Tape Measure 'Better For Weighing Up Obesity'

By Thomas Moore, Health Correspondent

The current method of judging obesity is so complex it should be replaced by a simple tape measure, according to a leading specialist.

Dr Jude Oben, from the Obesity Action Campaign, said the body mass index, or BMI, is "tedious" to calculate and poorly understood by patients.

He told Sky News that straightforward measurement of waist size was a more accurate assessment of someone's fat - and far more user friendly.

"The fat inside your abdomen is a good indicator of your metabolic risk," he said.

"For example your risk of heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, post-menopausal breast cancer, colorectal cancer. 

"So why not measure it simply? A tape measure does that."

He said studies show men should keep their waist - measured at the level of the belly-button - below 90 cm (35.5 inches). Women should keep it below 80cm (31.5 inches).

At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight

BMI is a complex calculation in which a patient's weight in kilogrammes is divided by the square of their height in metres.

If the result is greater than 25, patients are judged to be overweight.

"By that point most of them have switched off or left the room," said Dr Oben.

BMI takes no account of muscle mass. Athletes can register as being overweight even though they have minimal body fat.

Catherine Dias has had a weight problem for many years. But she still hasn't got to grips with BMI - and much prefers measuring her waist size.

"It's simple, it's easy. You know what you have to get down to," she said.

"To do it the other way it's a lot of calculations. I couldn't do that."

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-IRA Chief Charged In Jean McConville Case

A former Irish Republican Army commander has been charged in connection with the murder of a mother of 10 more than 40 years ago.

Ivor Bell, 77, is due to appear in court in Belfast today accused of aiding and abetting in the murder of Jean McConville and membership of the IRA.

He was detained at his home in the Andersonstown district of west Belfast on Tuesday.

Mrs McConville was abducted by an IRA gang of up to 12 men and women at her home at Divis Flats, Belfast, in December 1972 after being accused of spying for the British.

The 37-year-old was taken at gunpoint and shot in the back of the head.

Her murder was one of the most notorious incidents during the Troubles.

For years she was one of the so-called Disappeared, those abducted and killed by republican paramilitaries during this period and buried in unmarked graves.

Jean McConville's funeral in 2003

Mrs McConville's children were told their mother had abandoned them.

It was not until August 2003 that her remains were found over the border in the Republic of Ireland, on Shelling Hill beach in County Louth - 50 miles from her home.

The IRA had admitted responsibility for her killing in 1999, although no one has ever been charged with her murder.

An investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman rejected allegations Mrs McConville had passed information to the British.

Some of Mrs McConville's children have accused Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams of directly ordering their mother's killing, claims he denies, along with allegations he was involved in the IRA.

Mr Bell and Mr Adams were part of an IRA negotiating team which headed to London for ceasefire talks in 1972.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Single Punch Killer's Sentence To Be Reviewed

A man who killed a stranger with a single punch has had his sentence referred to the Court of Appeal for being "unduly lenient".

Lewis Gill, 20, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for manslaughter after knocking Andrew Young to the ground in Bournemouth last November.

The sentence was widely criticised and Attorney General Dominic Grieve has now sent the case to the Court of Appeal.

CCTV images of the assault show Mr Young challenging a cyclist who was riding on the pavement.

Gill, an acquaintance of the cyclist, arrives at the scene and watches the discussion before lunging at the 40-year-old.

Gill then walks away, glancing back momentarily at his victim lying on the street.

The attack occurred outside Tesco Metro in Charminster Road, Bournemouth.

Lewis Gill pleaded guilty to manslaughter

Mr Young sustained a serious head injury and died the next day at a hospital in Southampton.

Gill, of Sutton in Surrey, will have his case reviewed at the Court of Appeal in five to seven weeks.

The victim's family described his sentence as an "absolute joke".

Speaking after the sentence was passed in February, Mr Young's mother, Pamela, said her son had Asperger's syndrome, which affected his social skills.

