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South Korea and the United States hold joint military exercises, amid heightened tension in the wake of North Korea’s deadly attack on a South Korean island.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
By Adrian Goldberg
Sarah Payne was murdered by Roy Whiting who had a previous conviction for indecently assaulting a child. A law being brought in to protect children from sex offenders will be undermined because it is too easy for them to change their name without informing the authorities, a children’s charity has warned.
Kidscape is calling on the Home Office to become more proactive and introduce checks on those changing their name using the services of commercial deed poll companies.
Sarah’s Law is being rolled out across England and Wales in spring 2011.
It will allow parents and carers limited access to information on the sex offenders register so they can identify possible risks to children in their care.
But 5 live Investigates has discovered that criminals can effectively evade the restrictions imposed on them by the register, simply by taking a new name.
Under the current system those on the sex offenders register are allowed to change their name but they face up to five years in jail if they fail to inform the authorities within three days of doing so.
There are fears some are purposely neglecting to do this in order to reoffend undetected.
Those working with children say it is dangerous to rely on the honesty of sex offenders and more proactive checks should be put in place instead.
“As someone who works in safeguarding children, I find it unacceptable that the onus is on the offender to follow the set of procedures and then there is a penalty if they don’t,” said Kidscape director Claude Knights.
“I think we have to be much, much more proactive, because we are dealing with a group that’s known for trying to throw obstructions in the way of the truth. There is a devious aspect to it all.
“Their goal… is totally and utterly despicable. Having it, so that we react once something happens, is very, very dangerous in relation to the safety of children.”
The Home Office says the UK has one of the “most robust systems” in the world for managing sex offenders.
Hear the full report on 5 live Investigates, on Sunday 28 November at 2100 GMT on BBC Radio 5 live.
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But Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the probation officers’ trade union Napo, estimates the authorities have lost track of around 500 of the 21,000 sex offenders in the community in England and Wales.
He says the only way to catch these sex offenders under the current system is if they commit another offence.
“We can safely say that hundreds have evaded scrutiny by police and probation because they’ve gone AWOL [absent without leave] – and helped them going AWOL by changing their name. The only way to catch them is if they commit another offence.”
Sarah’s Law was brought onto the statute book following the murder of eight year-old Sarah Payne in 2000 by Roy Whiting, who had a previous conviction for abducting and indecently assaulting another child.
Sarah Payne’s mother Sara believes that if the local community in Sussex had been aware of Whiting’s criminal past, they might have been more alert to the threat to her child.
“The UK has one of the most robust systems in the world for the management of sex offenders, which for nearly 10 years has included key local agencies working successfully together”
Home Office spokesman
The case of sex offender Alan Smith illustrates his point. Smith was Stan the Monkey, the official mascot of Accrington Stanley FC, until he was sacked in 2005 following a conviction for an indecent assault on a 14-year old.
He was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years but in 2008, he changed his name by deed poll to Alan Anumm without informing the police. He was then able to apply for a passport in his new name.
This allowed him to travel to the Thai capital, Bangkok – a reocgnised centre of the child sex trade – without the knowledge of the UK authorities.
As Alan Smith he had previously been deported from Thailand in 2006 after being discovered working in a school.
Smith/Anumm was only finally tracked down by chance after the police discovered he had made a claim for disability benefit under his assumed identity.
So just how easy is it to officially change your name and adopt an alias?
I made an online application to a company called the UK Deed Poll Service, and received documentation confirming my new identity just two days later – and all for a cost of just £37 – with no questions asked.
I could then legitimately apply for a driving licence or passport in the new name.
Presenter Adrian Goldberg was able to change his name in a matter of minutes There is no suggestion that the company or others like them are doing anything illegal. There are many legitimate reasons for seeking a name change, but the ease with which it can be done also creates opportunities for criminals.
The Home Office says: “The UK has one of the most robust systems in the world for the management of sex offenders, which for nearly 10 years has included key local agencies working successfully together.”
“By law sex offenders are required to notify the police of any change to their details, including a change of name, within three days of that change taking place. If they don’t they can face up to five years in prison.
“Sex offenders may be subject to multi-agency public protection arrangements by which police, probation and the prison service manage the risk posed by them.”
