United Boss Moyes Faces Plane Banner Protest

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

Supporter discontent over Manchester United's slide into mediocrity has taken to the skies over Old Trafford on Saturday, with two planes carrying competing messages due to fly over the ground before the lunchtime kick-off against Aston Villa.

Fans demanding manager David Moyes be sacked following United's disappointing season paid £840 for a plane carrying a banner reading: "Wrong One - Moyes Out".

The message is a response to a banner inside Old Trafford on the Stretford End that reads "The Chosen One", a reference to the fact Sir Alex Ferguson personally selected Moyes as his successor.

The anti-Moyes message has aggrieved a number of fans, with one anonymous supporter paying for a rival banner carrying an as-yet undisclosed message.

The banner has been mocked by rival fans as United struggle post-Ferguson

The anti-Moyes message flew Old Trafford shortly before kick-off.

Moyes is struggling to gain the confidence of fans after a season that has set records for relative failure.

United are already guaranteed their lowest points total in the Premier League era, with automatic qualification for the Champions League looking highly unlikely.

They went out of the FA Cup in the third round for only the second time in 27 years and lost in the semi-final of the League Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson picked David Moyes as his successor at Old Trafford

They are still in the Champions League, with a quarter-final against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The manner and result of that tie may yet settle Moyes' fate.

The club's American owners, the Glazer family, will give him every chance to show he is up to the job.

But with every limp performance their confidence in him, and willingness to let him spend £200m on rebuilding the squad, can only be dented.

The response of supporters to the aerial duel overhead on Saturday will be watched closely by the owners.

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First Gay Weddings: PM Hails 'Equal Marriage'

Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the first gay weddings in England and Wales as sending a "powerful message" about equality in the UK.

The law changed at midnight, with a number of gay couples vying to claim the title of being among the first to be married as ceremonies took place across England and Wales.

Despite facing opposition from some in the Conservative Party about his backing for the change, Mr Cameron said the reform was necessary because "when people's love is divided by law, it is that law that needs to change".

Writing in Pink News, he said: "This weekend is an important moment for our country" because "we will at last have equal marriage in our country".

"The introduction of same-sex civil marriage says something about the sort of country we are," he added.

"It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth. It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality.

The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act was passed in July

"It clearly says 'you are equal' whether straight or gay. That is so important in trying to create an environment where people are no longer bullied because of their sexuality - and where they can realise their potential, whether as a great mathematician like Alan Turing, a star of stage and screen like Sir Ian McKellen or a wonderful journalist and presenter like Clare Balding."

Among the first couples set to take advantage of the legalisation were actor Andrew Wale, 49, and guesthouse owner Neil Allard, 48, who wed at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton just after midnight.

Following the ceremony in which the couple wore matching suits, Mr Wale told Sky News: "It's a wonderful feeling, it was much more emotional than I thought it was going to be and I'm just kind of happy and buzzing."

Mr Allard added: "It's exciting, it's a new step forward and it's all about love."

Andrew Wale (L) and Neil Allard said their vows in Brighton

Peter McGraith and David Cabreza, who have been together for 17 years, tied the knot at Islington Town Hall, north London, just moments after midnight struck.

Ahead of their ceremony, Mr McGraith said: "We are thrilled to be getting married. It is a mark of significant social progress in the UK that the legal distinction between gay and straight relationships has been removed.

"Very few countries afford their gay and lesbian citizens equal marriage rights and we believe that this change in law will bring hope and strength to gay men and lesbians in Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, India and elsewhere, who lack basic equality and are being criminalised for their sexual orientation."

After watching the ceremony, campaigner Peter Tatchell told Sky News there was still more to be done.

"We need to keep up the battle to insure that all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in this country and around the world have equal human rights," he said.

Mr McGraith (L) and Mr Cabreza were wed just moments after midnight

Broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and her civil partner Debbie Toksvig will renew their vows at a public event at the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank in London later this morning.

Same-sex couples wishing to marry had initially thought they would have to wait until the summer after the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act was passed last July.

However, they were allowed to register their intention to marry from March 13, with March 29 the first day they could get hitched.

Unlike civil partnerships, same-sex marriages will give the same legal recognition as marriage across a range of areas including pensions, inheritance, child maintenance and immigration rights.

While the change will not be enforced upon religious organisations, they will be able to opt in.

Andrea Williams from Christian Concern told Sky News the reforms had gone too far.

"We have moved all the goal posts, suddenly we don't actually know what things mean, marriage once clearly meant something; a man and a woman in an exclusive promise, in a union that is life long, for the good of children," she said.

However, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said that the Church of England would drop its opposition now the new law has come into force.

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Maria Miller 'Will Have To Repay Thousands'

The Culture Secretary will reportedly be asked to pay back thousands of pounds for allegedly abusing parliamentary expenses by over-claiming on her mortgage.

As well as repaying up to £5,000, Maria Miller will be asked to apologise to Parliament for not co-operating in a "timely manner", the Daily Telegraph claimed.

The newspaper also reported the Cabinet minister made a profit of £1.2m on the house where her parents lived in Wimbledon, southwest London, which she claimed for as her second home.

She and her husband are said to have bought the property in 1995 for £234,000 and sold it on Valentine's Day this year for £1.47m.

A source close to Mrs Miller said she had "co-operated fully" with the inquiry into the £90,000 she claimed in second home allowances amidst "constant unfounded speculation".

"It's not surprising London houses go up in value well over a decade after they are first bought," the source said.

"It's also not unusual for people to move house."

The Daily Telegraph said Mrs Miller is expected to come under intense pressure to resign when the results of the official inquiry are made public.

However, Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig said the Conservative MP had "come out fighting" in response to the allegations.

"She's disputing some of the claims that have been made against her and remains defiant," he added.

The cross-party Standards Committee is yet to publish its report into Mrs Miller's expenses claims.

According to a statement on its website, no further announcement is expected until at least April 2.

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Nurse Appears In Court To Face Murder Charges

A nurse has appeared in court accused of the murder of three patients at Stepping Hill Hospital in 2011.

Victorino Chua, 48, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during a three-minute hearing at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

He was told he faces a total of 34 charges, including the murders of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Derek Weaver, 83.

They and 18 others were poisoned with deliberately contaminated products at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Chua was re-arrested and charged following a lengthy investigation by police at the hospital.

Mike McKeown, defending Chua, asked for the defendant to be produced in person rather than appearing by video-link at a bail hearing next week.

A police investigation into the deaths at Stepping Hill was launched after staff noticed "unexplained" low blood sugar levels in patients.

Officers later found a number of saline drips had been tampered with.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Our thoughts continue to be with those people who were deliberately poisoned and their families.

"From day one we made a commitment to those people, as well as the wider community, to thoroughly and robustly investigate what occurred.

"In close to three years we have conducted many painstaking enquiries and engaged with numerous medical experts."

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Scotland Currency Union Ruled Out By Government

The Government has denied claims there could be a currency union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK.

An unnamed minister had reportedly told The Guardian that a deal on sharing the pound could be made with Scotland if the UK's nuclear submarine fleet was able to remain at Faslane.

But Chancellor George Osborne insisted that if Scotland opted for independence it meant "walking out of the UK pound".

The UK is keen to keep its nuclear submarines in Faslane

The newspaper said the minister told them: "Of course there would be a currency union.

"There would be a highly complex set of negotiations after a yes vote with many moving pieces.

"The UK wants to keep Trident nuclear weapons at Faslane and the Scottish government wants a currency union - you can see the outlines of a deal.

George Osborne has denied there will be a currency union

"Saying no to a currency union is obviously a vital part of the no campaign. But everything would change in the negotiations if there were a yes vote."

The Scottish Government's White Paper on independence, published in November 2013, states a shared currency is in the "economic interests" of Scotland and the rest of the UK.

However, in a joint statement with Liberal Democrat Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, Mr Osborne said: "There will not be a currency union in the event of independence. The only way to keep the UK pound is to stay in the UK.

"A currency union will not work because it would not be in Scotland's interests and would not be in the UK's interests."

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: "An anonymous, off the record quote does not change the stark reality on the currency.

"The UK Government has listened to the views of the Governor of the Bank of England and the independent advice of the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury that a currency would be damaging for all the United Kingdom.

"That's why a currency union simply will not happen."

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland Deputy First Minister, said the claims were a significant development in the referendum campaign.

She told Sky News: "The fact of the matter is a currency union makes sense, it makes sense for an independent Scotland but it would also make overwhelming sense for the rest of the UK as well.

