Police Reviews Aimed At Improving Public Trust

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

Theresa May has announced four separate reviews into the police in an attempt to improve integrity in the forces.

Amid concern that too many complaints against the police are investigated by forces themselves, the Home Secretary said she wanted to see a wide range of changes to make the police more open and transparent.

"Sealed investigations" into serious misconduct and corruption are likely to be introduced as part of the overhaul, which would mean the investigations would be carried out in secret without the knowledge of the force and suspects.

Annual inspections will not just look at effectiveness and efficiency, but whether the force has acted with integrity.

And there will be more attempts to open up senior positions to people with different backgrounds, rather than closing them to anyone who has not risen up through the ranks.

Home Secretary Theresa May

Ms May told MPs she believed the "vast majority of police officers in this country do their job honestly and with integrity".

However, she added, this "good work" was in danger of being damaged by the continuing revelations of police misconduct including on stop and search, on the poor response to domestic violence and on the need for "top to bottom" reform of the Police Federation itself.

In response, the Home Secretary announced the College of Policing will carry out a "fundamental review" into police leadership and the former army officer Major General Clive Chapman will lead a review into police discipline.

In addition, a public consultation will be launched into police whistle-blowers in the autumn and a review has been launched into the entire police complaints system.

The changes are part of an attempt by the Government to improve public trust in the police force.

Currently less than one in four people who complain to the police are satisfied with the outcome.

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Litvinenko Death: Public Inquiry To Be Held

The widow of poisoned ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko says she is "relieved and delighted" that there will be a public inquiry into his death.

Marina Litvinenko said the Government's announcement there would be a full investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death sent a message to his killers that "no matter how strong and powerful you are, the truth will win out in the end".

Home Secretary Theresa May outlined the terms of the public inquiry in a written statement.

Investigators will now be able to examine whether his killing was a Russian state-ordered assassination, as has been suggested.

Marina Litvinenko had been fighting for a public inquiry

Mr Litvinenko was poisoned by a cup of tea laced with the deadly radioactive element polonium-210 during a meeting at a London hotel in 2006 with two former Russian agents. He died three weeks later.

Mrs Litvinenko has fought for a public inquiry into his death ever since, but the Government refused on the grounds it wanted to wait for the outcome of an inquest into his death.

Mrs May said in her statement: "I very much hope that this inquiry will be of some comfort to his widow."

The Litvinenko affair has caused significant diplomatic ructions between Britain and Russia. Police have asked for the arrests of two prime suspects, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, but the Kremlin has refused.

The announcement of an inquiry could not have come at a worse time for Britain's increasingly frayed relationship with Russia as tensions between the two countries intensify over Vladimir Putin's handling of the Ukraine air disaster.

Andrei Lugovoi is now a Russian MP

Sky's political correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "Sources admit it is 'bad timing' but insist there is no conspiracy. They point to a High Court ruling back in February, following a judicial review by Mr Litvinenko's widow. It said there was a pressing need for an inquiry. So the Government had to act.

"But it did so slowly. Today was its final opportunity, according to the source, because it is the day that Parliament breaks up - and given the ruling it would be inappropriate to wait until after the summer."

Mr Litvinenko fled Russia in 2000 and was granted asylum in Britain. His widow claims he was working for MI6 at the time of his death after meeting Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square.

Last year, Sir Robert Owen, who was conducting the inquest and would now chair the inquiry, said he could not hold a "fair and fearless" investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death because the Government refused to release information on Russian and British intelligence involvement.

Alexander Litvinenko in 1998

He had said a public inquiry would be the best way to proceed.

Mr Lugovoi, who is now a Russian MP, withdrew his cooperation with the inquest in 2013, accusing the British Government of a cover-up.

He has always denied murdering Mr Litvinenko, but has admitted meeting him shortly before his death, however, traces of radiation at key locations on his route from Moscow to London were found.

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Sir Roger Tight-Lipped Over Scottish Referendum

Sir Roger Moore has refused to follow in the footsteps of fellow 007 star Sean Connery and is staying out of the Scottish independence debate.

The former James Bond star, 86, remained tight-lipped on September's referendum while appearing as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador at a Commonwealth Games briefing in Glasgow.

"I would not make any comment about it because I'm here as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador," the English actor said.