"He was very precise and particular because of his Asperger's, and he wouldn't have liked seeing someone riding a bicycle on the pavement because it was dangerous," she told the Dorset Daily Echo.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Road Death Sentences 'Are Not Tough Enough'

By Lisa Dowd, Sky News Correspondent

Some 82% of motorists think sentences should be higher for drivers who kill people on the roads, according to a survey by road safety charity Brake.

Latest government figures show only 62% of those convicted of killing someone through risky driving were jailed, and only 9% received sentences of five years or more in prison.

Bereaved relatives are backing a campaign calling on the Government to ensure motorists are not "let off" on lesser charges, which carry lower penalties.

Mandy Stock was walking home with her husband Paul when he was knocked down and killed by a motorcyclist in Gloucester two years ago.

Paul Stock was killed while walking home with his wife

Graham Godwin had been speeding, had a passenger illegally riding pillion and was disqualified from driving. His criminal record included 45 previous traffic offences.

A judge described him as "an absolute menace".

"He was actually charged with causing death while disqualified not dangerous or careless driving," said Mandy, 51.

"The maximum sentence for causing death while disqualified is two years, which he got, but he got six months knocked off for pleading guilty, and only spent nine months in prison, as he was allowed out half way through the term. I'm angry, very angry."

Campaigners say if someone has been killed or seriously injured on our roads, and risks were taken by those responsible, those actions should never be called "careless" in the eyes of the law, but always "dangerous", meaning judges could give maximum sentences of 14 years.

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend said: "We want the Government to acknowledge how inadequate current charges and penalties are and take action to prevent traumatised families suffering further insult.

"Denying justice to victim families often has a terrible impact on their ability to rebuild and move forward with their lives.

Bereaved relatives want tougher sentences

"Brake bears witness to the consequences for these vulnerable families every day through its support services for bereaved and injured crash victims.

"Our justice system should make clear that risky, illegal behaviour on roads is no accident: it's selfish, destructive, and unacceptable."

The Ministry of Justice is currently considering whether to make changes to charges and penalties for serious driving offences.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said: "Road traffic offences can have very serious and sometimes devastating consequences for victims and their families.

"That is why we are looking closely at the law and giving careful consideration to all the representations received on this complex and emotive subject - and why we have asked the Sentencing Council to review their sentencing guidelines on death by driving offences.

"Judges already have some tough sentencing options available to them for driving offences - causing death by dangerous driving already carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, as does causing death by careless driving when drunk or drugged.

"We also introduced a new offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in 2012. But the sentencing in individual cases is always a matter for the judge."

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Madeleine Police Appeal Over Abuse Suspect

Police searching for Madeleine McCann have launched a search for a man who abused children in holiday homes in Portugal.

Officers from Operation Grange have identified a series of 12 crimes between 2004 and 2010 where a male intruder entered villas occupied by UK families on holiday in the Western Algarve.

In four of these incidents - between 2004 and 2006 - the man sexually assaulted five white girls, aged between seven and 10, while in their beds.

Madeleine disappeared in 2007

The cases are not identical but there are enough similarities for police to believe finding this suspect could be key.

In most cases it was low season, there were no signs of forced entry, nothing was taken and the intruder appeared between 2am and 5am.

A three-year-old Madeleine vanished in May 2007 from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends

Of the 12 offences at the centre of the new lead, four were in Carvoeiro, six in the Vale da Parra and two in Praia da Luz.

On one occasion, the man assaulted two girls in the same villa.

A distinctive burgundy long-sleeve top worn by the suspect

DCI Andy Redwood, the senior investigating officer, said the suspect had an "unhealthy interest in young white female children".

"We need to establish the identity of this man," he added.

"These offences are very serious and no one has been charged in connection with them. We also need to eliminate this man from our enquiries and ascertain whether these offences are linked to Madeleine's disappearance.

"If you have been a victim of a similar crime please come forward, even if you reported the incident to police in Portugal, or anywhere else. Please do not assume we have been made aware of it.

