Petrol Prices Cut By Up To 2p By Supermarkets

Supermarkets across the UK have lowered their petrol prices following a fall in the wholesale cost of fuel.

Asda was the first to announce it would cut up to 2p off a litre of petrol, saying customers would pay no more than 133.7p.

Rivals Sainsbury's and Tesco followed with similar pledges of up-to-2p price reductions.

The AA broadly welcomed the move, but urged other retailers to do the same.

"Unless the rest of the market reflects the lower cost, it's a case of the same old story - prices up like a rocket, falling like a feather," the AA's head of public affairs, Paul Watters, said.

The roadside recovery group is in the process of providing information to the Office of Fair Trading, which is investigating whether a fall in oil prices is being passed on to motorists.

"Last week, our fuel-price report pointed to a 4p drop in petrol wholesale prices working its way through the system," Mr Watters said.

"UK average petrol pump prices reached a late summer high of around 140p a litre in mid-September and sat there for more than a fortnight.

"More than a month on, the average petrol price yesterday was down to only 138.70p a litre."

Asda cut its petrol prices by 3p a litre at the end of September and other retailers said they would follow suit.

Meanwhile, average diesel prices have fallen by 1p a litre - almost exactly reflecting the late summer fall in diesel wholesale costs, according to the AA.

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Olympic Medals Stolen: Pair Plead For Return

Two of TeamGB's Olympic heroes had their medals stolen just hours after attending a Buckingham Palace celebration of their success.

Rower Alex Partridge and hockey team member Hannah Macleod took to social networking site Twitter to appeal for information in an attempt to find their Olympic bronze medals.

Partridge won bronze as part of the men's eight rowing team. He tweeted that his Olympic blazer had also been stolen from a club in Mayfair, central London.

Macleod wrote on the site: "My medal was also stolen at the same time. Totally devastated."

Both athletes later published a photo of a man captured on CCTV who they wished to talk to about the alleged thefts.

Partridge said: "To the chap who took my @London2012 Olympic Blazer & Medal last night The police have u on CCTV Please return it."

Macleod said she was not looking for punishment, she just wanted the medal back.

"If you picked up a Bronze Olympic medal that isn't yours pls just send anonymously back to GB hockey-Bisham Abbey," she tweeted.

Scotland Yard confirmed it was investigating reports of a stolen Olympic medal and blazer, but said it had not yet been contacted about a second stolen medal.

A Met Police spokesman said: "An Olympic medal and blazer were reported stolen from a venue in Mayfair in central London.

"It was believed the items were taken between midnight and 5am on Wednesday, October 24."

A host of Olympic and Paralympic stars had earlier been invited to the palace to mark their achievements along with the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Duchess of Cambridge, Prime Minister David Cameron and London 2012 chief Lord Coe.

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Equal Pay Ruling Could Benefit Thousands

By Adele Robinson, Sky Reporter

The Supreme Court is due to make a decision on unequal pay claims that could pave the way for thousands more women across the country to get compensation.

Birmingham City Council has appealed against a ruling by the Court of Appeal to allow claims to go through civil courts instead of only through employment tribunals.

At the moment people are only allowed to make claims through tribunals within six months of employment. Through civil courts people would be able to claim within six years.

It would mean more women like Vera Box, a former care assistant for Birmingham City Council, could make a claim for unequal pay despite having sought legal advice more than six months after retirement.

"If that case is won it would be a gateway for many more people to put in a claim. And I really hope that we do win this claim," she said.

Vera retired in 2005 after 11 years. She says when she found out she may have been paid thousands of pounds less than a man on the same pay grade she was angry. She is one woman out of many who say they were excluded from bonuses.

"I still feel quite bitter about it really because when you're on the same pay grade as someone and they are getting paid a lot more it just doesn't seem fair," she said.

"It was alot of money it could have made a hell of a difference to our lives in retirement."

Several thousand Birmingham City Council staff won their case for equal pay at a tribunal in 2010.

The council said the ruling related to its old bonus structure which had been removed.

Chris Benson, a partner at Leigh Day & Co, who is representing hundreds of ex-workers in Birmingham as well as thousands of others in many other local authorities including Wolverhampton, Blackpool and the London Borough of Croydon said: "We look forward to the verdict and hope that, if we are successful, Birmingham City Council will settle these equal pay claims."

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Young Inmate Deaths 'Show Justice Failing'

Young people are dying in custody because of "bad practice" in prisons, a report has said.

In the Fatally Flawed report, former chief inspector of prisons Lord Ramsbotham said the criminal justice system and community services "have demonstrably let young people down, for all the wrong reasons, for far too long".