"Trident will not be a bargaining chip for the Scottish government, we want to see nuclear weapons removed from Scotland as quickly as it's safely possible to do so."

A YouGov poll for The Times newspaper last week suggested 45% of Scots did not believe Chancellor George Osborne's pledge to rule out a formal currency union.

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Brit Found Dead Near Burning Boat In Caribbean

By Richard Williams, Sky News Online

A British man has been found dead near a burning boat in the Caribbean, prompting a police hunt for his Norwegian partner.

Police in St Vincent told Sky News that 53-year-old John Edward Garner was discovered with head injuries and leg injuries just off the coast of the island after reports a yacht was on fire.

He was travelling with a Norwegian woman, Heidi Hukkelaas, who is believed to have been his partner.

St Vincent police commissioner Michael Charles told Sky News "foul play" was a possibility but added: "At this stage we are certainly looking at all lines of inquiry."

Winston Simmons, who knew Mr Garner and his family, said he believed there had been an accidental explosion on the yacht caused by a gas bottle.

He said Ms Hukkelaas left the island on Tuesday to return to Norway, where the couple lived.

Diver Kay Wilson was one of the first to arrive at the burning yacht.

Mr Garner had permission to say in St Vincent until April 19

She told Sky News the flames had "completely engulfed the vessel" by the time she arrived.

"I was out with a group of divers," she said. "We'd gone out to do a dive trip and one of my crew members saw the smoke on the horizon.

"We made our way over there ... When we reached about a quarter of a mile off we saw a flashing light, which we would normally associate with a life jacket.

"We approached cautiously and we found somebody in the water, with the life jacket around their neck, approximately 150 to 200 feet away from the yacht at the time."

Ms Wilson added Mr Garner had also been spending time on the Grenadines island of Bequia with a family member, dropping them home before planning to travel to Antigua.

Mr Garner's body was found around 15 nautical miles west of Buccament, in the southwest of the island, on Wednesday afternoon.

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, in Kingstown.

Initial reports suggested Mr Garner had been found on the vessel itself, reportedly named Asante and registered in Gibraltar.

Mr Charles said Mr Garner and Ms Hukkelaas arrived on the island on January 19 and had secured permission to remain there until April 19.

The Foreign Office told Sky News they were aware of the death of a British national in St Vincent and were providing consular assistance to the family.

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Coronation Street Star In Drink-Drive Arrest

Coronation Street actress Barbara Knox has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

The 80-year-old, who plays Rita Tanner in the soap, was held after arriving at a police station to meet her daughter who had earlier been arrested for the same offence.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: "Police stopped a car in Hollow Lane, Knutsford, and a 56-year-old woman from Gloucestershire was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

"An 80-year-old woman from Knutsford arrived at Knutsford police station and was also arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

"She was bailed pending further inquiries."

The Sun reported that the actress and her daughter Maxine Ashcroft had been out for the afternoon and were pulled over by police as Ms Ashcroft drove her home.

Knox later confronted officers at the station, asking "Do you know who I am?", the paper said.

Ms Ashcroft was later charged with "driving when the alcohol level was above the limit".

She is due to appear at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court on April 2.

Knox is due to answer bail on April 4.

This year marks 50 years since she first appeared in the show as an exotic dancer.

A spokeswoman for ITV told Sky News the arrest was a "private and personal matter".

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Nurse Held Over Stepping Hill Hospital Deaths

A nurse has been rearrested in connection with a number of deaths at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport in 2011.

Victorino Chua, 48, is being held on suspicion of three counts of murder, 18 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and offences of poisoning under Section 24 of the Offences Against the Person Act.

He was arrested last year on suspicion of tampering with medical records at the hospital.

He was due to answer bail next week but reports say he was rearrested after new evidence came to light.

The deaths of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71 and Alfred Derek Weaver, 83. are being treated as murder.

Five other people poisoned by contaminated products later died.

The deaths took place at Stepping Hill in 2011

They were: William Dickson, 82, Linda McDonagh, 60, John Beeley, 73, Beryl Hope, 70, and Mary Cartwright, 89.

The police investigation began after hospital staff noticed "unexplained" low blood sugar levels in patients.

Police later found a number of saline drips had been deliberately contaminated.

Chua was first arrested in January 2012 and later released on bail.

The father-of-two from Stockport has been rebailed on several occasions.

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Bank IT Failures Probe Launched By Watchdog

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

The City regulator will next week launch a probe into the resilience of high street banks' IT systems following a series of glitches which have threatened to further undermine the industry's image.

Sky News can reveal that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will set out on Monday its intention to conduct a review of the systems of major lenders, just weeks after the partly state-owned Lloyds Banking Group saw an IT glitch shut down half of its cash machines for several hours.

The FCA will disclose its intention to carry out the work in its annual business plan, which details the key areas of focus for the regulator during the following 12 months.

The robustness of banks' IT systems has become an urgent priority for watchdogs amid concerns that repeated glitches are damaging already fragile consumer trust in the banking sector.

In December, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) suffered a systems outage on the busiest online shopping day of the year, the third time in about 18 months that such a problem had prevented customers from using cards, cash machines and online banking services.

Clive Adamson, director of supervision at the FCA, told Sky News that the IT resilience work would be a top priority for the regulator this year:

"To access and manage our money we depend on the banks' IT systems being reliable. But IT outages continue, interrupting key banking services. 

"We want to make sure that the banks have resilient IT systems in place that are able to cope with consumer demand, so customers aren't left financially stranded or disadvantaged."

The regulator has the power to impose swingeing financial penalties on banks whose systems are defective, with RBS the subject of an ongoing investigation by the FCA's enforcement division into an IT crisis during the summer of 2012.

The FCA's new work will be carried out in conjunction with the Prudential regulation Authority and the Bank of England, and will examine how banks and building societies manage their exposure to IT risks.

It will also look at the level of engagement by bank boards on the issue as well as whether directors are sufficiently knowledgeable to challenge executives.

Industry sources expect the FCA's work to hasten the collective spending of billions of pounds required to modernise banks' IT systems, which have suffered from years of under-investment.

RBS has already said that it will increase its £2bn annual IT budget by £450m, with other major lenders looking at similar hikes.

The regulator, which expects its work to conclude early next year, signalled in a report last year that the growth of mobile banking by customers has outpaced banks' investment in their IT systems..

The RBS problems in 2012 prompted the FCA's predecessor, the Financial Services Authority, to write to the chairmen of the nine biggest banks and building societies to request information about their critical infrastructure and banking processes.

Industry insiders expect the watchdog to take tough action if insufficient progress is deemed to have been made on the issue since then.

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Max Clifford: 'My Accusers Are Fantasists'

PR guru Max Clifford has said the women who accused him of indecently assaulting them were trying to ''cash in''.

At the start of his cross-examination, Clifford said the seven women who have made allegations against him were ''fantasists and opportunists'' who had '"told a pack of lies".

In a series of angry exchanges with prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC, he said the women had come forward after reading about the initial claims when he was first arrested.

Clifford told Southwark Crown Court: ''They saw opportunities and all took them.''

When asked why the women would have made up the claims, he said: "I don't know, I don't know them. All I know is that it's untrue.

"They saw an opportunity for compensation, opportunity to make something out of this in the current climate.

"That would be one of the main considerations," adding that "a lot of girls have come to my office these last 30, 40 years primarily for that reason."

He went on: "Compensation would have been the main thing - possibly they were fantasists, possibly they didn't like me, they see an opportunity, I don't know.

"What they are suggesting is totally untrue."

Max Clifford arrives at court on Friday

Ms Cottage referred several times to a copy of Clifford's biography which was on her desk and marked in several places with pink tabs.

Clifford said the last 15 months had been "very, very damaging for him and his family" and repeated several times the allegations were "totally untrue, all rubbish and nonsense".

Ms Cottage also suggested that Clifford had "destroyed or hidden" diaries from 1977-1978 and 1985 which would have been crucial to the case against him.

He said: "That's total lies and rubbish - I wouldn't have a clue where they were."

Diaries for subsequent years were recovered just before the start of the trial.

The prosecution claimed pictures which would have been useful to the case were not disclosed until after witnesses had testified.

The tense exchanges continued and at one point, when Ms Cottage said she would ''move on'', Clifford replied: "Thank goodness for that."

The trial has attracted significant media attention

The prosecution asked: "Do you think levity is appropriate?"

Clifford replied: "You keep asking me the same questions."

Clifford also told the court he had never told his wife of 40 years of his numerous affairs.

He told the court he "didn't think she would appreciate it" - prompting laughter in the public gallery.

