Selasa, 30 Mei 2023

Vaping: Government plans underage crackdown - BBC

A young woman seen smoking a vapeGetty Images

A loophole allowing retailers to give free vape samples to children is set to be closed under government plans to curb their use among young people.

A new crackdown on vape marketing would prevent the "unacceptable" targeting of children and teens, Rishi Sunak said.

There will also be a review into the rules around the sale of "nicotine-free" products to under-18s.

Labour called the announcement a "baby step" and said urgent action is needed.

A recent BBC investigation found that illegal vapes confiscated from school pupils contained far higher levels of lead, nickel and chromium than deemed safe. The Prime Minister said he was shocked by this finding.

There is now a fast-moving debate on how to tackle vaping by children.

The government plans include a review of rules on fines for shops selling illicit vapes.

By tightening the law, it said it would be easier for local trading standards officials to issue on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices to shops who sell vapes to underage people.

While selling vapes to under 18s is illegal, nicotine-free products can be sold.

The plans have been welcomed by the UK Vaping Industry Association, which said it had been calling for a clampdown for over a year.

Its director general John Dunne said: "Unless unscrupulous traders know that selling vapes to children is an endeavour which would be financially ruinous to them, then they will continue to do so."

There has been a rise in experimental vaping among 11- to 17-year-olds - from 7.7% in 2021 to 11.6% in 2022, according to a YouGov survey in March and April for Action on Smoking and Health.

Brightly-coloured disposable vapes, which are available in a variety of flavours, are the most popular product among teens and most are bought from corner shops.

Teachers and parents have expressed concerns about the increased availability of the products and the fact that some pupils say they have become addicted to nicotine through vaping.

Under the law, only the sale of nicotine products to people under 18 is banned.

While tobacco products cannot be given out to under-18s for free, this is not currently the case with nicotine products like vapes.

The government said that while most businesses are not carrying out this practice, some rogue traders are taking advantage of the loophole.

In the last year, around 20,000 children in the UK were given a free vape, according to data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

Teenagers hold some of the vapes confiscated at a secondary school

Last week, the PM spoke about his concern about the rise in vape use among younger people, telling ITV's This Morning he did not want his daughters "seduced by these things".

He said it was "ridiculous" that vapes are promoted to children, and pledged to look at ways of strengthening marketing rules.

Announcing the new set of measures aimed at limiting underage vaping, he said he was "deeply concerned" about an increase in children vaping and was "shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren".

"The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good," he said.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty called the decision to close the loophole a "very welcome step".

He said vaping was a good alternative for adult smokers, but raised concerns about companies "clearly marketing these products at children".

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, said vaping was far less harmful than smoking for children but the longer terms risks were not full understood.

She told BBC Breakfast: "We do know there are toxins and carcinogens in vape products, albeit at lower or trace levels, and if those are exposed to young developing lungs, particularly chronically over a long period, there may well be real risk associated with that."

The latest announcement comes just weeks after ministers unveiled a new enforcement drive and called for evidence on what further steps to take. Mr Sunak's intervention suggests he feels the need to go further.

Pupils will also be taught about the health risks of vaping in Relationships, Sex and Health Education lessons, as part of the ongoing government review of the curriculum.

And a resource pack for schools on vaping is being developed, which will be rolled out online in July.

Intended for children aged 11-13, the educational resource will inform young people about the addictiveness of nicotine and the evidence that their developing brains may be more sensitive to its effects.

The move follows the government establishing a vape enforcement squad last month to increased education around the dangers of vaping in schools, as well as school police liaison officers to remove e-cigarettes.

Health Minister Neil O'Brien called any marketing of vaping products to children "shameful", and said the government would further review the rules to prevent them becoming a "gateway" to cigarettes.

Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the government had not backed the party's plan to tackle the problem, and pledged the "next Labour government will come down like a tonne of bricks on those pushing vapes to kids".

The Chartered Trading Institute, which oversees trading standards in the UK, said it welcomes the government's announcement, and that the measures "were necessary".

Campaigners are already arguing that it needs a bolder approach with taxation to make vapes less affordable, while continuing to promote them as an option for adult smokers wanting to quit the habit.

