Police 'Cover Up Wrongdoing', Most Britons Say

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

More than half of Britons believe there is a culture of cover-ups within the police, a Sky News poll has found.

A total of 53% of members of the public questioned in the survey agreed that forces try to hide officers' wrongdoing. Just 18% of people polled disagreed that cover-ups take place.

The findings follow a series of controversies in which police have been accused of making serious mistakes and then attempting to shield officers from blame.

In 2012, it emerged that scores of statements from officers involved in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 had been doctored to remove evidence of police failings.

Since September that year the Metropolitan Police has been embroiled in a damaging row with the former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell, over whether he had called an officer guarding Downing Street a "pleb".

And last week the Met faced criticism in the wake of the shooting of Mark Duggan, whose death in 2011 prompted widespread rioting and looting.

An inquest jury found that armed police had acted lawfully in killing Mr Duggan, but his family have insisted officers shot an unarmed man.

However, the Sky News poll - commissioned as part of a series of reports on the police entitled A Fair Cop? -  found that despite these incidents, a large majority of the public still trust officers.

Asked whether their trust in police had changed over the past five years, 62% of those questioned said it had stayed the same, while 31% said it had gone down.

A total of 72% said they would trust the police to act if they reported a crime and 67% would trust officers to deal with them if they were the victim of a crime.

In relation to the conduct of officers over Hillsborough, 44% of those questioned said they now trust the police less, although 49% said it had made no difference.

Most people said the Mark Duggan case had not hit their trust in police

The so-called 'Plebgate' affair prompted 51% of those questioned to say they had less trust in police, with 43% saying it made no difference.

However, 61% said the Mark Duggan case had not affected their trust in police. A total of 21% said they had less faith in officers, a number that increased to 40% among people who described themselves as non-white. 15% said they now trusted the police more.

Regarding police tactics, 60% of people who took part in the poll said they believed that 'stop and search' - a policy that ethnic minorities claim unfairly targets them - does more good than harm.

However, the same number of people questioned said they did not believe police should be able to use people's ethnic background to decide who to stop, a strategy known as racial profiling.

:: The Sky News poll was conducted by Survation who questioned 1,005 people earlier this week.

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Prince Harry To Take Up New Military Role

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

Prince Harry is leaving his role as an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner based at Wattisham and returning to a job in London.

Kensington Palace told Sky News: "Prince Harry has completed his attachment to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and will now take up a Staff Officer role in HQ London District.

"The Prince will take the position of SO3 (Defence Engagement). His responsibilities will include helping to co-ordinate significant projects and commemorative events involving the Army in London.

"Prince Harry will retain the rank of Captain and be based from Horse Guards, in Central London."

Prince Harry spent three and a half years in training and operational service with the Apache Force during his attachment to the Army Air Corps.

Prince Harry qualifying as an Apache Commander

Lieutenant Colonel Tom de la Rue, who commanded Prince Harry in the Army Air Corps, said: "Captain Wales has reached the pinnacle of flying excellence as an Apache pilot, particularly in Afghanistan and, in the process, has proved to be a real inspiration to the many Army Air Corps officers and soldiers who have come to know him so well over the last two years."

A source told Sky News the move would allow Harry to gain wider experience in the military and concentrate on other projects outside the Military.

After the Prince's visit to the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs last year, the now fourth in line to the throne made it clear he had ambitions of bringing the event to London.

The Warrior Games sees injured service personnel compete in an Olympic-style Games and has so far only taken place in the US.

Kensington Palace confirmed the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Foundation are undertaking feasibility work on concepts and funding for the UK to host the inaugural international Warrior Games later this year.

Being back in London could also help the Prince deepen his relationship with girlfriend Cressida Bonas.

The announcement follows Prince Harry's return from a four-month deployment in Afghanistan in January last year.

Captain Harry Wales, as he is known in the military, arrived in Camp Bastion in September 2012 as part of 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps.

Soon after his arrival, the Camp was attacked by Taliban insurgents with Prince Harry understood to be the key target.

Upon his return, media were allowed to broadcast interviews conducted during his deployment to Helmand Province.

When the Apache co-pilot gunner was asked whether he had killed, he said: "Yeah, so lots of people have. The squadron's been out here. Everyone's fired a certain amount.

"We fire when we have to, take a life to save a life, but essentially we're more of a deterrent than anything else."

Prince Harry was first deployed to Afghanistan amid a media blackout in 2007, but was forced to return to the UK after overseas publications broke the media blackout.

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Cameron Jokes Hiding Bald Spot A 'Priority'

David Cameron has revealed his priority for 2014 - to keep his bald spot hidden.

He was speaking at the first Westminster Correspondents dinner for 40 years, in front of an audience of political journalists.

In a tongue-in-cheek quip, he said his priority for the year ahead was "keeping the bald spot under control".

He then insisted he had not known in advance that his hairdresser was getting an MBE in the New Year's Honours but he added: "If you can make cuts and stop recession at the same time, you deserve an honour."

The event - similar to the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in the US - was revived for the first time since 1974.

David Cameron's hairline in 2006 (L) and today

And, like the US version, it gave the PM the chance for a gentle ribbing of his political rivals.

Looking out at the crowd of reporters in the grand surroundings of the House of Commons Members' dining room, the PM said: "The last time I was at a dinner this posh, Boris (Johnson) spent the rest of the night in prison."

He then recounted a day spent canvassing with the London mayor, when a woman answered their knock on the door with the words: "Boris, you're the father of one of my children."

After some flustering by Mr Johnson she added: "It's your daughter, I'm her maths teacher."

He said one of his other priorities was keeping the coalition on the road while Nick Clegg "the product of the mean streets of Westminster and Cambridge", tried to differentiate himself from the public-school Tories.

He also praised backbencher Penny Mordaunt for her decision to appear on ITV's Splash to raise money for charity, adding: "If every Tory MP who's taken their clothes off in recent years had had such noble intentions, we would be in a much better position."

