Tens Of Thousands Demonstrate Over Pay

Tens of thousands of workers are holding protests in London, Glasgow and Belfast to call for an increase in wages.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is organising the demonstrations under the banner Britain Needs A Pay Rise, following days of industrial action from nurses, midwives and civil servants.

Midwives went on strike for the first time in their history over the Government's decision not to pay a recommended 1% increase to all NHS staff.

Protesters prepare for the march in London

Hospital radiographers and prison officers are due to hold strikes next week over the same dispute.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Our message is that after the longest and deepest pay squeeze in recorded history, it's time to end the lock-out that has kept the vast majority from sharing in the economic recovery.

Video: Life On NHS Wages Is 'Demeaning'

"The average worker is £50 a week worse off than in 2007 and five million earn less than the living wage. Meanwhile, top directors now earn 175 times more than the average worker."

Lynn Burbidge, a healthcare assistant at a hospital in Kent, said she was joining the march "because the Government needs to listen to us".

She said every month she faces a decision of whether to "pay your bills or buy food" and constantly having to budget was "demeaning".

Video: TUC: Workers £50 A Week Worse Off

"I've worked for the NHS for nearly 30 years and I'm still in the same position," she told Sky News.

"I'm 20% worse off now than what I was 10 years ago ... while the Government they've just accepted an 11% pay rise - I'm only after 1%."

One cleaner, called Nana, told Sky News how he struggles to provide for his family despite juggling three jobs and working a 12-hour day on minimum wage.

Video: Wages Fall As Economy Grows

"My social life is very bad. Secondly, I have a lot of debt to pay. The TV licence is coming up and we haven't got enough money to pay it," he said.

"They wrote to me that the bailiffs will come to my house. I've no choice, (but to) pray for the nation to come to our aid, to increase our wages and then we can make our ends meet."

A Treasury spokesman said: "Under this Government we've seen the largest annual fall in unemployment, more people in work than ever before, and inequality lower than the average under the previous government, proving that the Government's long-term economic plan is working.

Video: Family Needs £40,000 To Live In UK

"The only sustainable way to raise living standards is to keep working through the plan that is building a resilient economy and has enabled us to announce the first real-terms increase in the minimum wage since the great recession.

"We appreciate that the effects of the great recession are still being felt, which is why we have taken continued action to help hard-working people by cutting income tax, freezing fuel duty, helping local authorities to freeze council tax, cutting energy bills, providing free school meals, and reducing childcare costs."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Police To Probe Thailand Tourist Murders

British police officers are to travel to Thailand to help investigate the murders of tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge.

Detectives from the UK were cleared to work on the case after Thailand's military ruler dropped objections to their involvement.

The agreement came after David Cameron and General Prayuth Chan-ocha discussed controversy surrounding the Thai-led investigation of the killings at a summit in Milan.

The British officers are expected to seek independent checks of DNA samples seen as key to the case against two Burmese men accused of the crime.

There has been concern over the treatment of two Burmese suspects

They are also expected to examine claims by the two migrant workers that they have been mistreated by the Thai authorities.

Mr Miller, 24, and Ms Witheridge, 23, were found dead last month on a beach on Koh Tao, an island in Thailand's Surat Thani province.

Video: Sept 19: CCTV Of Murder Victim

Court proceedings have reportedly started against the two suspects amid international concern about the investigation, including from the Foreign Office and human rights groups.

The Thai leader had previously rejected offers of help and insisted the UK no longer had "any more doubts" about the quality of the investigation following ambassador-level talks.

But sources said he agreed to a British police delegation when pressed on the issue by the Prime Minister at the Asia Europe Meeting in Italy.

A diplomatic source said: "Obviously it is for the Thai authorities to lead and carry out that judicial process. 

"But it is important that it is fair and transparent and that both of the families can be reassured that it is the murderers that have been brought to justice.

Video: Oct 3: Thai Murder Suspects Paraded

"What the PM secured this morning was agreement from the Thai PM that we can send some British police investigators to Koh Tao to work with the Royal Thai Police on this."

The Burmese men who have been charged with the killings were paraded in front of the media after apparently making confessions which were later withdrawn.

The pair have reportedly been charged with three offences - conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to rape and robbery.

Thai police denied reports that the Burmese embassy had formally retracted their confessions amid claims the pair were tortured.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sheffield Utd Denies Ched Evans Contract Report

Sheffield United has denied reports it has offered a contract to disgraced footballer Ched Evans.

The striker has been released from prison after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old in a hotel room in Rhyl, North Wales.

The club's co-chairmen Kevin McCabe and Jim Phipps said they had not yet made a decision about whether to re-employ Evans.

"An article in The Sun today (Saturday 18 October) that Sheffield United has offered a contract to former player Ched Evans is false and damaging to the club," they said in a joint statement.

Judy Finnigan apologised for making controversial comments about Evans

"We have made a statement on this matter previously and the lack of credibility and substance from this latest media report does not warrant any expansion from previous comments apart from noting that we are continuing to deliberate on any long-term decision about Ched Evans."

It came after a petition to block Evans returning to Bramall Lane reached more than 151,000.

The 25-year-old left Wymott Prison, near Leyland, Lancashire, in a silver Mercedes on Friday.

A statement posted on his website from his family and girlfriend Natasha Massey said he would "continue the fight to clear his name".

"Chedwyn Evans maintains his absolute innocence and his family, friends and many who know the true facts of the case believe that his conviction was a gross miscarriage of justice."

The Welsh international admitted having sex with the woman, who told the jury she had no memory of the incident.

The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim, but was found not guilty of the same charge.

Earlier this week, TV presenter Judy Finnigan apologised after she said on the ITV show Loose Women that his crime was "not violent" and did not cause "bodily harm".

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nepal Trekking Tragedy Death Toll Climbs To 43

The number of people killed in a devastating snowstorm in Nepal's Himalayas climbed to 43 on Saturday, in the worst trekking disaster ever to hit the mountainous country.

The Foreign Office has confirmed it has spoken to concerned British families who have not heard from their relatives, though it is not thought there are any Britons among the dead.

The body of a victim is moved from an ambulance to the morgue

An unofficial list of trekkers suggests more than a dozen Britons may have been in the area at the time of the storms, although some of them have since been confirmed as safe or rescued.  

More than 230 trekkers - most of them foreigners - have been rescued since Wednesday and search teams continue to scour the Annapurna range looking for more survivors, who may be sheltering in lodges and huts.

A list of patients rescued and receiving treatment at hospital in Kathmandu

Officials believe some people may be stranded in waist-deep snow in remote locations where mobile phone signal is poor.

