New guidelines on domestic abuse

18 September 2012 Last updated at 19:06 ET

The definition of domestic abuse has been widened so it covers forms of non-violent coercive behaviour and under-18s for the first time.

It means behaviour such as preventing partners from leaving the house or having access to a phone could lead to a prosecution.

It is hoped the broadened definition will increase awareness of what domestic abuse is and who suffers it.

The Home Office says more prosecutions could be brought as a result.

It also wants more youngsters to come forward and access the support they need - for example, speaking to someone about the abuse or contacting a helpline or a specialist service.

'Horrific'

The changes, which will be implemented in March 2013, follow calls from local authorities, police and voluntary organisations.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "These changes are about government taking a lead to help expose the true face of domestic violence, which is much more complex and much more widespread than people often realise.

"Suffering at the hands of people who are meant to care for you is horrific at any age. But it can be especially damaging for young people - the scars can last a lifetime.

"Campaigners, councils, the police - the people on the front line - have called for this new definition so that they can do their job and provide victims with the right support."

There is no specific criminal offence of domestic violence. Instead, a definition that refers to "incidents of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse" was adopted in 2004.

But ministers say that has led police and prosecutors to make too narrow an interpretation of the term and let some perpetrators off the hook.

Teenagers

Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of charity, the NSPCC said: "Domestic abuse it not just an issue for adults, but also for teenagers. ChildLine receives around 3,000 contacts a year from young people about this issue.

"Teenage years are difficult at the best of times but a lack of experience in relationships and issues with self-confidence can mean young people feel they have nowhere to turn.

"Many victims, as well as perpetrators, come from abusive homes themselves and therefore don't realise how wrong these kind of relationships are."

Chief Executive of 4Children Anne Longfield said the plans to broaden the definition of domestic violence would be welcomed throughout homes across the UK, as it acknowledges that violence towards a partner can often encompass a variety of harms beyond the physical.

"However, there should be concern that these proposals may not have gone far enough by failing to encompass violence between other members of a family.

"Domestic violence is too often seen as partner on partner, but it far more complex than that, and needs wider definition."

19 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19640257#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

06.13 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rachel Lomax 'no' for Bank chief

18 September 2012 Last updated at 18:41 ET

The former deputy governor of the Bank of England Rachel Lomax says she will not be applying to be the bank's next governor.

The economist - who previously sat on the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee - had been named as the leading female candidate to take over from Sir Mervyn King.

Sir Mervyn is due to step down next year.

Ms Lomax made the remarks to Evan Davis on Radio 4's The Bottom Line.

Ms Lomax, who was deputy governor from 2003 to 2008, discussed her time working for the Bank the lead-up to the financial crisis, and outlined the characteristics she thinks the next governor will need.

She left just before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

She described the period she was there as "one of sort of unreal calm for the first four years and then this very terrifying period, the last year I was there, when markets froze.

"We knew that something was bad happening, but we really didn't know, couldn't really imagine how bad it was going to be. I mean, I left the bank just before Lehmans collapsed and it's got a lot more interesting since I left."

She said Sir Mervyn's successor would have a "huge job".

The Bank is adding to its current role and is taking over from the Financial Services Authority.

It will be in charge of overseeing the banking system, financial firms and the system in general to prevent new speculative bubbles appearing.

No women

"It's going to be a very different organization - much bigger and more complex organization than the one that Mervyn King's presided over. So you need someone who can get their mind round that and at least sort of lead the change and put together the team that can implement it."

She said the job was not for her and that "life had moved on". She also expressed disappointment that there are no other credible female candidates.

Ms Lomax is now a non-executive director of HSBC, where she is also a member of several audit and risk committees.

An advert for Sir Mervyn King's replacement was published in the Economist magazine last Friday.

A Bank spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the issue of compensation for the next governor had yet to be decided.

Sir Mervyn benefited from a final-salary pension scheme that will pay him an annual pension of just over £200,000.

His pension basic salary - frozen since 2010 - is £305,000 a year so the Bank may have to offer his successor a less generous pension, and may have to pay a higher salary.

Rachel Lomax appears on Radio 4's The Bottom Line on Thursday, 20 September at 20:30 BST. Listen again to programme via the Radio 4 website or The Bottom Line download.The Bank of England has begun advertising the job of its next governor, but is still "undecided" on what pay and pension it will offer.

19 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19644571#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

06.13 | 0 komentar | Read More

London 2012 legacy plan published

18 September 2012 Last updated at 15:25 ET

The government has published a 10-point plan for securing a lasting legacy from the Olympic Games.