Deborah Arnott, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) chief executive, welcomed the government's actions but said the prime minister's proposals were just "baby steps", and called for a minimum price of £5 to be imposed in order to price out young buyers.

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2023-05-30 07:10:36Z
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Malaysia detains Chinese ship suspected of looting British WW2 wrecks - BBC

The China-registered bulk carrier detained for anchoring illegally in Malaysia's watersMalaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

Malaysia has detained a Chinese-registered vessel suspected of looting two British World War Two shipwrecks.

The bulk carrier was seized on Sunday for anchoring illegally at the site in the South China Sea.

Ammunition believed to be from the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, which were sunk by Japanese forces more than 80 years ago, was then found on board.

The UK Ministry of Defence had earlier condemned the alleged raid as a "desecration" of maritime war graves.

Old shipwrecks are targeted by scavengers for their rare low-background steel, also known as "pre-war steel". The low radiation in the steel makes it a rare and valuable resource for use in medical and scientific equipment.

The British vessels, on the bed of the ocean some 100km (60 miles) off the east coast of Malaysia, had been targeted for decades.

The Royal Navy battleships were dispatched to Singapore during the war to shore up the defence of Malaya. They were sunk by Japanese torpedoes on 10 December 1941.

The strike - which occurred just three days after the attack on the US fleet in Pearl Harbour - killed some 842 sailors and is considered one of the worst disasters in British naval history.

The HMS Repulse
BBC News

Fishermen and divers first reported the presence of the foreign vessel to Malaysia authorities last month.

Local maritime police detained the Chinese ship on Sunday. The ship, registered in Fuzhou, had 32 crew on board, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement.

Cannon shells "suspected to be from World War Two" were uncovered during a search of the vessel. Malaysian agencies are also investigating the provenance of the ammunition.

The MMEA added that it is linked to a cache of unexploded artillery, said to be from the two sunken vessels, that police seized from a private scrap yard in the southern state of Johor earlier this month.

In 2017, during a tour of Malaysia, a local diver showed the then Prince Charles images that documented damage to the HMS Prince of Wales inflicted by scavengers.

The Defence Secretary at the time responded by saying the UK would work with Malaysian and Indonesian governments to investigate claims that up to six British warships had been plundered in their waters.

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2023-05-30 06:04:53Z
CBMiLGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hc2lhLTY1NzUwOTA40gEwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvbS9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWFzaWEtNjU3NTA5MDguYW1w

Senin, 29 Mei 2023

Brit dies after being struck by lightning on holiday as girlfriend filmed from beach - The Mirror

A young British tourist has died after he was struck by lightning while paddleboarding on a beach in Greece.

The tragedy happened this afternoon when the man was in the Agia Agathi area of Rhodes while his girlfriend was filming him from the beach.

Emergency services dashed to the scene and the man was taken to the shore, where rescuers frantically tried to save his life.

One witness, who tried to save the Brit, told a local paper: “As soon as I got close to him, I saw that he was face down in the water and his face was bruised.

"I immediately knew that every second was crucial and started pulling him to the shore."

The Agia Agathi area of Rhodes is popular with tourists ( Getty Images)

Rodiaki reports other tourists had urged the man to get out of the water but he got into difficulty at around 1.30pm local time (11.30am BST).

The witness added: "I was worried that the same thing would happen to me as it was still raining but I didn't stop.

"The rescuers arrived shortly afterwards and performed all the resuscitation procedures to keep him alive. Unfortunately, I found out a little later that he didn't make it."

The man was taken to the Archangelos Health Center, where medics desperately tried to resuscitate him.

An investigation by the Central Port Authority of Rhodes has been launched.

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2023-05-29 15:27:33Z
CBMiTmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1pcnJvci5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLW5ld3MvYnJpdC1kaWVzLWFmdGVyLWJlaW5nLXN0cnVjay0zMDEwNTIzMdIBAA

Named: Seven remanded in custody charged over DCI John Caldwell murder bid - Belfast Telegraph

Mr Caldwell was shot several times in front of his young son at a sports complex in Omagh on February 22 after he led a football training session for children.

