Give black recruits a stake, says Met chief

Britain’s top police officer said that efforts to recruit more black and Asian people through affirmative action were “yesterday’s solution”.

Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said that London’s success in recruitment proved that positive discrimination was not necessary.

During a debate at the National Black Police Association conference in Bristol, Sir Ian said the only way to persuade more people to join the police was to give ethnic minority communities “a decent standard of service” and a natural stake in the force.

Nonwhite officers will make up 24 per cent of the force by the end of the year – an increase of 7 per cent in a year.

NHS ‘ignored repairs’

NHS trusts have ignored repair and maintenance work worth £3.74 billion, effectively wiping out the service’s financial surplus, figures suggest. The total estimated cost of backlog maintenance has increased by £900 million (31 per cent) since 1997, according to figures obtained by the Conservatives.

Murder charges

Philip Savin, 29, of Bootle, and David Clarke, 45, of Liverpool, have been charged with the murder of Monika Szmecht, 20, a Polish waitress who was set on fire and dumped in a lay-by. They are due to appear at St Helens Magistrates’ Court today. One man has already been charged with her murder.

Annan knighted

Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner, received an honorary knighthood in a private audience with the Queen where he was made an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. He cannot use the title “Sir” because he is not a British citizen.

Editor to step down

Roger Alton, the Editor of The Observer, is to step down at the end of the year after nearly ten years in the post. Mr Alton, 59, who has twice won “Editor of the Year” accolades, said that it was the right time to hand over to his successor, John Mulholland, 44, who has been his deputy since 1998.

Nurse abuse ruling

Nurses and care workers unfairly accused of abuse have won greater legal protection after a Court of Appeal ruling. Anyone accused now has the chance to make representations to the Secretary of State for Health before being put on a provisional “blacklist”, which has resulted in the loss of work and homes.

Serious Crime Bill

The Serious Crime Bill cleared Parliament after the Lords accepted MPs’ amendments and will now go for Royal Assent. It will introduce new powers for law enforcement agencies including the establishment of an order to prevent serious crime by individuals or organisations, by imposing conditions on them.

Student suicide after ‘cheat’ row

A student shot himself dead after being reprimanded in a university cheating row, an inquest was told.

Matthew Curtis, 22, shot himself at the family farmhouse in Westell, Oxfordshire in March. His elder brother Tom had died in a car crash two years earlier.

The row at Reading University, where he was studying agriculture and business, resulted only in a “minor infringement”. A friend had copied his work. A verdict of suicide was recorded.

Zone extended

The bluetongue zone is to be extended after the discovery of the disease on a farm in Sevenoaks, Kent. The control zone covering parts of Essex and East Anglia will now merge with the one in Kent and East Sussex. The protection zone outside the control zone in the SouthWest has also been extended.

Drug go-ahead

The Government’s health watchdog, Nice, has confirmed its decision to allow bone cancer sufferers to obtain a life-extending drug from the NHS. Under the scheme, the makers of the drug bortezomib (commonly known as Velcade) would refund the NHS when the treatment does not work.

Baby’s death

A mother frantically tried to revive her baby after waking to find her dead in bed with her. Tina Roszkowska shook six-month-old Katya and performed CPR under a 999 operator’s guidance to try to save her, an inquest in Miskin, South Wales, was told. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

Carer protection

Nurses and care workers unfairly accused of abuse have won greater legal protection after a Court of Appeal ruling. Anyone accused now has the chance to make representations to the Health Secretary before being put on a provisional “blacklist”, which has resulted in the loss of work and homes.

Hotel covers it

Staff at a chain of budget hotels are being advised on how to deal with naked sleepwalkers. A study by Travelodge showed that instances had risen sevenfold at their hotels in a year, nearly always involving men. Staff will be encouraged to keep towels handy to protect the dignity of customers.

Dolly music ban

A country and western fan was warned that she could lose her home if she continues to play loud music. Diane Duffin, who likes to play Dolly Parton records, had a suspended possession order threatening eviction from her home and an injunction taken out against her by Leeds City Council.

Jam today

A young entrepreneur has signed a deal to sell his jam at Tesco. Fraser Doherty, 18, from Edinburgh, started making jam using fruits such as blueberries in his parents’ kitchen in 2003. His jam uses fruit juice rather than sugar. His Super Jam brand now sells 40,000 jars a month.

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