He also said he had a lot in common with his Commons adversary, shadow chancellor Ed Balls.

"We both love The Sound of Music, we both love Delia Smith - for different reasons - and we both like the Antiques Roadshow," he said. "I like it for the heartwarming stories, Ed likes it when they sell the family silver."

Mr Cameron ended with praise for Britain's free press, paying tribute to The Guardian's parliamentary sketchwriter Simon Hoggart, who died earlier this month.

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Fastest Growth In Retail Sales Since 2004

Brisk business for smaller retailers ahead of Christmas helped sales volumes grow at their fastest annual pace since 2004 in December.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured 2.6% growth during December to show an annual increase of 5.3% - easily topping the forecasts of economists.

The performance suggests a bigger contribution to GDP growth from consumer spending in the fourth quarter of 2013, after the sector was credited with driving recovery during the previous three months.

However, it will also raise more concerns about consumer debt levels and the extent to which people are digging into savings.

The surge in business for small stores may have been a result of the storms ahead of Christmas - prompting consumers to shop locally.

Debenhams had a poor Xmas despite department stores seeing strong trade

Small stores were found by the ONS to have outperformed their bigger rivals, with the amount spent in them increasing by 8.1% against growth of 2.6% for larger stores, compared with December 2012.

The figures follow news of upbeat trading from the likes of Argos, Halfords, Primark and Next over the festive season, though Marks & Spencer and Debenhams struggled.

The extent of their woes was laid bare by the ONS, which measured department store sales volume growth of 11.7% in December - the highest year-on-year growth since January 2000.

The slew of results from major chains suggested retailers who embraced online and high demand for gadgets and cheap fashion enjoyed robust trading.

The ONS said internet sales increased 11.8% by value compared with the same month last year, with average weekly spending online standing at £675.4m.

The statistical body also reported that the 2.6% growth in sales volumes month-on-month equalled the previous high set in February 2010.

The overall amount spent in shops was up 3.6% compared with the same month last year, with food stores improving by 2.2% and non-food stores by 4.4%.

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Missing Boy Mikaeel Kular: Possible Sighting

Police say there has been a possible sighting of missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular.

Members of the public reported seeing a boy at West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh, not far from Mikaeel's home, yesterday morning, at around 8.30am.

The timing of the sighting has been confirmed by CCTV images, although these cannot confirm the identity of the child.

The boy was spotted about half a mile from his home in Ferry Gait Crescent

Superintendent Liz McAinsh said: "Members of the public have come forward to report seeing a boy running in the vicinity of West Pilton Gardens at 8.30am yesterday.

"The witnesses were in a vehicle driving down West Pilton Gardens at the time they saw the boy. They described seeing a small boy on the right hand side pavement running towards the junction with West Pilton Park.

"They noticed him because he was small in build and alone at the time. They said he matched the description given of Mikaeel although they also reported the child they saw was wearing a cap or hat.

Motorists have been urged to be on their guard

"We would ask that anyone who also saw this child contact us as a matter of urgency. We need to confirm if this was Mikaeel or if it was another child.

"If it is your child who was out at this time and in this location, we want to hear from you so we can eliminate this line of inquiry as swiftly as possible."

Mikaeel went missing overnight on Wednesday

Supt McAinsh said it appeared that Mikaeel did not like wearing hats or caps and there was no such item missing from the house.

At a press conference earlier, she said "hundreds and hundreds" of police officers, from forces across the UK, had joined the search.

Police have released a photograph showing the jacket he was wearing

She revealed that police had received 150 calls to a hotline dedicated to the boy's disappearance and all lines of inquiry were still open.

"I remain optimistic, I really do, but as time passes we become deeply concerned," she said.

Today, hundreds of volunteers began a search for the missing three-year-old, who vanished after being put to bed by his mother at around 9pm on Wednesday.

The child's mother found his room empty when she went wake him on Thursday morning.

Sky News correspondent Gerard Tubb said that a friend of the mother had described her as a "fantastic mum" who would do anything for her children.

Supt McAinsh said: "Mikaeel's mother is getting a lot of support from both the police, her family and her friends but clearly she is very distraught, she just wants her little boy back home with his brothers and sisters."

She said that officers have spoken to Mikaeel's father and that all of the boy's family have been very helpful to the police.

She added: "No-one is detained, no-one is a suspect, we have no evidence of any criminality."

Hundreds of volunteers are helping in the search

Supt McAinsh said she was not aware of any tension in the family that would have caused Mikaeel to run away.

Some investigators have said that it would have been "practically impossible" for Mikaeel to have left the home alone and suspect a professional abduction.

A police helicopter, sniffer dogs, coastguard and lifeboat teams have been searching the area surrounding the flat he shares with four siblings in Ferry Gait Crescent.

Forensic teams are examining a second address in a block of flats near his home.

The boy spotted running down the street was wearing a cap or hat

Officers have also urged neighbours to check gardens, sheds, parks and lock-ups.

David Cowin, a volunteer who met at the Local Team Office in West Pilton Gardens for today's search, said: "At times like this you just want to help as much as you can."

Briefing the searchers, inspector David Happs said: "The community spirit here has been fantastic. That's absolutely recognised by ourselves and our real sincere thanks to everyone that has come out and helped so far."

This afternoon, volunteers could be seen standing shoulder to shoulder, scouring the foreshore at Cramond. Many of those taking part were mothers wheeling prams.

The temperature in Edinburgh overnight dropped to around 3C.

Police held a press conference early this morning

Police Scotland has activated the Child Rescue Alert system, which is usually reserved for abduction and kidnap cases and supported by all police forces across the UK.

The search remains focused around the Drylaw, Pennywell, Muirhouse and Silverknowes areas of Edinburgh, but other forces are now involved.