But Claude Knights is still concerned. She said: “Predators are looking for loopholes all the time and since we know about this one, it’s our duty as a society to close it.”
You can hear the full report on 5 live Investigates on Sunday, 28 November at 2100 GMT on BBC Radio 5 live.
You can also listen again on the BBC iPlayer or by downloading the 5 live Investigates podcast.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Passengers die after a plane crashes near a military housing complex in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mitchell accused the women of lying A police force which admitted failings over its recruitment of an officer who raped and assaulted vulnerable women is facing damages claims from his victims.
Lawyers representing the victims of Pc Stephen Mitchell have initiated civil claims against Northumbria Police.
Mitchell, from Glasgow, was convicted of two counts of rape, three indecent assaults and six counts of misconduct in a public office on Wednesday.
Northumbria Police said each claim for damages would be considered carefully.
But it added that Mitchell, 42, must bear responsibility for his crimes.
Mitchell’s trial at Newcastle’s High Court heard he targeted vulnerable women, including heroin addicts and shoplifters, by offering to help them while they were in custody at Newcastle’s Pilgrim Street police station and then asking for sexual favours.
He denied all the charges and claimed the 16 women who made complaints about his behaviour were liars.
He was cleared of nine counts of misconduct in public office, three of indecent assault and three of rape.
“We will never be able to remove the… lasting damage that he caused, but we hope to be able to provide our clients with some comfort as they try to get their lives back on track”
Lindsey Houghton Irwin Mitchell
During the trial, it emerged that the force had disciplined him when it was discovered he had sex with a woman he had met as part of his duties, but he was not dismissed for the offence.
It also emerged Mitchell was accused of a serious sexual offence while he was still in the Army but this was not revealed when he applied to join Northumbria Police.
After the conclusion of the trial, Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jim Campbell acknowledged the investigation had “highlighted some failings within Northumbria Police at both the recruitment stage and when subsequent allegations were made during Mitchell’s service with the force”.
Serious injury specialist Lindsey Houghton, from the North East office of law firm Irwin Mitchell, is overseeing the civil claims for damages on behalf of Mitchell’s victims, who are upholding their right to anonymity.
She said: “The civil cases are at an early stage but we are making claims for damages for sexual assault, false imprisonment and breach of human rights.
“Mitchell was in a position of trust and authority and he abused that position, taking advantage of vulnerable young women in the most horrific way imaginable.
“We will never be able to remove the memories and the lasting damage that he caused, but we hope to be able to provide our clients with some comfort as they try to get their lives back on track.”
A Northumbria Police spokesman said each compensation case would be “dealt with in the normal way and carefully considered on its merits”.
He said: “Pc Mitchell has been convicted of horrendous crimes and must bear the responsibility for his actions.”
Mitchell will be sentenced on 11 January.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
There was widespread disruption to London’s Tube network during the previous three walkouts London Underground staff are set to begin a fourth 24-hour strike later on Sunday after negotiations with Tube bosses failed last week.
Members of the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) will walk out from 1829 GMT.
The unions say cutting around 800 jobs will affect the safety of the service – a claim Transport for London disputes.
It said it would try to run as many trains as it could but most journeys were likely to be disrupted.
There is likely to be further disruption to the travel network on Monday as commuters return to work.
Union members have already staged three strikes in recent months over the job loss threats.
The two sides had met at the conciliation service, Acas, last week to try to avert a walkout, but the talks broke down.
But Transport for London (TfL) claimed that the unions walked away from an offer of a further six weeks to review staffing plans.
The unions countered this and said London Underground management had rejected their proposal to suspend the strikes for 12 weeks while further safety evaluations were carried out over a 12-week period.
The row centres on the future of 800 employees in ticket offices at Underground stations.
Unions are protesting against plans to cut 800 jobs
Tube strike Crowd Map Mind the Gap: Why the Tube talks failed
Managers say fewer staff are needed at counters because of the widespread use of Oyster swipe cards.
But the RMT says this will affect both passenger and staff safety.
But Tfl refuted this, saying all stations will be staffed while open.
On its website, TfL has said that volunteers would be on hand at key stations to assist passengers, and an extra 100 buses would be running.
It warned that its cycle hire scheme was likely to face high demand and that some Tube stations would be closed.
