Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash Driver Breaks Silence

Patients 'Failed' By NHS Complaints System

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 07 Februari 2015 | 18.55

A health watchdog has accused the NHS of letting down patients who complain about their care.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation looked into 150 complaints regarding allegations that patients had died or suffered avoidable harm because of failings in their care.

It found that 28 of the 150 cases should have been investigated by the NHS as a Serious Untoward Incident (SUI), which is triggered to allow doctors to learn from past mistakes.

But in the vast majority of these cases (71%) the hospital failed to carry out an SUI.

Families interviewed for the review complained they felt "belittled" and "misled" by medical staff who failed to listen to their concerns or give them straight answers.

Patients groups said the findings are "worrying" and suggest the lessons from recent hospital scandals have not been learnt.

Ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor said: "Investigations weren't carried out when they should have been and when they were carried out they did not find out or explain why failings happened.

"When people make a complaint that they have been seriously harmed they should expect it to be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated."

In one case highlighted, a one-day-old baby, identified only as Baby F, was left with permanent brain damage because two doctors and a nurse made "serious mistakes" during blood transfusions.

But the hospital's SUI investigation was "fundamentally flawed and did not identify glaring errors in the conduct and recording of the transfusion and ignored obvious explanations for what happened", the ombudsman found.

Dr Katherine Rake, chief executive of Healthwatch England, said: "Our research shows that tens of thousands of people every year are being failed by the NHS and yet never report it because they have no faith the complaints system will make any difference.

"Even worse, fewer than half of those that do find the energy and courage to raise their concerns ever hear the words 'I'm sorry'.

"What we need is a complete overhaul of the complaints system that ensures every incident is properly investigated and learnt from, and that those affected are treated with the dignity they deserve."

A Department of Health spokesman said the NHS acknowledges that "listening to patients and staff is absolutely vital to improving care".

He added: "That's why we've made hospitals legally obliged to apologise to patients when mistakes do happen, introduced complaints handling as a crucial element of tougher hospital inspections and asked Robert Francis to produce an independent report on how to create a more open NHS culture."

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Tax Havens Face Blacklist Threat From Labour

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Tax havens such as Bermuda, Jersey and Guernsey will have six months to open their books or face international blacklisting if Labour wins the General Election in May, Ed Miliband has vowed.

The Labour leader has accused David Cameron of failing to follow through on demands that all overseas territories and crown dependencies adopt transparency measures being introduced in the UK.

Agreement on action to expose the owners of "shell companies" used to evade tax was hailed by Mr Cameron as a key achievement of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland in 2013.

He said then: "The UK is today leading the way by committing to create a central registry of company ownership.

"Each and every one of our overseas territories and crown dependencies has agreed to sign up to the multi-lateral convention on information exchange to exchange information automatically with the UK and to produce action plans on beneficial ownership."

But so far, according to Mr Miliband, none of the countries around the world over which Britain retains sovereignty has accepted the Prime Minister's appeal to them to "move forward together in raising standards of transparency" and some have ruled out reform.

Among the 10 countries whose leaders were called to No 10, Bermuda has rejected calls to make public the companies registered there.

So too have the Cayman Islands. Gibraltar has taken no further action. Neither has Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

In a letter to the leaders of the overseas territories and crown dependencies, Mr Miliband put them "on notice" that, if elected in May, his government would refer any that failed to produce publicly accessible central registers of beneficial ownership - who profits from a company - to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"I am writing to put you on notice that a Labour government will not allow this situation of delay and secrecy to continue," he wrote.

"Labour will act on tax avoidance where the Tories will not," he added, ending protection from international scrutiny and requesting OECD blacklisting.

Mr Miliband, accused this week of being anti-business, told a conference of Labour councillors in Nottingham: "The current Conservative leadership have become the political wing of offshore hedge funds.

"Unlike them, we will not stand by. We will ensure a country where everyone plays by the rules, from top to bottom."

But a Conservative Party spokesman said: "People should judge Ed Miliband by his record, not his rhetoric.

"For 13 years - including when he was an adviser in the Treasury - Labour did absolutely nothing to tackle tax avoidance. This shows that Ed Miliband is simply too weak to deliver on what he promises.

"In contrast, we are tackling the problem head-on. David Cameron put tax dodging at the top of the global agenda at the UK's G8 summit, securing major new international rules to ensure that companies pay what they owe."

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Hunt For Man Who Stole Dying Pensioner's Purse

Police are hunting a man who stole an elderly woman's purse as she lay dying in the road.