Mikaeel, who has two sisters and two brothers, was discovered missing from his bed by his mother at around 7.15am on Thursday.

He usually sleeps in the same room as his twin sister but was alone on Wednesday night.

His jacket and shoes were missing and police are looking into whether he might have left of his own accord.

Forensic officers at the boy's home

Mikaeel is slim, 2ft, of Asian appearance and possibly wearing a thigh-length beige hooded coat. He may also be wearing black gloves with multi-coloured fingers, dark navy blue jogging bottoms, a grey pyjama top with an embroidered turquoise dinosaur on the chest and brown Clarks shoes.

He has a faded scar on the bridge of his nose and a sore on the left hand side of his mouth.

Anyone with information can call the missing hotline number 0300 200 0200, dedicated to Mikaeel's case, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

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Bull Elephant Rampage: Briton's Car Trampled

A raging bull elephant has been filmed overturning a car in which a British teacher was travelling through South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Sarah Brooks, from Lincolnshire, was on safari with her partner, slowly following the animal down a road.

The incident was filmed by tourists in the car behind who see the elephant stop walking and turn towards the car.

It then approaches the car from the side and rolls it over and over, leaving it crushed, with the couple inside. 

The tourists in the car behind who did the filming are clearly shocked and distressed and heard to say: "Stop the car ... reverse, reverse, they're going to die."

They urge their own driver to reverse and get out of the angry elephant's way.

The elephant was subsequently killed, the park's general manager said, because its behaviour was totally inexplicable.

The couple were taken to hospital and later discharged.

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Cancer Increase 'Is Due To Ageing Population'

By Hind Hassan, Sky News Reporter

Nearly a third of a million people are diagnosed with cancer every year, according to a UK charity.

Some 330,000 people were diagnosed with some form of the disease in 2011 - an increase of almost 50,000 per year over a decade. Researchers say an ageing population is one of the reasons for the increase.

:: Let us know your experience of cancer by emailing news@sky.com or tweeting with the hashtag #canceryourstory

An aging population is one reason for the increase

Jessica Kirby from Cancer Research UK said: "People's risk of cancer goes up significantly as we get older; the more older people we have in our population the more people will develop cancer.

"There are other reasons for the rise as well; changes in risk factors for example. We know that more and more people are overweight compared to the past which is one of the key factors for cancers."

But greater awareness, advanced technology and ongoing medical research means cancer is being detected earlier and those that have it are living longer.

Edward Scott believes an early diagnosis of testicular cancer saved his life. The 15-year-old discovered a lump last year and sought urgent advice.

"I went on the NHS website and I found all the symptoms for testicular cancer were symptoms that I had," he said.

"The same day I went to my mum and said 'Mum there is something really wrong, I have to go get this sorted out'.

"I went into the GP and the same day I found out I had cancer."

Cancer Research UK's chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: "These figures reinforce the vital need for more research to better prevent, treat and cure cancer.

"Research is the only way we'll be able to reduce the devastating impact of the disease. One day we will beat cancer. The more research we do, the sooner that day will come."

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William Roache: Actor's Assault Trial Begins

Soap actor William Roache has appeared in court to face trial on sexual offence charges.

The 81-year-old Coronation Street star is accused of two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in east Lancashire in 1967 and five indecent assaults involving four other girls aged between 12 and 16, allegedly committed in the Manchester area between 1965 and 1971.

Mr Justice Holroyde QC told jurors at Preston Crown Court it was important to distinguish between the "real person" and the part he has played on the ITV show for more than half a century.

:: Latest updates from Preston Crown Court

Wearing a blue suit, Roache - who plays Ken Barlow in the show - arrived at the court with his sons Linus and James and a security guard.

He formally surrendered to bail and entered the dock as the hearing started.

Before the trial began, Justice Holroyde said: "You may feel in one sense you know the defendant, Mr Roache. He is well known as an actor who for many years has played the part of Ken Barlow in Coronation Street.

"But of course this is not the fictional character of Ken Barlow in court. It is a real person, William Roache, who is on trial.

"You must separate the fictional character from the real person, you will have to decide verdicts from the evidence you will hear from a real person, about a real person."

The trial, due to begin later on Tuesday, is expected to last for up to four weeks. Roache denies all charges.

Among the witnesses for the defence to be called during the trial are Coronation Street actors Anne Kirkbride, Chris Gascoigne and Helen Worth, jurors were told.

The trio play the characters Deirdre Barlow, Peter Barlow and Gail McIntyre.

The trial continues.

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Kent Cockfighting Probe Sees Three Arrests

Three men have been arrested after approximately 170 live birds were found amid evidence of suspected illegal cockfighting at a farm.

A number of dead cockerels were also discovered with their combs removed - believed to be a common practice when breeding for fighting - during the police raid in Iwade, Kent, on Monday morning.

A suspected ring, known as a cockpit, was unearthed along with cockfighting paraphernalia and veterinary drugs.

The remains of a dead horse were also found near a barn - one of "several grim discoveries", police said.

A number of dogs were seized on the site, in Raspberry Hill Lane, several of which were believed to have been stolen. Police said efforts were now being made to re-home them with the help of the RSPCA.

Up to 170 live birds were found with signs that they were bred for fighting

In addition, about 100 wraps of a suspected Class A drug were seized and sent off for analysis.

Detective Sergeant Pat Holmes, of Kent Police, said: "Officers carrying out a drugs warrant made several grim discoveries at a farm in Iwade yesterday morning.

"While a significant haul of drugs was discovered, as well as a sizeable quantity of cash, countless dead birds were found on the site, suspected to have been involved in illegal cockfighting.

"Officers also uncovered a barn fully stocked with live birds, which at this stage are believed to have been bred for fighting.

"Kent Police will work with the RSPCA to investigate further and also determine whether dogs and other animals found on the site are stolen or have been subjected to animal cruelty."