The seven appeared via videolink at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.

They were Jonathan McGinty, 28, of St Julians Downs, Omagh; Brian Carron, 38, of Claremount Drive, Coalisland; Gavin Coyle, 45, of Killybrack Mews, Omagh; Matthew McLean, 33, Glenpark Road, Omagh; Robert McLean, 29, Deverney Park, Omagh; James Ivor McLean, 72, of Deverney Park, Omagh; and Alan McFarland, 47, of Deverney Park, Omagh.

Brian Carron

Carron and Coyle stand further accused of belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA.

Gavin Coyle

McGinty, McFarland and Matthew McLean are also charged with preparation of terrorist acts.

DCI Neil McGuinness said he could connect all seven to the charges.

He told the court it was a well-planned, resourced and wide-ranging operation.

The court heard Mr Caldwell was involved in a number of criminal investigations linked to the suspects and Mr McGuinness described that as a “golden thread” amongst the defendants.

Mr McGuinness, the investigating officer, said Mr Caldwell had been "very gravely injured".

Mr Caldwell, he said, was aware of a "number of threats against him" over the years.

He believes the lengths they went to shows there is an "ongoing threat" against Mr Caldwell now that he has been released from hospital and recovering at home.

Three of the seven accused made bail applications on Monday - Coyle, James Ivor McLean and McGinty.

District judge Steven Keown refused bail for all three on the grounds of risk of further offending and potential interference with the police investigation.

The judge said it was “clearly a meticulously planned attack” and those responsible have indicated they are prepared to engage in similar actions when they get the opportunity.

All seven were remanded in custody to appear before Omagh Magistrates Court, via videolink, on June 27.

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2023-05-29 10:15:00Z
2042742215

Two motorcyclists dead in crash on Mendips - Somerset Live

Two motorcyclists have died in a crash on The Mendips. Police were called to reports of an accident involving two motorbikes on the B3155 Plummers Lane in Priddy, near Wells, at around 11.50am yesterday (May 28)

Unfortunately, the two riders both died at the scene, and a pillion passenger was air lifted to hospital where they remain in critical condition. The next of kin have been informed.

Police are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them. An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision involving two motorcycles on the B3135 Plummers Lane, Priddy, near Wells, at around 11.50am.

Read more: Driver dies in A37 crash overnight after car found by passing ambulance

“The next of kin have been notified and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. They are being supported by a specially-trained family liaison officer.

“If you were in the Priddy area and witnessed the collision, or have dashcam footage of the motorcycles at or prior to the collision, please call police.

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5223124562."

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2023-05-29 08:15:40Z
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Metropolitan Police: Move to attend fewer mental health calls sparks alarm - BBC

A Metropolitan Police officerEPA

The Met Police's plan to stop attending emergency mental health incidents is "potentially alarming", a former inspector of constabulary has said.

From September, officers will only attend mental health 999 calls where there is an "immediate threat to life".

Zoe Billingham, who was previously Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, said the proposals could create a "vacuum".

Mental health charity Mind has also expressed concerns over the plan.

The Met argues the move will free up officers after a significant rise in the number of mental health incidents being dealt with by the force in the past five years.

Some police chiefs believe this is down to the service increasingly being seen as the first resort for people in a crisis, as well as a lack of capacity in the NHS and social services to deal with growing mental health demands.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley wrote to health and social care services in Greater London to inform them of the plan last week, the Guardian first reported.

In the letter, which has been seen by the BBC, Sir Mark said it takes almost 23 hours on average from the point at which someone is detained under the Mental Health Act until they are handed into medical care.

He writes that his officers are spending more than 10,000 hours a month on "what is principally a health matter", adding that police and other social services are "collectively failing patients" by not ensuring they receive appropriate help, as well as failing Londoners more generally because of the effect on police resources.

But Ms Billingham, who is now chair of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS mental health trust after 12 years as Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, warned mental health services are "creaking" and "in some places are so subdued with demand they are not able to meet the requirements of people who need it most".

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she warned there is "simply no other agency to call" other than the police for people in crisis, adding: "There isn't another agency to step in and fill the vacuum."

