Missing Manics Star's Family Reveal Pain

The family of Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards have spoken of their pain at still not having closure 20 years on from his disappearance.

The lyricist had been due to depart for a US tour on 1 February 1995 when he checked out of a London hotel never to be seen again.

His sister, Rachel Elias, has revealed how the family's agony became even more pronounced with the passing of her father Graham two years ago.

"It was difficult because he had to face up to that realisation - that we all may have to - we may not find out what happened to Richard," she said.

"It is very different. When someone dies… you can go to a crematorium, graveyard or place where you have scattered their ashes and remember.

"But when someone goes missing you are left with this ongoing uncertainty. Not knowing makes it worse.

"What you end up being left with is your imagination and you can construct everything in that."

Sister Rachel Elias is part of The Missing People Rock Choir

Though his car was found abandoned at a motorway service station two weeks after his disappearance, no trace of Edwards has been found.

The musician suffered from mental health problems in the years preceding his disappearance.

Mrs Elias, who is part of The Missing People Rock Choir who have released a fundraising single called I Miss You, said: "People said all sorts of things in the initial stages - that he was hiding out at a fan's house or that we knew where he was. It was just totally fabricated.

"That hampered the police's involvement, they had to explore statements like that rather than just be focused on the investigation.

"Also he was noted as a vulnerable adult on his missing person's file - because he had a recent hospital admission and prescribed anti-depressants.

"In retrospect, there wasn't that much active searching done. They would follow up leads if people contacted them, but they didn't actively try to find him.

"One officer even said he had a right to go missing. It was incredibly hurtful."

Mrs Elias, a mental health support worker, has campaigned with families of other missing people.

"Things have definitely improved," she said. "People have family liaison officers now and improvements have also been made in the way the police communicate with families of missing people."

The Missing People Rock Choir track can be downloaded for a donation of £1 via this website.

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'Dramatic Rise' In Liver Disease Deaths

Deaths from liver disease have increased 400% in the last 40 years, according to the British Liver Trust, which is calling for screening to help combat the problem.

The organisation is warning that costs from the disease could rise above £1bn a year unless action is taken.

It has launched its fourth annual Love Your Liver campaign with a call for the Government to back universal liver health screening in primary care and a national liver health prevention campaign.

Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "The average age of death from liver disease is 57, that's over 20 years lower than deaths from cancer, stroke and heart disease - liver disease is now the third most common cause of premature death.

"Most people think that a glass of wine or pint of beer a night or a couple of takeaways a week won't do much harm - when in fact drinking even just a bit too much alcohol every day and eating unhealthy food are major contributing factors for liver damage.

Video: Dec: 'Zero Tolerance' To Drink Call

"We are all affected differently and the symptoms are almost undetectable in many cases until it is too late."

The trust says advanced liver disease is a "ticking time bomb the government cannot afford to ignore".

More investment into early diagnosis could save the NHS as much as £600m, it claims, and Mr Langford added this could also save more than one million lives.

Liver specialist Dr Jude Oben told Sky News screening would "make a huge difference". 

Video: New Report On Drinking And Health

He said: "If 30% of the UK population is obese, how many of those patients are having their livers tested for the presence of liver disease?"

The British Liver Trust has an online screening tool that acts as an early warning system.

It takes five minutes to complete and helps people to understand if they are in danger of liver damage.

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Call For Tasers For All Police To Tackle Terror

Frontline police officers should be able to carry a Taser to combat attempted attacks on them by terrorists, according to the head of the organisation that represents them.

Police Federation chair Steve White said the stun guns, which can temporarily disable the target with two dart-like electrodes that carry a maximum 50,000-volt charge, should be made more widely available to uniformed officers.

He told The Guardian newspaper the move was needed because acts of terrorism could be carried out anywhere and officers needed protection.

Mr White said: "The terrorist ideal to get attention no longer relies on an attack being in a place of note.

"It could be in Cheam high street, in any town, in any part of the UK.