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said momentum needed to be maintained if the commitment to "inspire a generation" was to be achieved.

Elite sports funding will continue up until 2018, there will be a youth sports strategy and £1.5m invested in disability sport.

Mr Robertson said MPs would be updated quarterly on the delivery of the plan.

Following the success of Team GB and Paralympics GB there has been discussion about the best way to build a legacy for the Games.

'Structured targets'

Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Lord Coe, who chaired Games organiser Locog, as the UK's Olympics legacy ambassador.

He advises Mr Cameron on the best ways to secure long-term benefits for the UK.

The government has now set out a 10-point legacy plan, which MPs will be kept up to date on.

It includes:

• £125m per year funding for elite sport over the next four years - up until Rio 2016.
• £300m investment to turn the Olympic site into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, open to the community.
• Bringing 20 major sporting events to UK by 2019, with more bids in progress.
• Sport England's £135m Places People Play legacy programme to fund new facilities, volunteering and participation programmes.
• £1bn investment over the next five years in the Youth Sport Strategy, linking schools with sports clubs and encouraging sporting habits for life.
• Government support for the Join In programme to build on the spirit of volunteering seen at the Games by getting people to volunteer at their local sports club.
• Introduction of the School Games programme sponsored by Sainsburys to boost schools sport and county sport festivals.
• More done to ensure PE in schools is available to all.
• £1.5m funding to the English Federation of Disability Sport to increase participation in sports by disabled people.
• Continue funding for International Inspiration, the UK's international sports development programme, to 2014.

The Sport and Recreation Alliance, an umbrella organisation for sports bodies, welcomed the "clear and transparent plan" but said "structured targets" were needed to measure the achievements from the different programmes.

Andy Reed, chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: "Many of the projects set out in the plan will rely on the support of community sports clubs and they, in turn, rely on volunteers to survive.

"Sports clubs face a range of challenges to their survival and many are struggling to make ends meet. We need to do more to support them to avoid the risk of damaging the infrastructure which will provide this legacy."

19 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19638262#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

02.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

2,300 pupils receive GCSE regrade

18 September 2012 Last updated at 13:21 ET

Just over 2,300 pupils have had their grades improved

More than 2,300 pupils have received better GCSE English Language results after a regrading of exam papers.

The WJEC examining board worked over the weekend after Education Minister Leighton Andrews said grade boundaries had been set in a way that was unfair to candidates in Wales.

As a result, 1,202 students will have this summer's grades increased from a D to a C and 598 from a C to a B grade.

Lowering boundaries also meant some changes at other grades.

This resulted in an overall figure of 2,386 receiving raised grades.

'Acceptable outcome'

Mr Andrews said: "The decision to direct the WJEC to regrade was about fairness and ensuring that Welsh students got the grades they deserved for the work they put into their examination.

"We are grateful to those examiners and other staff of the WJEC who worked tirelessly to ensure that candidates received their revised grades on time.

"This announcement was the only acceptable outcome for learners affected by a questionable grading methodology.

"Candidates can now rest assured that the process used to determine their final grades was fair and just."

Cardiff-based examining board WJEC issued the headline results on Tuesday, and it is believed students will get them on Wednesday morning.

Some 34,000 students in Wales took the paper in the summer.

The regrade decision began a row between the Welsh and UK governments.

Continue reading the main story

This entire fiasco shows why we in Wales are thinking long and hard about the best qualifications system for our young people"

End Quote Dr Philip Dixon Director of education union ATL

The gulf has grown with UK government plans to reform GCSEs in England.

The proportion of pupils who received a grade C for English language this summer was down 3.9% on last year.

Mr Andrews' regrade decision began a row between the Welsh and UK governments.

The results of 84,000 English students who took the same paper will not be regraded, meaning a C in Wales could be equivalent to a D in England.

The gulf has grown with UK government plans to reform GCSEs in England.

'Embrace reforms'

On Monday, Westminster Education Secretary Michael Gove revealed that GCSEs in core subjects in England will be replaced by a qualification called the English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBC).

A single end-of-course exam and one exam board for core subjects will be introduced.

Mr Gove challenged Mr Andrews to "embrace the progressive reforms that this coalition government has put forward".

Mr Andrews has said that he will make his own decision on GCSEs in Wales in November.

He described Mr Gove's plans as "a backward step", saying there was still support within Wales for GCSEs.