"Unicef, although it's a branch of the United Nations, is not financially supported by the UN - it's entirely by voluntary contributions.

Sean Connery has made his views clear on the vote

"One of the stipulations is that we do not express any opinion that might be political because we want to be heard and seen everywhere in the world."

Connery on the other hand has been very vocal about the forthcoming vote.

In March he urged fellow Scots to vote for independence as the opportunity is "too good to miss".

The Hollywood star, who does not live in the country, claimed a "new nation" with more hope would be created if Scotland backs leaving the UK in September's referendum.

JK Rowling received abuse over her support of the no campaign

A host of high-profile names have weighed into the Scottish independence debate. JK Rowling received abuse online after donating £1m to the anti-independence campaign.

Violinist Nicola Benedetti has refused to give her opinion for fear of similar attacks.

Meanwhile, after Daniel Craig's memorable appearance in accompanying the Queen to the opening ceremony of the London Olympics via parachute in a spoof short film two years ago, Sir Roger was asked if he would be seeing any other Bond actors in Glasgow and how he would be arriving at Wednesday's opening ceremony.

"Do I anticipate meeting any other James Bonds while I'm here? I haven't heard from Sean (Connery)," he said.

"As for making an entrance, there are no plans for that. I'm allergic to helicopters."

The ceremony will see spectators at Celtic Park and millions watching on television afforded the opportunity to donate by text message to Unicef.

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MH17: Families And Futures 'Ruined' By Crash

Russia Only Needs To Create Doubt Over MH17

Updated: 12:50pm UK, Tuesday 22 July 2014

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent

From a cavernous situation room inside the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Lieutenant-General set out Russia's version of events.

The briefing was carried live on Russian state TV and handed out on DVDs by Russia's ambassador to Malaysia.

They claim to have detected a Ukrainian military aircraft within 3-5km of the Malaysian Airliner on Thursday.

"The SU-25 fighter jet can gain an altitude of 10km, according to its specification," Lt Gen Kartopolov explained (which happens to be the exact altitude at which MH17 was flying).

"It's equipped with air-to-air R-60 missile that can hit a target at a distance up to 12km, up to 5km for sure.

"We would like to get an explanation as to why the military jet was flying along a civil aviation corridor at almost the same time and at the same level as a passenger plane."

They also claim to have detected an unusual increase in Ukrainian radar activity leading up to the incident, and that the airliner came down "within the operating zone" of Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile defences.

He showed satellite images of a Ukrainian base close to Donetsk, pointing out that its surface-to-air missile units were missing on the day of the crash.

He then appeared to claim that one of the units had moved into rebel-controlled territory on the morning of the crash.

Finally, Russia categorically denied supplying the rebels with Buk surface-to-air missile systems, or indeed any other weaponry.

Now, firstly, it's worth saying there is a propaganda war in both directions here, which has been going on for several months, and that both sides are pursuing interests beyond the immediate tragedy of MH17.

But the questions Russia presents "that Kiev must answer" raise a few questions themselves.

The SU-25 "fighter jet" Russia claims to have identified close to the airliner is a ground attack aircraft - according to its manufacturer its maximum service height, without weapons, is 7,000m - 3km short of MH17.

As Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer pointed out, it's also too slow: "They should have at least claimed it was an SU-27," he said.

And if the rebels don't have the Buk missile system, or indeed any other Russian-supplied weaponry - how did they target the dozen Ukrainian military aircraft they have previously boasted of shooting down?

This included an Antonov-26 transport aircraft, flying at an altitude of 6,500m last week.

It is possible of course that the rebels have acquired weapons from Ukrainian military bases, although the government in Kiev insists it can account for all of its missile systems.

And what exactly is the case Russia is setting out? Is it suggesting the Ukrainian SU-25 (despite its technical limitations) shot down the passenger jet in mid-air?

And why? The plane would seem to have been travelling in the wrong direction for Ukrainian forces to have perceived it as a hostile aircraft coming from Russia, and the rebels don't have an air force.

So are they seriously suggesting the Ukrainians deliberately moved their missiles on to rebel-held territory and shot the airliner down as part of some sort of nefarious plan to frame the rebels and turn world opinion against them?