Nine children and more than 190 other young people aged 24 and under have died in prisons or secure training centres in the last 10 years, according to campaigners.

The report, which looked at 98 of the deaths, found that in many cases there were communication failures between community agencies and prisons while, in others, the inmates were placed in prisons with unsafe environments and cells.

It added that poor medical care and limited access to therapeutic services in prison also caused problems and some children and young people had been exposed to bullying, segregation or restraint.

The dead were "some of the most disadvantaged in society" and had experienced problems with mental health, self-harm, alcohol and drugs, it said.

Deborah Coles, co-director of the campaign group Inquest, said: "This shocking death toll has been obscured for far too long.

"Working on a daily basis with bereaved families, we see inquest after inquest raising the same issues and, despite promises of change, the deaths continue."

"This report must prompt an independent review as a matter of urgency as there is a pressing need to learn from the failures that cost these young people their lives."

The report comes more than 10 years after 16-year-old Joseph Scholes hanged himself in his cell at Stoke Heath Young Offenders' Institution in Shropshire on March 24 2002.

Yvonne Bailey, Joseph's mother, who has long called for a public inquiry, said she read today's report "with sorrow".

"It is now over a decade since my son Joseph died in fear and distress hanging from the window bars of his squalid cell in a children's prison," she said.

"The deaths of a further nine young boys are devastating evidence that the changes implemented were yet again wholly insufficient to fulfil the duty on the state to protect the right to life of the children it imprisons."

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said that self-inflicted deaths in custody have fallen by about 40% since 2004.

"Young people in custody are some of the most vulnerable and troubled individuals in society and their safety is our highest priority," she added.

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Insurance Report: AA Says It's Good And Bad News

Car insurance costs are going down but home insurance premiums are rising, it has been revealed.

Taking an average of the cheapest five premiums, the average fully-comprehensive car insurance policy fell 2.9% to £844 in the period July-September 2012 compared with the previous three months, according to AA Insurance.

But after a summer of storms and floods, a similar survey of home buildings insurance revealed an average rise of 2.4% to £181, while home contents insurance rose 1% to £242.

Over the late-summer period, young male drivers saw their premiums fall 0.7% to £1,603 on average, while those for young women fell 2.2% to £1,127.

All regions of the UK saw average car insurance premiums fall except Anglia, where they rose 1.4%.

Scotland remains the cheapest region in which to buy car insurance (averaging £438) while Greater Manchester and Liverpool are the most expensive areas (£1,059).

On home buildings insurance, the AA reported a rise in every region in the UK this late-summer period.

The biggest regional increase, of 3.5% to £177, was in Yorkshire and East Anglia, while London and south east England were the regions with the highest average premiums (up 2.9% to £200).

Wales and the West Country had the cheapest home building premiums - up 1.1% to £157.

AA Insurance director Simon Douglas said: "I am very concerned that no agreement has yet been reached in finding an affordable option to the 'statement of principles' between the insurance industry and the Government, which ensures that families in flood-prone properties can continue to obtain flood cover.

"This expires in June next year and if no agreement is reached soon, could lead to the most vulnerable homes becoming uninsurable."

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Hacking: Mirror Papers Face Legal Claims

By David Bowden, Senior Correspondent

Newspapers belonging to Trinity Mirror are for the first time to face legal claims for phone hacking, Sky News has learned.

Until now the only company to be sued for illegally snooping on voicemail messages was News Group Newspapers, publishers of the now-defunct News Of The World.

The latest claims allege that the mobile phone messages of the former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Abbie Gibson, former nanny to the Beckham children, ex-Manchester City star Garry Flitcroft and actress Shobna Gulati were all listened to by Mirror group journalists.

Lawyer Mark Lewis: 'We will show there is a smoking bullet'

There have been allegations that hacking was going on at the Mirror titles before, but the publisher of papers including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing and there have, as yet, been no legal actions.

Now solicitor Mark Lewis has lodged claims on behalf of his clients.

Piers Morgan: 'No reason to believe (hacking) was going on'

He says that unlike the News Of The World hacking cases, where police found a list of alleged victims in a notebook belonging to private investigator Glen Mulcaire, there is no paper trail this time round.

"There might not be a documentary smoking gun, but we will show there is a smoking bullet, the consequence of the actions," said Mr Lewis.

The former editor of the Daily Mirror, Piers Morgan, wrote a number of articles alleging phone hacking was prevalent in Fleet Street, but told the Leveson Inquiry he had never sanctioned it when he was an editor.