It advised people to check before embarking on their journey, but has already said that on Monday, it expected to be able to run trains on all lines except the Circle line – although some sections of lines may have no service.
In Zone One, it expected the Piccadilly and Circle lines to be out of service, while service would start on the Central line from 1000 GMT.
Among the 77 stations already announced as expected to be closed throughout the day are Charing Cross, Clapham Common, Heathrow Terminal 4, Shepherd’s Bush and Piccadilly Circus.
Others could be partially closed, TfL warned.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
China has expressed concern about military activity so close to its territory South Korea and the United States are due to begin four days of joint military exercises in the waters off the Korean west coast.
The US says they are defensive exercises designed to deter North Korea from launching further attacks across its border with the South.
North Korea’s shelling of a South Korean island last week left two marines and two civilians dead.
North Korea has condemned the exercises as a provocation.
China has also expressed concern about military activity by foreign navies so close to its territory, and has warned the Americans not to stray too close.
The BBC’s Chris Hogg, in the South Korean capital Seoul, says military sources there say that planning for the war games began before North Korea’s deadly attack on Yeonpyeong island. But they add that the intensity of the live fire and bombing drills will now be stepped up.
The US aircraft carrier the USS George Washington and four other US navy vessels will be joined by South Korean destroyers, patrol vessels, frigates, support ships and anti-submarine aircraft.
The drills are expected to take place about 125km (77 miles) south of the disputed maritime border between the two Koreas, about 40km off the Korean coast.
26 March: South Korean warship, Cheonan, sinks, killing 46 sailors
20 May: Panel says a North Korean torpedo sank the ship; Pyongyang denies involvement
July-September: South Korea and US hold military exercises; US places more sanctions on Pyongyang
29 September: North holds rare party congress seen as part of father-to-son succession move
29 October: Troops from North and South Korea exchange fire across the land border
12 November: North Korea shows US scientist new – undeclared – uranium enrichment facility
23 November: North shells island of Yeonpyeong, killing at least four South Koreans
In pictures: S Korean anger US-South alliance under pressure Koreans angry and worried Brief history of the Korean War
The aircraft carrier is likely to be stationed further south in international waters, but still technically within striking range of Chinese cities.
A statement from North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said: “If the US brings its carrier to the West Sea of Korea (Yellow Sea), no-one can predict the ensuing consequences.”
On Saturday, North Korea accused the South of using civilians as human shields on Yeonpyeong island.
The North’s state media said the South was using the deaths of the two civilians for propaganda, in its words “creating the impression that the defenceless civilians were exposed to indiscriminate shelling from the North”.
Pyongyang said it had been provoked by the South’s military exercises, which were being carried out close to Yeonpyeong. It said the North had sent a “telephone notice” on the morning of the shelling “to prevent the clash at the last moment” but the South continued its “provocation”.
South Korea says two men in their 60s, who were working on the island, were killed by the shells.
The funeral service for the two marines who died, Seo Jeong-woo and Moon Kwang-wook, was held on Saturday at a military hospital in Seongnam, close to Seoul, and was broadcast on television nationwide.
Hundreds of government and military officials, politicians, religious leaders, activists and civilians attended. Among them were Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik.
The US has called on China, North Korea’s only ally, to increase its pressure on Pyongyang to prevent further incidents.
China has said its “top priority” is to keep the situation under control. Beijing has begun a series of talks in an attempt to ease the tension.
However, the top US military commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, said he did not know “why China doesn’t push harder” with Pyongyang.
In an interview with CNN due to be broadcast on Sunday but released as a transcript, Adm Mullen said Beijing appeared to mistakenly believe it could control North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il.
“I’m not sure he is controllable,” Adm Mullen said.
South Korea has increased its troop numbers on Yeonpyeong and says it will change its rules of engagement to allow it to respond more forcefully if incidents such as Tuesday’s happen again.
The tension comes as the North is undergoing an apparent transition of power from Kim Jong-il to his young son Kim Jong-un.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Philippe Parker talks of his ongoing fight for his health
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The Item Club says low pay rises coupled with tax increases suggest a “joyless, jobless recovery” Scotland’s economy will avoid a double-dip recession but full recovery will not be achieved for a decade, according to a leading economic forecaster.