Greater Manchester Police were called to Leigh Road, Leigh, following reports an 82-year-old had been hit by a lorry at 11:45am on 4 February.

When they arrived they found the woman dead at the scene, and witnesses reported seeing a man steal her purse before fleeing.

They are now appealing for information to help catch the thief.

Detective Sergeant Neil Lawless said: "This is one of the most disgusting crimes I have ever investigated and I find it hard to believe someone could stoop so low to commit such a horrific offence.

"This man has taken what he sees as an easy opportunity by stealing a purse from a dying woman.

"I am sure the community will be equally disgusted and I appeal to anyone who may have seen this man take the purse and walk off on Leigh Road."

The woman has now been identified and her family have been informed.

The suspect is described as white, 6ft (1.8m) tall, between 30 and 40 years old, of medium build and with a dark brown beard.

He was wearing a light grey hooded top with the hood pulled over his head, light blue jeans and black boot style training shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Sgt Lawless said: "If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please call us as soon as possible."

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Outrage Over Barrister's 'Appalling' Rape Post

A top barrister has been critcised for claiming men should be cleared of rape if the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Writing on his blog, David Osborne said in his view, "consent is consent, blind drunk or otherwise", and "regret after the event cannot make it rape".

His comments have been condemned by campaign groups as "ridiculous" and "appalling".

In a post entitled "She was gagging for it", Mr Osborne, a married father-of-four, said: "I have a very simple solution which I hope you will agree is fair.

"If the complainant (I do not refer to her as the victim) was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, when she was 'raped', this provides the accused with a complete defence.

"End of story and a victory for fairness, moderation and common sense!"

Mr Osborne said recent guidelines on rape accusations have "serious consequences for all red-bloodied males who are out on the rut".

The guidelines issued to police and prosecutors mean people accused of rape will increasingly be expected to prove they obtained consent.

Mr Osborne also used the post to criticise Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders.

"She has decided, or rather it has been decided for her, that anybody who makes an allegation of rape must be believed, and everything possible in the trial process must be bent towards the conviction of the accused," he writes.

"Rape trials from now on are no longer to be prosecution led, but conviction led, and when you add into the mix that prison sentences for rape are getting longer and longer, the opportunities for a serious miscarriage of justice are self-evident."

Sarah Green, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, told the Daily Mirror: "I find it hard to believe this is not some kind of sick joke or a parody.

"It is ridiculous. He is suggesting the opposite of the law.

"The justice system exists to punish and deter perpetrators. The guy is a barrister and there's no way he doesn't know all this."

Clare Jones from WomenCentre was quoted by the Daily Mirror and The Independent as saying: "It's appalling.

"We are deeply shocked that even today, in 2015, someone can seriously suggest that the violent crime of rape could be provided with a complete defence if a woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.

"Is Mr Osborne suggesting that women need to be teetotal in public places in order to protect themselves?"

After the blog post came to light, Mr Osborne told the Daily Mirror that women would still have protection in law under his "solution".

He told the newspaper: "The protection in law that they have got seems to me to be twofold.

"Number One: Don't go out in the first place.

"Or Number Two: If you do go out don't get rat-a***d. If you get rat a***d, I'm sorry, you are asking for trouble."

He later added: "I tell you what would drop the rape statistics would be if girls covered up, dressed appropriately and stopped drinking themselves legless."

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Farage Cancels Rotherham Event After Protests

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 06 Februari 2015 | 18.55

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has cancelled a public appearance in Rotherham because of protests outside his party's office.

The politician had been due to cut the ribbon on the campaign office of UKIP's parliamentary candidate Jane Collins, but his staff said he would not be coming out on police advice.

Around 40 people had gathered outside in a noisy but peaceful demonstration.

Many were carrying placards with the slogan "Reject Ukip lies", and shouting that Mr Farage was not welcome in the town.

His visit follows a damning report into way Rotherham Council failed to deal with child sexual exploitation in the town.

UKIP has 10 councillors in Rotherham which is one of its main target seats in the North at the May general election.

More follows...

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Mass Web Surveillance By GCHQ Was Unlawful

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

British spies acted illegally in accessing millions of personal communications collected by the US National Security Agency (NSA), according to a ruling from Britain's most secretive court.

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has never before, in 15 years, ruled against the intelligence and security services.

But it said that up to December 2014 "the soliciting, receiving, storing and transmitting by UK authorities of private communications of individuals located in the UK, which have been obtained by US authorities" breached articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which refer to the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression, respectively.