"My own evidence is I had no reason or knowledge to believe it was going on," he told the inquiry earlier this year.

In the summer, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, in charge of investigating any criminal aspects of the cases, told MPs she believed there were more than a thousand victims of phone hacking.

Scores of claims have been made against the News Of The World and many of the cases have been settled already with payouts totalling millions of pounds.

The most high profile case involved the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone and cost the paper £3m.

Actress Sienna Miller reportedly received £100,000 and her former boyfriend, Jude Law, is also among the many celebrities to have won a substantial payout from News Group.

Politicians including former deputy prime minister John Prescott and Respect MP George Galloway have also been paid compensation.

This latest revelation that hacking was allegedly going on at a rival newspaper group will, temporarily at least, take the spotlight off the wrongdoing at the News Of The World.

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Cameron's 'Rehab Revolution' To Cut Crime

David Cameron is to call for a new "tough but intelligent" approach to law and order, as he tries to recapture the political agenda after weeks of difficulties for the Government.

In a speech later today, he will announce a "rehabilitation revolution" under which virtually all prisoners will receive help turning their lives around and breaking the cycle of reoffending.

Mr Cameron will say he wants to see an extension of payment-by-results for companies, charities and voluntary groups who help offenders escape a life of crime.

Currently only those who are jailed for more than a year are given rehabilitation. The new initiative aims to provide support to all but a small number of high-risk prisoners by the end of 2015.

Mr Cameron will say: "I want to see rehabilitation reach more of those who would benefit from it. Today, rehab just goes to those who have been inside for a year or more. But that misses all those who go in for shorter sentences yet reoffend time and time again.

"So I want to look at making them part of the rehabilitation revolution too."

Sky's political correspondent Peter Spencer said: "Mr Cameron's plan today is to seriously try to change the subject from his travails over Andrew Mitchell and the 'Plebgate' affair with a major speech on crime and punishment and rehabilitation.

"In his speech today, he will be adopting a slightly tougher tone than we've heard in the past."

While placing a greater emphasis on rehabilitation, the Prime Minister will seek to reassure supporters of tougher sentencing - including many on the right of his party - that he is not turning "soft or liberal" on law and order.

The PM will say prevention is 'the most effective way to deal with crime'

He will stress that he never in fact uttered the phrase "hug a hoodie" despite it becoming a defining motif of his leadership.

Serious crimes must be met with long prison sentences, he will say, adding: "Retribution is not a dirty word. It is important to society that revulsion against crime is properly recognised."

But he will argue that "just being tough isn't a successful strategy in itself", and prisoners who cannot read, are addicted to drugs or have never worked a day in their life, need help so that they can lead productive lives.

"Recognising this isn't soft or liberal, it's common sense," he will say.

"We'll never create a safer society unless we give people, especially young people, opportunities and chances away from crime.

"Prevention is the cheapest and most effective way to deal with crime - everything else is simply picking up the pieces of failure that has gone before."

He will also say that Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, appointed to replace Ken Clarke in last month's reshuffle, is leading a mission to see more offenders properly punished but fewer returning to prison.

Mr Cameron's speech follows a difficult period for the coalition Government, which has been largely engulfed in recent weeks by the row over Andrew Mitchell's foul-mouthed confrontation with Downing Street police officers.

He finally resigned on Friday, which was damaging for the Prime Minister after weeks of trying to shore up his chief whip.

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Man Charged With Hit-And-Run Murder

A 31-year-old man will appear in court charged with the murder of a mother of three who died in a hit-and-run attack in Cardiff.

The man, whom police have not named, has also been charged with 13 counts of attempted murder and four counts of assault, as well as dangerous driving.

The charges were announced just hours after hundreds of people grieved for Karina Menzies, 31, at a church service in the city.

She was killed on Friday when she was hit by a white van outside Ely Fire Station.

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said: "South Wales Police has been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the community.

"We wish to express our sincere thanks to the many people who have come forward to give information, provide witness accounts, and offer both CCTV and mobile phone footage of Friday's traumatic and tragic events.

"While a man has been charged, the investigation is still very much ongoing and we still appeal for anyone with information to contact the incident room at Cardiff Central Police Station.

"Our thoughts this evening, as they have been all weekend, are with the family of Karina Menzies."

Candles were lit for the victims at a Cardiff church

The man will appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Court.

Hundreds of people gathered to share their grief at a poignant church and prayer service on Sunday.

The raw emotion in the Welsh capital was evident as 200 people visited the murder scene  to hold a minute's silence for Ms Menzies.