But then Russia doesn't need to prove its case - all it needs is to create one, to insist that there are different versions of events, that there is credible claim and counter-claim.

In much the same manner as a criminal defence barrister, Russia doesn't have to demonstrate that its alleged client is innocent - just to establish enough doubt in the minds of the jury - in this case the international community - that they can't be completely sure.

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Cheryl Cole And Husband Throw Wedding Bash

Friends and family disappointed at missing out on Cheryl Cole's recent nuptials have now been able to celebrate with the newlyweds.

The singer married French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, 33, on the Caribbean island of Mustique with just four guests.

On Monday night the pair were in London at exclusive venue the Library.

Celebrating with them were Cole's Girls Aloud friends Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, as well as her mother Joan Callaghan.

Pregnant Kimberley Walsh and her partner Justin Scott were guests

The party seemed to have a black and white dress code as guests were all pictured wearing monochrome outfits.

Dressed in a floor-length black gown which had a sheer skirt, the 31-year-old singer smiled for photographers as she left the gathering holding her husband's hand.

The star announced her new marital status online on July 13, writing: "I usually do not discuss my personal life but to stop the speculation I want to share my happy news ... Jean-Bernard and I married on 7/7/14."

Cole posted this photo of her rings on her website. Pic: cherylcole.com

The Crazy Stupid Love singer, who was previously married to footballer Ashley Cole, added: "We are very happy and excited to move forward with our lives together."

She also posted a snap of a giant stone on her ring finger.

The pop star also appeared to have dropped her previous surname - from her Twitter account at least.

She had previously been known to her online followers as LadyCCole, but she changed it to CherylOfficial.

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Woman Killed By Car 'May Have Been Pushed'

Two pedestrians killed on a busy Norfolk road had seperately asked someone to call the police shortly before their deaths, detectives have revealed.

The man and woman, believed to be Lithuanian nationals in their 20s who were living in the area, died on Sunday afternoon after being hit by a car on the A47 east-bound at Terrington St John.

Police say they are treating the woman's death as suspicious following accounts by some witnesses that she may have been pushed into oncoming traffic.

Both the man and woman were walking barefoot towards King's Lynn on the busy dual carriageway at the time.

Det Chief Inspector Paul Durham, said that officers were trying to piece together the pair's movements but help from other witnesses is needed.

The first reported sighting of them is at 12.30pm on the Elm roundabout at Wisbech. At 1.20pm they stopped at Worzals Farm Shop in Walpole Highway and each asked an assistant to call police, giving no explanation about why. 

They left before police were called, the detective said.

He went on: "Witnesses then see them again walking along the verge of the A47 eastbound dual carriageway, where they are struck and killed by a single vehicle at 2.15pm.

"They would have posed an unusual sight - the woman wearing a bright pink vest-top and the man in designer-style jean shorts - both walking barefoot along one of our busiest trunk roads on one of the hottest days of the year.

"We need to find out how and why this tragedy occurred and I would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen them in the area, at any time on Sunday morning, to come forward with information."

The man is described as slim, white, 6ft 1in and with short dark hair. He was wearing blue knee-length jean shorts and a grey T-shirt.

The woman is described as slim, white, 5ft 7in, and with long auburn hair. She was wearing a bright pink vest top and black knee-length leggings.

Police are trying to trace next of kin and will not reveal the pair's identity until their families have been told.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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Driver: Adele's 'Fire' Song Made Me Ditch Car

A motorist stopped his car on a motorway claiming the dashboard display had alerted him to an impending "fire" - when it was actually the name of a song playing on the stereo.

The motorist told traffic officers he thought the onboard computer was warning him the vehicle was close to bursting into flames.

It turned out he was looking at the name of a song he was listening to at the time - Adele's Set Fire To The Rain.

The hard-to-believe explanation was among several unusual excuses drivers have come up with for illegally stopping on hard shoulders across the country, as revealed by the Highways Agency.

Other cases included a motorist who stopped to pick flowers and a man in an open-top sports car taking pictures of his newly born grandchild "because it was a lovely day".

Altogether, 2,062 drivers stopped on a motorway hard shoulder between July and September 2013 in cases not classed as an "emergency", when it is legal to do so.

Officials also revealed excuses such as: parking to have a sleep on the M6, parents feeding their children, and a motorist calling insurance firms when he realised his car policy had expired.