Documents disclosed by Edward Snowden revealed the existence of the NSA's PRISM and Upstream programs.

PRISM allowed the NSA access to data handled by internet companies including Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, Google and Apple; in one day it was able to collect 444,743 e-mail address books from Yahoo and 82,857 from Facebook.

Upstream is an NSA interception program that taps fibre optic cables carrying internet information.

In one month, Upstream collected 160 billion interception records.

GCHQ and the NSA share intelligence gathered by both programmes.

However, this type of information sharing between GCHQ and the NSA is now legal. This is because a legal case resulted in disclosure of the guidelines governing information sharing.

A GCHQ spokesperson said: "Today's IPT ruling re-affirms that the processes and safeguards within the intelligence-sharing regime were fully adequate at all times - it is simply about the amount of detail about those processes and safeguards that needed to be in the public domain.

However, the ruling could open the doors to millions of claims against the intelligence services.

Privacy International and Bytes for All, two claimants in the protracted legal case, are now petitioning the IPT to find out whether their communications were intercepted. If they were, they will seek their deletion.

The IPT told Sky News that anyone with a "reasonable belief" that their communications had been intercepted illegally could petition the Tribunal to find out what information GCHQ had gathered on them.

James Welch, the legal director of Liberty, one of the claimants said: "The Intelligence Services retain a largely unfettered power to rifle through millions of people's private communications – and the Tribunal believes the limits safeguards revealed during last year's legal proceedings are an adequate protection of our privacy.

"We disagree, and will be taking our fight to the European Court of Human Rights."

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Ex-Children's Doctor Guilty Of Sex Assaults

A former children's doctor has been found guilty of assaulting young girls in the same hospital as Jimmy Savile.

Michael Salmon preyed upon girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital during the same period Savile prowled the wards.

The 79-year-old was convicted of nine indecent assaults and two rapes carried out between 1973 and 1988.

His six victims, one of whom was raped at his home, were aged 11 to 18.

Jurors at Reading Crown Court heard how Salmon carried out many of his attacks behind a screen in his consulting room.

Often the victim's parents were waiting nearby believing he was completing a medical examination.

Despite working at Stoke Mandeville while Savile is thought to have abused patients, there is no suggestion of any link between the two.

More follows...

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Jihadi Who Faked Death Gets 12 Years In Jail

A British jihadi who fled to Syria, then tried to sneak back into Britain after faking his own death has been jailed for 12 years.

Imran Khawaja has been sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.

While in Syria, he was pictured holding up a severed head and is alleged to have had links to the killer known as 'Jihadi John'.

More follows...

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Tesco Facing Probe Over Supplier Dealings

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 05 Februari 2015 | 18.54

An official investigation is to be launched into practices at troubled supermarket giant Tesco, including delays in payments to suppliers.

The move was announced by the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), Christine Tacon, who said she had formed a "reasonable suspicion" that the retailer has breached supply guidelines.

She said she took the decision after considering information submitted to her after Tesco's profit over-statement last September.

She has discussed the practices with Tesco and will now seek more information from direct suppliers and others to determine what further action to take.

The post of Adjudicator was set up in 2013 to monitor the relationship between the 10 largest retailers and their suppliers.

The investigation, which is the GCA's first, is expected to take up to nine months and the Adjudicator has called for evidence to be submitted by 3 April.

It will cover the conduct of Tesco plc from 25 June 2013 (when the GCA was created) to 5 February this year.

A statement said: "The investigation will consider the existence and extent of practices which have resulted in delay in payments to suppliers. This will include in particular, but not be limited to, delay in payments associated with:

:: Short deliveries, including imposition of penalties

:: Consumer complaints where the amounts were not agreed

:: Invoicing discrepancies such as duplicate invoicing where two invoices were issued for the same product

:: Deductions for unknown or un-agreed items

:: Deductions for promotional fixed costs (gate fees) that were incorrect

:: Deductions in relation to historical promotions which had not been agreed.

The investigation, which follows a catastrophic period for Tesco including store closures, will also look into suppliers having to make payments for better positioning of goods on shelves not related to a promotion.

Initially the probe will be restricted to Tesco, but it could be expanded to include other supermarkets if warranted.

Ms Tacon said she had taken the decision "after careful consideration" and urged suppliers with concerns to come forward and give evidence.

She told Sky News she currently had two sanctions at her disposal. "I can make legally binding recommendations and I can require (offenders) to take out - name and shame as people call it – adverts apologising for what they have done."

