Rochdale Sex Abuse: Nine Men Charged

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

Nine men from Rochdale have been charged following an investigation into child sexual exploitation.

The charges relate to offences committed separately against one teenage girl in the Rochdale area by different men between 2008 and 2009.

Greater Manchester Police say the victim was traced as part of a separate investigation which resulted in nine men being jailed in May for running a child exploitation ring in the Heywood area of Rochdale.

Their trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard the group had plied their vulnerable underage victims with alcohol and drugs and passed them around for sex.

The police say this latest investigation, which has led to nine other men being charged, is different in nature as there are no allegations of trafficking.

Freddy Kendakumana, 26, has been charged with three counts of rape, attempted rape and four counts of sexual activity with a child under 16.

Roheez Khan, 26, has been charged with ten counts of sexual activity with a child under 16. Chola Chansa, 32, has been charged with two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16.

Ali Asghar Hussain Shah, 39, Anjam Masood, 30, Mohammed Rafiq, 31, and Asrar Haider, 38 have all been charged with sexual activity and inciting sexual activity with a child under 16.

Abdul Huk, 36, and Mohammed Ali, 27, have been charged with sexual activity with a child under 16. 

All the men have been bailed and will appear before Bury Magistrates Court on various dates between November and December.

Lynne Jones, Chair of Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board, said: "The board has been working very hard to ensure vulnerable children and young people are protected from all forms of abuse.

"Together with Rochdale Borough Council, Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the NHS and our other members we have clear strategies in place to combat child sexual exploitation, which sadly is happening in most towns and cities."

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Argos Overhaul Could See 75 Stores Shut

Argos has said it will close 75 stores in the UK over the next five years as it unveils a transformation plan for the business.

The retailer's parent company, Home Retail Group, made the announcement as it reported a 37% fall in group pre-tax profit to £18m in the six months to the start of September.

Argos made only £3.3m during the period.

Home Retail said it had reviewed Argos' 739 stores on the basis of several factors, including profitability and attractiveness of location.

"As a result, it is likely that Argos will close or relocate at least 75 stores as their leases come to an end over the next five years," the company said in a statement.

A review of the business highlighted a "clear opportunity" to invest more in digital technologies, Home Retail Group's boss said.

It will also reduce the circulation of the traditional Argos catalogue, which was launched in 1973. 

"The transformation plan aims to deliver growth by repositioning Argos as a digitally-led business from a catalogue-led business, leading the market growth of digital commerce through online, mobile and tablet, and offering customers more products with the fastest, most convenient fulfilment options," chief executive Terry Duddy said.

"This plan provides the right approach for Argos to achieve a long-term sustainable performance and profit recovery." 

The company said it was aiming for £4.5bn of sales for Argos by 2018 and would invest £100m a year in the business over the next three years to achieve this.

Home Retail Group's shares rose more than 8% in morning trading following the announcement.

But Neil Saunders from retail analysts Conlumino said a big question mark remains over the sustainability of Argos' business model.

"On the surface, its review looks sensible and has credibility," he said.

"However, executing the strategy will not be easy and there are a number of challenges Argos will need to address."

He said the company will have to create a superior digital experience for consumers, make sure it remains high in shoppers' minds, and has a unique edge to its product mix.

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Birmingham 'Hit-And-Run': Police Speak To Man

A driver has come forward to police after a suspected hit-and-run in Birmingham left a five-year-old girl fighting for her life.

The youngster was hit by a car in College Road in the Kingstanding area of the city at around 6.30pm on Tuesday.

She is said to have wandered into the road after becoming separated from her mother.

The girl was struck by the vehicle, which was heading towards Chester Hill and failed to stop.

She suffered multiple injuries in the crash and is said to be in a critical condition in hospital.

West Midlands Police said a 36-year-old man handed himself in at a police station in Birmingham overnight. He was interviewed voluntarily and his car was seized.

Inspector Mark Watkins said: "We're keen to hear from anyone who saw the collision itself or a blue Citroen Picasso being driven before or after the incident.

"The girl remains seriously ill in hospital, so it's vital we fully understand what happened last night."

Officers are continuing their investigations.

:: Witnesses to the crash are asked to call police on 101.

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Equal Pay: Women Win Landmark Ruling

Women who earned less than men on the same pay grade when they worked for a local authority have won a battle for equal pay compensation at the UK's highest court.

The Supreme Court said more than 170 former Birmingham City Council employees could launch compensation claims in the High Court.

Lawyers say the judgment could have "huge implications".

The Supreme Court's decision follows a Court of Appeal ruling in the women's favour.

The "historic" ruling was made at Britain's highest court

Judges heard that 170 women were among female workers denied bonuses similar to those handed out to employees in traditionally male-dominated jobs such as refuse collectors, street cleaners, road workers and grave-diggers.