The Ernst & Young Scottish Item Club has predicted growth of 1.1% this year and 2.2% in 2011.
However, it cautioned low pay rises coupled with tax increases pointed to a “joyless, jobless recovery”.
It said it could be 10 years before employment reached pre-recession levels.
The Item Club, which uses the same economic model as the Treasury, said the recovery would be a “slow grind” rather than a “snap back” typically seen after other recessions, and this was down to the “lingering impact” of the banking crisis and public sector cuts.
However, it suggested there was some optimism to be gained from the latest revisions to the GDP data which show Scotland’s economy grew faster in the run-up to the downturn than previously thought.
Item said Scotland’s revival was “now on par with the UK as a whole”.
Dougie Adams, senior economic advisor to Item, said: “Scotland can look forward to a relatively good year of output growth.
“However, labour market trends have a telling impact on the economic mood and things are less buoyant in that respect.”
He added: “The country has suffered substantially bigger job losses than other parts of the UK and we predict little net employment growth over the next two years, with only 6,000 of the near 200,000 jobs that were lost being added back to the market by 2012.”
Item predicted a further 40,000 job losses from public sector cuts by 2015.
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President Hosni Mubarak (left, on poster) has ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years Egyptians are due to go to the polls in parliamentary elections, in a process which has already seen clashes between the opposition and security forces.
The ruling NDP party of President Hosni Mubarak is expected to win easily.
The Muslim Brotherhood – officially banned – is bidding to retain its position as the country’s biggest opposition party.
In 2005, its supporters won about a fifth of the seats, standing as independent candidates.
Polls around Egypt will open at 0600 GMT and will close at 1700 GMT.
Some 42m voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with results expected within several days.
The new parliament will have 518 members, 508 of whom will be elected and 10 will be appointed by presidential decree.
Each of the 254 constituencies will return two MPs representing two sets of people: workers and farmers represent one group, and professionals the other. According to the constitution, the former must account for at least half of all MPs.
The winners are decided on a first-past-the-post basis. To win outright, a candidate must get more than 50% of the vote. Otherwise, the top two battle it out in a second round.
There has already been widespread criticism of the way the election has been conducted, the BBC’s Jon Leyne in Cairo reports.
In a number of seats, the courts have called for the elections to be postponed, because opposition candidates were illegally struck off the ballot, our correspondent says.
But he adds that the government is expected simply to ignore that.
Some observers believe that the ruling party may win an embarrassingly large victory, further undermining the credibility of these elections.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
An eight-week-old baby has died after a car crash in the West Midlands.
The baby boy was taken to hospital after the collision between two cars in Grove Lane, Smethwick, shortly after 1810 GMT on Saturday but later died.
West Midlands Police said a woman who had been travelling in the same car suffered multiple injuries and was in hospital in a critical condition.
Three others in the Toyota Corolla, two men and a woman, suffered minor injuries.
Police said the occupants of the second car involved in the crash – a silver Mitsubishi Evolution – left the scene before officers arrived. The force said the Mitsubishi had no registered owner.
A police spokeswoman said: “It is believed at this stage that there were at least four people travelling in the Mitsubishi.
“All left the scene following the collision prior to police attendance.”
The cars collided near the junction of Grove Lane and Painters Corner.
Sgt Ferris Hatheson, from the West Midlands Police collision investigation unit, said: “We are appealing for any of those in the Mitsubishi to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible or anyone who has any information in relation to their identity.”
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Mr Salmond apologised to parliament for not keeping MSPs informed about the loss of tartan tax powers First Minister Alex Salmond has been urged to open up the Scottish government’s handling of tax-varying powers to independent scrutiny.
Labour leader Iain Gray and Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott have written to ask him to refer the matter to a panel of former Holyrood presiding officers.
It emerged recently that ministers would be unable to increase or reduce tax for the next three years.
The opposition leaders want to know if the ministerial code was broken.
Last week, Mr Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney apologised to the Scottish Parliament for not keeping MSPs informed about the loss of the tartan tax powers.
The deal, which allowed Scotland to raise or lower income tax by 3p in the pound, was allowed to lapse in 2007 and cannot be used until 2013-14.
