable winds across the Channel.

A crane attempts to remove a fallen tree in Hull on Sunday

And the Environment Agency has issued six flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected, and 47 flood alerts across England and Wales, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has 12 flood alerts in place.

While parts of England and Wales are under Met Office warnings for rain and wind, forecasters predict it is likely to clear up as the storm continues its course.

Nazaneen Ghaffar, Sky News Weather Presenter, said: "Today most of Scotland and northeast England have a yellow warning from the Met Office to be aware of the rain that will effect these areas today, as the low pressure system that gave us the wet and windy weather on Sunday is still close by in the North Sea.

"A higher amber warning has been issued for the Highland and Grampian regions, with over 100mm of rainfall possible in less than 24 hours, leading to the risk of localised flooding.

"As well as the wet weather, it'll be another breezy day for all with strong winds across Scotland, gusting up to around 60mph across eastern coasts.

Many areas were flooded on Sunday, including parts of Grimsby

"Elsewhere over the UK and Ireland there will be sunny spells today but also fairly widespread showers, some of which will be heavy and thundery.

"The rest of the week looks to remain quite unsettled with further showers sometimes merging into longer spells of rain.

"By the end of the week it should become more settled but temperatures will still remain around the average or just below."

In Scotland, motorists have been warned to expect disruption and Transport Scotland alongside its partners, including the local authorities, Sepa and Police Scotland, said they are monitoring the situation closely to ensure they are well prepared for the conditions.

Traffic Scotland operator manager Stein Connelly said drivers in parts of the North East and Highlands & Islands are likely to face difficult road conditions due to heavy rain.

"We would advise people in these areas to prepare for some travel disruption and to allow extra time for their journeys," he said.

"They should also check the relevant websites for up to date travel information."

The Met Office said people should be prepared for some disruption to transport with localised flooding likely.

It said outdoor activities will also be hazardous due to heavy rain combined with strong winds.

Police Scotland said: "There is a possibility of flooding in low-lying land, roads and to rivers which could cause delays to early morning traffic.

"Police are asking that the public allow extra time for travel and if driving, to be aware of possible flooding."

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'Pay Before You Die' Inheritance Tax Plan

People suspected of trying to avoid inheritance tax could have to pay before they die under proposals being considered by ministers.

HM Revenue & Customs could demand "accelerated payment" where savers are using potentially illegal avoidance schemes.

The measures - at the consultation stage - are a response to concern that growing numbers of people are using trusts to shield their estates from inheritance tax.

But Stuart Phillips, of tax planning firm the Private Office, said the policy could have "unintended consequences".

HMRC says the proposals will only affect a small minority of wealthy people

"The concern is that the Revenue takes a highly aggressive stance, just like with the film schemes for which celebrities have been under scrutiny, and terrifies families who have been engaging in legitimate tax planning that has been used for many years," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"I'm apprehensive that large-scale action could have unintended consequences."

Inheritance tax is levied at 40% on the value of an estate above the £325,000 threshold. Married couples can combine their allowances.

The Tories pledged to raise the threshold from £325,000 to £1m at the last election, but the policy was blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

A HMRC spokesman said: "We are seeking views on tackling inheritance tax avoidance schemes. This is an ongoing consultation and no final decisions have yet been taken.

"The proposals in the consultation paper will only affect a small minority of wealthy individuals who actively seek to avoid inheritance tax.

"Couples would still be able to leave up to £650,000 tax free to benefit their children or grandchildren."

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PM Urged To Recall Parliament Over Iraq Crisis

David Cameron has been urged to recall Parliament from its summer recess to address the growing crisis in Iraq.

The world has watched images from the war-torn country in horror amid reports of the displacement and slaughter of minority Christians and Yazidis by Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, in northern Iraq.

A Downing Street source told Sky News the focus is entirely on humanitarian support, with no plans to recall MPs. In recent times, a recall has only been used when military options were on the table.

"The key priority is getting support to people in desperate need," the source said.

Displaced people from the Yazidi sect fleeing the violence in Iraq

The source added Mr Cameron, who is currently on a family summer holiday in Portugal, was "in constant contact with senior ministers and officials" via phone calls and other means.

The Prime Minister is expected to return from the seaside town of Cascais later this week.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond this morning chaired an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis in Iraq.

The UK has been airdropping aid including tents, food and water in northern Iraq to help tens of thousands of displaced people across the region.

However, Tory backbencher Conor Burns said the Government's action of airdropping supplies in affected areas was "not strong enough" - and asserted the UK should join the US in airstrikes.

The Bournemouth West MP said he was not advocating a ground war, but believed Special Forces should be involved.

A British place prepared to airdrop aid over Iraq

"I have been following this really closely for the last couple of weeks but having seen some of the images earlier I was quite seriously overcome," he said.

"These are brother and sister Christians, and this is happening to them in no small part because of our record in Iraq.

"These people are being beheaded by people from IS, and our only response is to drop some food or water on them.

"I think we should be answering positively requests from the Kurds to arm them. I think we should be looking at asylum."

