More troops set to return from Iraq
Another 500 British troops are to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the
year, Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, said yesterday (Michael Evans
writes).
The pull-out will follow a decision, due next month, to hand over the Basra
Palace military base in central Basra to the Iraqi forces. The new total of
5,000 troops will be located mostly at Basra air station, Mr Browne said.
Speaking after returning from Baghdad, accompanying Gordon Brown, the Defence
Secretary said that the plan to withdraw a further 500 troops was expected
to go ahead because of improvements made by the Iraqi forces in taking
responsibility for security.
Three of the four provinces in the south have been handed over to the Iraqis.
But Mr Browne said the handover of Basra province would be more complex.
Prison suicides up
Suicides among prisoners are running at the rate of two a week, new figures
show. There have been 43 self-inflicted deaths among inmates so far this
year, compared with 67 for all of 2006. Anne Owers, the Chief Inspector of
Prisons, said that there had been a significant rise since problems with
overcrowding worsened.
Doctors’ pay fears
A key group of hospital doctors will accuse the Government today of sitting on
proposals to award them a pay rise. Staff grade and associate specialist
doctors say that they have not benefited from pay deals offered to
consultants and GPs because talks with the public sector pay committee have
stalled.
Officer found dead
Police called to a house in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, after reports that a
female had been injured, found the body of Lance Williams, 38, a police
officer. His death is being treated as unexplained. Dyfed Powys Police would
not say if the female was a woman or child, but confirmed she was receiving
medical attention.
Bill for Levy party
A farewell party for Lord Levy to mark his service as the Prime Minister’s
personal envoy in the Middle East will cost taxpayers £6,000. The reception
for the 61-year-old peer and Labour fundraiser at the heart of the cash for
honours inquiry will be hosted by the Foreign Secretary next Tuesday.
Iraqi death inquiry
A judgment from the House of Lords today is expected to force the Ministry of
Defence to order an independent inquiry into an Iraqi who died while being
detained by British troops in Basra (Michael Evans writes). Baha Musa died
in September 2003 after a sustained beating in which he suffered 93
injuries.
Prison is a finishing school for burglars
Prison provides a finishing school for burglars to polish their skills, and a
sentence provides an education in crime rather than a deterrent, research
indicates (Stewart Tendler writes). But 13 convicted burglars told
researchers that they did not often need the extra skills because
householders made it easy for them by not setting alarms, and leaving doors
or windows open and keys in locks.
One burglar said: “On the outside you can only go on your own wisdom of
learning things, but when you’re in jail you have thousands of different
people to ask.”
The study for Halifax Home Insurance, led by Martin Gill, from Leicester
University, visited break-in hotspots in Nottingham, Bedford and the West
Midlands to look at homes through burglars’ eyes.
Antisocial costs
Antisocial behaviour has affected 30 million Britons in the past five years
and cost them £1 billion in repairs, according to a new study.
Nearly a third of people questioned said that they had suffered at least six
times in the past five years. Homes are the most common targets and more
than a quarter of householders said they had considered moving. The survey
of 2,534 adults across the UK, carried out for Zurich Insurance, found that
almost a third of people worried about the security of their homes and cars.
Nearly 40 per cent said that they felt powerless at the hands of vandals.
Children’s campaign
All advertising to children under 7 should be banned, according to a left-wing
pressure group that has started a campaign to end the commercialisation of
childhood.
Compass said that product placement in children’s films and television
programmes should also end, and is calling for a speed limit of 20 miles per
hour in residential areas to encourage children to play outside. A spokesman
said: “Commercialisation has become a barrier to a good childhood. Over the
last decade marketing has invaded playground culture, dictating how children
play and learn.”
Nazi double agents
Five German spies who were captured in the Second World War and persuaded to
become double agents, working for the British, have been identified from
released MI5 files despite a longstanding taboo on naming agents (Michael
Evans writes). The identities were uncovered by David List, a researcher who
studied MI5 files released to the National Archives in Kew and
cross-referenced relevant documents to find the names. He told the BBC Radio
4 programme Today that it had not been difficult to work out who the secret
agents were from cross-checking files that related to their capture.