The skies were clear at the start of the week, said Gombu Sherpa, who was guiding a group of Germans near the popular trekking circuit. But that changed suddenly when the snow blew in.

"We could hardly see anyone, even within a couple of feet. The wind was blowing snow and visibility was almost zero," he said, adding many people lost their way in the storm, but that everyone in his group survived.

A friend of Lizi Hamer posted a message on Facebook to say she was safe

One of his assistants, who was behind the group when the storm hit, was missing for an entire night, lost in the blizzard.

"We found him the next morning wandering in the snow. It is a miracle that he is alive," he said. Two trekkers from Hong Kong and 12 Israelis survived by taking refuge in a small tea shop .

One of the Israelis, Yakov Megreli, said they tried to stay awake to stay warm. "We tried not to sleep. We tried not to get hypothermia. It was a very frightening and awful situation," he said.

Israeli survivors from the blizzard hug each other in Kathmandu

A British survivor has told how he escaped the disaster.

Paul Sheridan said walkers were left stumbling through "an abyss of nothing" as dense snow left them unable to get their bearings on the slopes of the mountain range in northern Nepal.

Some British trekkers remain unaccounted for despite the rescue effort

Mr Sheridan said that trekkers should have been prevented from going up the mountain, but were "herded to their deaths" by guides who he alleged were not carrying the correct emergency equipment.

Friends of Briton Lizi Hamer, who was originally unaccounted for, posted a message on Facebook announcing she had been found safe.

The 150-mile (240km) Annapurna circuit offers spectacular views of jagged peaks and Buddhist villages.

It takes almost three weeks to complete and is nicknamed the "apple pie" circuit because of the teahouses lining the route that offer cold beer and home baking.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dangerous Dogs: Heavy Penalties Under New Law

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

Owners of agressive dogs could be ordered to take action or face a fine of up to £20,000 under tough new laws to prevent dog attacks.

The new legal powers come into force on Monday and police and local authorities are being sent a Practitioners Manual detailing how they will work.

If a complaint has been made about a dog to the council or police, its owners could be ordered to do attend dog training classes, muzzle the dog, microchip it or neuter it.

There is also the possibility that owners would be ordered to make repairs to fencing to prevent their dog leaving their property.

Animal welfare minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families which is why we are taking tough action against those who allow them to happen.

Video: Owners Face £20,000 Fine

"Police and local authorities will now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they occur. This is on top of the tougher prison sentences we introduced earlier this year for owners who allow their dogs to attack people and assistance dogs."

Eight adults and 13 children have died from dog attacks since 2005.

In the 12 months to January 2014, some 6,740 people required hospital treatment for dog attacks - an increase of 6% from the previous 12-month period.

Earlier this year, legal changes were made to enable prosecution for a dog attack on private property and maximum prison sentences were extended.

1/4

1. Gallery: Banned Dogs

   These four types of dog are prohibited in Britain. </P><P> The Dangerous Dogs Act bans ownership, breeding, sales and exchange and advertising for sale of specified types of fighting dogs.

2. The act was rushed in in 1991 after a series of vicious attacks that provoked a huge outcry. </P><P> It was brought in by then Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke.

3. It is illegal to own one of these dogs without a certificate of exemption, which is given only after the dog is neutered.

4. It must also be insured and have a transponder planted beneath its skin. </P><P> In addition, the four breeds must be muzzled in public places and only be handled by a person over the age of 16.

Owners of dogs that kill a person could face 14 years - up from two years - and the maximum sentence for injury is now five years instead of two.

The National Policing Lead for Dangerous Dogs, DCC Gareth Pritchard, said: "The Practitioners Manual gives police officers and other practitioners clear guidance on how to best implement the legislative changes, especially the early preventative measures such as Community Protection Notices, to help prevent more serious events occurring in the future.

"It also provides a platform to share good practice between police forces and partner agencies and it will form part of the ongoing training of Dog Legislation Officers across England and Wales."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

British Jihadists Could Face Treason Trials

British jihadists who go to fight in Iraq or Syria could be tried for treason, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Philip Hammond said those who had gone out to train with Islamic State could be considered to have "sworn personal allegiance" to the terrorists and therefore committed the offence.

Treason used to be punishable by death, but since 1998 the maximum sentence has been life imprisonment.

Philip Hammond said treason was one of many charges that could be used

The last person hanged for treason was William Joyce, who went by the name of Lord Haw Haw, in 1946 for making Nazi propaganda broadcasts.

Questioning Mr Hammond in the Commons, Tory backbencher Philip Hollobone said: "Given that, with the assent of this House, Her Majesty's armed forces are now engaged in military action against Islamic State, given that we have all witnessed on television the beheading by a British jihadist of British and American aid workers, and given that the offence of treason still exists, but has not been used since 1946, will the Foreign Secretary ensure that British jihadists who return from Iraq and Syria are prosecuted for the offence of treason?

"Their actions are treachery against Her Majesty, and aiding and abetting enemies of Her Majesty is one of the greatest offences a British citizen can commit."

The Foreign Secretary said there was "a number of offences under English law with which returning foreign fighters can be charged".

He said: "We have had a discussion about the allegiance question. We have seen people declaring that they have sworn personal allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.

"That does raise questions about their loyalty and allegiance to this country and about whether, as my honourable friend rightly says, the offence of treason could have been committed.

"I will certainly draw his remarks to the attention of the Home Secretary, who ultimately will be the person who needs to look at this."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Hundreds' Of UK Terror Arrests This Year

Police have foiled several potentially deadly attacks and arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists so far this year, Britain's counter-terrorism chief has claimed.

Mark Rowley - the UK's National Policing Lead for Counter Terrorism - said officers were dealing with "exceptionally high" numbers of investigations and had been contacted by "dozens" of families concerned that loved ones may be planning to join jihadists in Syria or Iraq.

Amid widespread fears over the influence of Islamic State terrorists, he revealed police have been taking down more than 1,000 pieces of extremist material from the internet each week, including videos of beheadings, torture and suicides.

It comes as the Foreign Secretary said British fighters returning from Syria or Iraq could be tried for treason.

Britons have been joining IS, currently fighting over Kobani in Syria

Britons travelling to the Middle East had "sworn personal allegiance" to Islamic State (IS) and could potentially have committed treason, Mr Hammond told MPs on Thursday.

"There are a number of offences under English law with which returning foreign fighters can be charged," Mr Hammond said.

Video: Hundreds Of Terror Threats In 2014

"We have had a discussion about the allegiance question. We've seen situations of people declaring that they have sworn personal allegiance to the so-called Islamic State and that does raise questions about their loyalty and allegiance to this country."

Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Rowley said: "So far this year we have made 218 arrests and are running exceptionally high numbers of counter-terrorism investigations, the likes of which we have not seen for several years.

"Against an increasing operational tempo we are disrupting several attack plots a year.

"These plots are of varied sophistication, from individuals planning to carry out spontaneous yet deadly attacks to more complex conspiracies, almost all seemingly are either directed by or inspired by terrorism overseas."

Video: 'Thousands Of Terror Suspects'

Asst Comm Rowley said 16 people had been charged with terrorist offences after returning to the UK from Syria.

He added: "The volume, range and pace of counter-terrorism activity has undergone a step-change.

"Public safety is our number one priority and we will always focus our disruption activity against those posing the greatest and most imminent threat.

"Sometimes this means intervening very early - essential to prevent attacks, but presenting enormous challenges in securing sufficient evidence to charge."

Video: Social Media Terrorism

He added that more than 80% of the material removed from the internet was related to Iraq and Syria, where the success of Islamic State has prompted fears the group's influence may be growing abroad.

Asst Comm Rowley said 66 people who have been reported missing to police are feared to have travelled to Syria.

"The growing problem of young, impressionable, and in some cases vulnerable individuals being radicalised online is an increasing risk," he said.

"Extremist groups are using social media in highly sophisticated ways in order to recruit or persuade individuals towards their violent and warped ideologies.

1/25

1. Gallery: The Battle for Kobani Continues

   Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani. American-led forces conducted 21 airstrikes near the border town in the last two days to slow the advance of Islamic State militants, the US military said

2. The US warned the situation on the ground is fluid as militants try to gain territory

3. A US-led coalition aircraft flying over Kobani

4. Smoke rises from a village on the outskirts of Kobani

5. Unidentified armed men run in Kobani

6. Photographers and journalists watch Kobani from a hill

7. Kurdish refugees from Kobani stand in an abandoned village near the Turkish-Syrian border

8. A black flag belonging to the Islamic State is seen in Kobani. The airstrikes appear to have done little to blunt the group's onslaught on the town

9. Unidentified people gather in Kobani

10. A Turkish Kurd watches Kobani near the border crossing in Turkey. Continue through for more images

22. Cundi Minaz, one of four female Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Unit (YPG) who were killed during clashes with Islamic State fighters in Kobani, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern town of Suruc

23. People attend the funeral of Cundi Minaz

"Dozens of families have contacted us concerned about loved ones or information when they believe someone is travelling abroad.

"It is only through courageous action like that that we can help and we have been supporting such families in every way we can."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Free Waterstones One: Tourist Trapped In Store

An American tourist has said "it feels good to be free" after spending two hours trapped inside a London bookshop when staff close up failing to realise he was still inside.

David Willis had been using the internet inside the Waterstones in Trafalgar Square when he discovered he had been shut inside - it was only after posting messages on Twitter that he was finally released.

Mr Willis, from Texas, said he went to leave the store through the doors on the lower level and found all the lights had been turned out, the door was locked and the shutters had been drawn down.

His attempts to open the door set off the alarm and he spoke to a security guard who rang the store, which closes at 9pm, thinking he would be freed.

However, when nothing happened he posted a picture of himself behind shutters with the message: "This is me locked inside a Waterstones bookstore in London.

"I was upstairs for 15 minutes and came down to all the lights out and door locked. Been here over an hour now. Supposedly someone is on their way."

He said he then spoke to the police but still he was not rescued so finally he tweeted: "Hi Waterstones, I've been locked inside of your Trafalgar Square bookstore for two hours now. Please let me out."

It was retweeted by thousands of people, the police arrived at the shop and he was finally freed just after 11pm on Thursday.

By the time he was rescued Twitter had already hashtagged him the Waterstones One.

He tweeted to followers: "I'm free."

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, Mr Willis said: "I'm very tired, I did not sleep much last night but it feels good to be free."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said police were called at around 9.35pm "by a man claiming to be locked inside a shop".

He added: "Officers attended and following the arrival of a key holder the man left the building shortly after 11pm."

Waterstones posted a message on its Twitter feed saying: "We're pleased to announce that [Mr Willis] is a free man once more. Thanks for your concern and tweets."

By Friday morning the store was asking for reading recommendations for anyone stuck in a bookshop for two hours.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Barnardo's Accused Of Blaming Victim For Abuse

By Gerard Tubb, North Of England Correspondent

The children's charity Barnardo's has been accused of blaming a victim of child sexual exploitation for her own sexual abuse by a gang of men who had groomed her.

A letter written by a Barnado's project worker in 1993 says that abuse of a 16-year-old girl in accommodation owned by the charity could have been avoided if she had not placed herself in danger.

The letter states that the girl was sexually assaulted but: "The situation could have been avoided if [she] had not been party to the antics of a group of young men."

It goes on: "Having consumed a quantity of alcohol and three valium tablets [she] was not able to maintain control or respond to the situation in a constructive and cohesive way."

Last month chief executive of Barnardo's Javed Khan condemned institutions that had blamed children for their own abuse and called for them to be investigated by the Government's independent inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation.

Video: Barnardo's Director Responds

The victim, now 37, says the sexual assault that triggered the letter happened in her Leeds flat after British Pakistani men befriended her and let her run up debts before giving her drink and drugs.

"I woke up and I didn't have any clothes on and there were half naked men around," she said.

"I knew I'd been assaulted. I didn't know to what extent, I didn't know if I'd been raped or what, really."

She says she spent years feeling ashamed after being told at the time that the attack, which occurred shortly after she had left a children's home, was her fault.

"Looking back, how I feel now is absolute disgust with predominantly Barnardo's for knowing this happened, for blaming me for it happening and doing nothing about it," she said.

She remained in the flat for a further six months and says her abuse by the men escalated over that time and included rape.

Greg Mulholland, the woman's MP, is demanding an investigation by Barnardo's and Leeds City Council for what he calls "shocking and utterly disgraceful" behaviour.

1/3

1. Gallery: Barnardo's Letter Accused Of Blaming Victim

"To actually blame her for the most appalling abuse and grooming and indeed blackmail that she suffered is really appalling," he said.

"This woman who was then a 16-year-old girl, shortly out of care, very vulnerable, was seriously, seriously let down by the two organisations who were there to protect her."

In a statement Barnado's told us it was shocked at the contents of the letter.

The statement said: "This woman has been very brave in bringing this issue to light. It must have been a very difficult and distressing step to have taken after so many years.

"Barnardo's takes this very seriously and we will fully investigate."