The former head of the army, Lord Dannatt, also backed a parliamentary recall, insisting Britain was "watching in horror" as atrocities were committed.

The US has been carrying out targeted airstrikes in Iraq

"In the face of a crisis of this scale, with the potential for so much human misery, this is not the moment for decision-makers to be on holiday," he wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

Lord Dannatt said it may be necessary to put UK troops on the ground to direct air support.

"The United States in the lead and us in support. We all bear some responsibility," he told the BBC.

"The breakdown in society in Iraq post-2003, we have some culpability for that and so it is difficult for us to say 'Not our problem'."

Tory MPs Nick de Bois and David Burrowes also joined the calls for Parliament to be recalled.

In a letter to Mr Cameron, they said the persecution in Iraq imposed "a moral obligation and a duty to our constituents to reconvene so that the escalating crisis can be properly debated".

Muhammad Hamidur Rahamn has reportedly been killed in Syria. Pic: Facebook

The calls came as senior US officials announced the Obama administration has begun directly providing Kurdish forces with weapons to defend themselves against attacks by ISIS.

Meanwhile, it has been reported a Portsmouth man who went to Syria last October to fight with Islamic State militants has been killed.

Muhammad Hamidur Rahman, a 25-year-old former Primark supervisor, was reportedly part of a group of six jihadists from the British coastal city who went to fight President Bashar al Assad's forces.

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Batters Britain

The remnants of Hurricane Bertha has brought gale force winds, heavy rains and flash flooding to Britain.

The deluge landed at Cornwall in the early hours and was sweeping across the UK from the south west of the country with gusts of 45mph reported on the Isles of Scilly.

In Dorset, trees were sent crashing down by strong winds and there were reports of flooding.

The Environment Agency has issued four flood warnings - including three for the North Sea coast - and 34 alerts, while the Red Cross has put hundreds of volunteers on standby in response to concerns that homes in some areas will need to be evacuated.

The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for much of the UK

High tides are expected around the Spa Complex in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Harbour Road in Bridlington and parts of the North Bank of the Humber Estuary.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Heavy rain, associated with the remnants of hurricane Bertha, has already spread up across southwest England, Wales, eastern parts of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, received 21mm of rain in two hours between 4am and 6am and 15mm of rain fell in Cardiff between 6am and 7am with an area of thunderstorms now spreading across much of south Wales. 

Waves crash against the rocky coastline of Milford on Sea

"Wind gusts to around 40mph have been recorded along the south coast as the low pressure area has moved in.

"Intense thundery weather and gusty winds are now spreading into Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"As the low tracks northeast into the Midlands and northeast England the winds are likely to become stronger across much of England and Wales with 50mph gusts expected, perhaps up to 60mph in exposure, with large waves also expected along the south coast."

A woman braves the strong winds and rain in Brighton

Alister McHardy, from the Met Office, said: "Britons should brace themselves and be aware that the rainfall could bring some flooding in places. It is a quick dose of autumn in the summer."

Today's forecast means part of the RideLondon-Surrey 100 bike ride has been cancelled.

Organisers have reduced the event to 86 miles to miss out a section including Leith Hill and Box Hill, where heavy rain is predicted.

Tourists in central London battle the elements

The start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, due to get under way in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, has also been postponed until Monday morning.

Hurricane Bertha has already torn through the Caribbean, with 90mph winds leaving thousands of homes without power.

Its aftermath is not as potent - but the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings telling people to "be aware" of rainfall for England, Wales and Scotland.

The A14 in Cambridgeshire was flooded on Friday

It follows flash flooding across eastern England on Friday which left more than 1,400 homes without power.

Further bad weather is expected at the start of next week.

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Senior UKIP Politician In 'Copy Hitler' Row

A senior UKIP politician has defended reports he urged young party members to "copy Hitler".

The Mail On Sunday acquired a recording of West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge telling prospective candidates to "pick up little moments" of Hitler's speaking style.

Mr Etheridge can be heard saying the Nazi leader was "a hateful figure who achieved a great deal".

The Mail carried its story under the headline: "UKIP urges its youth wing: copy Hitler."

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Etheridge called the article a "silly, unpleasant attack".

"Hitler was an evil, monstrous tyrant but that doesn't mean he wasn't good at public speaking," said the 44-year-old.

The Mail On Sunday front page

"I wish he hadn't been, but we must be able to discuss historical figures without being slurred as agreeing with them.

"I speak about Tony Blair, Dr Martin Luther King and President Ronald Reagan - all kinds of people who were great public speakers.

"I regret that the Mail should stoop so low - it's embarrassing for all of us."

The recording - which Sky News has verified - was made last week at a conference for UKIP's youth wing, Young Independents.

Mr Etheridge, who is also a Dudley councillor, is heard saying: "If you look back to the most magnetic and forceful public speaker possibly in history.

"When Hitler gave speeches, and many of the more famous ones were at rallies, at the start he walks, back and forth, looked at people - there was a silence, he waited minutes just looking out at people, fixing them with his gaze.

"And they were looking back and he would do it for a while. And then they were so desperate for him to start that when he started speaking they were hanging on his every word.