Reverend Jan Gould led a special service at Church of the Resurrection in Ely.

The vicar, who broke down during her morning service at the church, told a packed congregation from the pulpit: "Whether we've personally known one or more of the victims of Friday's terrible events, or whether we are here as a member of this community simply wanting to show solidarity, there can be no one who has not been profoundly affected by what has happened here this week.

"This must surely be perhaps the deepest grief we have shared as a community.

"This grief, of Karina's tragic death ... has broken the heart of our community, and the healing work that is now to be done will take a very, very long time.

"We will never be the same again as a community - for how can we not be changed after such a tragedy."

In her service this evening, Ms Gould pleaded with her congregation to respond to the events with love.

She told the 600 strong congregation: "The only way that we can move forward into the future with hope, is by responding to this suffering the same way Jesus did - with love.

"Not malice, not hatred, not revenge. Not taking the law into our own hands - that's what our justice system is for."

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Fatal Fire: Woman And Two Children Named

Three victims of a fatal house fire have been named - as police continue questioning two neighbours on suspicion of murder.

Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, was killed with niece Skye Allen, two, and nephew Bailey Allen, four, when their first floor flat in Prestatyn, North Wales, was engulfed in flames.

Miss Shiers' partner Liam Timbrell, aged 23, and their son Charlie Timbrell, aged 15 months, are being treated in hospital.

North Wales Police arrested two ground floor tenants, a man, aged 45, and a woman, aged 42, on suspicion of murder.

Firefighters dragged the five victims from the flat in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn, at 10pm on Friday.

Forensics experts have attended the scene

A Welsh Ambulance Services spokeswoman said the survivors were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.

Mr Timbrell, who remains in a critical but stable condition, was later transferred to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.

Charlie was moved to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Detective Superintendent John Chapman said: "My heart goes out to the family and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

:: Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.

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Prayers For Hit-And-Run Dead And Injured

A special church service will be held today for the 14 victims of a series of hit-and-run attacks in Cardiff, which left a mother of three dead and 13 others injured.

Karina Menzies, 32, was killed after she was knocked down during one of the collisions involving a white van outside a fire station in the Ely area of the city on Friday.

Thirteen others were injured in the crashes on the streets of the Welsh capital. Two of the injured adults are in a critical condition and five children are also receiving treatment.

The service, at Church of the Resurrection on Grand Avenue, will take place from 5pm.

Meanwhile, detectives were last night granted a further 36 hours to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Officers are also appealing for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.

Adam and Annie Lewis were walking with their daughter when they were hit

The black Renault Clio was seen on Western Avenue, not far from Cowbridge Road West, where one crash happened. There were no full registration details for the Clio but officers said it carried an 05 plate.

CCTV images show the moment a white van swerved across four lanes of traffic, mounted the kerb and crashed into Adam and Annie Lewis and their two-year-old daughter, Amelia-May.

Amelia-May's grandmother, Maureen Lewis, said the toddler was catapulted from her pushchair into the air and suffered injuries to her face. She said Annie suffered a broken leg.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley confirmed reports that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a weapon.

It is believed the weapon was a steering wheel lock.

Father Adam Lewis (top), mother Annie (right) and two-year-old Amelia-May

The officer said: "We are aware the suspect assaulted people outside his vehicle," and he added police were "looking to identify and recover" the weapon.

He said no firearm was involved and there was no suggestion anyone had been stabbed.

According to unconfirmed reports, police are also investigating whether the driver was involved in a domestic incident before the rampage.

The horrific events began when police received calls about an incident in Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm.

This was soon followed by other reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.

Seventy officers are working on the investigation.

Floral tributes were laid at the scene where Ms Menzies was killed.

Police were called to five locations in Cardiff

Among those paying their respects was local Labour MP Kevin Brennan.

He said: "Karina was a well-liked mother who had three children. One of her children is disabled and is currently on a dream holiday in Florida."

Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, had just served two girls aged about 10 and a woman in her mid-20s moments before one of the hit-and-runs in Grand Avenue, immediately outside a row of shops.

He said: "All of a sudden I heard a bang. I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming. I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

Lynda Paterson, who lives in Cowbridge Road West, described the scene outside her house as chaotic.

The white van pictured after being stopped by police

"I was going to pick my children up from school and I could see there were police and someone was lying on the floor, on the pavement."

Other eyewitnesses said pedestrians were deliberately targeted by someone driving a white van.

The crime scenes included Ely fire station, an area near the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough on the outskirts of Cardiff, where the suspect was arrested, and Leckwith Retail Park - next to the Cardiff City Stadium.

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