Nigel Richardson, director of children's services at Leeds City Council, said: "We are very sorry to hear about what this young woman was subjected to."

He said the council was very keen to investigate the case, and added: "We are confident that an incident like this would be managed very differently today."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Report: Mistakes Costing The NHS £2.5bn A Year

The NHS is spending as much as £2.5bn a year on paying for mistakes, according to a new report.

Consultants Frontier Economics found the extra treatment required, extra beds being taken up, extra nursing time, as well as a huge compensation bill, costs the taxpayer a fortune.

Between £1bn and £2.5bn is spent annually on rectifying errors that have resulted in someone being put in greater danger, the consultants found.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will make a speech later setting out why action is needed to reduce the waste from mistakes.

He will say that a culture change is what is needed to tackle the problem that leads to errors being made.

Video: NHS Staff Strike Over Pay

But the Royal College of Nursing is arguing that any poor care is the result of understaffing on wards, which it says is caused by Government policy.

Last year the NHS spent £1.3bn on payouts to people who had sued over poor patient care.

The four most common problems, according to the Department of Health, are falls and trips, bed ulcers, urinary infections caused by poorly fitted catheters and deep vein thrombosis.

Video: Vow To End Year-Long Hospital Waits

People who end up having to be treated for those conditions cost the NHS an extra £200m a year in extra care alone.

Mr Hunt will tell staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital: "I want every director of every hospital trust to understand the impact this harm is having not just on their patients but also on their finances.

"And I want every nurse in the country to understand that if we work together to make the NHS the safest healthcare organisation in the world, we could potentially release resources for additional nurses, additional training and additional time to care.

Video: £1000 A Day Nurses Working In NHS

"It would be tempting to set up a new target or issue a new ministerial decree. But that would be a mistake. Because the culture change we need to develop has to come from inside."

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the Government needed to invest in more staff before patient care could be improved.

He said: "Every nurse's first priority is patient safety, and they are well aware of the effects of poor care.

Video: Hospital Safe Staffing Levels Drive

"Though these proposals are well intended, logic suggests that you need to invest in additional staff first, and then you will find that your short term investment leads to longer-term savings."

Anna Bradley, chair of patients' watchdog Healthwatch England, said: "The principle behind this initiative is absolutely right - what is good for patients is ultimately often cheaper for the system.

"To make this work we need a compassionate and effective complaints system that addresses people's concerns when things go wrong and works with them to improve services for the future."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judy Finnigan's Daughter Slams 'Rape' Trolls

Judy Finnigan's daughter has warned Twitter trolls who threaten her with rape that they will be reported to police.

Chloe Madeley came out in defence of her TV star mother, who drew criticism this week when she said footballer and convicted rapist Ched Evans' attack was "non-violent" and did not cause "bodily harm".

Her remarks during a panel discussion on ITV show Loose Women were followed by threats against her daughter by some Twitter users.

Miss Madeley, 27, has now written in the Daily Mail of her horror at the online abuse.

Judy Finnigan has apologised over her comments

She said her father would be reporting the tweeters to police and said: "How can it be right for someone to issue a rape threat to a young woman and think it acceptable?"

On Wednesday, Richard Madeley tweeted that "prosecution awaits" trolls.

Finnigan apologised "unreservedly" for causing any offence after the show, in which she said the former Sheffield United player's victim had "far too much to drink" before the attack.

A number of viewers voiced their anger about her choice of words during her debut on the programme.

"I absolutely wasn't suggesting that rape was anything other than an horrendous crime and, as I said on the programme, I was in no way attempting to minimise the terrible ordeal that any woman suffers as a result," Finnigan said.

"The point I was attempting to raise as part of the debate was what should happen to someone after they have committed a crime and served their time?"

Evans is due to be released from prison this week after serving two and a half years of a five-year sentence.

In April 2012 he was found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of raping a 19-year-old girl.

He has been linked with a return to his former club Sheffield United, although the club's board is believed to still be discussing whether to take him back.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said the club's owners should "think really long and hard" before deciding whether to allow the sportsman to play for them again.

Mr Clegg, who is a Sheffield MP, said footballers were role models to youngsters and that should "weigh heavily" on the club's owners.

More than 146,000 people have signed a petition against his re-employment. Evans has always maintained his innocence.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM Considers Immigration 'Emergency Brake'

An "emergency brake" on immigration, which would be pulled when the number of jobseekers from particular EU countries reaches a certain level, is being considered by the Prime Minister.

David Cameron is under pressure to take action after UKIP's surge in the polls and immigration will be a key issue at the election.

The Prime Minister has so far announced benefit curbs for those from new EU countries but now Number 10 is understood to be drawing up tougher policy to take to the EU.

Mark Reckless is running for UKIP in Rochester

Mr Cameron's demands for tougher rules on immigration will form part of his attempt to renegotiate the UK's deal with the EU.

There are suggestions Mr Cameron could make an announcement on new measures ahead of the Rochester and Strood by-election on 20 November in an attempt to get a jump on Nigel Farage's party.

Video: What Effect Will UKIP's Rise Have?

However, there is also speculation he could hold off to just before Christmas so he has a sweetener to offer should the Conservatives lose the by-election to Mark Reckless, who defected to UKIP in September.

Mr Cameron raised the prospect of new tough measures in his conference speech. He said he would put changes "will be at the very heart of my renegotiation strategy for Europe".

He added: "Britain, I know you want this sorted so I will go to Brussels, I will not take no for an answer and when it comes to free movement - I will get what Britain needs."

It comes after London Mayor Boris Johnson, who will be making his bid to return to Westminster as an MP at the General Election, called for the introduction of a quota system for EU migrants.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph on Monday, Mr Johnson, a potential Tory party leadership contender, said: "The voters aren't fools. They have spotted the incoherence - and what they object to is not so much the immigrants themselves; what makes people angry is the sense that the whole thing is out of control.

"Britain is now the America of the EU; the place people want to come; the magnet for the hordes at Calais.

"It is only reasonable for us to have some kind of further protections - involving points or even quotas, agreed with business - so we can manage that pressure."

Asked about the plans, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg accused the Conservatives of "running after UKIP".

Other senior Tories are known to favour a points entry system like the one used in Australia, and the one suggested should be UK policy by UKIP.

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron suggested immigration would be one of his "red lines" when negotiating a new deal with the European Union.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "Immigration is something that needs to be addressed as part of EU reform."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jobless Total Back Below Two-Million Mark

The latest unemployment figures show the jobless total below the two-million mark for the first time since 2008.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said unemployment fell by 154,000 in the three months to August to 1.97 million, with the jobless rate falling by more than expected to 6% - its lowest level since October 2008.