Guard ‘shocked by outburst from MP’
A security guard told the High Court yesterday that he was left “shocked and
flustered” by a foul-mouthed outburst from a Labour MP. Chris Ham, 21, said
that he had never seen Martyn Jones, 60, until the day he “politely” asked
to see his pass and “was told to f*** off”. Mr Ham was giving evidence for
Associated Newspapers, which is being sued by Mr Jones for libel. The
hearing continues.
Pilot dies at air show
A microlight pilot died in a mid-air collison at a flying competition near
Stroud, Gloucestershire. The man, from Bristol, who has not been named by
police, was taking part in the UK Paramotor Championships at Chavenage
Green. The other pilot was unhurt.
Hidden house costs
The true cost of moving home is more than £22,000, a study claimed. Research
from Abbey Mortgages indicated that new homeowners pay an average of £16,000
in fees and stamp duty, and spend an average of £6,289 over the next 12
months on DIY and other work on their houses.
Triplets party at 80
Britain’s oldest living identical triplets celebrated their 80th birthday with
a party for 80 guests. Doris Kingston, Alice Holmes and Gladys Caress were
born in the Yorkshire village of South Elmsall and meet every week for lunch
in Leeds. They go on holiday together every year.
Young offenders
Derbyshire police apologised after they sent six-year-old Peter Akers one of a
batch of letters giving known criminals one last chance to hand themselves
in. It offered him a fresh start if he confessed to his crimes. Peter said
that he had recently taken some sweets from his sister’s room.
Teacher loses Harry Potter book claim
A teaching assistant who refused to let a child read from a Harry Potter book,
because it “promoted witchcraft”, lost a claim for religious discrimination
and constructive dismissal. Sariya Allan, 47, a born-again Christian, said
that Durand Primary School in Stockwell, South London, “rubbished” her
religion after a parent complained. She resigned last July. Her claim for
£50,000 compensation was rejected by Croydon Employment Tribunal.
Assaulted girl dies
A teenage girl who was stabbed and beaten in a daylight attack two weeks ago
has died. Police are treating the death of Danielle Johnson, 17, from
Tottenham, North London, as murder. A 17-year-old has been charged, and an
18-year-old has been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.
Rule of thumb
Europcar, the car rental company, is taking customers’ thumbprints to deter
thieves. The scheme was introduced after a year-long pilot project at
Stansted airport. All 48,000 vehicles rented during the trial period were
returned on time, compared with an average of 15 vehicles a month reported
missing by Europcar in 2006.
Solicitor jailed
A solicitor who stole money from the estates of two dead clients and spent it
on cars, holidays and private education for his children has been jailed for
30 months. Guy Blackwood, 49, of Exeter, stole £175,000 from the estates of
Hannah Bailey between 1999 and 2001 and Arthur March between 1998 and 1999.
Madeleine charge
A woman who allegedly posed as a bogus charity collector, claiming to be
raising money to help to find Madeleine McCann, appeared in court charged
with theft. Debbie Clifton, 33, of Cannock, Staffordshire, was remanded in
custody to reappear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Standby switch-off
Stand-by functions on electrical goods should be phased out, according to DSG
International, whose stable includes Currys, Dixons and PC World. John
Clare, DSG’s chief executive, is calling on suppliers to support the green
agenda with more products that are energy-efficient and use sustainable
materials.
Bird decline ‘slows’
The decline in bird and butterfly numbers appears to be slowing, according to
the Spring Index, a indicator of biodiversity produced by the Department for
Food, Environment and Rural Affairs. Since 2000 there are more protected
areas and spending on UK and global biodiversity has increased.
Sir,re: Standby switch off. Good news! but in which case why are Freeview set top boxes urging us to leave them on standby every night ! How sad is that !
John White, Carmarthen, Wales