He denied suggestions that his daughter Louise had lied for him to protect him.

He angrily told Ms Cottage that he had a ''wonderful relationship with my daughter based on love and devotion'.'

Questioned about ''legendary sex parties'' that were mentioned in his book, Clifford said they were ''good honest filth''.

He said he attended several with screen siren Diana Dors.

When asked where the women came from for the parties he said: "The girls found me, they called and said 'can I come and can I bring my sister, mother and aunt?'"

He insisted that there were "no drugs" at the parties and "none of the women were ever forced to do anything they didn't want to - they were old enough to know what they were doing".

Clifford agreed the girls were "beautiful and randy" but he denied prosecution suggestions that he "groomed them" or offered them contracts in return for sex.

He also revealed that as a teenage reporter living in Morden in the early 1960s he put on blue movie nights in a room above The Crown pub.

Clifford said: "The films were supplied to me by the police, it was a way of making extra money. They were every two or three months."

The 70-year-old from Hersham, Surrey, denies 11 counts of indecent assault between 1966 and 1984 on seven girls and women.

The trial continues.

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Clegg Accuses Farage Of 'Siding With Putin'

Farage v Clegg: Debate Goes On In Kent Village

Updated: 12:56pm UK, Thursday 27 March 2014

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

St Margaret-at-Cliffe is the closest English village to mainland Europe. From its beach the continental coastline sweeps into view and mobile phones welcome you to France.

The stretch of water that divides this community from the mainland is just 21 miles (33km) long, but it represents a deepening political divide.

Recent polling from Ipsos MORI found that over one quarter of Britons want out of the EU.

Four out of 10 want to stay in the long run - but only if powers are reduced.

And 18% are happy with the status quo while the rest want to strengthen the relationship with Europe In this coastal community the tangled relationship that Britain has with the EU is tangible; and the views just as divided.

Sky News brought together four residents to see how they reacted to the debate.

Pro-Europeans Phil Lowry, a 37-year-old beer consultant, and PhD student Eske Van Gils began the night agreeing strongly with Nick Clegg.

Peter Haslam, 82, a retired policeman who has lived in the village for eight years, backed Nigel Farage.

He said the UKIP leader spoke to people's real concerns about immigration.

Anthoni Zubik - a gardener from Poland who moved to Britain nine years ago - was the least sure.

He said he wanted the UK to stay in a reformed EU, admitting that Brussels bureaucracy is out of control.

Eske was the most animated during the debate, flinging her hands in the air as Mr Farage made his arguments.

"Turkey isn't in the EU," she spat out at one point. The UKIP leader was wrong, wrong, wrong, she said.

Peter, meanwhile, nodded in agreement with Mr Farage.

It was Mr Clegg's "statistics" that lost him, he said, and failed to address the concerns he and others had about the number of unskilled migrants turning up in this coastal community.

At the end - as the start - he disagreed with Mr Clegg.

Phil described himself as a "European mongrel" with an Italian mum, Swiss gran and Dutch partner.

He said it was quicker to drive to Cologne in Germany than Sheffield in northern England. Europe was in his blood.

Mr Farage was an impressive debater, he admitted, but he disagreed with all the UKIP arguments.

"It's worrisome," he said, that the politician's persuasive style might convince others.

As for Anthoni - he shook his head at one point and said: "They both lose."

His biggest fear was a referendum on the issue of European Union membership.

People needed educating for that, he said. But the debate tonight had failed to inform him.

At the White Cliffs Hotel those who arrived agreeing with Mr Clegg, left even more convinced.

And those who were fans of Mr Farage said their views were unchanged. In St Margaret-at-Cliffe, the debate goes on.

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TB: Humans Catch Disease From Domestic Cats

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Two people have caught tuberculosis after contact with infected cats, public health experts have warned.

It is the first time that TB has been transmitted from cats to humans.

Public Health England (PHE) and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) investigated an outbreak of TB in nine cats in Berkshire and Hampshire last year.

As a precaution, 39 people who had been in close contact with the animals, were offered TB screening.

Two were found to have the active disease with exactly the same strain of Mycobacterium bovis carried by the cats.

The source of the M. bovis bacteria may have been infected wildlife

Another two had 'latent' disease, meaning they had been exposed to the bug at some point in the past.

No further cases of TB in cats have been reported in Berkshire and Hampshire since March 2013. 

Both confirmed cases are responding to treatment. 

Dr Dilys Morgan, of PHE, said the risk of transmission to humans is "very low".

She said: "It's important to remember that this was a very unusual cluster of TB in domestic cats.

"M. bovis is still uncommon in cats - it mainly affects livestock animals.

"These are the first documented cases of cat-to-human transmission, and so although PHE has assessed the risk of people catching this infection from infected cats as being very low, we are recommending that household and close contacts of cats with confirmed M. bovis infection should be assessed and receive public health advice."

Symptoms of TB in cats include coughing, wheezing and weight loss. There may also be lumps, abscesses or bite wounds that fail to heal, particularly around the head and neck.

The disease can be transmitted by inhaling or ingesting bacteria shed by infected cats, or through contamination of unprotected cuts.

Professor Noel Smith, of the AHVLA, said: "Testing of nearby herds revealed a small number of infected cattle with the same strain of M. bovis as the cats.

"However, direct contact of the cats with these cattle was unlikely considering their roaming ranges.

"The most likely source of infection is infected wildlife, but cat-to-cat transmission cannot be ruled out."

Cattle herds with confirmed cases of bovine TB in the area have all been placed under movement restrictions to prevent the spread of disease.

The findings of the animal health aspects of this investigation are published in The Veterinary Record.

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Domestic Abuse Victims Being Failed By Police

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent

Police forces in England and Wales have been told their response to domestic violence is not good enough, and that substantial and urgent reforms are needed.

A review ordered by Home Secretary Theresa May found many victims of violence felt they were not believed, that some officers were unsympathetic or had a poor attitude, and that other crimes were treated as a higher priority. 

In a review of 600 cases, the report found that in half of incidents where the victim had received visible injuries, the police had failed to take photographs as evidence. 

The findings prompted one charity to call for a public inquiry into how the state deals with victims.

Mrs May called the report "disturbing" and has promised to chair regular meetings to ensure the recommendations are implemented.

The report, by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, found that in a 12-month period there were more than one million calls to the police for help in dealing with a domestic abuse incident, that six women were murdered every month by their partners or ex-partners and that domestic violence made up 8% of all crimes committed.

A third of victims say they felt no safer or less safe after calling police

But despite those shocking figures, the issue is not treated as a high enough priority by force commanders, or individual officers.

The report concluded that while senior officers will talk about it being a high priority, that view does not translate into action on the ground.

Zoe Billingham, the Inspector of Constabulary who wrote the report, said: "Police leaders told us that talking domestic abuse is important, but in the majority of forces it is a priority on paper only and not in practice. 

"It is deeply disappointing that the stated intent is not translating into an operational reality. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for assistance relating to domestic abuse.

"We believe that the findings of this report should be a wake-up call for the police service; domestic abuse must no longer be the poor relation to other policing activity."

HMIC monitored police officers at work and spoke to victims. 

One woman told them: "Last year one officer came out and his radio was going and I heard him say 'It's a DV (domestic violence), we'll be a few minutes and we'll go to the next job'. And I thought - thanks a lot, that's my life."  

Police responses to abuse are a 'lottery'

Another said: "They didn't take it seriously until something happened in public. That's what happened to me - me and my kids living in fear, being locked in rooms and stuff - police not taking it seriously until he hit me in a club in the middle of everybody. Then they were there like that and arrested him like that. It was no different to what we experienced behind closed doors."

Another contributor to the report told Sky News of her experience when she called to report that an ex-boyfriend had broken into her apartment and assaulted her. 

"The response I had from them, from their first officer onwards, was appalling. The officer had seen the perpetrator before me, and he gave them a false version of events, and by the time they came to see me they weren't interested in what I had to say. He showed total disinterest. They are supposed to be impartial, unbiased and he almost had it in for me.

"I said to him, I don't know why you're treating me like this. You haven't taken a statement from me. You haven't looked around. I had marks on my arm where I had been assaulted. And he walked out of my flat and slammed my door shut. That is how insensitive his approach was."

Another victim articulated her perception that the police were more likely to listen to a man, even if he is accused of being violent.

"Across all my experiences with the police, both positive and negative, one connecting factor is they listen to the man," she said. "Even when he is the perpetrator. They always listen to the man."