"While some of these offences have been in the public domain before, following our appeal in October three more were reported to us as a direct result of that appeal. One of those reports we believe is the first in the potential series."

Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire

Police believe the suspect may have been in the villas for some time before being disturbed by parents or a child waking up - and he remained calm even when interrupted.

The noise of a bin collection lorry was heard nearby on two occasions.

The suspect is described as having tanned skin with short, dark, unkempt hair.

Witnesses say he spoke English with a foreign accent and his voice has been described as slow, or possibly slurred.

On two occasions, in Vale de Parra and Praia da Gale, he was wearing a distinctive burgundy long-sleeve top with a white circle on the back.

Sometimes he was bare chested, displaying what several witnesses describe as a pot belly.

Three victims talked of a noticeable odour.

Portuguese police closed their inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance in 2008 but Scotland Yard opened a new review of the evidence in 2011.

Praia da Luz, where Madeleine was taken

Police are still hunting a man seen carrying a girl fitting Madeleine's description on the night of her disappearance.

DCI Redwood added: "Our appeal last year was very successful and we had over 5,000 calls which generated new information for us and which we continue to investigate.

"We still need to establish the identity of a man seen by three witnesses, carrying a child fitting Madeleine's description towards the beach or town areas at about 10pm on the night Madeleine disappeared.

"The witnesses have described the man in the e-fits as being white, aged in his 30s, with short brown hair, of medium build, medium height and clean shaven.

"The Metropolitan Police Service continues to offer a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the abduction of Madeleine McCann from Praia da Luz, Portugal on 3 May 2007."

Anyone with information should call 0800 0961011 - or +44 207 1580 126 for non-UK residents.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clifford 'Told Victim No One Will Believe You'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent, Southwark Crown Court

Publicist Max Clifford warned a teenage girl "no one is going to believe you" after allegedly sexually abusing her in a nightclub toilet, a court has heard.

The woman, who cannot be named, told his trial she had been a dancer in the mid 1980s when she went for an audition at a London nightclub.

She explained it took place in the club's basement during the day while the club was closed.

After the dancing audition, she said Clifford approached her in the club and asked if she wanted to get into acting - she was around 18 years old.

She said Clifford told her: "I am looking for girls for a Bond film ... you'd be great."

The film was Octopussy, she told Southwark Crown Court.

She alleged Clifford then took a call from a "pay phone" on the wall in the club and passed the handset to her telling her it was Bond producer Cubby Broccoli.

The woman said the person on the phone told her she needed to tell him if Clifford was circumcised or not.

She described how she was then led to the toilets by Clifford who simply smiled at her and was "so calm".

The woman accused Clifford of then exposing himself to her and ordering her to perform a sex act on him.

She said Clifford then pulled down her leotard top and started grabbing at her breasts, which she said was "unpleasant".

As she left the toilet, she said Clifford made a "cocky" comment to her, saying: "No one is going to believe you."

The woman said she believed it had happened in 1984 but defending Clifford, Richard Horwell QC, said the film Octopussy actually came out a year earlier in 1983.

Mr Horwell said to her: "I suggest it simply didn't happen."

"I wish I could say that was true," she replied.

The woman added: "I chose not to remember all the details ... I have tried to get on with my life."

Another woman told the court she was a young model in the 1980s and Clifford said to her he may be able to get her a role alongside David Bowie in a film called Labyrinth.

She claimed he tried to set up a dinner with Bowie and allegedly told her he'd "tip her the wink" if and when she should go upstairs to sleep with the singer.

The woman never went to the dinner but said she did go to a photo shoot at a flat in southwest London with the publicist.

She claimed after the shoot the photographer was in an adjoining room having sex with another woman when Max Clifford exposed himself to her.

She told the court how she recalled him saying he had a "big issue" over the size of his penis.

The witness said she left the room and got out of the flat, and then decided to give up on a film career because it was "too seedy".