Once legislation currently going through parliament is in place she will also be able to impose fines.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We have taken action to strengthen compliance and ... we are changing the way we work with suppliers.

"We will continue to co-operate fully with the GCA as she carries out her investigation and welcome the opportunity for our suppliers to provide direct feedback."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "This is an historic day for the Groceries Code Adjudicator and shows we have created a regulator that has real teeth."

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E-Cigarettes Are Harmful To Lungs - Study

E-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals which could damage the lungs and immune system, scientists have discovered.

Experiments carried out on mice found e-cigarette fumes harmed the animals' lungs and made them more susceptible to respiratory infections.

Chemicals generated by the nicotine devices also weakened the immune system's response to viruses and bacteria, causing some mice to die.

Researchers found e-cigarette vapour contains "free radical" toxins similar to those found in air pollution and cigarette smoke.

Although the study said they generated just 1% of the amount of free radicals in tobacco smoke, these molecules can damage DNA and cell membranes.

The study was carried out by scientists at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Professor Shyam Biswai said: "Our findings suggest that e-cigarettes are not neutral in terms of the effects on the lungs.

"We have observed that they increase the susceptibility to respiratory infections in the mouse models.

"This warrants further study in susceptible individuals, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) patients who have switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, or to new users of e-cigarettes who may have never used cigarettes."

The study exposed mice to e-cigarette vapour equivalent to doses inhaled by humans for a period of two weeks.

Researchers then infected the mice with pneumonia bacteria or the flu virus.

The results showed the infected mice were far more likely to develop a weakened immune system.

Co-author of the report Dr Thomas Sussan said: "E-cigarette vapour alone produced mild effects on the lungs, including inflammation and protein damage.

"However, when this exposure was followed by a bacterial or viral infection, the harmful effects of e-cigarette exposure became even more pronounced.

"The e-cigarette exposure inhibited the ability of mice to clear the bacteria from their lungs, and the viral infection led to increased weight loss and death, indicative of an impaired immune response."

Results of the study have been published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE.

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GP Patients To Be Asked For Proof Of Nationality

Patients will have to prove their nationality when registering for a GP following a fresh crackdown on migrants accessing the NHS.

The Department of Health plans to launch pilots of the scheme later this year, in an effort to help recover the costs of primary care for migrants from their home countries.

According to GPs' magazine Pulse, everyone enrolling at surgeries in the 10 areas involved in the pilots will be asked for a valid European Health Insurance Card, which entitles holders to state-provided healthcare in European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

A spokesperson for the DoH said: "We are absolutely committed to improving the way the NHS recovers costs from international visitors for primary care.

"We're now planning to pilot different ways of doing this effectively without burdening busy GPs."

Health tourism is estimated to cost the UK around £2bn each year despite the fact that only residents with "indefinite leave to remain" in the country are entitled to free healthcare.

Pulse reports that the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) is working with the DoH on the plans.

It adds that a GPC briefing paper under the heading of "charging for primary care" says the Government will launch two new consultations in the spring.

According to Pulse, the note says: "Two consultations will be launched in the Spring to look further at extensions to charging.

"There are plans to start an EHIC pilot in primary care, to encourage the collection of EHICs, increase identification of chargeable patients and increase the engagement of GPs with the cost-recovery programme generally.

"GPC will be involved with a view to starting the pilot as early as possible."

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced plans last year to charge 150% of the cost to patients from outside the EU who seek NHS treatment.

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Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash Driver Breaks Silence

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The driver of the Glasgow bin lorry that crashed and killed six people has said he was unconscious and cannot remember what happened.

Harry Clarke was at the wheel of the truck when it careered down a busy shopping street in the city three days before Christmas.

Speaking to the media for the first time, he told the Daily Record the victims were on his mind "every minute of every day".

But the 58-year-old said his memory is a blank and he cannot remember the time leading up to the tragedy.

"I understand a lot of people want to know what happened that day. I wish I could tell you but I can't," he told the Daily Record.

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Gallery: Images From The Scene In Glasgow After The Bin Lorry Crash

The lorry crashed into the Millennium Hotel at the top of Queen Street in the city centre

One police officer said it first mounted the pavement 300 metres down the street

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The streets were busy with Christmas shoppers, many of whom raced to the scene to help

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Ambulance, police and fire crews were quickly on the scene as the scale of the incident became clear

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There were concerns about a potential gas leak after the lorry damaged a gas pipe

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"I just want all of the families of the injured and deceased to know I can't remember anything.