The court was told that, in 2007 and 2008, tens of thousands of pounds were paid to female council employees to compensate them.

More payments have also been made to women who took cases to an employment tribunal.

But only workers still employed or who had recently left were eligible to make claims in a tribunal.

Those who had left earlier were caught by the six-month deadline for launching claims.

To get around the deadline, the women started actions for damages in the High Court, which has a six-year deadline for launching claims.

The city council attempted to have those claims struck out, arguing that under equal pay legislation such claims could only be entertained by an employment tribunal.

Former care assistant Pam Saunders said she was "over the moon" with the decision, adding: "It's thousands of pounds that we've lost. Whatever we get is a bonus."

Law firm Leigh Day & Co described the ruling as "historic".

In a statement it said the judgment "effectively extends the time limit for equal pay claims from six months to six years, the biggest change to equal pay legislation since it was introduced in 1970, with huge implications for thousands of workers".

It said it is bringing claims against Birmingham City Council on behalf of 174 claimants, with another 1,000 claims pending in Birmingham alone.

The firm said that "there are also thousands more claims in other areas around the UK being handled by Leigh Day & Co awaiting this decision".

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North Sea Helicopter Crash Inquiry Begins

A helicopter that ditched in the North Sea with 19 people on board has been salvaged, as air crash investigators begin an inquiry into what happened.

The EC225 Super Puma was on a flight from Aberdeen to an offshore oil rig on Monday afternoon when it was forced to ditch near Fair Isle, between Orkney and Shetland.

A passing tanker helped rescue the passengers and crew, none of whom were injured.

The helicopter was flying to an offshore oil rig. Picture: RNLI/Lerwick

The helicopter was brought ashore in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, on Wednesday morning.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch will look at why the pilot had to ditch, while a Helicopter Safety Steering Group was due to discuss the incident at a meeting in Aberdeen.

A salvage operation was launched after the accident. Picture: RNLI/Lerwick

A spokesman for Eurocopter, the French company which manufactures the EC225 Super Puma, said it had launched its own investigation "with the highest priority".

Three offshore helicopter companies, including CHC which operates the aircraft involved in Monday's incident, have suspended their use of the model.

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Prisoner Votes: PM Defiant Blanket Ban Will Stay

David Cameron has flatly ruled out giving prisoners the vote after Conservative MPs reacted angrily to speculation that the coalition was planning legislation on the controversial issue.

The Prime Minister moved to clarify his position and told the Commons: "No one should be in any doubt. Prisoners are not getting the vote under this government."

However, his comments appeared to contradict those of his Attorney General, who earlier suggested that the UK would have to accept a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and fulfil its international obligations.

Dominic Grieve said the UK could ultimately decide to ignore the European court.

"Parliament is sovereign in this area. Nobody can impose a solution on Parliament," he told the Commons justice committee.

But he warned Britain's reputation would suffer if it ignored the ruling, and he insisted the UK had "a great deal of latitude" in how it complies with the judgment.

Dominic Grieve says the UK will have to accept the ECHR ruling

Ministers are preparing to launch a draft bill to comply with ruling, according to The Guardian.

This is despite Parliament voting overwhelmingly to maintain a blanket ban in February.

Mr Cameron has said the idea of giving prisoners the vote made him "physically ill".

Speaking at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, he signalled that he was ready to hold another vote "to put the legal position beyond doubt".

But there are reportedly concerns in the Government that it could face a huge compensation bill if it does not bring forward legislation before the ECHR's deadline of the end of November.

Publishing draft proposals, possibly giving the vote to those serving terms under four years, would give ministers time as there would be a significant period before anything would reach the statute books.

However, any move to grant the vote to any serving prisoners seems set to provoke outrage from many Conservative backbenchers.

Nick de Bois, secretary of the influential 1922 committee, posted on Twitter after the Guardian report was published.

He tweeted: "Sitting working with 5 other Cons MPs - if reports of prisoner voting rights are accurate then that's 6 MPs who won't vote for it."

Tory colleague Douglas Carswell added: "Make it 7."

David Cameron at Wormwood Scrubs this week

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith wrote: "MPs almost unanimously rejected votes for prisoners. If it happens all the same, does that mean the UK Parl officially no longer matters?

"It's no longer a Q of whether prisoners should vote. It's a Q of whether or not the UK Parliament still has the authority to make decisions."

The ECHR admitted that it was up to national authorities to decide exactly who can vote from jail - but said denying voting rights to all inmates indiscriminately was illegal.

Mr Cameron's official spokesman denied the PM was at loggerheads with Mr Grieve on the issue.

"There is a single Government view on this issue, and that is that prisoners should not get the vote," he said.

"As the Attorney General said earlier, Parliament is sovereign in these matters."