Although 79% of 500 victims who responded to an online survey said they were satisfied with the initial police response, 14% said officers were unhelpful and a third said they felt no safer or less safe despite contacting the police.

Victims described a lack of empathy from those sent to investigate, and HMIC concluded that it was a "lottery" whether they got an officer who was properly trained to deal with the complaint.

Theresa May called the report 'disturbing'

Mrs May said the report was disturbing and demanded a response. 

She told Sky News: "It shows significant failings of visible police leadership. It shows a lack of the right attitude to victims and it also shows sadly police even failing to gather evidence of the crimes that were being committed. 

"So we need to see a change of police culture and that has to start from the top. It must be top-down throughout policing. What this report shows is that this is about the culture and attitude of the police. It is not good enough. 

"This is about people's lives. Too many women lose their lives as a result of domestic violence. The police attitude needs to change."

Men are victims of domestic violence as well as women, but 96% of cases deemed "high-risk" are women. 

HMIC say they found no evidence that female officers were better at dealing with the issue than their male counterparts. 

While Lancashire Constabulary was praised for its approach, four other forces were criticised and re-inspections ordered - Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire and Greater Manchester.

While most forces have a specialist domestic violence department, Bedfordshire Police employed just one individual with that specific responsibility. 

Sandra Horley, the chief executive of Refuge, said: "It is a national disgrace that decades after Refuge opened the world's first safe house for victims of domestic violence, the police are still not responding appropriately to women and children's cries for help."

Refuge says the wider investigation into how the police, local authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service deal with the subject should take the form of a public inquiry.

The HMIC report details 11 recommendations including a national oversight team to meet and report on progress every three months and for every force to publish an action plan on improving its approach.

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Uefa Backs New 'Nations League' Tournament

Uefa is to introduce a new Nations League tournament to replace most international football friendlies from 2018.

The competition will feed into qualifying playoffs for the 2020 European Championship and could be incorporated into qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Uefa president Michel Platini said it was a "very important decision for the future of football at the level of national teams".

The tournament format is yet to be finalised, although Uefa foresees up to four divisions with promotion and relegation.

Each division would likely be split into four groups, with the winners of each group qualifying for a playoff semi-final.

Uefa president Michel Platini says it is "a very important decision"

Overall winners of the lower divisions could be rewarded with entry to the European Championship or World Cup, according to reports quoting officials.

The teams would play in odd-numbered years on dates set aside for friendlies, starting after the 2018 World Cup.

Based on the current rankings England are likely to play in the top tier, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could end up playing together in the third division.

Uefa secretary-general Gianni Infantino told reporters the league was certain to be passed.

"We need to make better use as there are teams that everyone wants to play in a friendly and others who can never get an opponent, which is where this idea for a League of Nations comes from," he said.

"We have been looking at optimising the structure of the calendar without bringing in any more dates," he explained, saying the tournament was part of a general review of the football calendar.

Uefa members are also expected to back tougher sanctions for match-fixing at their annual congress.

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'Big Six' Energy Firms May Be Broken Up

The energy watchdog has identified a string of concerns over profits, while confirming a competition inquiry into the household supply market.

Ofgem's decision to refer the sector to the new Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) could lead to the so-called 'big six' firms being broken up.

The regulator charted a quadrupling in energy company profits between 2009 and 2012.

Energy Secrteary Ed Davey welcomed the "tough action"

Its State of the Market Assessment accused suppliers of "consistently setting higher prices for consumers who have not switched," suggesting households were not engaging with the market because firms were not trusted to be open and transparent.

The review also reinforced concerns about barriers to entry for independent suppliers.

It found that retail profits soared from £233m in 2009 to £1.1bn in 2012 and disputed suggestions that profit margins were falling by pointing to expectations of rising industry margins and retail profits this year.

Ofgem said there was clear evidence of suppliers becoming more efficient in reducing their own costs, although further evidence would be required to determine whether firms have had the opportunity to earn excess profits.

The market investigation, Ofgem said, would conclusively determine whether there should be more separation between the largest companies' supply businesses and generation arms, in a bid to provide more clarity on earnings.

SSE announced its reforms 24 hours ahead of Ofgem's report

One of the 'big six, SSE, confirmed on Wednesday it was to legally separate its supply and generation businesses in a bid to improve transparency as it announced a price freeze until January 2016.

Such a move could be forced on its competitors by the CMA if it decides it would be in the public interest.

While Ofgem found no evidence of collusion on pricing, the review discovered "evidence of possible tacit coordination" in the timing and size of price announcements and new evidence that prices rise faster when costs rise than they reduce when costs fall."

The regulator also confirmed that from June 1 it would substantially increase the level of penalties it imposes on energy firms who break its rules to give "sufficient focus within businesses."

British Gas has denied any suggestion of collusion with competitors

Its chief executive Dermot Nolan said: "Ofgem believes a referral offers the opportunity to once and for all clear the air and decide if there are any further barriers which are preventing competition from bearing down as hard as possible on prices.

"The CMA has powers, not available to Ofgem, to address any structural barriers that would undermine competition.

"Now consumers are protected by our simpler, clearer and fairer reforms, we think a market investigation is in their long-term interests."

News of the competition investigation was welcomed by politicians, consumer groups and by some of the 'big six' firms.

Centrica, which owns the biggest supplier British Gas, said its was committed to "an open, transparent and competitive British energy market" and backed moves to restore trust.

But its statement rejected "any suggestion of possible tacit coordination with other market participants" and insisted the market was already competitive.

Chief executive Sam Laidlaw also sounded a note of caution on the possibility that firms could be forced to split or even sell off their power generation businesses.

He said: "We hope that a lengthy review process will not damage confidence in the market, when over £100bn of investment in new infrastructure is needed.

"A prolonged period of uncertainty could damage investment at a time when Britain's energy security is being seriously challenged."

E.On's chief executive Tony Cocker said: "A full market investigation by the CMA is the only way to restore full public confidence to the energy sector and depoliticise the whole issue.

"Whilst we have already made a large number of changes such as running our businesses separately, simpler tariffs, simpler bills and further investment in levels of service, a full investigation will once and for all get to the heart of any structural issues that exist or are perceived to exist and help us to all deal with many of the myths and misinformation that surround the energy market."

A seemingly lone voice, critical of the competition inquiry, was the GMB union which represents energy sector workers.

It claimed the investigation was designed to "kick the issue down the road" until after the next election.

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Teacher Strike Disrupts Thousands Of Schools

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

Thousands of state schools have been closed or partially closed by a one-day strike involving members of the National Union of Teachers.

Schools are being disrupted across England and Wales as the NUT launches its first national strike in almost three years.

NUT members joined rallies and marches across the country as union leaders said strike action was well supported.

However according to the Department of Education under a quarter of schools are fully closed, considerably less than the 60% closure rate seen during nationwide strikes in 2011.

The figures do not include schools which have been partially closed. 

The walkout is the latest in a series of strikes in an ongoing row over pensions, performance-related pay and workloads.

NUT Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney told Sky News: "The reason that we are on strike today, which we very much regret, is that (Secretary of State for Education) Michael Gove simply won't listen.

"We think Michael Gove's policies are exhausting and demoralising teachers, and children deserve enthusiastic and energetic teachers."

Teachers staged a strike in Bristol last year

He said: "Thousands of good teachers are leaving the profession. That is very damaging to education."

The NUT is the only union taking part in Wednesday's strike.

The NASUWT union, which has been involved in previous stoppages, has been encouraged by ongoing talks over the disputed issues.

However, Mr Courtney said neither Mr Gove nor schools minister David Laws had personally attended the negotiations so far.

When Sky News put the allegations to Mr Laws, he said claims the Government was not listening to teachers' concerns were "nonsense".

He said he had no heard no previous complaints from the NUT over the way talks were structured, saying they were "detailed and serious," and attended by some of the most senior members in the department of education.

He added: "It is bizarre and ridiculous to be taking industrial action and disturbing the education of young people and the work patterns of parents when there are talks under way."

Marching teachers in Brighton in October

However, he did not refute claims he had been absent from meetings.

Ahead of the strike, the Department for Education said: "Parents will struggle to understand why the NUT is pressing ahead with strikes over the Government's measures to let heads pay good teachers more.

"They called for talks to avoid industrial action, we agreed to their request, and talks have been taking place weekly.

"Despite this constructive engagement with their concerns, the NUT is taking action that will disrupt parents' lives, hold back children's education and damage the reputation of the profession."

The Government maintains that less than a quarter of teachers voted for strike action. But NUT officials say the Government's own figures back up their argument.