Video: Call For Police To Carry Tasers

"We know there are more dangerous people out there, preparing to attack police officers and we need to be able to respond to that threat."

Leaders at the Police Federation will vote next month on a proposal that every officer on the frontline should be offered training in how to use the weapons.

Mr White said: "Talking to them with a cup of tea and a biscuit is not going to work."

The murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013 showed "you don't need to have a gun to create terrorism", said Mr White, who rejected the notion the move amounted to arming officers.

"It is a defensive tool and a tactical option.

"We have a largely unarmed service and the service wants that to remain.

"The alternative is to have officers out there without anything at all. We have to do something."

But one police chief, speaking anonymously, told The Guardian the idea risked damaging public confidence in the police.

"The idea of arming every police officer with a Taser is alien to 200 years of police culture," they said.

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1. Gallery: Taser Device Explained

   The most common device used by police is the X26 Taser, which has a peak voltage of 50,000 volts when discharged - this drops to 1,200 volts while travelling around the body

The Taser fires two small dart-like electrodes which stay connected to the main unit as they are propelled by small compressed nitrogen charges to the body similar to air gun or paintball marker propellants

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Arctic Blast After 'Thundersnow' Storms

A fierce Arctic blast will sweep across Britain this weekend bringing more snow and freezing temperatures, forecasters say.

A Level 3, or severe weather warning, has been issued across the North and West of England lasting until next Thursday.

Sky weather producer Rebecca Yussuf says today's wind chill will "make it feel sub-zero in many places".

The General Offices in Ebbw Vale, South Wales. Pic: Angela Bendall

"Most places will have a cold and frosty start to Saturday, with icy stretches on untreated surfaces," she said.

"Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic will see frequent, blustery sleet and snow showers through the morning.

Video: Warning As Snow Spreads Across UK

"The heaviest snowfalls are expected across northern Scotland, where fresh accumulations are likely.

"Further south, it will be largely dry, but west Wales, south-west England and East Anglia will see a few wintry showers develop. Any snow that falls there is likely to be only temporary and melt quickly."

Yussuf added: "It will be cold everywhere, with temperatures peaking between 4C and 7C, but the wind chill will make it feel sub-zero in many places."

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1. Gallery: UK Freezes As More Snow Sweeps In

   Britain's winter has brought a thick covering of snow and dangerous driving conditions to parts of the country. Here snow covers graves at St Joseph's Church in west Belfast

A horse stands against in a snow-covered field in Belfast

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Viral Campaign Raises £100K For Mugging Victim

Donations for a disabled pensioner who was mugged outside his home have reached more than £100,000.

After reading about the mugging of 67-year-old Alan Barnes, beautician Katie Cutler set up an online fundraising page that went viral and has raised more than 200 times its original £500 target in just two days.

Mr Barnes, who has disabilities from birth after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant, broke his collarbone when he was pushed over by his attacker.

People were moved to help after hearing that Mr Barnes was too afraid to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Following reports of the attack, which police described as "disgraceful", Ms Cutler set up the Help Alan Barnes online donation page on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.

She wrote: "I was so upset that anyone could target a disabled pensioner and be so cruel.

"We can't take away what has happened but with a little donation we can make the future a prettier one and help towards the cost of his new home. Thank you all."

One online contributor, Lorraine Susan, said: "I really hope this fund helps him get settled somewhere nice & safe.

"At least he knows there are literally thousands on his side."

Mr Barnes is a well-known figure in Low Fell and is renowned for being able to quickly calculate how many days old someone is from their date of birth.

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'Thundersnow' Storms As Icy Blast Hits UK

Parts of England are being battered by "thundersnow" storms as the winter weather continues to bite across Britain.

There were 130 schools closed in Scotland and a similar number in Northern Ireland. More than 40 were closed in Cumbria, 38 in Lancashire and 28 in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

Main roads in Durham, Yorkshire and north Wales are among those closed because of the weather and more than a dozen rail services between Manchester and York have been cancelled, as northern England is hit by the storms this morning.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, advised train passengers to check before they travel.