But the figures also highlighted continuing concerns about wage growth - measured at just 0.7% on an annual basis between June and August.

It meant that earnings were still failing to keep pace with inflation despite annual living cost increases being calculated on Tuesday at just 1.2%.

The ONS statistics also showed that growth in employment had slowed to its weakest pace since May 2013 though it took the total in work to a new UK record of 30.7 million.

The fall in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in September was the smallest since April last year, down 18,600 month on month.

There are fears the UK's economic recovery risks being damaged by renewed weakness globally - with some economists forecasting a new recession in the UK's biggest market, the eurozone.

Unemployment has fallen by 538,000 over the past year, the biggest annual reduction since records began in 1972.

Prime Minister David Cameron reacted to the figures by tweeting: "The biggest-ever fall in unemployment in history, taking it below two million, is great news. Our plan is working, but there's still much more to do."

The statistics showed progress on the crisis in youth unemployment - which covers 16 to 24-year-olds - easing by 88,000 over the quarter to 733,000.

There were 162,000 unemployed 16-and-17-year-olds, down by 11,000 on the previous three months.

But the number classed as economically inactive increased by 113,000 in the latest quarter to more than nine million - a figure that risks damaging the Government's attempts to bring down the UK's welfare bill.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

NHS Alcohol-Related Admissions Near '10 Million'

By Frazer Maude, North Of England Correspondent

Almost 10 million people a year are receiving NHS treatment because of alcohol, according to new figures.

The report compiled by Alcohol Concern shows the number and cost of treatments for illness and injury caused directly by drinking, like binge-fuelled trips to A&E or liver disease.

It also shows the cost of conditions in which alcohol is a significant factor.

A new online map highlights the total number of alcohol-related NHS admissions hit almost 10 million in England during 2012-13.

While A&E admissions accounted for six in every 10 alcohol-related hospital visits, inpatient admissions were responsible for almost two thirds of the total cost burden.

In England as a whole the figures suggest that drinking is attributable for almost half of all head and neck cancer inpatient admissions at a cost to the NHS of £65.3m.

A&E admissions accounted for six in every 10 alcohol-related visits

Just over 13% of all malignant breast neoplasm admissions were attributable to alcohol, costing the NHS £27.1m.

In total 9.6 million people in England are now drinking in excess of Government guidelines, with 2.4 million of those classed as high risk.

1/5

1. Gallery: Men & Women: Alcohol Guidance

   Women's bodies, in general, process alcohol at a slower rate than men's, says Drink Aware

2. Alcohol can affect women's fertility, create a greater risk of breast cancer and increase some side-effects of the menopause

3. The NHS estimates that around 4% of UK women show signs of alcoholism

4. Alcohol daily guidelines for women are 2-3 units of alcohol, equivalent to a 175 ml glass of wine

5. Alcohol daily guidelines for men are no more than of 3-4 units of alcohol, equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer

Commenting on the data, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Jackie Ballard said: "The NHS is now facing an intolerable strain from alcohol-related illnesses.

"We need to ensure adequate alcohol care pathways are prioritised and appropriate services are put in place to ease this burden."

Dr Carsten Grimm, Clinical Lead for the Alcohol Service in Kirklees, Yorkshire, said: "It is vital that people understand the full consequences of drinking at unsafe levels can have on their health.

Video: Alcohol NHS Impact Regional Guide

"With almost 10 million alcohol-related hospital admissions, we can see just how serious an impact unsafe levels of alcohol consumption is having on our health system."

A Department of Health statement said the Government is well aware of the costs caused by drinking.

"We know that alcohol-fuelled harm costs society about £21bn a year and are determined to reduce this burden to taxpayers. The rise in admissions is very concerning and we are taking action to tackle cheap and harmful alcohol.

Video: Pill Could Cut Desire For Alcohol

"We have given local authorities £8.2m over three years to tackle health issues in their communities like harmful drinking.

"We are working with industry to promote drinking within recommended guidelines and responsible drinking through local schemes, and are already making headway by removing a billion units from the market over four years." 

Video: 'We've Seen Liver Disease Double'

Video: New Report On Drinking And Health

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police Bail Limit Review After Yewtree Arrests

The length of time suspects can be kept on police bail is to be reviewed after a number of celebrities were left waiting months to hear if they would be charged with sex offences.

The Home Secretary will announce the move in a speech at the College of Policing annual conference.

It comes after the Metropolitan Police came under fire over arrests made during Operation Yewtree, which was set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Theresa May will announce the review

BBC radio presenter Paul Gambaccini and the comedians Jim Davidson and Freddie Starr all had to wait months before finding no action would be taken against them over sex offence allegations.

Gambaccini's lawyers criticised the police after he was told last week he would face no further action, a year after he was questioned by police and released on bail.

Video: 22/08/13: Davidson On Abuse Claims

Davidson was on bail for eight months and Starr for 18 months before being told no further action would be taken.

Mrs May will say: "I am pleased that the college is developing evidence-based guidance to bring consistency, transparency and rigour to the way in which pre-charge bail is used in criminal investigations.

"You have consulted on the operational guidance and will publish your findings shortly.

Video: 06/05/14: Starr Charges Relief

"But in parallel we must also look at statutory time limits on the use of pre-charge bail to prevent people spending months or even years on bail only for no charges to be brought."

Human rights group Liberty has called for a six-month statutory limit.

Figures released after a Freedom of Information request in May last year showed there were 57,000 on bail – of those 3,000 had been on bail for more than six months.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sainsbury's Endures Backlash On Nectar Cuts

Sainsbury's customers have threatened to shop elsewhere after the supermarket chain confirmed it was planning cuts to its Nectar reward points.

The company, which announced the changes in an email, said it was halving points to one per pound spent in store or online from 11 April 2015.

It also planned to stop rewarding customers with points for using their own bags but would continue to award one point for each litre of fuel bought from its pumps.

Sainsbury's insisted there would be "lots of opportunities to boost your balance faster and more value when you spend your points" but recipients of the email took to Twitter to complain.

Chris Whitehead tweeted: "Hey @Sainsburys if I enter into a relationship with an agreed expectation of loyalty, then you change it, expect divorce. Hi @Ocado."

Anna McNally wrote: "So @Sainsburys will no longer be giving me nectar points for reusing my bags but will be giving out extra points on fuel. Sounds very green."

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "We are changing the way customers earn Nectar points and launching more high-value bonus events, like Swipe to Win, 10xpoints on fuel and adding more categories to our Christmas 'Double Up' event so that customers can make their points go even further."