Coventry physics teacher and NUT official Chris Denson said: "Since this Government has come to power we have seen a continual deterioration of teachers' working conditions.

"You see the Department For Education's own survey shows that working time has gone up massively in secondary and primary schools.

"But also, since this Government has come to power, a teacher's take-home pay has come down by 17%. Our pensions, we have to pay more to get less at the end and have to work until 69. So there are a huge number of issues."

A recent survey suggested primary school teachers work nearly 60 hours a week, with secondary school teachers chalking up 56 hours.

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Student's Family Lose Deportation Battle

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

A mother who has campaigned to stop the removal of her 19-year-old daughter from the country has been told she too has to leave Britain.

Student Yashika Bageerathi was due to be flown back to Maritius on Tuesday afternoon without her mother, sister and brother.

She was given a last-minute reprieve after a high-profile campaign from London school friends and teachers which apparently led British Airways to not accept her on a flight from Gatwick Airport.

However, celebrations were cancelled on Tuesday night as Yashika's mother's solicitors received a letter from the Home Office stating that her application for asylum had also been rejected and she would have to leave the country with her two other children.

Yashika's school principal, Lynne Dawes, has been a figurehead in the campaign since her pupil was taken into an immigration detention centre. She was with Mrs Bageerathi when she received the letter.

Yashika's mother has been told she must leave the UK

"I thought she was going to faint," she said. "We've been confused about why they made a U-turn on their decision to remove Yashika and now this. We will be appealing."

Yashika came to the UK from Mauritius in 2011 on a tourist visa to escape domestic violence.

Since applying for asylum, her application has been treated separately from her mother, brother and sister as she is considered an adult.

On Sunday, a protest march to the Home Office was staged by dozens of school friends, teachers and neighbours.

An online petition by the students calling on Immigration Minister James Brokenshire and Home Secretary Theresa May to stop the deportation and allow the student to complete her A-levels collected nearly 23,000 signatures.

Yashika came to the UK in 2011

Model Cara Delevingne also made a plea on Twitter for Mrs May not to send the aspiring maths teacher back.

On Monday, barristers took an injunction to the High Court asking for her to be allowed to at least finish her A-Levels and be with her family, but the case was rejected.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we consider every application on its individual merits.

"We do not routinely comment on individual cases."

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Weather: Mother's Day Temperatures May Hit 20C

The arrival of British Summer Time at the weekend is set to coincide with a period of warmer weather for many parts of the UK.

Clocks go forward at 1am on Mother's Day this Sunday, meaning we lose an hour's sleep but get longer, lighter evenings.

Temperatures are set to climb to around 13 to 17C (55 to 62F) on Saturday.

And they could reach as high as 15 to 20C (59 to 68F) on Sunday, when we lose an hour's sleep as British Summer Time arrives.

However before that, it is expected to feel quite cold in the UK due to a chilly wind coming from the east.

Plenty of showers are also expected, some of which will bring snow to high ground.

Then, by the weekend, the wind is set to change to a more southerly direction which will bring in warmer air.

Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "This week, our weather pattern will switch from the usual prevailing wind direction to an easterly wind bringing in air which has travelled over a chilly North Sea.

"Although not exceptionally cold there will be a chill to the wind and it'll feed in plenty of showers - some of which will bring snow to high ground, especially overnight.

"This easterly will last until the weekend before turning more southerly. It'll draw in warmer air across us and and the warmth will be very welcome."

However Lang cautioned: "Not everyone will enjoy some sunshine, though, with the east coast of Scotland looking cooler and duller and southwestern parts of Britain set for some showers."

Meanwhile, in the decades to come there are expected to be sharp contrasts in seasonal weather for the UK as climate change sends summer temperatures soaring.

Scientists expect powerful heatwaves such as the one that hit continental Europe in 2003 to be commonplace by the 2040s.

But there is no evidence that winters will become generally milder, say the experts. Despite the summer heat, people will still have to plan for the occasional very cold winter, as happened in 2011.

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Max Clifford 'Had Slap And Tickle In Office'

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Publicist Max Clifford told police he had "slap and tickle" in his office but never sexual intercourse, a court has heard.

Clifford, who is accused of indecently assaulting several women, said the atmosphere in his office was fun but no-one was "ever forced to do anything they didn't want".

He told police he had "never paid a woman for sex" although he knew "plenty of famous people who use hookers and escorts".

He said it was a "matter of personal pride" and not his style and anything else was "not me".

The prosecution at Southwark Crown Court has described the atmosphere in his central London office as "sexually charged" but Clifford insisted nothing sinister ever took place.

He told police: "There was slap and tickle, kissing and cuddling and I may have had oral sex but never sexual intercourse."

Clifford said the "floor was too hard" but insisted when he had carried out sex acts in his office, it would have been with "someone very willing, able and old enough to know what they were doing".

He added: "It happened on occasions, it did happen but very, very occasionally."

He insisted to police that he "only had sex with people who fancied me and I fancied them," adding he had never forced anyone, saying of the allegations: "It didn't happen, I know it didn't happen".

Clifford told police: "To me sex is natural" and "more enjoyable" if both people were willing.

He admitted to police that "there were girls out there" who he had had affairs with while married but he was "not some grubby little whatsit".

Clifford, dressed in a suit and open necked white shirt, listened to the proceedings via an earpiece and followed the interviews on a paper copy he had.

The 70-year-old from Hersham, Surrey, denies 11 counts of indecent assault between 1966 and 1984 on seven girls and women.

The trial continues.

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Russian Tycoon 'Depressed' Before Death

What We Know About Berezovsky

Updated: 1:09pm UK, Monday 25 March 2013

The suspicious deaths of a number of Russian exiles who had fallen foul of the regime meant that rumours swirled almost instantly that Boris Berezovsky had been killed. But so far the police have been unable to find any evidence of foul play.

Here's what we do know about Boris Berezovsky:

:: Political Exile

Mr Berezovsky was a key figure in former president Boris Yeltsin's inner circle and was also close to current president Vladimir Putin during his early years in power.

He left Russia in 2000 after a falling out with Mr Putin and became a vocal critic of the Kremlin from London, where he sought political asylum.

But in recent weeks, he is said to have written to Mr Putin suggesting that he could return to Russia, which had frequently sought his extradition on a variety of charges.

On the eve of his death, Mr Berezovsky was quoted as teling a journalist from Forbes Russia: "There is nothing I would like more than to return to Russia. I did not realise Russia meant so much to me I could not live as an emigrant."

He apparently added that he now believed he should never have left Russia and said he no longer wanted to be involved in politics.

The oligarch is believed to have survived a number of assassination attempts, including a bomb attack on his car that decapitated a chauffeur.

However, a radiation scare at his home after his body was found turned out to be a false alarm and the bodyguard who discovered him was the only person at home at the time.

:: Financial Problems

It is thought the former billionaire was facing serious financial difficulties.

He had fought a number of expensive legal battles since 2011 and reports suggest that defeat in a High Court battle with Chelsea FC owner and former business associate Roman Abramovich alone cost him tens of millions of pounds.

After losing the case, Mr Berezovsky told the widow of murdered Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko that he could no longer afford to pay her legal fees ahead of an inquest into her husband's death from radiation poisoning.

Mr Berezovsky also paid out Britain's largest divorce settlement, worth more than £100m, to ex-wife Galina Besharova last July.

Then in January, former partner Elena Gorbunova reportedly won a court order freezing £200m of assets following their split.

In recent days, The Daily Telegraph reported he would attempt to sell Red Lenin, an Andy Warhol screen print valued at between £30,000 and £50,000 by Christie's.

The artwork sold on Wednesday for £133,875 including the buyer's premium, according to the auction house's website.

Friends have been quoted as saying the oligarch was depressed by his financial troubles.

Aleksei Venediktov, the editor of Ekho Moskvy and a friend and colleague of Berezovsky, was quoted as saying: "After losing in court to Roman Abramovich he was in a serious depression. He was undergoing treatment."

:: Ill Health

Mr Venediktov is also quoted as saying Mr Berezovsky had been suffering heart problems.

"It was a heart attack," he was reported as saying late on Saturday. "For the last two weeks, he had had several."

Other reports have suggested he had been undergoing treatment in Israel.

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British Teen Shot In US Was 'Outstanding Girl'

By Frazer Maude, Sky News Reporter

A British teenager who died alongside her American boyfriend after they allegedly shot dead a police officer in Florida has been described as "delightful" and "popular".

Alexandria Hollinghurst, 17, and Brandon Goode, 18, are believed to have killed themselves after the officer was killed in Orlando.