Police executed a drugs raid and found 'grim' evidence of animal cruelty

Two men, a 47-year-old from Teynham and a 20-year-old from Swanley, were arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, proceeds of crime, possession with intent to supply and a series of theft offences.

A third, a 21-year-old man from Upchurch, was held on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.

All three men have been bailed to April 9, pending further inquiries.

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Rolf Harris Arrives At Court On Sex Charges

Rolf Harris has arrived at court charged with 12 counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child.

The painter, musician and TV entertainer walked into Southwark Crown Court in London at 1.30pm today to face allegations that he abused four girls.

Harris, 83, wearing a blue jacket, white shirt and red tie, was accompanied by his wife Alwen, who he was pushing in a wheelchair.

He was initially charged with nine counts of indecent assault in August last year.

Last month, prosecutors confirmed they had added another three counts.

He now stands accused of 12 counts of indecent assault against four girls, between 1968 and 1986.

He also faces four counts of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.

Harris arrived at court wearing a blue jacket, white shirt and red tie

His lawyer indicated at Westminster Magistrates Court in September, before the additional charges were brought, that he would plead not guilty to the 13 charges.

Harris, who was born in Perth, Western Australia, to Welsh parents, and moved to the UK in 1952, was arrested by officers working on Operation Yewtree.

The investigation was launched after the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal, but the allegations against Harris have no connection to the shamed DJ.

Harris, who has lived in the village of Bray, Berkshire, for the past 50 years, is currently on conditional bail.

The conditions are that he does not contact prosecution witnesses, lives at his home address, and does not spend time with anyone under 18 without being accompanied by someone over 21.

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Obesity: Scale Of Problem 'Underestimated'

The true scale of Britain's obesity crisis may have been seriously underestimated, a report has found.

The National Obesity Forum said the UK is in danger of surpassing predictions of a 2007 report which estimated that 50% of the nation would be obese by 2050.

The organisation's latest report calls on health officials to introduce hard-hitting awareness campaigns - similar to those for smoking - to try to curb the problem.

It also called on family doctors to proactively discuss weight management with patients and to check waist circumferences.

The report said: "It is entirely reasonable to conclude that the determinations of the 2007 Foresight Report (i.e. that half the population might be obese by 2050 at an annual cost of nearly £50bn), while shocking at the time, may now underestimate the scale of the problem."

Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: "We're now seven years on from the Foresight Report.

"Not only is the obesity situation in the UK not improving, but the doomsday scenario set out in that report might underestimate the true scale of the problem.

"There needs to be concerted action.

"There is a lot more we can be doing by way of earlier intervention and to encourage members of the public to take sensible steps to help themselves - but this goes hand in hand with government leadership and ensuring responsible food and drink manufacturing and retailing."

Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England (PHE), said: "Obesity is an international problem.

"It is a complex issue that requires action at national, local, family and individual level.

"Everyone has a role to play in improving the health and wellbeing of the public, and children in particular.

"PHE are committed to helping to tackle obesity through a range of approaches that support action on the local environment to make eating less and being more physically active easier."

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Dementia: 15-Minute Test To Spot Signs Early

A test that can be completed in 15 minutes has been developed to help doctors spot the early signs of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.

The test can be filled in online or on paper and tests language ability, reasoning, problem solving and memory.

It is designed to tackle one of the greatest challenges facing the health service in the coming few years.

Around 800,000 people in the UK already suffer from dementia and the number is due to increase as the population ages.

Currently, the disease can only be diagnosed through in-depth testing of a person's cognitive abilities.

Patients have to carry out a series of complicated tests, usually overseen by a highly qualified expert.

The new test should help doctors or ordinary people identify as early as possible if there are any problems with their faculties so they can get a specialist assessment as soon as possible.

The test, called the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE) was developed by Ohio State University College of Medicine's Department of Neurology.

An early study by Dr Doughlas Scharre of the Ohio State University Medical Center found SAGE could spot mild thinking and memory issues in 80% of those tested.

A new study published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry screened 1,047 individuals aged over 50 using SAGE.

It found that, in finding signs of mild cognitive impairment in 28% of those screened, the test proved effective at assessing large numbers of people with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

The article in the journal said: "Community cognitive screening using SAGE was found to be feasible and efficient in diverse settings with both small and large groups."

Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, warned the test result should not be taken as a diagnosis.

He said: "Further research is needed to confirm whether the test would be suitable to assess and track changes in people's memory and thinking skills.

"One drawback of this study is that the test was not compared with other existing cognitive tests.

"It's important to note that the test is not designed to diagnose dementia, and people who are worried about their memory should seek advice from a doctor rather than attempting self-diagnosis with a test at home.

"Diagnosing the different diseases that cause dementia can be difficult in the earliest stages.

"Years of research are needed to develop any new diagnostic test, and this means continued investment in research is crucial."

You can try two sample papers of the test here and here.

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Stag Attack: Kate Stone Regaining Consciousness

A Cambridge academic seriously injured after being gored by a stag is regaining consciousness and communicating with her family and doctors.

Dr Kate Stone was injured by the animal near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands on December 30.

The animal ran towards her while she was standing with a group of friends outside a private residence in Lochailort.

The 44-year-old, from Cambridge, had been on a short break in the Highlands, staying at the Mo-Dhachaidh B&B.

Dr Stone was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Fort William's Belford Hospital.

She was then transferred to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma a day later to repair damage to her windpipe.

Dr Stone is a research engineer at Cambridge's institute of manufacturing

Doctors took her off sedation on Tuesday after a second successful operation on her windpipe and made the decision to move her out of intensive care.

A statement released by a colleague at Dr Stone's print firm Novalia said "all signs point to a steady recovery".

They said: "Following a successful second operation on Kate's trachea, doctors made the decision to take Kate off sedation late Tuesday afternoon.