It claimed the changes were a "redistribution" of points rather than a saving on the scheme and said there were no cost savings to the retailer in the first 12 months.

Sainsbury's - like its biggest rivals Tesco and Morrisons - have been losing ground to hard discounters such as Aldi and Lidl in a fierce price war.

Of the 'big four' chains, only Asda has grown its share in recent months.

The new Sainsbury's boss, Mike Coupe, has previously warned that the supermarket sector is facing its most turbulent period in three decades.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Midwives Among 400,000 Striking Health Workers

Hundreds of thousands of health workers have staged a strike in protest at the Government's decision not to give them a 1% pay rise.

Midwives, nurses, paramedics, ambulance staff, and hospital porters and cleaners mounted picket lines across England from 7am for four hours, while action will be taken later today in Northern Ireland.

It was the biggest strike of its kind for over 30 years involving 400,000 NHS staff and several trade unions, including the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) for the first time in the organisation's 133-year history.

Contingency plans were worked out, and union members dealt with emergencies. NHS bosses postponed non-emergency appointments during the strike but emergencies would not be ignored.

Ambulance service providers had warned they may be forced to prioritise their care and brought in extra staff from the military to fill in the gaps.

Video: NHS Staff Walk Out Over Pay

Unions were protesting at the Government's decision not to accept the independent pay review body's recommendation to award a 1% pay rise to all staff.

Instead, ministers took the decision to award a 1% pay rise for those on top of their pay band but not to those on "progression pay increase", who automatically get a fixed average pay increase of 3%.

The unions say the number of NHS England health workers who will not benefit from the additional 1% is around 600,000.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended the Government's stance: "Everyone is going to get the 1% but what we have said is we can't afford to give the 1% to the people who are already getting an increase of 3% through their increment.

Video: Hospitals To End Parking Charges

" …The reason is very simple: we have analysis that shows if we did that hospitals would lay off around 4,000 nurses next year and 10,000 nurses the year after and that would be bad for nurses and of course very bad for patients," he said.

Unions said there had been "tremendous" support for the strike across the country and that it was the right thing to do.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady, who joined a picket line near Euston in London, said: "NHS staff are always reluctant strikers - there hasn't been a national strike over pay in the health service since 1982 - and they will do everything they can to protect patients in their care. But morale has hit rock-bottom."

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis told Sky News that despite ministers "glorying" that Britain was now out of recession his members were "getting nothing".

Video: Hospitals Relying On Holiday Locums

"They are being screwed and screwed and screwed again while the rich in our society make a killing from the growth in the economy," he added.

As they marched, midwives shouted: "Don't push midwives - push fair pay."

They said they never imagined having to go on strike but were at their wits' end.

Annie Black, who has been a midwife for 12 years, said: "We haven't had a pay rise for years yet our workload keeps on increasing. It's time the Government took us seriously. It's weird being on strike, but we feel that enough is enough."

Video: Hundreds Sent Home At Night

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM, added: "Midwives are caring people who often work long hours of unpaid overtime just to keep our understaffed, under-resourced maternity services running in the midst of a decade-long baby boom.

"They deserve this modest 1% pay rise."

The average annual private sector pay increase is currently around 2.5%, while last year it was recommended that MPs should see their pay increase by 11% by 2015.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murder Hunt As Teen Dies After Street Attack

A teenager who died after being assaulted outside a grocer's store in Manchester has been described by his mother as a "loveable rogue" who was "always polite".

Jordan Brennan, 17, was found unresponsive in bed at his home in the Gorton area of the city on Saturday morning.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services and a post-mortem examination later found he had died from a head injury.

Police say he was assaulted by a man outside a grocer's shop in the area the evening before he died.

CCTV of the pair, described as of Chinese appearance

Police have launched a murder inquiry and have released CCTV images of a man and a woman they want to speak to about the incident at the shop.

They say that around 7.30pm on Friday, Jordan was with two friends when they went into the store on Hyde Road.

As Jordan was leaving he was assaulted outside the shop by a man who had also been in the shop at the same time as Jordan and his two friends.

Jordan went home and went to bed and at 9am on Saturday and was found unresponsive by his mother.

The man was wearing a white shirt, black jacket and trousers

Detective Inspector Theresa Carter said: "Jordan was very well known and liked and both his family and the wider community are deeply shocked and saddened by what happened.

"At this stage we know that Jordan was assaulted outside the grocer's store, but we don't know exactly what led up to the assault.

"I would also ask that the man involved contacts the police so that we can fully understand what happened inside and outside the shop. We would also like to speak to the woman who he was with."

The woman is thought to be around 25 to 30 years old

Both the man and woman police wish to speak to are of Chinese appearance and about 25 to 30 years old.

The man had a stocky or chubby build and black hair and was wearing a white shirt and a black suit jacket and trousers. The woman was slim and had long black straight hair.

In a statement, Jordan's mother, Kim, said: "Our son Jordan Brennan was 17 years old and was a well-liked young man.

"He was a loveable rogue and was always polite and keen to help anyone who needed his help, be that physical help or just to listen to a friend. He would cheer them up with his usual larking about or joking around.

"He was a pleasure to have as a son and his loss is devastating. He was greatly loved by all that knew him."

:: Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 0161 856 68797 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

No Murder Trial For Mum Who Killed Kids

A mother who admitted suffocating her three young disabled children before trying to kill herself will not face trial for murder, a court has heard.

Tania Clarence, 42, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Olivia, four, and three-year-old twins Ben and Max by diminished responsibility - but denied murder.

Her plea was accepted at a hearing at the Old Bailey meaning she will no longer face trial next year.

The court was told that in the light of medical reports, the Crown Prosecution Service accepted that Clarence was suffering from a "major depressive episode" at the time of the killings which amounted to an "abnormality of mind".

Clarence, who was not in court, will be sentenced on 14 November when she is likely to face a hospital order.

Jim Sturman QC, defending, said a hospital order would be a "just and compassionate" sentence.

He said: "This is a truly tragic case. Anybody who reads the evidence cannot fail to be moved.

"... [Clarence] was manifesting stress throughout the life of the children by their suffering and caring for three children with this condition was exhausting, distressing, debilitating and turned out to be overwhelming."

He said as a result of her illness Clarence had "no hope for the future" and her suicide attempt was genuine.

Clarence's husband Gary was in court for the brief hearing. The investment banker was in his family's native South Africa when he heard about the deaths.

At a previous hearing, the court heard that Clarence confessed to killing three of her children at her home in the wealthy south west London suburb of New Malden on 22 April.

Clarence left three notes before allegedly smothering the children, who all had type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a life-limiting genetic condition which leaves children with little or no control of their movement.