US police officials said on Monday that both left what appear to be suicide notes before they were found dead in undergrowth on Saturday.

Officer Robert German was pronounced dead in hospital

Orange County Sheriff's Office said the couple had been reported as "missing endangered due to the suicidal notes" in the hours before the shooting.

Officer Robert German had called for backup after seeing two individuals acting suspiciously in the wealthy suburb where golfer Tiger Woods used to live.

When officers arrived in the Windermere community at about 4am on Saturday, they discovered the 31-year-old policeman had been shot. Mr German was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators say the suspects were found dead nearby.

Miss Hollinghurst lived in Hadfield in Derbyshire until moving to the US with her parents Tom and Jane, and younger sister Hannah, in 2008.

They settled in Florida after living first in New Hampshire, then Alabama.

On Monday the headteacher at her former primary school told Sky News she was a bright and enthusiastic pupil.

Andrew Cartledge, headteacher at St Andrew's Primary in Hadfield, said: "Alex was a talented pupil here, and very popular as well.

"She had an outgoing personality that made the place come alive when she was around. She was a delightful pupil.

"There were no problems with her. She was an outstanding and talented girl. What we've heard today doesn't tie in with the pupil we knew."

Brandon Goode, 18, was Alexandria's boyfriend

Former neighbour Tony McMylor said: "They were a great family, very polite, and she was a great kid.

"It's just so upsetting. I don't know what to think, it's horrendous, dreadful."

Grace Etchells, who went to primary school with Alexandria, paid tribute to her on Twitter.

She wrote: "So horrible knowing a very close friend from primary Alex Hollinghurst sadly got taken from us in such horrific circumstances. RIP lovely xx."

Although Orange County Sheriff's Office said the two teenagers may have taken their own lives after Mr German was shot dead, her family believe she may have been murdered by Mr Goode.

Sheriff Jerry Demings said: "The two suspects were found very close to where Officer German was shot.

"It appears to be that both suspects, a male and female, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds."

An investigation into the "senseless tragedy" is ongoing, said Windermere Police Chief David Ogden.

He added: "Officer German was a good cop."

Mr German had been with the department for five years and recently returned to duty after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Windermere has a population of about 3,000 and one of the lowest crime rates in Florida, Mayor Gary Bruhn said.

He said it was the first line-of-duty death for a police officer in the town's history.

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Supermarket And Restaurant Bills Set To Soar

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Grocery and restaurant bills are set to rise as food inflation hits 3.8% before the end of the year, according to new research.

That figure, from food service specialist Prestige Purchasing, means food costs are rising faster than other prices.

Consumer price inflation is currently 1.7%, below the Bank of England's 2% target.

Raw materials are traded openly on global markets and commodity prices often fluctuate, sometimes quite wildly.

But right now a specific combination of bad weather, political conflict and increased consumption is pushing up the price of everything from orange juice to cocoa and pork.

Wheat prices spiked 80% when Russia was hit by drought and political uncertainties in 2010.

Some experts say the current crisis could trigger a similar rise.

The crisis in Ukraine is having an effect on wheat prices

Arabica Coffee is up 53%, partly due to unseasonably dry weather in Brazil.

Pork prices are 5% higher - following the horsemeat scandal and a virus epidemic among US pigs.

Commodity experts say competition for our favourite foods is also an issue.

Brian Smith, a raw materials expert at Mintec, said: "The Russians and the Chinese are putting heavy demand into dairy products and milk products.

The price of chocolate has increased by 1%

"The likelihood of them dropping in price is slim because of that demand."

Wheat prices are vulnerable to the current political uncertainties stemming from the crisis in Ukraine, a key grain producer.

Mr Smith added: "If sanctions stop the Russians from exporting wheat and grains, or if the Russians choose to stop exporting, then wheat prices will inevitably go up."

The cost of fruit has risen more than any other category of food, according to Prestige research.

It is up more than 10%, followed by the price of vegetables and meat, which have risen more than 5% per category.

Even the cost of sugar, jam, chocolate and confectionery is up 1%.

Wine prices have increased by 16% year-on-year.

The average cost of eating out is expected to continue to rise as restaurants pass on the cost of rising food prices to customers.

And more than £19bn will be added to the UK's annual grocery bill by 2018, the equivalent of an additional £850 per family per year, according to figures from retail consultancy Conlumino.

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Royal Mail Confirms Plans To Axe 1,300 Jobs

A union has raised the threat of industrial action after Royal Mail confirmed it was consulting on plans to cut 1,300 jobs, mainly managerial staff.

Unite, which represents 7,000 managers at the firm, described the proposals as "ruthless".

Royal Mail, which was controversially privatised last year, said no delivery staff would be affected by the move, which aims to save £50m annually.

Under the plans, 1,600 operational and head office managerial positions would go but 300 other "enhanced" roles would be created and it would soon begin talks with the Communication Workers Union and Unite.

Moya Greene, Royal Mail's chief executive, said: "We are continuously improving our efficiency, whilst maintaining our high quality of service.

"We need to do so in order to effectively compete in the letters and parcels markets. This is the best way to ensure the continued delivery of the Universal Service and the good quality jobs we provide for our people."

News of the proposed job losses broke just 48 hours after Sky News revealed that the Business Secretary Vince Cable is demanding that the board of Royal Mail limits a pay rise for Ms Greene.

Unite said it was demanding there were no compulsory redundancies.

The union's officer for Royal Mail, Brian Scott, added: "First the Government sells-off Royal Mail on the cheap and now the newly privatised service is ruthlessly sacrificing jobs.

"We do not believe that it's a coincidence that this announcement has been made just before the company prepares to announce its first full set of accounts since privatisation.

"It's more proof that Royal Mail's primary reason for existing is now about making profits rather than serving the nation.

"For all that Royal Mail managers have been through they do not deserve to be treated in this way.

"Unite is demanding a commitment to no compulsory redundancies on fair terms and an effective method for redeployment within the restructured organisation.

"If Royal Mail refuse we will have no alternative than to consider a ballot for industrial action."

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TV Licence Dodgers May Not Face Jail Threat

Proposals allowing ministers to lift the threat of jail and a criminal record for TV licence dodgers are set to take a step forward.

MPs are expected to give the go-ahead for a review of the TV licence, including allowing the Government to make non-payment a civil offence.

There is cross-party support for decriminalisation.

But the BBC had warned an immediate change would hit funding for its services by leading to increased evasion.

Cases of people accused of not paying the £145.50 fee accounted for more than one in 10 criminal prosecutions last year, with 155,000 people convicted and fined.

It led to more than 150 MPs to back a decriminalisation campaign led by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen.

In response, proposals were put forward requiring Culture Secretary Maria Miller to carry out a year-long review of the sanctions.

The BBC has indicated it is willing to discuss changes as part of discussions over the renewal of its charter, due in 2017.

Its director of strategy and digital, James Purnell, said the present system "works pretty well" and challenged some of the evidence put forward by supporters of decriminalisation.

But he added: "We want to look at the facts and work with Mr Bridgen and other people in Parliament who have expressed a concern and with the Government to come up with the best possible system.

"That is what this set of amendments allows us to do. It avoids the risk of doing it in a rush, it allows it to be looked at in the round and that is something we welcome."

Chancellor George Osborne said the Government was "looking very closely" at decriminalisation.

"It is getting more and more support across the political parties and you can see it is all heading in a particular direction," he said.

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Student Wins Last-Minute Deportation Reprieve

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

A 19-year-old schoolgirl has been told she will not be deported to Mauritius today after a high-profile campaign to keep her with her family in London.

The deportation team was taking Yashika Bageerathi to Gatwick Airport when a telephone call asking she be returned to a detention centre was received.

It appears at present to be a temporary reprieve.

Miss Bageerathi came to the UK from Mauritius in 2011 on a tourist visa to escape domestic violence.

Yashika is being taken from Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Since applying for asylum, her application has been treated separately from her mother, brother and sister as she is considered an adult, and has been rejected.

A security team arrived at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre this morning and told her she would be put on a flight at 2pm.

The family's other applications are still being considered.

On Sunday, a protest march was held to the Home Office by dozens of school friends, teachers and neighbours.

An online petition by the students calling on Immigration Minister James Brokenshire and Home Secretary Theresa May to stop the deportation and allow the student to complete her A-levels collected nearly 23,000 signatures.

Model Cara Delevingne also made a plea on Twitter to Mrs May not to send the aspiring maths teacher back.

And on Monday, barristers took an injunction to the High Court asking for her to be allowed to at least finish her A Levels and be with her family, but the case was rejected.