"Over the past couple of days, Kate has slowly been regaining consciousness and becoming more active in terms of communicating with doctors and her family. She has been taken out of the intensive care unit and moved to high dependency."

Gary Burton, owner of the B&B where Dr Stone was staying, said in the aftermath of the incident: "I think what happened was that the stag panicked.

"It was trapped in a fenced garden having got through a gate. I don't think there was anywhere else to go and it charged out of the gate.

"It's very bizarre and very horrific."

Dr Stone studied at Cambridge for a PhD in physics and microelectronics and is a research engineer at the university's institute of manufacturing.

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Lidl To Remove Sweets From Checkouts

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

I understand that Lidl will announce plans to remove all chocolate and sweets from the checkout queues in their supermarkets later this week.

The move is likely to be welcomed by consumer groups and parents alike, in the face of growing concerns about childhood obesity on the rise in the UK.

According to Sky sources, the discount retailer has been in consultation with customers for several months and the move is in response to preferences expressed by shoppers.

Parents face 'pester power' at the till while waiting with their children to pay for groceries.

Today, the National Obesity Forum said the UK is in danger of surpassing predictions of a 2007 report which estimated that 50% of the nation would be obese by 2050.

Lidl's action will likely increase the pressure on other supermarkets to take more definitive action.

All of the major supermarkets have committed to removing artificial 'trans fats' from their products.

But according to a Which? report published in December 2012, while Sainsburys and Tesco have banned sweets from supermarket checkouts, the policy does not apply to their smaller convenience stores.

Asda, Iceland and Morrisons all aim to 'limit' the sale of sugary treats near checkouts, but do not impose a blank ban like the one Lidl is proposing.

Waitrose does not have any policy in place on sweets at the checkout.

Last year, Lidl UK increased the number of 'healthy tills' in stores nationwide to 1,200.

The tills replaced 'treat' items such as chocolate with products of a higher nutritional value such as multivitamin juice and fresh fruit, as part of a healthy initiative to promote fresh fruit and vegetables to customers.

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Fracking: Cameron Offers Councils Drill Money

David Cameron has announced £1.7m for councils which agree to drill for shale gas sparking angry protests from campaigners who say it amounts to little more than bribery.

David Cameron said the Government was "going all out for shale" as he announced local authorities that allow drilling will receive 100% of the business rates collected from the scheme - double the current 50%.

Whitehall officials estimate that could be worth £1.7m extra a year for each site a council agrees.

The announcement sparked angry scenes at a fracking site in Barton Moss, near Salford, Manchester, where protesters confronted lorries entering the plant, then handcuffed themselves to the vehicles.

The business rates money will be in addition to a promise last year that shale exploration firms will also pay out £100,000 when a test well is fracked and 1% of revenues, a deal which could in total be worth up to £10m.

Anti-fracking protester Theo Simon on top of a lorry at the site

However, campaigners dismissed the business rates payout as bribe money and said it was not enough in the face of the vast profits that stand to be made by the energy firms and the damage that would be caused to local areas.

Mr Cameron's announcement comes as the French energy giant Total has announced it will invest millions with a 40% interest in two shale gas exploration licences in the UK.

Mr Cameron said: "A key part of our long-term economic plan to secure Britain's future is to back businesses with better infrastructure.

"That's why we're going all out for shale. It will mean more jobs and opportunities for people, and economic security for our country."

The protest was against an exploratory drilling site known as Barton Moss

Jackie Anderson, a teacher who lives within a mile of an exploratory drilling site at Barton Moss near Salford, was on Sunday protesting about the effects of fracking on the community.

She told Sky News: "For the local residents it's got no benefit whatsoever. More and more the businesses and the councils are going to benefit because the incentives are going to them and we're getting none of the benefits at all."

A Local Government Association spokesman said: "Given the significant tax breaks being proposed to drive forward the development of shale gas and the impact drilling will have on local communities, these areas should not be short-changed by fracking schemes.

"One per cent of gross revenues distributed locally is not good enough; returns should be more in line with payments across the rest of the world and be set at 10%."

Protesters handcuff themselves to a lorry at Barton Moss

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a process that involves drilling thousands of feet down into the earth to create a narrow well. Water and chemicals are then pumped in at high pressure to create fractures in the rock. Gas then flows from the cracks and is captured.

Vanessa Vine, who founded the British Anti-Fracking Action Network, said: "Concerns of local residents range from everything from heavy traffic through villages, damage to the roads, right up to triggering of earthquakes and permanent, potentially permanent contamination of the groundwater, of the aquifer, of drinking water."

The Government estimates the industry could attract £3.7bn a year in investment and support 74,000 jobs.

Last year, a study by the British Geological Survey suggested there could be enough shale gas in the north of England to supply Britain for 40 years.

Areas of the UK affected by fracking

It is thought there may be as much as 1,300 trillion cubic feet at the Bowland site in Lancashire alone.

Energy minister Michael Fallon said he expected between 20 and 40 wells to be drilled over the next couple of years.

He told Sky News: "We know now that we are sitting on top of hundreds of millions more cubic feet of this gas than we originally thought. What's so important now is to encourage companies to go down there and find out whether we can get it out as a new, home-grown source of energy.  

"That is extremely important for every local community and what we are doing today is saying it is for that local people, who have some of the hassle when they are getting it out, when they are exploring for it, that they should be able to retain all of the benefits."

Lawrence Carter, from Greenpeace, said: "This is a naked attempt by the government to bribe hard-pressed councils into accepting fracking in their area.

"Cameron is effectively telling councils to ignore the risks and threat of large-scale industrialisation in exchange for cold hard cash."

Shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex said: "Gas will remain an important part of our energy mix in the future, and if shale gas can replace our rapidly depleting North Sea reserves it could help improve our energy security.

Vanessa Vine, founder of the British Anti-Fracking Action Network

"It is right that any communities that host nationally significant energy infrastructure are able to share in its rewards.