Her mother also gave evidence and said her daughter remembered Clifford shouting to her as she escaped the flat: "With that kind of attitude you'll get nowhere in show business."

Clifford denies the allegation and all 11 charges of indecent assault that he faces. The trial continues.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Online Child Abuse Action 'May Be Inadequate'

Hiring just seven extra full-time staff to track down images of child abuse online may prove "woefully insufficient", MPs have warned.

The move last year to double the existing number of staff came after internet companies were criticised for failing to block illegal images, especially after it emerged the perpetrators of several high-profile child murder cases had viewed such photographs.

The recruitment drive was paid for by money from members of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), including Google, which contributed £1m to the cause.

A Commons committee said the move was a step in the right direction but warned extra resources were needed, particularly among police forces.

"(We are) concerned that seven additional staff might prove woefully insufficient to achieve substantial progress towards what must be an important intermediate goal - the eradication of child abuse images from the open internet," a report from the culture, media and sport select committee said.

There is a "clear need to ensure the police have adequate resources to track down and arrest online paedophiles in sufficient numbers to act as a meaningful deterrent to others", it added.

Jim Gamble, the former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, said each police force should have 10 special constables dedicated to the job - a move that would cost an estimated £1.4m.

The committee's other recommendations include more prosecutions of adult websites that fail to prevent children accessing them.

It also criticised the "flimsy" age verification processes of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the committee, said: "Today, one in five 12 to 16-year-olds think being bullied online is part of life.

"That, along with the harm done by relatively unfettered access to adult pornography online, represents a failure to protect our children."

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Claudia: Mystery Man Wanted Over Disappearance

By Gerard Tubb, North Of England Correspondent

A mystery man whose DNA was found in a car belonging to missing York cook Claudia Lawrence is being sought five years after her disappearance.

The possible clue is one of several potential new leads thrown up by a police review of the murder investigation.

Unknown DNA was found on a cigarette butt in Claudia's car

The 35-year-old should have walked to the University of York to start her shift at 6am on the morning of Thursday March 18, 2009, but never arrived and was reported missing the following day by her father Peter, 70.

A lengthy police investigation drew a blank and a cold case review was launched in October,  which has involved forensically re-examining her home in the Heworth area of York and re-interviewing her family and friends.

Fingerprints have also been found on items in Claudia's house

Detectives from North Yorkshire Police have now revealed:

:: A DNA profile of an unidentified male has been found on an Embassy Regal cigarette butt in her car.

:: Fingerprints of unidentified people have been found in Claudia's house.

:: Phone records show she spent time in the Acomb area of the city which has not been accounted for.

:: Her hair straighteners were missing from her home.

:: Her mobile phone was probably deliberately turned off at lunchtime on March 18.

:: Police are concentrating on "a number of individuals" but there are no official suspects.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn told a news conference that although the last known sighting of Claudia was on Wednesday afternoon, the evidence suggests she went missing the following day.

Police also want to identify this man

He said: "Claudia's bed was made and it appears that she had eaten breakfast and brushed her teeth, it is our belief that she had left for work on the morning of Thursday 19 March 2009."

Detectives have also released photographs of Claudia's car and the missing hair straighteners and CCTV pictures of a man they want to identify who told staff in a York Co-op store in April 2009 that he knew Claudia.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Half Of Footballers 'Have Seen Racism In Game'

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

More than half of Premier League and Football League players have witnessed or been subjected to racist abuse inside grounds, according to new research.

A survey of 200 active footballers by anti-discrimination group Kick It Out also found 20% of those questioned have witnessed racist abuse in dressing rooms or at a training ground, while 7% say abuse was directed towards them.

The results provide a dramatic snapshot of the level of discrimination witnessed by players in the English game and suggest there is still much to be done to banish it from the sport.

They come as the Football Association launches a series of videos intended to encourage players, fans and officials at all levels of the game to report discrimination wherever they see it.

The failure to report abuse, both at professional and grassroots level, has been highlighted as a factor in the continuing presence of discrimination in the game.