Bill Etheridge urged candidates to "pick up moments" from Hitler speeches

"Again, I'm not saying direct copy - pick up little moments."

Labour MP Mike Gapes told the Mail On Sunday: "I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, but this just goes to show that (Nigel) Farage has completely failed to clean up his party.

"One of his MEPs training young candidates to speak like Hitler? Simply unbelievable."

But UKIP said The Mail On Sunday's interpretation of the speech was "truly disgusting".

A spokesman added: "Bill Etheridge gave a seminar on public speaking and highlighted great speakers of the past, like Churchill, Blair, Martin Luther King and Hitler as people whose style, not content could be studied.

"It is no surprise that two national newspapers have covered this conference - The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday. One gave it a fair hearing, the other as a Tory paper is terrified by the rise of UKIP and apparently will stoop to nothing to attack the party. We are disappointed, but unsurprised.

"During a period of respectful and pensive commemoration of those who gave their lives in war, the Tory Mail on Sunday's tasteless and desperate front page attack is truly disgusting."

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Police Trial On-The-Spot DNA Testing Machines

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

British police have begun trialling on-the-spot DNA testing, which could help trace serious criminals within hours, rather than days.

The Home Office has given extra funding to police in Lancashire and Nottinghamshire to begin operating the machines.

The machines are about the size of a small photocopier and can be transported to a crime scene and used in the early stages of an investigation.

The machine's developers, Key Forensic Services, claim the Rapid DNA technology will allow investigators to input samples from a crime scene into the machine themselves.

Any match to samples on the national DNA database will be found in less than two hours.

DNA technology helped police convict serial killer Steve Wright

Currently, police have to send DNA samples off to forensic laboratories and any match can take several days.

Key Forensic Services' Chief Executive Paul Hackett told Sky News: "It essentially duplicates what we currently do in three or four laboratories using a large number of people and a lot of instrumentation. 

"So the results are directly comparable with the current lab-based process, they're simply faster - just two hours."

As well as analysing any traces of DNA found at a crime scene, the machine will also allow investigators to take swabs from potential suspects.

These swabs can then be quickly compared with the DNA evidence recovered.

Senior police officers hope the technology will give detectives the means to identify a suspect much more quickly.

They hope it will prevent them from going on the run, or committing other offences before they are identified.

Vincent Tabak was matched to DNA found at Joanna Yeates' murder scene

West Midlands Chief Constable Chris Simms, the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman on forensic science, said: "The hope is that eventually this will become the dominant technology, that it's affordable, that it's reliable and we are in the position that at every single crime scene we're able to get DNA within a couple of hours. 

"I think that will then begin to revolutionise the way we investigate crime."

Developers say the portable analyser is the biggest advance in DNA profiling since the technique was introduced by the British geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984.

Police first used Sir Alec's new technique in 1988 to help secure the conviction of Colin Pitchfork who raped and murdered two schoolgirls in Leicestershire.

Over the years DNA evidence has helped prosecute thousands.

It allowed detectives to connect the serial killer Steve Wright to the five women he targeted in Suffolk in 2006.

Vincent Tabak was matched to traces of DNA found at the scene of the murder of landscape architect Joanna Yeates in Bristol in December 2010.

But technological advances can only go so far and detectives will still have to do the leg work, according to renowned criminologist Professor David Wilson.

"Of course it's a breakthrough because of the speed, but at the end of the day even if you gather DNA results, you have to have a suspect, with which you can compare that result, so you have got to have someone who you've arrested with a view to charging," he said.

The Home Office has awarded £431,000 to help develop the faster DNA detection technique in Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. 

If successful, the technology will be rolled out to other forces.

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Harry Recalls 'Missing Limbs' Horror Of War

Prince Harry has recalled the "horrendous" images he saw during two tours of Afghanistan.

The Royal described seeing children who had died from roadside bombs and the horrific injuries of soldiers on the battlefield. 

Harry, who is a Captain in the Army, regularly flew injured personnel and civilians to the hospital at the Camp Bastion military base during his second tour.

Prince Harry served as an Apache helicopter pilot

Writing in The Sunday Times, he recalled: "On my first tour to Afghanistan in 2007-08 and again more so on my second tour in 2012-13, I saw some horrendous things: the tragic injuries and deaths of local people from roadside bombs, some of whom were children."

He recalled flying home last year looking forward to seeing family but remembers being joined on the plane by injured soldiers.

"I had never seen it first-hand," he wrote in the newspaper. "By 'it' I mean the injuries that were being sustained largely due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Royal flew injured soldiers to the hospital at the Camp Bastion base

"Loss of life is as tragic and devastating as it gets, but to see young lads - much younger than me - wrapped in plastic and missing limbs, with hundreds of tubes coming out of them, was something I never prepared myself for."

In his role as Apache helicopter pilot, the Prince said the memory of having to use the code "Op vampire" still sent shivers down his spine.

The code was used to let the medical team know the casualty they had on board would require a lot of blood. 

The question of how people cope with the trauma of war, especially those left without limbs, was one Harry said played on his mind.

It eventually led him to setting up an international sporting competition for injured troops.

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