She expressed doubts about the timeframe set by the Met for the change, adding that she would be "very surprised" if mental health trusts across London are able to get extra round-the-clock mental health facilities up and running by 31 August.

Sir Mark Rowley
PA Media

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation - which represent officers up to the rank of chief inspector - broadly welcomed the announcement.

But he said officers will still attend "most" calls because they will be concerned about the consequences of not responding.

"At the end of the day, who makes the decision that you can't go to something and if God forbid this ended up in a coroner's court, what does my officer then say?"

Ms Billingham agreed a total withdrawal is unlikely in practice, but warned it would be "really, really dangerous" if the Met took that approach.

She authored a 2018 study which looked at the increasing demands mental health crises were putting on police, including:

  • Officers being called to detain people under the Mental Health Act - half of which result in them having to transport patients to a medical facility
  • Long waits in A&E with someone having a mental health crisis when specialist NHS help can't be obtained immediately
  • Supporting victims of crime with mental health problems - who are estimated by Mind to be three times more likely to become a victim - and carrying out welfare checks
  • Attending mental health crises, including where someone is threatening to take their own life, in order to close roads, speak to them, or protect the public
  • Looking for missing people, including those in extreme distress or with dementia

In March, Sir Mark Rowley told BBC Newsnight that the staff hours involved in policing mental health is equivalent to dealing with 500,000 victims of domestic abuse.

He pointed to one case where Met officers spent 30 hours supervising one individual having a crisis because they were unable to find a space in a mental health unit.

"This isn't what [police officers] are trained to do, they're the wrong people to be doing it, we're letting vulnerable people down," he added.

Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, has warned there is not enough capacity in other public services to replace the work police officers currently do.

She told Today she was "not persuaded we've got enough in the system to tolerate a shift to this new approach" and said the Met and NHS "urgently need to sit down together and work out a plan in response to these major concerns".

The charity has also warned that mental health services have been "chronically underfunded for decades", and called for any changes to be made "carefully and collectively so that no-one is left without support".

The College of Policing defines a mental health incident as "any police incident thought to relate to someone's mental health where their vulnerability is at the centre of the incident".

Police officers are estimated to spend 20-40% of their time dealing with such incidents.

The Met's new plan has already been adopted by Humberside Police, who introduced the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) scheme in 2020 to ensure mental health calls are dealt with by mental health professionals.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the RCRP programme was "hugely successful in improving outcomes, reducing demand on all services, and most importantly ensuring that the right care is being delivered by the right person."

"Police are compassionate and highly skilled but they are not trained to deliver mental health care and spend an average of 10 hours with a patient when they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

"In London alone between 500-600 times a month, officers are waiting for this length of time to hand over patients, and it cannot continue," they added.

The government announced a £150m capital investment in January to improve the places and spaces across the NHS for people experiencing - or at risk of experiencing - a mental health crisis.

It said the funding will allow for the procurement of up to 90 new mental health ambulances, which will take specialist staff directly to patients to deliver support on scene or transfer them to the most appropriate place for care.

If you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via the BBC Action Line.

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2023-05-29 11:51:36Z
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Minggu, 28 Mei 2023

Girl, 5, dies in house fire near Crymych, Pembrokeshire - Sky News

A five-year-old girl has died after a house fire in Pembrokeshire.

Alysia Salisbury - who was described by her family as "a beautiful daughter and sister" - died at the scene of the blaze, Dyfed-Powys Police said.

Emergency crews were called to the fire in the Pontyglasier area, near Crymych, shortly before 10pm on Saturday.

Detective Chief Inspector Llyr Williams said: "Our thoughts are with the family and the local community at this tragic time.

"HM Coroner has been informed and officers will now work with colleagues from the fire service to establish the cause of the fire.

"The family request privacy at this difficult time."

Read more from Sky News:
Two men in 20s die after being pulled from sea
ITV responds to This Morning axe rumours

Alysia's family is being supported by specialist officers, police said.

The operation on Saturday evening involved fire crews from a wide area of West Wales, including Crymych, Cardigan, Newcastle Emlyn, Whitland and Fishguard.

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2023-05-28 12:11:15Z
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