"I wish I could but I was unconscious.

"I have racked my brain to try to remember but I can't. I will never know what happened other than people telling me what they saw."

Among those killed in the crash were 18-year-old Erin McQuade and her grandparents, Jack and Lorraine Sweeney.

Stephenie Tait, 29, Jacqueline Morton, 51, and Gillian Ewing, 52, also died when the truck mounted the pavement and drove for up to 300 yards before crashing into a hotel.

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Gallery: Victims Of Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash

Jacqueline Morton, 51, who had left work early to collect her granddaughters

Stephenie Tait, 29, was a teacher at St Philomena's Primary school

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Mr Clarke was diagnosed with a heart condition after the crash and has been undergoing hospital tests, but said he previously had no idea he was in poor health.

He also said he regretted not speaking out before.

"I don't want the families to think I have been hiding," he told the Daily Record.

"I am anxious that I don't upset anyone but I feel I need to speak out today."

The former bus driver, who has received thousands of messages of support from the public, added: "Nothing will ever be normal for the families or me ever again.

"I think of everyone every minute of every day.

"I grieve for everyone involved in the accident. Every day is a struggle."

Police have finished their investigation into the incident and the Crown Office is now deciding whether any inquiry or criminal charges should be brought.

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Written By Unknown on Rabu, 04 Februari 2015 | 18.55

By David Bowden, Senior Correspondent

One in two people in the UK will get cancer at some point in their lives, according to the latest forecast by experts.

Cancer Research UK announced the new figure - which replaces the longstanding previous estimate of one in three - as it warned the country faces a "crisis" if it does not plan ahead.

The charity says the increase in cases is largely attributed to people living longer, but that the number of people surviving the disease has never been higher.

Professor Peter Sasieni, from Queen Mary University of London, is the author of the study published in the British Journal of Cancer that produced the figure.

"Cancer is a disease of old age," he said.

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Gallery: Why Are More People Getting Cancer?

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"The longer you live the more likely you are to get cancer and we think two thirds of the increase is because of increased longevity, the other third is because cancer rates are actually increasing."

While Cancer Research UK said there will "never be one single magic bullet" to cure all cancers, it called for a boost to public health and the NHS to meet looming demands for better diagnostics, treatments and earlier diagnosis.

The country's cancer survival rate has doubled over the last 40 years and around half of patients now survive the illness for more than 10 years.

The lifetime cancer risk for women (47.55%) is lower than that of men (53.5%), while the combined lifetime risk is 50.5%.

In 1980 the combined risk was 27.2%, in 1990 it was 32.7%, in 2000 it was 37.1% and in 2010 it was 41.8%.

Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: "We're living longer and that means we're more likely to develop a range of age-related health issues.

"We need to plan ahead to make sure the NHS is fit to cope. If the NHS doesn't act and invest now, we will face a crisis in the future - with outcomes from cancer going backwards.

"There will never be one single magic bullet that treats ... cures all cancers.

"I cannot foresee a time when that's going to be the case. But already we're able to cure a number of cancers now."

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McIlroy Settles Multi-Million Pound Lawsuit

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

Golfer Rory McIlroy and his former manager have reached a settlement in their multi-million pound legal dispute.

It means the 25-year-old world number one will be spared cross-examination in Dublin High Court.

Talks continued for seven hours after Mr Justice Cregan postponed the opening of the case overnight when he was told lawyers for both parties were making progress on issues.

McIlroy was suing his former management company for £4.5m, alleging he was coerced into signing an "unconscionable" contract at a Christmas party.

Horizon Sports Management was counter-suing him for £13m, alleging breach of contract and unpaid fees for negotiating some of his lucrative sponsorship deals.

At the start of 2013, McIlroy signed a deal with Nike worth $100m (£65m) over five years.

in a joint statement, the two sides said: "The legal dispute between Rory McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future."

The terms of the settlement were not revealed.

The dispute had rumbled on for 18 months and a previous attempt at arbitration proved unsuccessful. With legal costs included, the lawsuit had run to an estimated £40m.

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Gallery: A Look At The Rise Of A Golf Prodigy

Born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, a young Rory McIlroy was introduced to golf by his father. He won the 2003 Ulster Boys Championship at 13 and the European Amateur title in 2006

In 2007, at the age of 17, McIlroy won the trophy for best amateur player in the 136th British Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland

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Police And Councillors Face Child Abuse Claims

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By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

It has been claimed that a police officer and two politicians have been accused of having sex with underage girls in Rotherham.