The Welsh government is the exam regulator in Wales, while in England the job is done by Ofqual, which has said it does not see the need for a regrade.

Dr Philip Dixon, director of education union ATL, said: "The minister is to be commended for such bold and decisive action.

"The few embittered voices who will try to deny these youngsters their success will clearly be seen for the politically motivated killjoys they are.

"This entire fiasco shows why we in Wales are thinking long and hard about the best qualifications system for our young people."

19 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-19640715#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

01.53 | 0 komentar | Read More

Travellers deny keeping 'slaves'

18 September 2012 Last updated at 14:06 ET

Five members of a travelling family forced gangs of men to work as "slaves", a court has heard.

Bristol Crown Court heard the men were forced to work as "serfs" at traveller sites in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

The men were often homeless drifters or addicts, the court was told.

William Connors, 52, Brida (Mary) Connors, 48, their sons John, 29, and James Connors, 20, and son-in-law Miles Connors, 23, deny the charges.

The court heard victims were beaten or watched others being assaulted over "many years".

Many of them were housed in caravans at Beggars Roost site in Staverton, near Cheltenham, the jury was told.

'Humiliating tasks'

Christopher Quinlan QC, prosecuting, said the men were usually recruited at shelters for the homeless or on the streets.

"The men, who I shall refer to as the workers, were often made promises of accommodation, food and payment," he said.

"Once they had been induced the workers were taken to caravan sites which the defendants owned, or used, or were associated with.

"Once with the defendants they were trapped and the promises made on the streets were spurious, empty promises intended to entice the men to go with them for one thing - work - and there was plenty of it."

"The work was monotonous, arduous and unrelenting," he said.

"It included maintenance work on the caravan sites, canvassing, door to door selling, hard manual labour, including paving, land work, driveways and gardening.

"The hours were long and the work was hard.

"Some were ordered to perform humiliating tasks, such as emptying the buckets used as toilets by their bosses."

'Kept as servants'

Mr Quinlan said the men were sometimes paid for their work but it was "derisory and sporadic - £5 here or £10 there".

"Those in receipt of state benefits were told to hand over their benefits to their bosses," he said.

Mr Quinlan told the court that some of the men spent "many years" working for the Connors family.

"They were treated as serfs, kept as servants, held in servitude and required to work as and when demanded by their masters, their bosses," he said.

Mr Quinlan said police raided traveller sites in Staverton, Enderby in Leicestershire and Mansfield in Nottinghamshire on 22 March 2011.

The defendants all deny charges of conspiracy to hold another person in servitude and conspiracy to require a person to carry out forced or compulsory labour.

The trial continues.

19 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19636018#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

01.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boyfriend charged over car death

18 September 2012 Last updated at 13:45 ET

The boyfriend of a woman whose body was found in a burning car in Somerset has been charged with conspiracy to murder.

Catherine Wells-Burr, was found in her car in Somerset on 12 September in Ashill near the A358.

Rafal Nowak is the second person to be charged with conspiracy to murder and he is due to appear before Bristol Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Anna Julia Lagwinowicz, 32, has also been charged with conspiring to murder the Bath Spa University graduate.

A 38-year-old man remains in police custody.

19 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-19640629#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

01.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Neighbours tried to rescue family

18 September 2012 Last updated at 11:58 ET

Neighbours risked their lives to try to save a family of three from a burning house in Cwmbran, south east Wales.

Kim Buckley, 46, daughter Kayleigh, 17, and six-month-old grand-daughter Kimberley died on the Coed Eva estate.

Police said neighbours used a ladder but were beaten back by flames.

Police - who referred the case to the IPCC as officers had been called to the address on other occasions - confirmed a man, 27, from the Manchester had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

In a statemetn issued on Tuesday evening, Gwent Police said: "Gwent Police can confirm that, while we cannot comment on particular details of incidents, we are aware that police officers have attended 15 Tillsland, Coed Eva on previous occasions.

They added that because of this previous contact, the case had been voluntarily referred to the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission).

As the murder investigation continues, a large area around Tillsland, where the family lived, has been cordoned off and officers making door-to-door inquiries.

Paying tribute to two neighbours who had tried to rescue the Buckleys, Chief Inspector Steve Corcoran said: "At least two male neighbours tried valiantly and bravely, using a ladder, to save the family, but unfortunately the fire was too fierce."

He added: "This is a clearly a tragic and horrendous incident where three generations of the same family have sadly lost their lives."

