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| BBC News | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 12 2008, 09:12 AM (26 Views) | |
| United Kingdom | Oct 12 2008, 09:12 AM Post #1 |
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The British Broadcasting Corperation or The BBC is a UK based broadcasting corporation and is the world's largest broadcasting corporation,employing 28,500 people in the United Kingdom alone with an annual budget of more than £4 billion/$8 billion. The BBC is a quasi-autonomous public corporation as a public service broadcaster and is run by the BBC Trust; it is, per its charter, supposed to "be free from both political and commercial influence and answer only to its viewers and listeners". The BBC was the first national broadcasting organisation and was founded on 18 October 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company Ltd; It was subsequently granted a Royal Charter and was made a publicly funded corporation in 1927. |
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| United Kingdom | Oct 12 2008, 09:17 AM Post #2 |
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Tories 'to help have-a-go heroes' "Health and safety rules are holding officers back" Mr Grieve was quoted saying Measures to help the public and police tackle criminals and end the "walk on by society" have been outlined by shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve. He told the Conservative Party conference that too many people making "genuine attempts to prevent crime" had been arrested or prosecuted. "It's our duty to help not hinder active citizens," he said. But the government said it was already boosting the police in protecting the public against crime and terrorism. Mr Grieve's comments came after banker Frank McGarahan died following an attack in Norwich. 'Risk averse' The 45-year-old intervened when he saw two other people being assaulted in the early hours of Sunday morning, but was himself set upon, suffering fatal head injuries. Police have launched a murder inquiry. The Conservatives want to make it easier for the public to stop anti-social behaviour and crime by reducing the risk that "have-a-go heroes" will find themselves being prosecuted. " We're winning the arguments on freedom and David Davis deserves the credit for his stand" Dominic Grieve Shadow home secretary They claim there is evidence that the police and prosecutors are too ready to accept allegations made by criminals against people who try to apprehend them. They say they will amend the code for crown prosecutors and the Police and Criminal Evidence code of practice to reduce the chances of someone acting in good faith being taken to court. Mr Grieve pledged to "take on the health and safety culture" and the legislation which "is holding officers back and making them more risk averse". "It is dangerous. It undermines public confidence. And we're going to change it," he said. Protecting public The Conservatives point to examples like the case of 10-year-old Jordan Lyon, who drowned in May 2007 saving his younger sister. Two community support officers were at the scene but did not get into the water because they had not received the appropriate training. The Conservatives want to amend Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure that protecting the public from risk is given priority over the risk to officers. "This government will back the police service in the day to-day operational decisions they make in protecting the public against crime and terrorism" Tony McNulty Home Office minister They also want to amend Sections 3 and 7 of the act to ensure it is not used to target the police when high-pressure operations, like the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, go wrong. The Tories say other, more appropriate measures, should be used - and say that the health and safety culture is making police too risk-averse. Mr Grieve also paid tribute to his predecessor, David Davis, whose resigned his seat in protest at what he called the government's "erosion" of fundamental British freedoms. He was re-elected as an MP, but replaced by Mr Grieve on the Conservative front bench. "We're winning the arguments on freedom and David Davis deserves the credit for his stand," he said. But the government said its was already working on the issues the Conservatives had raised, including changes to the law, so people using "reasonable force" to protect themselves could have "greater confidence" they would not be prosecuted. Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said: "The lives of police officers and PCSOs [police community support officers] are as important as those of the people they serve, and this government will back the police service in the day to-day operational decisions they make in protecting the public against crime and terrorism. "And we will ensure that the criminal justice system is firmly weighted in favour of the victim, not the criminal." |
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| United Kingdom | Oct 12 2008, 09:19 AM Post #3 |
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Food waste pilot hailed a success The government's waste advisers are claiming success for a pilot project in which households had their food waste collected separately and composted. The scheme was piloted in 19 local authority areas. They say 4,272 tonnes of food waste were diverted from landfill, preventing the release of 1,967 tonnes of CO2. Nineteen English local authorities experimented with ways of collecting food waste from 94,000 households. In the majority of areas, more than 70% of people agreed to separate their food waste for composting. The average food waste collection was between 0.3kg and 2.2kg. High satisfaction There have been widespread reports of dissatisfaction from households around the country as councils have begun the great shift away from traditional weekly bin collections. But the advisers, known as WRAP, say the response to the food waste trial is encouraging. They had thought people might refuse the extra work involved in separating the waste or object to the smell of the special bins, but they said most people participating reported high levels of satisfaction with the service. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME WRAP hopes the government will extend the scheme. Phillip Ward, director for local government services at WRAP, said: "We throw away 6.7m tonnes of food every year in the UK - £10bn worth - and most of that goes to landfill. "We are delighted by the results of these trials, which show that if consumers are given the right tools and are provided with a good service, they will participate in initiatives to cut waste sent to landfill." Mr Ward added that several authorities involved in the trials had decided to roll out food waste collections to more households. Hygiene concerns The organisers believe that a survey of people in the pilot areas identified a gap between perception and reality. Of the non-participants interviewed, a common reason for not taking part was that residents felt that they did not produce enough food waste to make it worthwhile. However, WRAP research in the recent "The Food We Waste" report shows that even households claiming that they generate no food waste at all produce, on average, 2.9kg per week. Concerns about potential odour, hygiene issues or attracting vermin were the reasons given by 24% of non-participants - but for those who did participate, the majority claimed not to have had a problem with any of these issues. |