The allegations have been made on the day that details of an independent inspection of the town's local authority will be revealed.

The inquiry was set up to assess the council's ability to handle revelations that 1,400 girls were subjected to sexual abuse over a period of 16 years.

Last year, an expert in child care, Professor Alexis Jay, made headlines around the world after publishing a report which found that girls had been beaten by groups of men in Rotherham and in some cases forced to witness the rape of other victims.

She wrote: "In just over a third of cases, children affected by sexual exploitation were previously known to services because of child protection and neglect.

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Gallery: Who's Who in The Rotherham Abuse Scandal

Roger Stone - Leader of Rotherham Borough Council from 2003 to 2014. Resigned when the report was published in August last year.

Shaun Wright - Former Police & Crime Commissioner and Cabinet Member for Children's Services until 2010. Resigned following intense pressure, three weeks after the report was published.

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Joyce Thacker - Former Head of Child Services for Rotherham Borough Council. Resigned from her post just days after Shaun Wright stepped down.

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Jahangir Akhtar - Former Deputy Leader of Rotherham Borough Council. Quit before the report was published, following claims he knew about a relationship between a 14-year-old girl and a suspected abuser.

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David Crompton - Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police. He initiated an independent investigation after the report was published.

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"It is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that child victims suffered. They were raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted, beaten, and intimidated.

"There were examples of children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone.

"Girls as young as 11 were raped by large numbers of male perpetrators."

Most of the men involved were of Pakistani origin.

Professor Jay also said that the collective failures of political and administrative leaders had been "blatant."

After the Jay report, the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles ordered an independent inspection of Rotherham Council headed by government official Louise Casey.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission would not confirm that it had received an allegation of sexual abuse by a police constable but said that so far there had been 20 complaints against ten South Yorkshire officers in relation to their handling of the child sexual exploitation investigation in Rotherham.

The National Crime Agency has refused to confirm reports that it is investigating the two councillors accused of underage sex with girls in Rotherham.

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Written By Unknown on Selasa, 03 Februari 2015 | 18.54

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Britain could today become the first country in the world to legalise the creation of IVF babies with DNA from three different people.

MPs will debate the controversial technique that involves changing the genetic material passed down the generations.

The new regulations MPs will debate "make provision to enable mitochondrial donation" under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

It would allow women to have children without passing on serious and incurable diseases of the mitochondria, tiny power generators found in almost every cell.

Opponents question the technique's safety and warn it could lead to "designer" babies.

But Prof Dame Sally Davies, England's Chief Medical Officer, says the technique would prevent great suffering.

"The 37 genes in the mitochondria are for energy making. They do not make us who we are or what we are.

"Yet children born with defective ones often don't live a year or two.

"Others get gradual deterioration of muscles, heart, kidneys, vision and brain and die in their late teens and early 20s."

Mitochondrial donation has been pioneered by scientists at Newcastle University.

They propose using standard IVF techniques to fertilise an egg from an affected woman and another from a donor.

They would then remove from the affected embryo the nucleus, which contains 99.9% of the parents' DNA, and leave behind the defective mitochondria.

At the same time they would remove the nucleus from the donated embryo.

Finally they would transplant the nucleus containing the parents' genes into the donated embryo, which would then be implanted in the mother's womb.

It's estimated that 2,500 women in the UK are affected by mitochondrial diseases and could use the technique.

But David King, of Human Genetics Alert, urged MPs not to allow the technique.

"This is not about protecting embryos but about protecting children from the severe health risks of these unnecessary techniques and protecting everyone from the eugenic designer baby future that will follow from this.

"These diseases can be prevented through conventional egg donation - a reliable method that doesn't risk the child's health. All that these dangerous experimental techniques add is that that they allow the mother to be a genetic parent, which is not a medical benefit for anyone."

The technique has already been cleared by scientific and ethics watchdogs. The public have also been consulted and broadly supported its use.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, the UK's biggest research charity, said: "The Government is right to ask Parliament to support regulations that will allow the law to catch up with public and scientific opinion, and we urge MPs and peers to vote for them."

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More Snow For Britain As Mercury Plummets

Parts of the UK have been waking up to a fresh blanket of snow, following a night that saw temperatures drop as low as -11C (12.2F).

Even parts of London are seeing light snow falls but higher ground such as the North York Moors and Lincolnshire Wolds have been told to expect up to 10cm (4in) of snow.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow and ice in much of the UK and gritters have been out in force.