But Yashika's school principal Lynne Dawes said the teenager told her she was on her way back to the centre.

Ms Dawes added that Miss Bageerathi's solicitors were told at a tribunal the order to remove the teenager had been "cancelled" although it is not clear what the next step is.

Before the deportation was halted she was terrified for the student, telling Sky News: "I have spoken to her this morning from the detention centre and she is scared.

"We are not being allowed to see her and are all very worried for her as she is completely on her own.

"We've written to Home Secretary and not heard anything back.

"We just want to halt this removal until Yashika can do her A-Levels and we want her to be kept with her family wherever that is."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we consider every application on its individual merits.

"We do not routinely comment on individual cases."

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Acid Victim Left 'Isolated From Society'

A woman left permanently scarred after having acid thrown in her face says she has endured an emotional "whirlwind" since the attack.

Less than a week after her former friend, Mary Konye, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the attack, Naomi Oni spoke of the lasting pain it had caused her.

Ms Oni said the attack had left her "emotionally and psychologically" scarred.

"(It) ruined my reputation, ruined me financially and it has isolated me from society," she said.

"She (Mary Konye) has managed to do everything she set out to do, and society has allowed her to do so."

Konye was found guilty of disguising herself in a veil and following her friend through Dagenham, East London, before throwing sulphuric acid in her face.

Ms Oni, a Victoria's Secret shop assistant, was almost blinded in one eye, lost an eyelid, her eyelashes and hair following the attack on December 30, 2012.

Despite CCTV footage of the veiled attacker, Ms Oni says she was initially accused of lying about the incident.

Ms Oni has endured numerous skin grafts to cover the severe burns

She described the allegations as: "The most outrageous thing that could have happened on top of what already happened.

"I've gone through a whirlwind, something that most people can't even imagine happening and I've had to be insulted time and time again."

Responding to allegations that the police were among the first to question her story, Metropolitan Police said they had explored every possibility while CCTV evidence was being collected.

A spokesman said: "All lines of inquiry were considered in the early stages of the investigation. The investigation was detailed and complex and officers had a duty to explore every avenue of inquiry and retain an open mind about the circumstances.

"They carried out numerous actions including door-to-door inquiries, leaflet drops, searches, interviews and forensic analyses.

"The CCTV evidence took some time to collate and analyse but then clearly showed a veiled suspect trailing the victim before the attack."

In a victim impact statement read out to the court last week, Ms Oni said the attack had left her "paranoid and scared."

She told Sky News: "As I walk, I constantly turn my back to see who is behind me."

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Co-op Bank Discovers New £400m Shortfall

The struggling Co-operative Bank has discovered a new £400m capital shortfall - in addition to its previous £1.5bn funding gap.

It now expects to report a full-year pre-tax loss next month of some £1.25bn.

The bank added that job cuts hit the 1,000 level last year, or 14% of the workforce.

The bank said that in 2013 it was hit with an estimated £400m in legacy payment protection insurance (PPI), interest rate swaps and other consumer credit mis-selling claims.

Last summer the bank, which has promoted itself as ethically-minded, revealed it had discovered a £1.5bn capital hole.

The latest reassessment increases that figure by around a quarter and is expected to be met by funds provided by its bondholders.

Its five-year recovery plan announced in 2013, which included raising funds from its shareholders, is now to be "reset".

Chief executive Niall Booker said: "The proposed capital raise would enable us to reset this starting point and continue with the execution of our original business plan.

"As a result of this continuing review, we are unearthing a range of issues which the new executive team is having to address."

In February, the parent Co-operative Group announced an online poll to get feedback from the public after admitting it had lost its way.

It was hit by the huge capital black hole and a scandal involving the bank's ex-chairman Paul Flowers.

The Co-op Group will release its annual results on April 17 and the bank's figures will be announced on April 8.

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Shereka Marsh: Teen Charged With Murder

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder over the shooting of teenager Shereka Marsh at a party in east London.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Shereka died at a house in Eastway in Hackney on Saturday afternoon after being shot once in the neck.

Shereka (third right) at her school in east London. Pic: Hackney Gazette

Detectives found a gun inside the house.

Two 16-years-olds who had been arrested in connection to the shooting have been released without charge, police said.

Mourners - including members of Shereka's family - visited the scene throughout Sunday to lay flowers and tributes have also been posted on social media.

Chinelle Jennings, 15, a friend and schoolmate of Shereka, visited the scene of the shooting on Sunday, saying: "She was a nice, bubbly girl and she loved to party, loved shopping.

"She was just like the kind of girl that you would have to fall in love with."

Friends and locals left flowers at the scene of the shooting

"She liked PE. Her favourite subject was history. She was good at sports. She wanted to study business."

The teenager added: "She lived with her mum, her dad was in Jamaica. They just had each other, just them two and they lived together. She cherished her mum.

"Her mum was very protective."

Chinelle Jennings said Shereka was "a nice, bubbly girl"

Another of Shereka's friends, Drew Percival, said: "She had a good mindset, she was very funny. She was more of the business type. She liked her clothes, it was all designer. She was very sociable, a lot of friends.

"She was good at sports. She was always that person who was making everyone laugh."

Shereka had last week been pictured in the local press for helping to host the Jamaican High Commissioner when she visited The Urswick School.

Shereka was one of four pupils at the school who led the visitors on a tour, the Hackney Gazette said.

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Charity Cyclist Death: Second Person Arrested

A second person has been arrested over the death of a cyclist during a 24-hour charity ride.

More than £50,000 has been pledged in memory of Christian Smith, who was killed in a collision with a Peugeot 206 at around 4am on Saturday morning.

Mr Smith, who would have turned 39 next week, was riding 248 miles in 24 hours for the mental health charity Mind.

Police have arrested a 19-year-old man from the Herne Bay area in Kent on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been bailed until July 27.

It comes after an 18-year-old woman from the same area was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and causing death by dangerous driving and released on police bail.

Mr Smith, from Boughton Aulph, Kent, was killed on the A2990 Old Thanet Way, near Chestfield, and leaves behind a wife and three children.

He had hoped to raise £1,000 - promising to cycle naked around Wye if he made it.

So far there have been more than 3,700 donations to his JustGiving page.

Mind said it is 'devastated' by the cyclist's death

Jane Barnes wrote: "RIP Christian. I've never met you but you've touched my heart. With great respect to you and my thoughts are with your family xxx."

Another who gave, Wendy Lambert, left the message: "How sad, the world needs more people like you not less, those who get up and do stuff. Rest in Peace Christian."

Explaining his motivation for doing the "Kent Epic" for Mind, Mr Smith had written on JustGiving: "I have had my own misfortune to suffer from a spate of poor mental health, which was unexpected and has been a real 'game changer' in how I now view the future.

"It has been a tough road to get to this point but I have been fortunate enough to have the support of my family and friends.

"There are those who are not so fortunate to have the same level of support and understanding. They suffer in silence and are alone. This challenge is for those people."

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said the charity was "devastated" to hear the news and thanked the public for their continued donations.

PC Jamie Woodhams, of Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Information has come to light regarding a taxi, which is believed to have passed the scene shortly after the collision travelling from the Chestfield/ Swalecliffe roundabout towards Whitstable.

"I do not believe this driver was involved in the collision but I believe he or she could hold valuable information for us and I'd urge the driver to contact me as soon as possible."

:: Anyone with information should call PC Woodhams on 01622 798538.

More follows...

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Putin 'Acting Like Hitler' Over Ukraine

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Britain's former top soldier has accused the Russian President Vladimir Putin of acting like Hitler over Ukraine.

Lord Dannatt, the ex-head of the Army, has called for military cutbacks to be reversed to put "muscle" behind western diplomacy.

His comments came as concerns grew of a fresh incursion into Ukraine by Russia, and world leaders gathered at a summit to discuss the crisis.

Lord Dannatt, who led the Army between 2006 and 2008, said with defence budgets being cut, Mr Putin saw the West as "looking pretty weak".

Comparing him to a playground bully, Lord Dannatt told Sky News: "If he thinks there is virtually going to be no reaction at all then he will be encouraged to nibble away at the boundaries.

"It may be a little bit dismal to make comparisons with the 1930s, but that's what Adolf Hilter was doing in the 1930's, seeing what he could get away with.

Defence cutbacks will hit the Army hardest

"And he got away with a lot until frankly the world had to stand up. We don't want to go back to that kind of situation, but I think there are lessons there to be learned from history."

Lord Dannatt said: "I think we are sending the wrong message to Mr Putin and indeed to others if the West would appear to be disarming and reducing its military capability.