"But the Government must get its priorities right. Only by fully addressing legitimate environmental and safety concerns about fracking with robust regulation and comprehensive monitoring, will people have confidence that the exploration and possible extraction of shale gas is a safe and reliable source that can contribute to the UK's energy mix."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Snow-Hit Sheep Farmers Fear Worse Is To Come

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

Farmers will have to prepare for the impact of more extreme weather on livestock and crops, according to the National Farmers Union.

The Union's deputy president has told Sky News he believes climate change may be to blame for unseasonal conditions like the damaging spring snowfall in 2013.

Meurig Raymond told Sky News: "The industry is facing the volatility of weather - maybe climate change. So feeding the world is going to be important going forward. We as farmers have to face up to that, but wake up for society as well."

His comments come as farmers say it will take years to recover financially from losses suffered during the coldest spring in 50 years.

Months on from snowfall that struck during lambing season, farmers have told Sky News their industry is still reeling from the heavy losses of livestock.

On the hills above Llanfairfechan in North Wales farmer Gareth Wyn Jones feeds the sheep that survived the heavy snow.

In March and April he spent weeks digging through feet of snow to recover the bodies of sheep and lambs that had perished.

Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones tends to his livestock in North Wales

Now, on a cold, sunny winter morning he surveys the surrounding hillsides that offer a stunning view across the Irish Sea.

He says the snow came at the worst possible time for sheep farmers. Most of the animals that died were new born lambs.

He estimates hundreds died on his farm alone.

"We lost about eighty breeding ewes and we lost a hundred ponies but we were fortunate - we dug eighty or ninety ewes out. A neighbour of ours lost half his hill flock overnight - gone," he said.

"There are some massive losses just in this little valley in North Wales."

Farmers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Shropshire, Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Isle of Man also lost thousands of sheep and lambs.

The number of deaths forced the Welsh Assembly and Defra to temporarily relax strict EU rules that prevent farmers from burying dead animals. Usually farmers have to pay for carcasses to be removed.

Hundreds of sheep have been lost due to bad weather

Since the snowfall Defra says it has been working with farmers and  the insurance industry to ensure farmers are protected for future weather events.

They have also been working with the Met Office to publish detailed weather forecasts for farmers.

Joanne Briggs, from the National Sheep Association, told Sky News: "The time it will take for affected sheep farms to recover cannot be underestimated - it's not just the financial implications, which will take at least two or three years for business to overcome, but the loss of genetics from their flocks.

"Some bloodlines can never be replaced and that can mean a backward step of a decade or more for elite pedigrees.

"Like the animals that they care for, sheep farmers in general are incredibly resilient, but the spring of 2013 came at the end of an incredibly difficult 12 months and will leave a legacy for many years to come.

"But everyone can do their bit to support them, by making sure that when they buy lamb it is sourced from the UK."

Back on the farm in North Wales Mr Wyn Jones keeps an anxious eye on the long-term forecast.

He says he's not sure if they could cope with another spring snowfall. Most of his ewes are pregnant again and he's counting on the lambs due to be born this spring to help rebuild his livelihood.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Flooding: Heavy Rain To Bring More Flood Woes

Further heavy rain next week is expected to bring more misery to parts of the UK that have already seen widespread flooding.

Seventy-nine flood warnings remain in place throughout the country while there are 117 flood alerts.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired another meeting of Cobra, the Government's emergency committee, on Saturday.

He said: "River levels continue to rise and remain high in some areas, particularly parts of the Thames. I have chaired another Cobra meeting today to ensure that the Environment Agency, local authorities and emergency services are well prepared to continue supporting those at risk."

He urged the public "to remain vigilant" and said the Government was "continuing to focus on flood protection and support for those affected".

The EA's flood warnings and alerts

River levels have been rising steadily in counties including Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and across the Midlands following days of downpours, the Environment Agency said.

Rivers including the Hampshire Avon through Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, the Stour in Dorset, the Parrett in Somerset and the Severn through the Midlands showed little signs of receding.

Harry Martin went missing on January 2

Communities along the River Thames throughout Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire have also been warned that they face the risk of flooding.

Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said more heavy rain was due from today.

"There's going to be a band of rain coming from the West in the afternoon. It'll be over south west England from midday and spread slowly eastwards across the rest of the country."

But she said that although there might be some "moderate to heavy bursts", there were not significant amounts of rain expected until Wednesday.

Eight people have died and more than 1,700 homes and businesses have been flooded in England since the beginning of the Christmas period, with around 550 properties flooded since the new year. Some 140 properties have been flooded in Wales.

On Sunday, police said coastguards had discovered a body in the sea in the search for missing photography student Harry Martin, but that it had not been identified at this stage.

The 18-year-old left his home in Newton Ferrers, Devon, on January 2 to go out to take pictures of the stormy sea.

Hundreds help in a clean-up of Aberystwyth promenade

In Aberystwyth more than 200 residents volunteered for a three-and-a-half hour clean-up of the town's promenade, which was severely damaged by storms.

Councillor Ceredig Davies, who represents central Aberystwyth, said: "We used buckets and spades and wheelbarrows to put the sand back from the promenade, where it was washed in the storms.

"There were thousands of tonnes of sand there and the volume shifted by people today was hundreds of tonnes.

"It was great community spirit. It was back-breaking work but everyone felt that they had achieved something. They felt like they were doing their bit in putting our promenade back to how we like it."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Manchester Tram Death: Man Dies By Debenhams

A man has died after been struck by a tram in a busy city centre.

The man, who has yet to be identified, was hit outside Debenhams in Market Place, Manchester city centre, at around 6.15pm on Saturday.

Fans trying to get home from Old Trafford after Manchester United's match with Swansea were advised to avoid the city centre in the aftermath of the incident.

Onlookers described seeing the man being dragged and trapped underneath the Metrolink carriage as he crossed the junction of Market Street and High Street.