Some neighbours awoke to discover what had happened overnight while they had been sleeping.

Sandra Gough, 64, who lives a few doors down from the Buckley's house, said she might have heard the rescue efforts of neighbours.

"I heard banging and screaming at about 3am," she said. "It could well have been somebody trying to force their way in or out of the burning house.

Friends of the Buckley family have spoken of their shock at their loss.

Terena Mellor, 26, a friend of Kim Buckley, described her as "a character, very loud and fun-loving".

"If she saw you on the other side of the road she would have shouted out your name and asked you how you were," she said.

Ms Mellor said she believed daughter Kayleigh had been pregnant with twin daughters but had tragically lost one in birth.

The surviving daughter, Kimberley, had only recently been allowed home after spending time in intensive care at the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport.

Ms Mellor added: "This is such a tragedy. Kim and Kayleigh were very close and this should have been a happy time for everyone in the family.

"It is difficult to believe what has happened."

Firefighters were called to the scene at around 03:30 BST on Tuesday and reported finding the property "well ablaze".

Up to 30 firefighters fought the blaze before it was brought under control and put out.

The upper floor of the two-storey building is burnt out, with windows and parts of the roof missing.

"It was only when I got up this morning that I heard what happened but I didn't realise it was so close.

"It is terrible, absolutely horrific."

Fire service and police forensic examinations are under way to establish the cause and nature of the fire.

Gwent Police said any witnesses should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

18 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-19641203#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Utd net profits rise to £23m

18 September 2012 Last updated at 09:36 ET

Profits at Manchester United jumped 79.2% to £23.3m in the year to 30 June, according to latest figures.

However, the numbers, the first since the football club floated on the New York stock exchange last month, show that total revenues fell 3.3% to £320m.

Earnings from commercial operations, which includes sponsorship, hit a record £117.6, up 13.7%.

Shares in the club were floated 10 August at $14 each, but have since fallen.

The club's borrowings, which has been an issue of concern for fans as well as investors, fell during the year from £459m to £437m.

Manchester United said in a statement that since the flotation, which raised about $233m (£150m) for the club, borrowings had been reduced further.

Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: "Fiscal 2012 was the best year ever for Manchester United's commercial business."

According to the club:

• Sponsorship revenue rose 14.9% to £63m
• Retail and merchandising revenue rose 8% to £33.8m
• Revenue from new media and mobile rose 15.5% to £5.2m

However, broadcasting revenues for the year fell 11.3% to £104m, mainly due to the club's early elimination from the Champions League.

18 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19633967#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

20.52 | 0 komentar | Read More

Capita gets migrant removal job

18 September 2012 Last updated at 07:41 ET

Services company Capita has won a government contract to find and remove more than 150,000 migrants who have overstayed their visas, it has been revealed.

The payment-by-results deal is worth up to £40m, chief executive of the UK border agency Rob Whiteman told MPs.

He was unable to tell MPs what target the company had been set for removals.

The 150,000 have been denied permission to stay in the UK but have gone missing.

Immigration inspectors revealed the existence of the "migration refusal pool" - a backlog of more than 150,000 cases involving people who have been refused permission to stay in Britain but whose whereabouts are unknown - in July.

It was discovered by the new chief inspector of immigration, John Vine, during his first inspection of a local immigration team.

Mr Whiteman told MPs four companies had shortlisted for the contract to deal with the backlog, including Serco, which had been carrying out the work on an ad hoc basis.

He said Capita would be paid by results - but could not say what their target was, as the pool was growing all the time as more migrants were denied the right to stay in the UK.

"It could not be zero, otherwise it would mean we are not doing any work," Mr Whiteman told the home affairs committee.

He also revealed that 26 charter flights carrying asylum seekers last year had more immigration staff on board than deportees.

He said this figure was down from 40 four years ago but accepted further savings could be made.

18 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19637409#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

19.53 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police officers injured in arrest

18 September 2012 Last updated at 07:18 ET

Two police officers have been injured during an operation to arrest a man in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

Police confirmed that Dale Cregan, wanted in connection with a gun and grenade murder in Clayton, had been arrested.

A witness close to the scene near Ashworth Lane, Mottram, reported hearing 13 gunshots and an explosion.

Officers released details about Mr Cregan, 29, after an attack that killed David Short on 10 August.

He is also wanted in connection with the death of Mr Short's son Mark, who was killed in a pub shooting in May.

18 Sep, 2012

-
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19635239#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com

18.21 | 0 komentar | Read More