She then tried to kill herself by taking a drug overdose and slashing her wrists.

The mother of four was discovered bleeding and crying by the children's distraught nanny and a neighbour. They arrived to find the home in darkness and at the bottom of the stairs discovered a note written in Afrikaans to husband Gary.

The court heard how they found Mrs Clarence in a bedroom and she told "them to go away, saying that it was too late".

Asked if she had taken anything, the court heard that Clarence replied: "I took something yesterday, but it didn't work."

Police were called and the neighbour checked if anyone else was in the house. He opened the door into the children's bedroom and saw the twin boys dead, but was too shocked to continue his search of the house.

The three children were pronounced dead at the scene when officers arrived.

Clarence confessed to the triple killing to a female police officer at the scene, saying: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Asked why she was sorry, the tearful mother said: "I killed them. I suffocated them."

Two other notes were found in the house. One discovered on top of a pile of clothes in the master bedroom read: "Gary, I don't want to be saved please. I can't live with the horror of what I have done. I thought the pills would work, they didn't."

A third note was addressed to the nanny, described in court as "a significant member of the family". Its contents were not divulged.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org mailto:jo@samaritans.org

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Broadcasters Reveal Leaders' Debate Plan

By Jason Farrell, Political Correspondent

Sky News, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have announced joint plans for a series of party leader debates across TV and the internet in the run-up to the 2015 General Election.

The format for 2015 would see three different styles of debate – one of which will include Nigel Farage.

Sky News and Channel 4 intend to host a straight head-to-head contest between David Cameron and Ed Miliband, which would be chaired by former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman with Sky News' Kay Burley introducing the programme and presenting post-debate analysis.

April 2010: the Sky News leaders' debate

The BBC would broadcast a similar debate to the 2010 format where the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders are pitted against each other. This would be presented by David Dimbleby.

ITV would have a four-way contest between the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP leaders. This would be chaired by ITV presenter Julie Etchingham.

Video: Leaders Must Discuss Debate Plan

It amounts to a 4-3-2 strategy, rather than the 3-3-3 of 2010, and the broadcasters say they are "responding to the changes in the political landscape" which has seen a poll surge in UKIP support.

The news organisations describe the debates as "vital in engaging voters with the political process" and have written to Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband, Nick Clegg and Mr Farage inviting them to take part. 

YouGov pollster Peter Kellner said the plan was a "very, very smart proposal". He said Mr Cameron's internal advice from his strategic adviser Lynton Crosby would be to avoid televised debates that give "Nigel Farage an opening".

Video: Cameron Most To Lose From Debates

He told Sky News: "David Cameron has the most to lose and Nigel Farage has the most to gain."

Mr Farage, voiced concerns that he would be exempt from two of the debates, and said: "This is better than it could have been. At last, there is a recognition of UKIP but if the political situation changed, we will expect to be included in the second debate."

While a Liberal Democrat spokesman said: "We do not accept the proposal that the Liberal Democrats, as a party of Government, should be prevented from defending our record in one of the TV debates."

1/3

1. Gallery: Leaders' Debates: A 4-3-2 Line-Up

   Sky News: David Cameron v Ed Miliband

2. BBC: David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg

3. ITV: David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said: "It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives."

The Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP both said they should also be included in televised debates.

The leaders have agreed in principle to the debates, but the Prime Minister has resisted pinning down the detail and other party leaders have accused him of dragging his feet.

Video: Debating The Leaders' TV Debates

Privately, some senior Conservatives believe it was the 2010 debates that cost David Cameron a majority and they want him to try and wriggle out of Round Two.

Previously, the debates were at weekly intervals in the last three weeks leading up to polling day. Mr Cameron has suggested they should happen before campaigning gets under way.

The Head of Sky News John Ryley said: "There are only 24 weeks to go before the start of the General Election Campaign.

Video: 13 May 2014: Public Expects Debates

"Sky, Channel 4, the BBC and ITV have put together a clear compelling proposal; three debates during the election campaign. It's now critical that the political parties engage and start negotiating for the debates seriously."

The proposal for the 2015 debates addresses Mr Cameron's concerns by suggesting the three debates take place at fortnightly intervals beginning in early April. The suggested dates are April 2, April 16 and April 30.

Live debates have now become a normal part of the political landscape. Mr Clegg and Mr Farage clashed over Europe, and the bitter battles between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling energised the Scottish independence fight. 

Video: 22 Apr 2010: Sky Leaders' Debate

While 2010 was the television election, drawing 22 million viewers, 2015 will engage more widely with voters online and using social media.

As well as live studio audiences, comprising members of the general public, questions will also be provided to the leaders using social media including Twitter and Facebook to ensure the widest possible audience engagement. Each broadcaster will make their debate available live to all other media outlets.

In a joint statement, the news organisations said: "All four broadcasters believe televised party leader debates are vital in engaging voters with the political process. The broadcasters intend to transmit the leaders debates live for all their extensive audiences, on air, online and on social media, which together have a mass reach amongst the British population."

Video: 23 Apr 2010: Leaders' Debate Review

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Road Hauliers In Christmas Deliveries Warning

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

Hauliers are warning that a national shortage of lorry drivers could hit deliveries to shops and stores in the run-up to Christmas.

They say the cost of obtaining a licence and strict EU rules are putting off many would-be drivers.

"What we're concerned about is that as things start to ramp up around Christmas... there just simply won't be enough drivers available to make all the deliveries that are needed," said Natalie Chapman of the Freight Transport Association.

According to the organisation, 40% of lorry drivers are 50 or over, while just 1% are under the age of 25.

Chris Stevenson, 24, from Bloxwich, told Sky News he is desperate to become a lorry driver.

Chris Stevenson has spent a small fortune trying to get an HGV licence

"It's the freedom of the job really. Seeing a bit of the country, maybe seeing a bit if the world, doing continental driving, you can get around a bit - (it) beats being stuck in one place all the while."

However, three unsuccessful attempts to get his HGV licence have cost him £2,500 so far.

John Heighway, transport manager at Devaneys Haulage, says such costs and the image of the profession have resulted in too few young people wanting to join it.

"It's quite desperate really. We could have enough work for an extra 10 vehicles.

Hauliers fear the shops might not be so full this Christmas

"But we just don't have the drivers to cover it, so we just have to turn work down which is something we don't like doing."

That is great news for agency staff like Martins Svarcs from Latvia, who is working for the West Bromwich-based company.

"I'm working every day, five days a week, nine hours driving a day, so I'm happy."

But even temporary workers cannot fill all the vacant posts.