Kick It Out's survey, which was carried out between August and December last year, was conducted anonymously and was completed by a cross-section of players.

Black or ethnic minority players made up 32% of the sample, with 15% of the players at Premier League clubs and the remainder from the Football League.

As well as racism, homophobic abuse was widely reported in the survey, with 39% of players saying they had witnessed it in stadiums and 26% claiming they had seen it at training grounds or in the dressing room.

Players said they believed they were exposed to greater levels of abuse because of their profession, with 69% agreeing that was the case.

They overwhelmingly believe social media has made the problem worse, with 91% agreeing it has increased the level of discriminatory abuse.

The footballers also expressed concern about the level of black and ethnic minority representation among managers and executives, with some calling for compulsory interviews of black and ethnic minority candidates for all jobs.

Some 52% of players agreed there was an issue around the lack of black and minority ethnic managers and coaches, while 62% felt mandatory shortlisting should be in place for black and minority ethnic candidates.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tax-Free Childcare 'To Help 2 Million Families'

A childcare tax break is to be expanded, with working parents set to receive more money for longer than previously planned.

The scheme will be worth up to £2,000 per child per year when it launches in autumn next year - £800 more than the £1,200 originally proposed.

It was only expected to apply to children under the age of seven, but parents will now be entitled to the money until their son or daughter's 12th birthday.

Nearly two million families could benefit from the scheme - twice as many as the present voucher scheme, which is only available where adopted by an employer.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg will unveil details of the childcare scheme

However, it has been criticised for excluding couples where one parent does not work and for applying to richer households with incomes of up to £300,000.

David Cameron said the policy, which effectively covers 20% of childcare costs up to a maximum of £10,000 a year, would help "hard-pressed families" and "provide financial security for the future".

Earlier this month, the Family and Childcare Trust said parents now spend more on part-time childcare than their mortgage repayments.

The Prime Minister is due to unveil details of the package during a joint appearance with his deputy Nick Clegg, who added: "We want to ensure everyone can get on and succeed."

However, Labour's Lucy Powell, the shadow minister for children, said the proposals were "too little, too late".

"Mr Cameron has cut support for children and families by £15bn since he came to office," she said.

"This Government has done nothing in this Parliament to help parents experiencing a cost-of-living crisis."

As well as the childcare tax break, the Government is to give an extra £50m to nurseries looking after the most deprived three and four-year-olds.

Families claiming Universal Credit will also have 85% of their childcare costs met, up from 70%.

The announcement comes as the Chancellor prepares to unveil this year's Budget.

George Osborne, who will set out the Government's spending plans for 2014-15 next Wednesday, has warned of "difficult decisions" to come.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Held After Woman Stabbed To Death

Police have launched a murder investigation after a 21-year-old woman was stabbed to death.

Kirsty Wright was attacked at an address in Redditch, Worcestershire, on Saturday and died in hospital on Sunday.

A 29-year-old man who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of Ms Wright's murder remains in custody and continues to be questioned by police.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell, of West Mercia Police, said: "We will work with the community to bring the offender to justice and support the family, who my thoughts are with at this difficult time."

West Mercia Police said no more details were being released at this stage.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Five UK Families 'Richer Than 12.6m Britons'

The five richest families in the UK are wealthier than the poorest fifth of the country combined, according to new figures.

Research by Oxfam found the wealthiest households have more money than 12.6 million Britons put together.

The charity also found the gap between rich and poor has grown significantly over the last two decades.

It said the richest 0.1% of the population have seen incomes grow nearly four times faster than the poorest 90% of the country.

The wealthy elite have an extra £24,000 in their pockets every year - enough to buy a small yacht or a sports car and almost as much as the average UK salary of £26,500.

Ben Phillips, director of campaigns and policy at Oxfam, said: "Britain is becoming a deeply divided nation, with a wealthy elite who are seeing their incomes spiral up, whilst millions of families are struggling to make ends meet.