The Scottish Parliament last week passed a motion accusing SNP ministers of “an abuse of power” by failing to sustain Holyrood’s tax powers and misleading parliament over the issue.
In a rare joint letter, Mr Gray and Mr Scott said: “We are concerned that Scottish ministers knew that the tax-varying powers were not capable of implementation yet persisted to present to MSPs and others the impression that the powers were ready to use.”
The letter continued: “While ministers have apologised for the length of time they took to bring the matter of the Scottish Variable Rate to parliament, our complaint is about the conduct of ministers and the government in the misleading information they provided to parliament.”
The opposition leaders said they considered it “entirely appropriate” that an investigation be held into whether ministers breached the ministerial code of conduct.
“We ask that our complaint be referred to the independent advisers on the ministerial code, the former presiding officers George Reid and Lord Steel,” their letter added.
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Heavy snow will start to drift by Sunday, forecasters have warned Wintry weather will grip parts of the UK for weeks to come as snow spreads eastwards, forecasters have warned.
Travel plans were disrupted for many people as 40cms (16in) fell in parts of north-east England and Scotland on Saturday – with more to come on Sunday.
It was said to be the most widespread snow at this time of year since 1993.
In south Wales, an RAF helicopter carrying two people rescued from the Brecon Beacons was prevented from landing at three hospitals by the snow.
It eventually touched down at a fourth in Swansea.
There was also snow across the West Midlands and Cornwall amid freezing conditions.
Temperatures early on Sunday are expected to drop below zero across the UK, with minus 7C quite common.
Met Office severe weather warnings for heavy snow remain in place for many parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north east England, and Yorkshire and Humber.
BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs said there would be more heavy snow in north-east England and eastern and southern Scotland, and this snow would start to drift.
Carl Eddy sent in this picture of Cragside National Trust estate in Rothbury, Northumberland “It is likely enough to cause problems, not helped by the fact that winds are strengthening over Scotland. Snow will start to drift,” he said.
Elsewhere across the UK, frost and ice would make driving dangerous, he added.
“There will be no sign of a let-up right into next week, with the eastern side of the UK continuing to get the worst of it. There will be a bitter easterly wind,” he said.
“By Monday into Tuesday almost anywhere down the eastern side of the country could be seeing snow, possibly into the Midlands.”
WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO
Get the latest on school closures and travel problems via your local website Check if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency website For information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office website For information about staying healthy in the cold weather, see the NHS Winter Health website
MeteoGroup forecaster Tom Tobler said: “People should be bracing themselves for more cold weather for the working week and beyond.”
Motoring rescue service the AA said it had dealt with 10,400 breakdowns by Saturday afternoon and expected 15,000 by the end of the day – an 80% rise on a normal November Saturday.
A spokesman said a gritter got stuck in Middlesborough, which was one of the worst affected areas, along with Northumbria, Newcastle, and Aberdeenshire.
In Sheffield, two people were injured in a four-vehicle pile-up on the M1. The accident closed all three lanes of the southbound carriageway between junctions 34 and 33, near the Tinsley viaduct.
The East of England Ambulance Service also reported a series of traffic accidents, with cars skidding off the road.
Spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “Remember your safety is paramount, drive safely and please take care over the weekend.”
Some weekend sporting events have been cancelled because of the wintry conditions Away from the roads, Norwich, Inverness, Newcastle, Luton and Durham-Tees Valley airports all experienced disruption to flights.
In Jersey, a lightning strike disrupted radar equipment, also leading to flight problems.
Several sporting events were cancelled, including race meetings and the FA Cup second round fixtures Hartlepool United v Yeovil Town and Notts County v Bournemouth.
Several football matches in Scotland, including Sunday’s Alba Cup final, were called off.
Newcastle United have drafted in extra staff to try to ensure Sunday’s clash with Chelsea goes ahead.
The unusual weather is being caused by high pressure over Greenland and low pressure in the Baltics, forcing cold winds from the north-east across Europe.
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At least three people have been killed in violence in Ivory Coast, hours before a presidential run-off election, officials say.
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A cargo plane with eight people on board crashes shortly after taking off from Karachi airport in Pakistan, local officials say.
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Severe weather warnings remain in place for parts of the UK, with heavy snowfalls affecting many areas.
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