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| United Kingdom | Oct 12 2008, 09:22 AM Post #4 |
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Call for more searches of pupils Schools should have greater powers to search pupils, behaviour review says Teachers should be able to search pupils to stop them bringing alcohol and drugs into school, says a review on tackling bad behaviour among pupils. Sir Alan Steer is to deliver proposals from his government-commissioned review of ways to improve discipline. Alcohol is identified as a growing problem in schools - and Sir Alan wants teachers to have the legal power to search pupils and confiscate drink. At present, teachers only have the right to search for weapons. The report from Sir Alan will respond to the concerns of head teachers in some "challenging" schools in which there are worries about the influence of alcohol and, to a lesser extent, illegal drugs. Parent pressure Teachers should also have the power to search for suspected stolen property in pupils' pockets or bags, in situations such as disputes over stolen mobile phones or music players. Last year, schools were given legal powers to search pupils they suspected of carrying weapons - and they were allowed to refuse entry to any pupil who refused to be searched. Sir Alan is also expected to call for more ways to involve parents in improving school discipline. This could include using text messages and e-mails to make immediate contact with parents where there are concerns about pupils' behaviour or if they are absent from school. The review on behaviour in school comes against a background of growing concern over teenage knife crime - and Sir Alan highlights the responsibility of adults in creating the cultures of good and bad behaviour. Sir Alan, head teacher of Seven Kings High School, Ilford, has warned that adults can too often set a bad example for young people, showing them behaviour that is greedy and aggressive. Safe havens This latest interim report from Sir Alan, published on Monday, will be the latest instalment of his work on improving behaviour, which was initially commissioned by the education secretary in 2005. Sir Alan reported in March that good progress was being made in tackling bad behaviour - and he highlighted a range of important influences on behaviour. These included the quality of teaching, clear and consistent rules, mutual respect and the support of parents. But he cautioned against assuming there were "simple solutions". Sir Alan has also emphasised that schools are not the places of danger in young people's lives - and that often they can be the safest havens in disrupted lives. |
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| United Kingdom | Oct 12 2008, 09:23 AM Post #5 |
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Police to target booze violence Police forces across the UK are to begin a crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence. The campaign aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and will focus on cutting underage drinking, Street drinking by all age groups will be dealt with through byelaws and test purchasing will also be carried out. Meanwhile, all forces will also launch a two-week drink/drug driving campaign which will focus on men aged 17-29. As part of the crackdown, high visibility patrols will be out in force and anyone who is stopped for failing to adhere to road traffic laws will be breathalysed as a matter of course. The campaign aims to convince drivers that a conviction has the potential to ruin lives because it remains on their licence for 11 years and could affect future employment prospects. The crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence is being spearheaded by the national Violence Reduction Unit. "It is rare to come across crimes of violence on our streets which are not associated with alcohol misuse " Andrew Laing Procurator fiscal for Highlands Forces across the country will use volunteers under the age of 18 to see how many off-sales and licensed premises are prepared to sell them alcohol. Police are also reminding parents that they have an important role to play in ensuring youngsters do not have access to alcohol. Andrew Laing, procurator fiscal for the Highlands and Islands, said there was a "clear connection" between alcohol misuse and criminal behaviour. "Indeed one might go so far as to say that it is rare to come across crimes of violence on our streets which are not associated with alcohol misuse," he said. "Over indulgence of alcohol can lead to people acting out of character, turning a trivial argument or dispute into episodes of violence with sometimes tragic consequences. "Those committing such violent offences when sober are often devastated when they appreciate the magnitude of their actions." But, he said, that was little comfort to victims and members of the public who have to deal with the consequences. |
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| United Kingdom | Oct 12 2008, 09:26 AM Post #6 |
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Carers "To recive more Financial Help" Carers are to recive more Finanical help under a new government plan to assits Britains six million unpaid carers. The Commons work and pensions committee said people who looked after friends and relatives saved the taxpayer £87bn. It recommended income replacement for those unable to work and compensation for extra costs of "intensive" caring. It recommended a "two-tier" approach combining income replacement and pension protection for carers who were unable to work or only able to work part-time, and compensation for extra costs incurred by "intensive" caring. Carers say the current £50.55-a-week allowance is "insultingly low". The tories seem to agree. "These people save the country alot of money," a torie MP was quoted saying "Yet under past government they were ignored and given shamefuly low allowences." The government has pledged to help those carers who want to return to work to do so. The £50.55-a-week is the lowest income-replacement benefit and amounts to £1.44 an hour, assuming a minimum 35-hour week. Imelda Redmond, chief executive of campaign group Carers UK, said the existing Carer's Allowance was "insultingly low". "The two-tier benefit recommended by the committee would be a major improvement to the current system," she said. "Carers need a separate benefit which recognises that they are not unemployed but are making an important contribution to society." Anne McGuire, minister for disabled people, said she welcomed the report as a "valuable contribution to the debate" and said the government was working with employers to help carers get a better balance between their work and caring responsibilities. She said a review of the care and support system would take place as part of a wider welfare reform programme. But she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not just as straightforward as it might appear that you just up the amount of money - there are all sorts of ramifications to that." She added that the government had already provided extra resources to allow carers to take short breaks |
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5:16 AM Nov 30