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'Girl Summit' Aims To End Child Marriage

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Correspondent

The first ever "Girl Summit" is being held in the UK, aimed at increasing efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation.

Co-hosted by UNICEF and the UK Government the event is being held in London and brings together government representatives, international organisations, the private sector and girls themselves to call for action.

Organisations involved say millions of girls and women are being prevented from achieving their potential, or live a life free from violence, because of harmful practices such as FGM and CEFM, which are illegal in the UK.

Sky News spoke to one Kurdish woman who, at the age of 15, was forced to marry a man she didn't know, and was subsequently beaten and raped.

Speaking through a translator, she described how her own relatives attacked her when she tried to escape.

"Her own family tried to kill her for leaving her husband," the translator said.

"They stabbed her twice, once in the chest and another in the back, and this was done by her brothers.

"When she did escape she was also prevented from seeing her children for 15 years. This has had a tremendous psychological effect."

But Diane Nammi from the Iranian and Kurdish women's rights organisation says this isn't just a distant problem.

Some 14 million girls are married every year before they turn 18

"It happens in London, in Newcastle, anywhere in the UK," she said.

"They are doing it mainly where there is sharia law and sharia courts, and so many young girls can be wife of a man as old as their father or grandfather, they can be the second wife of a man."

It's estimated that 14 million girls are married every year before they reach 18, with one in nine across the developing world married by 15.

Some 60% of child brides are also taken out of school so they have no formal education.

In most countries the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 - but loopholes often allow it to happen as part of local customs.

The group Girls Not Brides told Sky News that change is happening within communities and families in the UK, and across Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with more and more saying no to this form of abuse.

But Heather Hamilton from the partnership said many still don't realise the harm child marriage causes.

She said: "It's an entire end to the girl's life as her own person.

"We take it for granted that we're going to be able to make choices and have opportunities.

"We're going to be able to choose whether we get married, go to school or university.

"It's almost inconceivable for women who have the privileges we have to understand what this means, but it has a devastating impact on the girls and their lives."

A social media campaign has been launched to boost support for the event, with the Government asking people to share the hashtag #GirlSummit.

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England 'Won't Bid While Sepp Blatter At Fifa'

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says England will not bid for any Fifa tournaments while Sepp Blatter is in charge of the organisation.

Giving evidence to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS), Mr Dyke said: "We have already made a decision that we will not bid for Fifa tournaments while Sepp Blatter is there because we won't win.

"Mr Blatter sees the allegations (about corruption in Qatar's bid) as an attack on Fifa by the British press. Our decision is to try and concentrate in the years ahead on hosting Uefa tournaments.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter

"I don't think we should walk out of Fifa because within a week everyone has forgotten you and I don't think that sort of gesture-politics would help.

"I think trying to reform through Uefa and from the inside is the better way forward."

The DCMS is investigating allegations of corruption and bribery against two former vice-presidents of Fifa, the governing body of world football.

The claims stem from reports in the Sunday Times that Jack Warner, a former influential figure at Fifa, allegedly received $1.6m (£950,000) from a company controlled by Mohamed bin Hammam, a senior figure in Qatar's bid.

The organisers of Qatar 2022 World Cup have refuted the allegations, insisting they are "baseless and riddled with innuendo".

The small Emirate won a secret ballot of Fifa's executive committee, defeating bids from the US, Australia, Japan and Korea in 2010.

Asked about the Qatar event, Mr Dyke said: "It is accepted by everyone now that the 2022 World Cup will not be held in Qatar in summer.

Qatar's World Cup organisers have refuted corruption allegations

"That means it will either be played somewhere else, or in Qatar at a different time of year.

"The Premier League has also accepted the 2022 World Cup will not be held in summer. Its preference would be November, December time but European football associations each have their own preferences. Discussions are ongoing."

Mr Dyke also told the panel of MPs that England manager Roy Hodgson did "quite a good job" at the World Cup, adding: "We are looking at what needs to change and that discussion will happen in September."

And the FA chairman also said he was undecided over whether Russia should be stripped of the 2018 World Cup following recent political events in Ukraine and Crimea.

"I think it has to be looked at in longer terms than a week or two. We wouldn't have a view yet," Mr Dyke said.