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Savile: Police Files From 2009 To Be Reviewed

Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer is to review legal papers relating to abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister said it was essential that lessons were learned from the scandal of Savile's decades of sexual abuse.

He told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions: "The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed that his principal legal adviser will again review the papers from the time when a case was put to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) for prosecution.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions specifically is going to consider what more can be done to alert relevant authorities where there are concerns that a prosecution is not taken forward.

"The Government will do everything it can do, other institutions must do what they can do, to make sure that we learn the lesson of this and it can never happen again."

Mr Starmer said the papers in four cases referred to the CPS in 2009 would be reviewed "out of an abundance of caution".

Abuse claims by BBC star Savile date back decades

He insisted that the decisions not to prosecute "were the right decisions based on the information and evidence then available".

He also said he planned to discuss with the attorney general a new policy, where cases would be referred to social services where an allegation is made but not taken to court due to a lack of evidence.

It comes after charities helping victims of sexual abuse said they had been swamped with inquiries – prompted by the widening Savile controversy.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) has seen nearly a trebling of calls to its hotline.

Napac chief executive Pete Saunders told Sky News: "As we speak it is well over 2,500 calls we have received and is rapidly heading towards 3,000.

"It has been relentless. Normally we deal with up to 300 inquiries weekly but since Savile it is up to 800 a week."

Children's charity the NSPCC said it has received 161 calls relating to Savile, which have been passed to police, and another 105 not related to the performer.

BBC Newsnight editor Peter Rippon has "stepped down" amid an inquiry

These came from adults who wanted to discuss being abused as children following media coverage of the case, and 24 of those allegations have also been referred to the police, the charity said.

Pressure continues to mount on BBC bosses, past and present, over the halting of an investigation into sexual abuse by Savile.

Sources at current affairs programme Newsnight told The Times that director of news Helen Boaden allegedly intervened last year, insisting staff gather evidence as if the late star were still alive and able to sue.

It said Ms Boaden's approach subsequently influenced the show's editor Peter Rippon to halt the investigation - he has since "stepped aside" while the corporation undertakes a review into Savile's predatory behaviour over several decades on BBC premises.

The spreading concerns of BBC managerial responsibility have also drawn in the previous BBC boss, Mark Thompson, about how much he knew.

Mr Thompson, who recently resigned as director general, said: "I did not impede or stop the Newsnight investigation, nor have I done anything else that could be construed as untoward or unreasonable."

On Tuesday, current director general George Entwistle was urged to "get a grip" on his organisation during a hostile grilling by MPs about the broadcaster's handling of the claims.

Mr Entwistle told the committee he had ordered an internal audit of the operation of the BBC's child protection policies and would report its results to the BBC Trust in December.

He said the corporation was now investigating up to 10 "serious allegations" involving past and present employees over the "Savile period".

Lord Patten has been urged to resign by a former parliamentary colleague

Scotland Yard said 60 of the 200 people who have come forward since ITV first aired a documentary on the former DJ's sexual abuse have made claims against people other than Savile.

It is understood that the Metropolitan Police have made preparations for the first arrests in its own investigation.

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Hillsborough Police Chief Bettison Quits

Sir Norman Bettison has resigned as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, after being accused of a cover-up over the Hillsborough disaster.

The 56-year-old had been due to retire next March, but had been called upon to step down with immediate effect by the region's police authority. He will receive no severance pay.

Amid fears his departure could see him avoid further investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed the probe into his action would continue.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police Authority, where Sir Norman was previously chief constable, said it would be considering what implications his decision would have for his £83,000 pension.

His resignation was welcomed by relatives of the 96 Liverpool fans who were crushed to death in the 1989 tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground.

The post on the Hillsborough Family Support Group's Twitter page simply said: "Yay! He's resigned!!"

A total of 96 fans were killed in the Hillsborough disaster

In a statement issued by West Yorkshire Police Authority, its vice chairman, Councillor Les Carter, said: "I can confirm that the Police Authority has accepted Sir Norman's resignation with immediate effect.

"The media attention and Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation is proving to be a huge distraction for the force, at a time when it is trying to maintain performance and make savings of £100m.

"We therefore believe that his decision is in the best interest of the communities of West Yorkshire."

The statement also included comments from Sir Norman, who expressed sympathy for those bereaved by the disaster.

"I have never blamed the fans for causing the tragedy," he said.

He also refuted reports of a conversation it was claimed he had in the months after the tragedy.

"The suggestion that I would say to a passing acquaintance that I was deployed as part of a team tasked to 'concoct a false story of what happened', is both incredible and wrong," he said.

A Liverpool fan pays his respect at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield

"That isn't what I was tasked to do, and I did not say that."

He added that he would assist inquiries into the disaster itself and the subsequent cover-up - and that he had sought to remain in post to address the allegations against him.