Martins Svarcs from Latvia has all the work he can handle

Hauliers say the problem is being made worse by EU rules which require experienced drivers to undertake further costly training - or face a large fine.

Roy Reynolds, 68, from Wolverhampton had been driving for 41 years and like many others decided to quit.

"Now regulations are coming in where you've got to go back to the classroom.

"I don't feel that I need to do that with the experience that I've gained over a number of years. It just seems pointless, so I decided to retire."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Revenge Porn Offenders To Face Prison

By Harriet Hadfield, Sky News Reporter

Publishing sexually explicit pictures of former partners is to be made a criminal offence - and could carry up to a two-year prison sentence.

It is known as revenge porn and involves uploading private images with the intention of embarrassing or shaming an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend.

The issue was brought into sharp focus after celebrities including pop stars Rihanna and Tulisa Contostavlos fell victim to the cruel craze.

In the last two and a half years 149 cases of revenge pornography were reported to eight police forces in England and Wales and figures reveal the victims include children as young as 11.

An anonymous victim of revenge porn told Sky News: "I felt humiliated, I was shocked that someone had stooped to that level to try and humiliate me because I didn't think that I had disrespected someone enough for them to do something like that to me.

Video: Revenge Porn Victim Tells Her Story

"It makes you feel dirty, it makes you feel unconfident and if something can be done about it, I think it should be."

There is currently no law in the UK that deals directly with the issue but proposed changes to legislation would apply to online and offline images and those convicted could face a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the distribution of such images was "almost beyond belief".

"We want those who fall victim to this type of disgusting behaviour to know that we are on their side and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice," he said.

Video: Revenge Porn Police Stats

"That is why we will change the law and make it absolutely clear to those who act in this way that they could face prison."

The change in the law would be made via an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.

Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive for the charity Victim Support, said: "This type of behaviour can be extremely distressing for its victims causing them significant psychological harm.

"We are pleased that people who commit these gross violations of privacy will now face prosecution and victims of revenge porn know they have the full backing of the law."

Video: Revenge Porn Victims As Young As 11

But some experts are questioning whether a specific revenge porn offence will work.

Lawyer Myles Jackman told Sky News: "It is very difficult as there are a number of different scenarios in which revenge porn might be created and not all of them will fit this one scenario.

"Creating an offence that catches all is almost impossible."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

British Troops Back In Iraq To Help Beat IS

The Ministry of Defence has said a "small specialist team" of UK soldiers are in Iraq and working near the front line of the fight between the Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish fighters.

Based near the Kurdish capital of Irbil in the north, they are training peshmerga forces in the use of heavy machine guns the UK supplied to them in September.

The Sunday Times reported that the soldiers were from the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, which is based in Cyprus.

An MoD spokeswoman said: "The Government has previously made clear its intention to provide training to the peshmerga as part of the continued effort to assist in the fight against Isil (IS).

UK troops are training Kurdish peshmerga forces in the use of UK arms

"The Defence Secretary has approved the deployment of a small specialist team of non-combat Army trainers which is now in the Irbil area providing instruction on operating, employing and maintaining the heavy machine guns that were gifted by the UK last month."

British troops invaded Iraq in March 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

1/10

1. Gallery: The Moment RAF Jet Attacks IS Truck

   The RAF carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on 1 October, 2014 (All pictures: MoD)

2. Tornados destroyed a heavy weapon position, which was attacking Kurdish forces, and an armed pick-up truck (pictured). The red circle shows the path of the missile fired at the vehicle

3. The strikes were the first since MPs voted to support aerial raids in Iraq last Friday

4. The targets were in the northwest of Iraq

5. The moment the truck, which had a mounted machine gun, was destroyed by a Brimstone missile

6. A plume of smoke rose above the area

7. The strike was successful, according to an initial assessment, said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

8. The Tornados safely returned to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the sortie

9. Six of the GR4 fighter jets are based on the island in the Mediterranean

10. The aircraft began their combat missions on Saturday

The last British combat troops from the war left in April 2009, with a small number staying on to train Iraqi forces until 2011.

RAF Tornado fighter jets have been involved in US-led bombing raids on IS fighters for the past two weeks.

But there is strong resistance among British politicians to any ground troop involvement in fighting against the Islamist group, which controls vast areas of Iraq and Syria.

Video: RAF Jets Attack Targets In Iraq

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Brown Hits Out At Cameron Over Scotland Powers

Gordon Brown has told David Cameron his promise of more powers for Scotland "is not radical enough", as he warned the Prime Minister not to "play fast and loose on the constitution" in the wake of the referendum result.

The former Prime Minister is this week set to reveal more details of his plan for further powers for Scotland after the "No" campaign's triumph last month.

Speaking on Sky's Murnaghan programme, Mr Brown said the Conservatives were making a "mistake" by not going further in their offer, which should include issues like transport and the environment.

He said: "If we did that, I think we could get an agreement on very extensive powers, a powerhouse parliament, and I think we could move forward pretty quickly, accepting that we want to stay part of the United Kingdom."

However, plans to devolve 100% of control over income tax to Scotland don't "make sense", according to Mr Brown.

Video: Scotland Commitments To Be Honoured

He warned that Mr Cameron's pledge of "English votes for English laws" made the morning after the "No" vote would also be a mistake.

While Mr Brown insisted he supports the devolution of power to English regions and cities, he cautioned against restricting the rights of Scottish MPs to vote on certain issues.

He said: "So we want to see more decentralisation, more powers to the Welsh assembly and we want to see devolution, if you like, all round the United Kingdom. But what does English votes for English laws mean in practice?

"It means simply this: restricting the rights of Scottish Members of Parliament to be first class citizens at Westminster.

Video: Salmond: Scot Voters Were 'Tricked'

"If the Conservatives pursue that then it's very difficult to see how you can have one United Kingdom and two classes of representation."

The interview came as William Hague, the Cabinet minister who is leading cross-party talks on the issue, told the Sunday Telegraph that Labour leader Ed Miliband should agree soon to only English MPs voting on English issues or vote against the plans. 

"The end of November is a crunch point. This question cannot be evaded, or evaded or ignored any longer. It is absolutely essential to address it now," he said.

"The only people who are blocking this who are not committed to change are self-interested political parties rather than any voters anywhere in the country."

Video: Brown: 'Time For Scotland To Unite'

Mr Brown said the PM's remarks after the referendum were "unstatesman-like" and he should "regret what he did".

"You cannot promise Scotland something on a Tuesday then change the offer the day after the referendum on the Friday and I think the Conservatives have got to think again about playing fast and loose with the constitution," Mr Brown said.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More