"I think experience has shown that diplomacy is most effective when it has a strong military component behind it."

He argued slashing the Army by 30,000 regular soldiers to a force of 82,000 by 2020, alongside plans to increase the number of reservists, was "too much".

He argued to reverse this cut by 3,000 troops, which would be based in Germany.

Lord Dannatt said: "I think that would be sending a good message of solidarity to our Nato and European partners that we are contuining to keep soldiers on the mainland."

But Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I don't think its necessary to change our plans to base British soldiers in Britain, but I think what is important that we send a very clear message to our Nato partners and allies, that we believe in Nato and believe in their security.

"That's why for instance we are helping some of the Baltic states with their defence and their needs. That's what we should be doing and that's what we are very much committed to doing."

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Heart Defects In Young 'Higher Than Thought'

By Clare Fallon, Sky Reporter

Undiagnosed heart defects may be killing many more teenagers and young adults than previously thought.

The most recent estimate claims Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) is responsible for the deaths of 12 people aged 14-35 in the UK every year. 

But a leading cardiologist has told Sky News he believes the true figure is significantly higher. 

The UK National Screening Committee is considering introducing a programme

Professor Sanjay Sharma said: "If we look at it more deeply and we analyse autopsy data in more detail we will find that the number probably creeps up to around 16-18 deaths per week in the UK."

Newly married Claire Reed was 22 when she died at a friend's hen party. 

Her husband Andy described her as "fit and healthy" and someone who "loved life".

Prof Sharma says the number of deaths are higher than previously thought

Recalling how they had spent the morning together before she set off for a weekend away, he said: "There was nothing wrong with her on that day. She was completely normal."

"When someone tells you that you've just been texting your wife a few hours before - and then the doctor tells you she's died - your mind cannot comprehend it. It doesn't make any sense."

Claire's family is now campaigning for a nationwide screening programme for teenagers and young adults so heart problems can be diagnosed even if there are no symptoms.

Footballer Fabrice Muamba had to retire after suffering a cardiac arrest

The UK National Screening Committee is currently looking at whether to introduce a programme. 

The former Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba is also calling for defibrillators to be installed in public places, including pubs and train stations. 

He was forced to quit the game after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match in 2012. 

Muamba was treated on the pitch after he collapsed

The footballer's heart stopped for more than an hour and a defibrillator was used to give him electric shocks while he was unconscious on the pitch.

He told Sky News: "I'm just very grateful that I've been given a second chance to live life again and spend time with my wife and kids."

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Dewani Extradition Date Set By South Africa

Shrien Dewani is to be extradited to South Africa on April 7 to face trial for plotting the murder of his new wife on their honeymoon.

Dewani is due to appear in court on April 8, the following day, South Africa's Department of Justice spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga announced on Sunday morning.

It comes after Dewani lost his latest legal battle to block his extradition, exhausting his appeal rights - three High Court judges rejected all of his current grounds of appeal against removal from Britain.

Dewani is detained under the Mental Health Act

The 33-year-old is accused of arranging the murder of his new wife, Anni, in November 2010 during their honeymoon in Cape Town.

Authorities in South Africa say Dewani paid for others to hijack their taxi, throw him out and shoot the 28-year-old before abandoning the vehicle. Dewani, who is compulsorily detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, denies any involvement in his wife's death.

The couple dancing at their wedding

Speaking after Dewani's latest court battle to remain in the UK on the grounds of his mental illness, Anni's father Vinod Hindocha said: "We are quite happy with the decision and we hope to get the answers that we have been seeking for the past three and a half years.

"I really don't know what happened to my daughter. We need answers. We hope to get justice."

So far three men have been convicted over Mrs Dewani's death.

It has been three-and-a-half years since Anni Dewani was murdered

South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting her.

Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired to carry out the killing.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the killing, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to murder and was given a 25-year prison sentence.

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'Beautiful Woman In Chains' In Mystery Death

A female 'carer' found dead at her home has been described as a "beautiful woman in chains" as police launched a murder inquiry.

The woman, named locally as 41-year-old mother-of-three Alison Taylor, had looked after her wheelchair-bound husband, according to neighbours.

Police discovered her body at a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Mulberry Walk, Maidenhead, Berkshire, at 8.17pm on Friday.

A 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out but was unable to establish a cause of death.

It is being treated as unexplained and toxicology tests have been ordered to examine possible causes.

A resident of the quiet cul-de-sac said Mrs Taylor had four children who were in their early 20s and late teens.

She said: "Nobody knows the circumstances yet. There were flowers left outside the house earlier.

"They kept themselves to themselves mostly, I only knew them because their children used to hang around with mine.

"She wasn't disabled but her husband was and she would look after him."

A note on a bunch of flowers left outside the house said: "Alison, RIP. A beautiful woman in chains. XXX"

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Girls Lured Into UK Gangs 'In Desperation'

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs And Education Editor

Thousands of girls are being subjected to sexual exploitation, weapons and drug running at the hands of male-run gangs, a new report warns.

A brutal gang culture is increasingly seeing girls and young women passed around different male gang members for sex, with rape used as a weapon in conflicts between rival gangs, and initiation ceremonies in which both girls and boys suffer sexual abuse, the report adds.

Edward Boyd, deputy policy director of the Centre for Social Justice, which co-wrote the report together with the charity XLP, said: "We are often unsighted about the desperate plight of girls embroiled in gangs.

"They live in a parallel world where rape is used as a weapon and carrying drugs and guns is seen as normal."

The report's authors say that despite previous reports on the vulnerability of girls in gangs, the Government lacks a coherent, long-term vision for dealing with the issue.

The report cites estimates that 12,500 girls and young women could be involved in gangs, but says too little is known about how gang life affects girls' education, families, friends and communities and their own offending.

Former gang members speak to Sky News about their experiences

One 16-year-old gang member, who is being helped to rebuild her life, told Sky News she was let down by adults when she first became involved in gang activity.

"At that time I had no mother, no one to depend on. At that time my mother was a drug addict, I was on my own," said Charlene (not her real name).

"The people that came into my life, they would come into my life and just leave again.

"The main reason I wanted to associate with people around me was that I wanted to be protected. But I was wrong. To this day I'm having trouble with police because of it."

"With the school that I was in, they didn't really help," Charlene added.

"If I went to school and something was bothering me, they didn't even help me with that.

"They would be quick to move me out of the school because of the reputation of the school, they didn't want to ruin it. So they wouldn't help, they would just send you to an alternative school."

The report also claims headteachers have turned a blind eye to gang activity to protect their school's reputation.

But one former gang member said problems in the home and widespread family breakdown was a root cause of the problem.

An estimated 12,500 girls and young women could be involved in gangs

Mona, who now works with charity St Giles Trust to help gang members change their lives, said her own experience of involvement and sexual exploitation in a gang as a teenager was also linked to problems in her home life.

"I had two different types of initiation (into the gang)," said Mona.

"There's one where I had to fight the girls that were gang members, to prove my worth to them. And then there was being passed around by the boys, and that happened to me.

"I wanted to be accepted, and they fed on that acceptance. I had issues at home with my schooling, with my behaviour, I'd run away from home, I was out by myself, hooking up with a load of older people, and they abused me."

Today's report comes after several previous attempts to reveal the extent of girls' involvement in gangs since the issue first came to prominence a decade ago.

But some warn that social pressure and the increasing sexualisation of young women has changed the nature and severity of the problem.

The sexualisation of women adds to the problem, according to Isha Nembhard

"When I was in school we was more boisterous. It was a girl gang. There was no boys in our gang," said Isha Nembhard, 25, a former gang member who now works with Foundation 4 Life which helps girls currently involved in gangs.

"We had male affiliation, but they was in their own group. What we went out and done, it was for ourselves ... Girl rap was more tomboyish. Nowadays girl rap is more sexualised. People like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna sexualise themselves a lot more.

"That makes a girl in a gang weak because they look at these girls only as a sex object."

Former gang members describe exposure to sex on social media, the desire for material wealth, and the lack of parental or community support as a counter-influence as key factors in driving young girls into relationships with male gang members.

The report's authors said that without more research into the extent of the problem, girls would continue to suffer from abuse and lasting damage to their futures.

"The biggest issue with girls in gangs is that we simply don't know the full extent of the problem," said Patrick Regan, chief executive officer of XLP.

"The data we have is merely the tip of the iceberg and at XLP there is no doubt that we see increasing numbers of girls dragged into this appalling world of exploitation, criminality and hopelessness."

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