Sir Norman was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster. He attended the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest as a spectator, and was involved in the subsequent force investigation.

He has been under growing pressure since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report which revealed an orchestrated police cover-up.

Last month's damning report by the panel, which had access to 450,000 documents, found that 164 police statements were doctored - 116 of them to remove or alter "unfavourable" comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster.

A complaint was made to police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) that Sir Norman had supplied misleading information in the wake of the disaster. The IPCC is investigating his role.

Pressure was deemed to have increased on South Yorkshire Police after calls for the Hillsborough inquiry to be extended to the so-called 'Battle of Orgreave', which involved clashes between striking miners and police in 1984.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, who lost her 18-year-old son James in the disaster, welcomed Sir Norman's resignation and called for his pension to be frozen, pending the outcome of the probe.

"I'm absolutely delighted he's gone but as far as I am concerned he should have been sacked," she said.

Trevor Hicks, HFSG president, said: "We welcome the resignation, because Mr Bettison's position had become untenable and was growing more so with every day that passed. His was a position of trust and he had lost that trust a long time ago."

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Child Benefit: New Partners May Lose Out

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

New partners of divorced parents will lose part of their salary if they earn more than £50,000 under changes to child benefits, according to accountants.

The anomaly will affect people even if the children who live in their house are not actually theirs.

HM Revenue and Customs is set to write to taxpayers who could be affected by the reforms, which come into effect in January, next week.

The changes will see gradual cuts in the handouts to families where one partner earns more than £50,000. Anyone earning more than £60,000 will lose the payout entirely.

Labour says the Government has not thought the policy through

Instead of the Government paying parents less, people will be required to return the child benefit money by filling out a self-assessment tax return.

This will mean an estimated 500,000 people will have to fill out the form for the first time.

Patricia Mock, a tax director in Deloitte's private client services division, told the Telegraph: "If you have a standard family with 2.4 children and two married parents all living together then the system is reasonably straightforward.

"But it can get really bizarre. Take that straightforward family. If the parents get divorced and the children live with the mother who has a new partner, and that partner is the higher earner, then he gets (to pay) the clawback even though they are not his children.

"Part of me thinks we are just making up really complicated scenarios for amusement's sake but it will happen."

The same will happen where a father claims the benefit for children who live with their mother but has a new partner who earns above the threshold.

A Treasury spokesman confirmed to Sky News that cohabiting couples will be treated in the same way as married couples and those in civil partnerships.

She added: "The unprecedented scale of the deficit has meant that the Government has had to make tough choices to reduce public spending; but we have always been clear that those with the broadest shoulders should carry the greatest burden.

"In a period when the Government is having to reduce welfare spending, it is very difficult to justify continuing to pay for the child benefit of the wealthiest 15% of families in society."

Cathy Jamieson, Labour's shadow Treasury minister, said: "With just a few weeks until hundreds of thousands of parents lose every penny of their child benefit, it is becoming ever clearer that David Cameron and George Osborne simply haven't thought this policy through.

"The chaotic way it is being implemented looks set to be yet another example of this Government's incompetence."

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Sky Sources: Ford To Close Southampton Plant

Ford is planning to close its Southampton factory as part of its restructuring in Europe, according to Sky sources.

The announcement is expected on Thursday, when Ford's chief executive Alan Mulally is due to hold a business briefing call, and company management meet with union representatives in Essex. 

The company said this was speculation.

Ford's Swaythling factory, which has built its iconic Transit vans since 1972, employs around 500 people.

But the future of the site has been uncertain since workers began working single shifts in 2009.

It is a relatively small part of the company's UK operation, which employs 11,400 people at factories in Dagenham, Halewood, Bridgend and Southampton.

The news comes after the company confirmed it would close its "under-utilised" factory in Genk, Belgium, resulting in 4,300 job losses.

Workers gathered outside the Belgium plant following news of its closure

"Ford announced its plans to end production at a major production plant in Genk, Belgium, by the end of 2014," the company said in a statement, adding that the closure would entail a "reduction of approximately 4,300 positions".

Ford of Europe's chief executive Stephen Odell added: "The proposed restructuring of our European manufacturing operations is a fundamental part of our plan to strengthen Ford's business in Europe."

In another development for Europe's carmaking industry, the French government offered Peugeot Citroen a 7bn euro (£5.6bn) lifeline following another drop in sales.

The Paris-based company said it was also close to agreeing a 11.5bn euro (£9.3bn) refinancing deal with creditor banks, in addition to the state guarantees, for its lending arm Banque PSA Finance.

Following the announcement, Peugeot shares fell 6.5% - hitting their lowest levels since 1986.

Car sales in Europe have slumped as consumers in the region find their budgets hit by unemployment and government austerity.

Earlier this month, industry figures revealed that the market shrank at its fastest pace for 12 months in September. 

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