The weather will turn slightly milder on Friday

Flights to and from Manchester Airport were suspended this morning, although the airport re-opened around 1.30pm. Flights are likely to be delayed but passengers have been told to check with their airline before coming to the airport.

The Met Office said the disruption was caused in part by "thundersnow storms" north of Manchester. These are thunderstorms with snow instead of rain.

Video: Snow Grounds Manchester Flights

Sky News forecaster Isobel Lang said conditions would improve a little this evening but snow and strong winds would still make driving dangerous and travelling a challenge in some parts.

She added: "During this evening and tonight the showers will ease, it will turn slightly less cold, with the showers turning more to sleet or rain later. It may still be icy."

Cold blasts from Greenland and Iceland will cause temperatures to drop to around 2-3C (36-37F) in the North and 4-5C (39-41F) in the South. It will become slightly milder by Friday, reaching 7C (45F) in the South.

Video: Cold Steel: Sheffield White Out

The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning for snow, which covers huge parts of Britain from Liverpool Bay to the Humber to the western side of the Welsh mountains.

The snow was deepest in Scotland, with 23cm at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire. Elsewhere, there was 21cm at Glenanne in Armagh and 13cm in Spadeadam in Cumbria.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's severe weather team, said motorists should prepare by clearing snow and ice from car windows, lights and the roof before driving.

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1. Gallery: UK Freezes As More Snow Sweeps In

   Britain's winter has brought a thick covering of snow and dangerous driving conditions to parts of the country. Here snow covers graves at St Joseph's Church in west Belfast

Terminal One at Manchester Airport covered in a blanket of snow which has closed the airport

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New Guidance For Rules On Rape Accusations

People accused of rape will increasingly be expected to prove they obtained consent for sex under new guidelines issued to police and prosecutors.

The move comes as a police chiefs warn there is too much variation in how forces deal with rape allegations, after figures revealed a 22% increase in the reporting of sexual offences.

But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that even if suspects can prove consent was obtained, it should be questioned if they held a position of power over the potential victim.

Alison Saunders: 'For too long society has blamed rape victims'

Consent should also be examined if rape allegations follow situations where the claimant was under the influence of alcohol or drugs or financially or otherwise dependent upon their alleged rapist.

Speaking at the first national CPS-Police rape conference on Wednesday, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said societal thinking on rape was confused and needed to be challenged.

Video: 'Rape Victims Afraid To Speak Out'

"For too long society has blamed rape victims for confusing the issue of consent - by drinking or dressing provocatively for example," she said.

"But it is not they who are confused, it is society itself and we must challenge that. Consent to sexual activity is not a grey area - in law it is clearly defined and must be given fully and freely.

"It is not a crime to drink, but it is a crime for a rapist to target someone who is no longer capable of consenting to sex though drink.

"These tools take us well beyond the old saying 'no means no' - it is now well established that many rape victims freeze rather than fight as a protective and coping mechanism.

"We want police and prosecutors to make sure they ask in every case where consent is the issue - how did the suspect know the complainant was saying yes and doing so freely and knowingly?"

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on adult sex offences, said victims needed reassurance they would be treated fairly.

"As report after report has shown, there is still far too much variation in the way that forces move a complaint of rape through the system," he said.

"Reporting of sexual offences is up 22% in the latest statistics because of increased confidence in our service and recording but we have further to go.

"We need to tackle the iconic issues of 'no further action' and, particularly, 'no crimes' head on and reduce inconsistencies in our processes so that we can send a clear and unequivocal message to victims about how they will be treated."

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Andy Murray Reaches Australian Open Final

Andy Murray is through to the final of the Australian Open after beating Tomas Berdych in four sets.

The British number one lost the first set against the seventh-seed Czech, but came back to triumph 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-3, 7-5.