The Highlands village of Dalwhinnie felt the coldest temperature overnight, with the mercury plunging to -11C and Katesbridge Co Down reached -8C.

Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said that while snow falls in the southern and eastern areas of the country would only be up to 4cm (1.5in), this would still cause difficult travel conditions.

Temperatures will reach a high of around 5C, with Wales, the West Midlands and northwest England seeing the best of the dry and fine weather.

Lang added: "Today will see further wintry showers across eastern and southeastern areas of England, although they will become less frequent and turn more sleety.

"During this evening and overnight there will be another widespread frost with the risk of icy patches as further wintry showers spread in across eastern England.

"Showers are unlikely to spread as far inland as last night, ice is likely to be a risk too."

Temperatures will struggle to get above 6C in parts of England, including London, according to Met Office forecaster Kirk Waite.

The trains seemed to be handling the snow well in the morning, with most running a normal service.

Signal problems meant delays for some, however, including South Eastern, Southern, London Midland and ScotRail.

Heavy traffic was reported on many of the nation's main roads, according to the Highways Agency, with the worst congestion seen on the M62 towards Hull entry slip road from the A15 after an accident closed the road.

Roads with moderate congestion included the A174 westbound between the junctions with the A1032 and the A19; the A34 southbound between the junctions with the A4130 and the M4.

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CCTV Footage Exposes Slaughterhouse Cruelty

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By Hind Hassan, Sky News Reporter

Campaigners and MPs are calling for CCTV cameras at every abattoir after footage revealed extreme animal cruelty at a halal slaughterhouse.

Secretly recorded video shows sheep being kicked, thrown and punched at Bowood Lamb abattoir in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

The filming was carried out by animal rights group Animal Aid, who smuggled cameras into the site and filmed footage over three days in December.

In the video, one of the workers stands on the neck of one animal, while another worker hacks a sheep to death - contrary to Islamic guidelines.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says it has suspended the operating licences of four of the slaughter men and is now conducting an investigation.

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Gallery: Halal Slaughterhouse Investigation

Four slaughtermen have had their operating licences suspended after an animal rights group used hidden cameras to film the alleged mistreatment of animals at a halal slaughterhouse

Animal Aid claims the footage shows a worker hacking and sawing at animals' throats, in direct contravention of Islamic practice

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The footage is also believed to show staff taunting and frightening animals by waving knives, smacking them on the head and shouting at them. Click through to see more images.

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Conservative MP Henry Smith will call for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses during a House of Commons debate.

He told Sky News it would allow for "an independent assessment and so that those carrying out that role know that the system is monitored to prevent cruelty taking place".

The MP for Crawley said: "Already many abattoirs, particularly ones that supply the big supermarkets like Tesco and Waitrose, have a system of CCTV to ensure animal welfare standards are maintained.

"So what I'm asking for is that is extended across all slaughterhouses in the UK. It's not something that is very expensive or burdensome but actually could end a lot of unnecessary suffering and abuse of livestock in the food production process."

Slaughterhouses in the UK are required to stun animals before they are killed to minimise pain, but Muslim and Jewish slaughterhouses are exempt due to religious requirements.

Halal meat must be prepared in accordance with Islamic law. Like Jewish kosher meat, it requires the animal to be slaughtered and the blood drained.

Both religions dictate that it should be done with a surgically sharp knife and in one uninterrupted sweep.

Masood Butt, from The Association of Non Stun Abattoirs (ANSA), which represents the halal meat industry, said: "Islam has absolutely clear guidelines about treating animals within a slaughterhouse or outside a slaughterhouse and that is to be kind and merciful to them and respecting their care and not to cause pain or suffering to the animal unnecessarily.

"For example, Islam says you are not allowed to slaughter an animal in front of an other animal.

"You are not allowed to deprive them from food or water. You have to provide enough space for them to lie down or walk about.

"Islam has clear guidelines not to slaughter babies in front of their mother and if they have done so they are not only not following the laws of animal welfare in the UK, but they are also not following the rules in Islam."

The Muslim Council of Britain said it is appalled at reports of animal mistreatment.

A spokesman said: "Animal cruelty is wrong and criminal wherever it may occur.

"That it is being carried out in halal slaughter makes it even more incredulous. Animal welfare should be observed by all slaughterhouses.

"The findings certainly are abhorrent in Islamic practice, and the abattoir must be subject to the full force of the law."

In a statement The FSA said: "There is no excuse for treating animals in the way shown on the video and we are therefore investigating the footage with a view to prosecution."