The tram network was temporarily closed while emergency services dealt with the scene.

The rail network was working as normal so people were advised to use trains if possible.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Iraq: Government Rejects Torture Allegations

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Government says it "absolutely rejects" allegations of "systematic" abuse and torture by British soldiers in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to Sky News after it was revealed the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been asked to investigate hundreds of abuse allegations.

It is understood a German human rights organisation and a British law firm have presented a dossier to the ICC containing accusations of more than 1,000 cases of torture against Iraqi civilians, and 200 cases of unlawful killings, including many in custody.

The Berlin-based European Centre for Constitutional Rights and UK-based Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) will launch their case at an event in London on Tuesday.

Phil Shiner, a solicitor from PIL, told Sky News: "This is historic. The UK has never been investigated by the ICC. There is clear evidence this goes right to the top."

But speaking on the Murnaghan programme, Mr Hague said: "The Government has always been clear, and the armed forces have always been clear, that they absolutely reject allegations of systematic abuse by the British armed forces.

"The British armed forces uphold high standards, and they are the finest armed forces in the world."

He added: "But where there are substantiated allegations of things going wrong, these things have been or are being investigated. That does not require references to the International Criminal Court."

The Government has set up a body to investigate accusations of abuse arising from the Iraq conflict.

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) investigates allegations of abuse against Iraqi civilians by British troops between 2003 and 2009.

It is led by a retired detective and is due to complete its investigations by the end of 2016.

Commenting on the reports, the Ministry of Defence said: "These matters are either under thorough investigation or have been dealt with through various means including through the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, independent public inquiries, the UK and European courts and in Parliament.

"As such, further action through the ICC is unnecessary when the issues and allegations are already known to the UK Government, action is in hand and the UK courts have already issued judgments.

"Should we be approached by the ICC, we will take the opportunity to explain the very extensive work under way to deal with historic allegations of abuse.

"We reject the suggestion that the UK's Armed Forces - who operate in line with domestic and international law - have systematically tortured detainees.

"But of course the UK Government regrets the small number of cases where abuses have taken place. Wherever allegations have been substantiated, we have compensated victims and their families."

:: Watch Sky News live on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing 12-Year-Olds Found Safe And Well

Police hunting for two 12-year-old girls who went missing in north London say they have been found safe and well.

Best friends Wiktoria Popiel and Vitalija Sidlauskaite were last seen in Wood Green at around 5pm on Saturday.

Wiktoria was walking Vitalija to a bus stop on Lordship Lane but did not return home.

Sky's Tom Parmenter was filming an interview with Vitalija's mother at her home in Tottenham when officers told her the good news.

Wiktoria and Vitalija vanished in London

Irina Versinina broke down in tears as they told her the two girls had been picked up near Euston station and were unharmed.

"This is good news, but how she can do like this?" she said, her eyes welling with tears. "Twenty four hours! Not call, not nothing. I can't believe that she can do like this.

"I have a lot of questions, but if she want to go to walk, she go to the garden to walk, because this is a very difficult situation."

She was then escorted away to be reunited with her daughter.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police are pleased to report that Wiktoria Popiel and Vitalija Sidlauskaite have been found safe and well.

"We thank the media and the public for their assistance."

:: Watch Sky News live on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Flooding: Heavy Rain To Bring More Flood Woes

Further heavy rain next week is expected to bring more misery to parts of the UK that have already seen widespread flooding.

Seventy-nine flood warnings remain in place throughout the country while there are 117 flood alerts.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired another meeting of Cobra, the Government's emergency committee, on Saturday.

He said: "River levels continue to rise and remain high in some areas, particularly parts of the Thames. I have chaired another Cobra meeting today to ensure that the Environment Agency, local authorities and emergency services are well prepared to continue supporting those at risk."

He urged the public "to remain vigilant" and said the Government was "continuing to focus on flood protection and support for those affected".

The EA's flood warnings and alerts

River levels have been rising steadily in counties including Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and across the Midlands following days of downpours, the Environment Agency said.

Rivers including the Hampshire Avon through Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset, the Stour in Dorset, the Parrett in Somerset and the Severn through the Midlands showed little signs of receding.

Harry Martin went missing on January 2

Communities along the River Thames throughout Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire have also been warned that they face the risk of flooding.

Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said more heavy rain was due from today.

"There's going to be a band of rain coming from the West in the afternoon. It'll be over south west England from midday and spread slowly eastwards across the rest of the country."

But she said that although there might be some "moderate to heavy bursts", there were not significant amounts of rain expected until Wednesday.

Eight people have died and more than 1,700 homes and businesses have been flooded in England since the beginning of the Christmas period, with around 550 properties flooded since the new year. Some 140 properties have been flooded in Wales.

On Sunday, police said coastguards had discovered a body in the sea in the search for missing photography student Harry Martin, but that it had not been identified at this stage.

The 18-year-old left his home in Newton Ferrers, Devon, on January 2 to go out to take pictures of the stormy sea.

Hundreds help in a clean-up of Aberystwyth promenade

In Aberystwyth more than 200 residents volunteered for a three-and-a-half hour clean-up of the town's promenade, which was severely damaged by storms.

Councillor Ceredig Davies, who represents central Aberystwyth, said: "We used buckets and spades and wheelbarrows to put the sand back from the promenade, where it was washed in the storms.

"There were thousands of tonnes of sand there and the volume shifted by people today was hundreds of tonnes.

"It was great community spirit. It was back-breaking work but everyone felt that they had achieved something. They felt like they were doing their bit in putting our promenade back to how we like it."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iraq: Government Rejects Torture Allegations

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Government says it "absolutely rejects" allegations of "systematic" abuse and torture by British soldiers in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke to Sky News after it was revealed the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been asked to investigate hundreds of abuse allegations.

It is understood a German human rights organisation and a British law firm have presented a dossier to the ICC containing accusations of more than 1,000 cases of torture against Iraqi civilians, and 200 cases of unlawful killings, including many in custody.