It is the first time Murray has made it to the final of a Grand Slam tournament since he won Wimbledon in 2013.

He will play either Novak Djokovic or Stan Wawrinka in Sunday's decider.

Murray's fiancee, Kim Sears, was seen celebrating his victory

The world number six was too strong for Berdych, who failed to match his performance as he beat Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

After losing a marathon 76-minute opening set in a tiebreaker, Murray finished strongly to clinch the match in 3 hours and 26 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

There had been much focus ahead of the match on Berdych's decision to hire former Murray team member Dani Vallverdu as his coach.

Murray and Berdych speak at the net after the match

And the match saw some flashes of anger from both players and a few glares at each other at changeovers during the opening set.

"Yeah, there was a little bit of extra tension," Murray said in an on-court interview.

"It's a big match. A lot was made of Dani working with him.

"Me and Dani have been friends since we were 15 and I felt that was a little bit unfair and unnecessary. There is more to life than sport.

"I was disappointed to lose the opening set after I had a couple of chances at the end but I felt I was playing better as the set went on and I was very aggressive at the beginning of the second set.

Mauresmo reacts as Murray praises her role in his success

"I got more comfortable with the conditions and with Tomas' ball, in the beginning I was feeling quite rushed and then I got more aggressive and made him do more running."

Murray was cheered on throughout the game by fiancee Kim Sears, who sat alongside the 27-year-old's coaching team.

He also launched a staunch defence of his coach Amelie Mauresmo, whose arrival last year was thought to have caused disagreement in his camp. Vallverdu and fitness trainer Jez Green subsequently left in November.

"A lot of people criticised me for working with her and I think so far this week we have showed women can be very good coaches as well," Murray said.

"Madison Keys, who reached the semi-finals here, is also coached by a woman in Lindsay Davenport and I see no reason why that can't keep moving forward so I am very thankful to Amelie for doing it.

"I would say it was a brave choice from her and hopefully I can repay her in a few days."

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Police Search Lake For Missing Mother Of Four

Police trying to find a mother of four who has been missing for a week have been searching areas of woodland and water.

Samantha Henderson, 25, of Halves Cottages in Corfe Castle, Dorest, was reported missing on the morning of 22 January.

Ms Henderson - whose children are aged six, four, two and one - was last seen outside Corfe Castle Primary School around 3pm on 21 January.

Police have been searching an area near Corfe Castle and extra officers have been deployed to comb woodland and water in the Lake Pier and South Haven Close areas of Hamworthy.

Ms Henderson's partner Dominic Isom, 27, has been accused of her murder and appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Senior investigating officer Neil Devoto, of Dorset Police, said: "As part of our investigation, officers are today carrying out intelligence-led detailed searches in the Hamworthy area.

Police want to trace the movements of Ms Henderson's blue Peugeot 307

"I would like to hear from anyone who saw Samantha's blue Peugeot 307 estate, registration HV04 ZFM, being driven in the Lake Pier and South Haven Close areas between 3pm on Wednesday 21 January and 5pm on Friday 23 January," he said.

"It is crucial we find Samantha and your information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, could help us.

Video: CCTV Shows Missing Mother

"It is important to stress we have not moved away from the original search area off the A351, which still remains important to the investigation.

"We have dedicated officers working in the search areas and it is important these searches are carried out by trained professionals so potential evidence is not jeopardised.

"As such, I would request that members of the public do not assist us at this time. If the point comes when the public can help, we will of course be in touch."

Isom, of Halves Cottages, Corfe Castle, will appear at Winchester Crown Court on 30 January.

:: Dorset Police can be contacted on telephone number 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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Information On Police Shootings 'Missing'

Information relating to three judge-led inquiries, including two fatal police shootings, has gone missing in the post.

The Ministry of Justice has revealed that two discs containing documents about the Mark Duggan, Azelle Rodney and Robert Hamill inquiries have been lost since January.

An investigation has been launched into the data loss, which the government department said was against its guidelines.

More follows...

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