"It's deeply worrying that these extreme levels of wealth inequality exist in Britain today, where just a handful of people have more money than millions struggling to survive on the breadline."

Ahead of this week's Budget, Oxfam has called on the Chancellor to raise revenues from those most able to afford it.

It wants to see a renewed clamp down on tax dodgers, as well as a long-term strategy to raise the minimum wage - which will rise from £6.31 to £6.50 in October - to a so-called 'living wage'.

"Increasing inequality is a sign of economic failure rather than success," Mr Phillips said.

"It's time for our leaders to stand up and be counted on this issue."

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Childcare Tax Break: Details To Be Unveiled

Details of a planned £1,200 childcare tax break for families is expected to be unveiled in next week's Budget, according to Sky sources.

Help with the expense of childcare is one of the things people have been pressing for said Sky's Political Correspondent Anushka Asthana, and is part of the Government's drive to help families as well as business.

Figures recently revealed the cost to families for part-time childcare is more than the monthly mortgage repayment.

It follows a consultation on tax breaks for families, and will replace the current childcare voucher system which means everybody who is working, including the self-employed, will be able to qualify for it.

The current voucher system depends on whether an employer agreed to it, and at the moment only 5% do.

It came as Chancellor George Osborne warned  of more "difficult decisions" to come in Wednesday's Budget.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday, he confirmed he will use his Commons statement to outline details of the Government's promised cap on welfare payments.

And he underlined the need to "not waver" from plans to tackle the budget deficit and deal with Britain's debts.

He wrote: "That plan has delivered economic stability and low mortgage rates for families and it has laid the foundations for economic recovery."

But the deficit remained too high, which was why workers in the public sector faced another year of pay restraint and welfare spending would be capped from 2015.

"None of these decisions are easy, but the alternatives are worse," he wrote.

In a sideswipe at his opponents, Mr Osborne said: "Ed Balls and Ed Miliband haven't learned any lessons from the last time they crashed the British economy.

"The question is simple: Why would you give the keys back to the people who crashed the car?"

But Mr Balls, Labour's Shadow Chancellor, accused Mr Osborne of being "out of touch", and argued ordinary people had yet to see any improvement in their standard of living.

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Claudia Lawrence Case: Mother's 'Nightmare'

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The mother of the missing York woman Claudia Lawrence has praised a new team of detectives investigating her daughter's disappearance and says she constantly thinks of the events she has missed.

Joan Lawrence, 70, says she is confident that the re-launched investigation which began last October is doing all it can to uncover why Claudia, 35, vanished without trace five years ago.

"I think if they don't [solve the case] they will have tried their utmost, and they're working so hard on it," she said.

"I don't think they'll easily give up."

Claudia was reported missing by her father Peter Lawrence, 67, on the morning of March 19 2009 after she failed to turn up for her shift as a cook at the University of York the previous day.

Mother Joan Lawrence is hopeful of the re-launched investigation

Detectives believe she was murdered, but an extensive investigation drew a blank with no trace of her being found and no arrests made.

Mrs Lawrence, who is divorced from Claudia's father, has showed Sky News childhood pictures of Claudia and her older sister Ali in the hope that they might prick the conscience of someone who knows what happened.

"She's missed so much," she said as she looked through photographs showing Claudia as a smiling, dark-haired girl growing up in Malton in North Yorkshire.

"Her best friend has got two children, she missed her wedding, her godmother's died, there's so many things happened in five years," she said.

Claudia mysteriously vanished from her home five years ago

In a briefing to mark the fifth anniversary of the day she was reported missing, detectives are expected to reveal new information about her last-known movements and appeal for information about two vehicles seen in the area at the time. 

Mrs Lawrence, who has never hidden her frustration with the first police investigation, says she hopes the new team led by Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn will be able to solve the mystery.

"One way or the another I have to find out, I can't go on and on and on," she said.

"I need to know and I'll never ever give up hope."

12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More