The Berlin-based European Centre for Constitutional Rights and UK-based Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) will launch their case at an event in London on Tuesday.

Phil Shiner, a solicitor from PIL, told Sky News: "This is historic. The UK has never been investigated by the ICC. There is clear evidence this goes right to the top."

But speaking on the Murnaghan programme, Mr Hague said: "The Government has always been clear, and the armed forces have always been clear, that they absolutely reject allegations of systematic abuse by the British armed forces.

"The British armed forces uphold high standards, and they are the finest armed forces in the world."

He added: "But where there are substantiated allegations of things going wrong, these things have been or are being investigated. That does not require references to the International Criminal Court."

The Government has set up a body to investigate accusations of abuse arising from the Iraq conflict.

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) investigates allegations of abuse against Iraqi civilians by British troops between 2003 and 2009.

It is led by a retired detective and is due to complete its investigations by the end of 2016.

Commenting on the reports, the Ministry of Defence said: "These matters are either under thorough investigation or have been dealt with through various means including through the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, independent public inquiries, the UK and European courts and in Parliament.

"As such, further action through the ICC is unnecessary when the issues and allegations are already known to the UK Government, action is in hand and the UK courts have already issued judgments.

"Should we be approached by the ICC, we will take the opportunity to explain the very extensive work under way to deal with historic allegations of abuse.

"We reject the suggestion that the UK's Armed Forces - who operate in line with domestic and international law - have systematically tortured detainees.

"But of course the UK Government regrets the small number of cases where abuses have taken place. Wherever allegations have been substantiated, we have compensated victims and their families."

:: Watch Sky News live on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Snow-Hit Sheep Farmers Fear Worse Is To Come

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

Farmers will have to prepare for the impact of more extreme weather on livestock and crops, according to the National Farmers Union.

The Union's deputy president has told Sky News he believes climate change may be to blame for unseasonal conditions like the damaging spring snowfall in 2013.

Meurig Raymond told Sky News: "The industry is facing the volatility of weather - maybe climate change. So feeding the world is going to be important going forward. We as farmers have to face up to that, but wake up for society as well."

His comments come as farmers say it will take years to recover financially from losses suffered during the coldest spring in 50 years.

Months on from snowfall that struck during lambing season, farmers have told Sky News their industry is still reeling from the heavy losses of livestock.

On the hills above Llanfairfechan in North Wales farmer Gareth Wyn Jones feeds the sheep that survived the heavy snow.

In March and April he spent weeks digging through feet of snow to recover the bodies of sheep and lambs that had perished.

Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones tends to his livestock in North Wales

Now, on a cold, sunny winter morning he surveys the surrounding hillsides that offer a stunning view across the Irish Sea.

He says the snow came at the worst possible time for sheep farmers. Most of the animals that died were new born lambs.

He estimates hundreds died on his farm alone.

"We lost about eighty breeding ewes and we lost a hundred ponies but we were fortunate - we dug eighty or ninety ewes out. A neighbour of ours lost half his hill flock overnight - gone," he said.

"There are some massive losses just in this little valley in North Wales."

Farmers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Shropshire, Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Isle of Man also lost thousands of sheep and lambs.

The number of deaths forced the Welsh Assembly and Defra to temporarily relax strict EU rules that prevent farmers from burying dead animals. Usually farmers have to pay for carcasses to be removed.

Hundreds of sheep have been lost due to bad weather

Since the snowfall Defra says it has been working with farmers and  the insurance industry to ensure farmers are protected for future weather events.

They have also been working with the Met Office to publish detailed weather forecasts for farmers.

Joanne Briggs, from the National Sheep Association, told Sky News: "The time it will take for affected sheep farms to recover cannot be underestimated - it's not just the financial implications, which will take at least two or three years for business to overcome, but the loss of genetics from their flocks.

"Some bloodlines can never be replaced and that can mean a backward step of a decade or more for elite pedigrees.

"Like the animals that they care for, sheep farmers in general are incredibly resilient, but the spring of 2013 came at the end of an incredibly difficult 12 months and will leave a legacy for many years to come.

"But everyone can do their bit to support them, by making sure that when they buy lamb it is sourced from the UK."

Back on the farm in North Wales Mr Wyn Jones keeps an anxious eye on the long-term forecast.

He says he's not sure if they could cope with another spring snowfall. Most of his ewes are pregnant again and he's counting on the lambs due to be born this spring to help rebuild his livelihood.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Manchester Tram Death: Man Dies By Debenhams

A man has died after been struck by a tram in a busy city centre.

The man, who has yet to be identified, was hit outside Debenhams in Market Place, Manchester city centre, at around 6.15pm on Saturday.

Fans trying to get home from Old Trafford after Manchester United's match with Swansea were advised to avoid the city centre in the aftermath of the incident.

Onlookers described seeing the man being dragged and trapped underneath the Metrolink carriage as he crossed the junction of Market Street and High Street.

The tram network was temporarily closed while emergency services dealt with the scene.

The rail network was working as normal so people were advised to use trains if possible.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing 12-Year-Olds Found Safe And Well

Police hunting for two 12-year-old girls who went missing in north London say they have been found safe and well.

Best friends Wiktoria Popiel and Vitalija Sidlauskaite were last seen in Wood Green at around 5pm on Saturday.

Wiktoria was walking Vitalija to a bus stop on Lordship Lane but did not return home.

Sky News' Tom Parmenter was filming an interview with Vitalija's mother at her home in Tottenham when officers told her the good news.

Irina Versinina broke down in tears as they told her the two girls had been picked up near Euston station.

She was then escorted away to be reunited with her daughter.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police are pleased to report that Wiktoria Popiel and Vitalija Sidlauskaite have been found safe and well.

"We thank the media and the public for their assistance."

:: Watch Sky News live on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More