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Written By Unknown on Senin, 02 Februari 2015 | 18.54

Two Bristol squares could become Britain's first major public outdoor spaces to go smoke-free.

Millennium Square and Anchor Square on Bristol's harbourside could be free of cigarette smoke due to a pilot launched by Smokefree South West.

Extensive research in the squares ahead of the initiative found most people were in support of the voluntary ban.

Some 53% described it as a "good or very good idea", with 61% saying the area would be a better place if it were smoke-free.

Fiona Andrews, director of Smokefree South West, said she expected the pilot to police itself.

"This is an exciting initiative that we hope will have a lasting impact not only on Millennium Square and Anchor Square, but on the wider region," she said.

"These city centre squares are often full of children playing and this pilot will provide a smoke-free environment for kids and their families to enjoy."

The smoke-free zones will be promoted with signs that thank people for keeping Bristol smoke-free, healthy and clean.

Millennium and Anchor Squares house the At-Bristol science museum, shops and restaurants, regularly host events and festivals and are frequented by large numbers of children playing.

The pilot builds on the smoke-free play parks project, which reduced smoking near playgrounds in the Southwest by 34% through signs asking people not to smoke.

Councillor Daniella Radice, Assistant Mayor for Neighbourhoods at Bristol City Council, said: "In this year that Bristol is proud to be the European Green Capital, I am excited to see how this pilot can change people's habits and make Bristol an even more enjoyable place to live and to visit."

Smokers' group Forest has criticised the ban as an example of "creeping prohibition".

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places. Now campaigners want to ban it outside. This is creeping prohibition.

"Extending public smoking bans to outdoor areas is illiberal and unwarranted.

"Smoking in the open air harms no-one apart, perhaps, from the consumer - and that's their choice."

The pilot follows a major report last year by former health minister Lord Darzi which suggested that London and other UK cities should ban smoking in public spaces and parks.

Cities including New York, Toronto and Hong Kong have already banned smoking in key outdoor locations.

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Cameron's 'All-Out War' On Mediocre Schools

Headteachers at coasting primary and secondary state schools face being sacked in an "all-out war on mediocrity", David Cameron is to announce today.

In a speech later, the Prime Minister will say that any English school assessed as requiring improvement by Ofsted will be put under new leadership unless it can show it has plans in place to bring about rapid change.

Coasting schools will also automatically be considered for academy status.

The country's best headteachers, backed by high-performing neighbouring schools or expert sponsors will take over the running of the schools.

They will be expected to introduce reforms to boost results that could involve new discipline policies or changes in personnel, such as removing headteachers.

The move comes as part of a Conservative manifesto commitment to give all children a good start in life, regardless of where they are from.

Mr Cameron said: "As parents we're hardwired to want the best for our kids. No one wants their child to go to a failing school - and no one wants to them to go to a coasting school either.

"So this party is clear. Just enough is not good enough. That means no more sink schools - and no more 'bog standard' schools either. We're waging an all-out war on mediocrity, and our aim is this: the best start in life for every child, wherever they're from - no excuses."

Eton-educated Mr Cameron has previously insisted he wants to spread the advantages he enjoyed to "every child in Britain" and pledged to end the education "lottery".

The reforms build on existing powers that allow failing schools to be converted into academies.

Around 1,200 schools have made the transition, mostly under the coalition.

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Freezing Temperatures And More Snow Forecast

Up to 3cm of snow could fall across eastern coasts this week as forecasters warn of more freezing temperatures and travel disruption.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning and advised the wintry conditions could cause widespread disruption.

Forecasters urged the public to beware of "severe or hazardous weather" which had the potential to cause "danger to life or widespread disruption".

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said temperatures could plunge by mid-week which could affect some roads and flights in the South.

"It will remain cold through the week with the increasing risk of bitter northeasterly winds and some snow showers for more eastern and southeastern parts of England," she said.

"This looks most likely to take place during Wednesday and Thursday and it may be that one to three centimetres of snow settles.

"Although not substantial, this may affect some of the major routes such as the A1 and M25 as well as Luton, Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

"Confidence in the detail is low at this stage and if travelling this week it would be advisable to keep up to date with the latest forecasts. It may be that many places away from the east miss the snow altogether."

The forecast comes after snow showers and wintry temperatures swept into the North West last week leading to a dozen rail services between Manchester and Yorkshire being cancelled.

A fierce blast of cold air also brought more snow and freezing temperatures to some parts of Britain this weekend.

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