Hodgson did "quite a good job" in Brazil, according to Mr Dyke

"I think we have to wait and see how things play out."

Labour's shadow health minister Andy Burnham is among those who have called on Fifa to "revisit" its decision to let Russia host the World Cup.

Fifa declined to comment when asked by Sky News if it believed Russia remains an appropriate choice for the 2018 World Cup following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

A spokesman said: "We are in contact with both federations (Russia & Ukraine) and Uefa. We are not in a position to comment further at this stage."

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'Evidence' Of Islamist School Takeover Plot

School 'Trojan Horse': A Timeline

Updated: 1:26pm UK, Tuesday 22 July 2014

:: March 7

A letter is sent to Birmingham City Council, apparently from an Islamic extremist, giving details of a "takeover" of Birmingham schools known as Operation Trojan Horse. The plot, it says, has seen four head teachers removed from post and replaced with Islamist appointments.

It highlights 12 other schools that are to be targeted. The letter has now been widely denounced as fake but is thought to have been written by someone who was trying to draw attention to the problem.

:: March 10

Birmingham City Council launches a five-point response plan announcing a six-month investigation into allegations to be led by former head teacher Ian Kershaw. A review group will oversee the work.

:: March 22

Park View Academy, one of the schools at the centre of the allegations is to be placed in special measures, according to senior education sources, who leak the details of an Ofsted inspection.

::April 14

Birmingham City Council announces Peter Clarke, the former Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism boss, will oversee the Trojan Horse inquiry. Community leaders say it sends out the wrong message.

:: May 28

Head teacher Tim Boyes discloses he warned the Department for Education in 2010 about a plot by Islamic hardliners to infiltrate Birmingham schools.

:: June 2

A leaked Ofsted inspection on the Golden Hillock school finds it "failed to protect children from extremism".

::June 3

The former chairman of governors at Golden Hillock, John Ray, says he raised Islamist infiltration fears with John Major's government in 1994.

:: June 4

Comments by Education Secretary Michael Gove are leaked to The Times in which he is critical of the Home Office approach to tackling extremism. In response the Home Office releases a letter from Theresa May to Mr Gove asking why his department did not tackle fears of an Islamist takeover plot when they were raised in 2010.

:: June 5

A leak of the Ofsted report into Golden Hillock school, run by the Park View Educational Trust, shows it is to be placed in special measures.

:: June 6

After three statements insisting they work well together, Mr Gove says he is "not at war with Theresa May".

:: June 7

Mr Gove is made to apologise for his comments and Mrs May's aide Fiona Cunningham is forced to resign for her response to The Times story. She told journalists: "Why is the DfE wanting to blame other people for information they had in 2010? Lord knows what more they have overlooked on the subject of the protection of kids in state schools? It scares me."

:: June 8

Downing Street releases some details of Ofsted reports on the 21 Birmingham schools that have been inspected as part of the Trojan Horse response. Schools are accused by Ofsted of covering up evidence of infiltration and some are placed in special measures.

David Cameron orders Michael Gove to launch spot checks on schools.

:: June 17

An assistant principal at Park View claimed "plain old Islamophobia" was behind the claims. Lee Donaghy told a panel of MPs that people were failing to differentiate between "Muslims", "terrorists" and "extremists" and twisting events at his school.

:: July 9

Chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw told MPs on the education select committee that there was no evidence of actual extremism.

However his inspectors had found schools implicated in the so-called "Trojan Horse" plot used deliberate intimidation against those who did not conform to their ideology, leaving pupils at risk.

:: July 15

The chairman and board of trustees of the Park View Education Trust, Tahir Alam, resign. Michael Gove becomes a victim of the Cabinet reshuffle, losing his job as Education Secretary to Nicky Morgan. Mr Gove becomes Commons chief whip in a period of legislative calm ahead of the next General Election.

Mr Alam also urged the new Education Secretary to "urgently consider" removing Ofsted head Sir Michael from his position for what he called his "role in this fiasco".

:: July 22

The report carried out by Mr Clarke finds: There has been co-ordinated, deliberate and sustained action, carried out by a number of associated individuals, to introduce an intolerant and aggressive Islamic ethos into a few schools in Birmingham."

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