Horsemeat: Schools And Hospitals To Be Tested

Meals in schools and hospitals will be tested for horsemeat as part of a nationwide probe into processed beef products, the Environment Secretary has told Sky News.

Speaking ahead of an emergency summit with food producers, supermarkets and health officials, Owen Paterson, when asked if it was likely that school and hospital meals contained horsemeat, said: "We will be testing those as well, alongside products in retailers."

The Government has been unable to guarantee that state-provided food does not contain horsemeat.

The talks came as the retailer Aldi confirmed some of its ready meals contained 100% horsemeat, while Findus has admitted that it knew its products were affected more than a week ago.

Mr Paterson told Sky News that horsemeat in food labelled as beef-products was "completely, totally unacceptable".

He said he was "determined to get to the bottom" of the matter and to see if "it is gross incompetence or a serious criminal conspiracy".

The Environment Secretary added that "retailers are ultimately responsible for what they sell".

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) also attended the meeting on Saturday. It has ordered all British retailers and processors to test all their processed beef products to make sure they are what they say they are within a week.

Mr Paterson said they would examine how the existing system works and how horsemeat got into the food network at the summit.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is holding emergency talks

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh told Sky News Labour hoped the meeting would produce "some clarity from Government about what consumers should be doing and whether the Government's testing regime was going to work".

She added that, according to the food industry, the testing regime put in place by ministers was "completely unworkable".

With only six laboratories in the UK that can do the necessary DNA tests, testing hundreds of product lines in every supermarket would not be possible, she warned.

Meanwhile, the Aldi supermarket chain has confirmed that two of its ready meal ranges produced by Comigel, the French supplier also used by Findus, were found to contain between 30% and 100% horse meat.

The dishes affected are Today's Special frozen beef lasagne and Today's Special frozen spaghetti Bolognese.

The company said it felt "angry and let down" by Comigel and that anyone who had bought the affected products was entitled to a full refund.

Police have joined in the investigation into the horsemeat scandal. Officers from Scotland Yard have met with the FSA to discuss its probe.

Comigel, the company at the centre of the latest scare, whose headquarters are based in Luxembourg, has told the AFP news agency that the horsemeat originated in a Romanian abattoir.

The meat was supplied to Comigel by a meat-processing company called Spanghero, based in southwestern France.

The scandal has spread across continental Europe, with Findus withdrawing various frozen meals from both France and Sweden.

Swedish firm Findus has also pledged to sue an unidentified party over the matter, saying it was "deceived". 

Testing of Findus beef lasagne showed some contained 100% horsemeat

Speaking from Luxembourg, Sky News Home Affairs Correspondent Mark White said authorities now faced a "complex and very difficult investigative process" to trace the contaminated meat.

He said authorities had acknowledged that the meat may have come from more than one source.

"The French and the Luxembourg authorities say they have traced the contaminated meat to a supplier in France, but it's not as simple as that.

"They say there are multiple other suppliers into this French company and tracing them back to the source is proving much more problematic."

Politicians and food safety experts have played down the risk to human health, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying it was not about food safety, but about accurate food labelling.

He said the industry would have to work hard to restore consumer confidence.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Tom Watson has published a letter on his website which he claims was sent by Findus to retailers on Monday, warning that a France-based supplier had told it there may be problems with raw materials delivered since August 1 last year.

In it, the firm claimed raw materials delivered to a French contractor since August 1 were "likely to be non-conform and consequently the labelling on finished products is incorrect".

The letter added: "The supplier has asked us to withdraw the raw material batches."

Responding to the claims, Findus said they did not know about problems back in August and that they first suspected an issue on January 22, when they ordered the initial tests.

The product recall was ordered on February 2 after further tests had been conducted.

In a statement the company said they were only made aware of a possible August 2012 date through a letter dated February 2 this year, by which time it was "already conducting a full supply chain traceability review and had pro-actively initiated DNA testing".

Findus said it had not been invited to the Government summit but they were aware that the Food and Drink Federation, of which they are a member, was attending.

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Belgium Plane Crash Kills Five

A small passenger plane has crashed at Belgium's Charleroi airport, killing five people and closing the international hub used by low-cost carriers.

The aircraft, a Cessna, had problems on takeoff and tried to return to Charleroi to make an emergency landing but crashed on the side of the runway, airport officials said.

"There was a problem on takeoff and they tried to come back, but unfortunately the plane crashed," said Melissa Milioto, an airport spokeswoman.

After having problems the plane crashed next to the runway, trying to land

Two adults and three children, reportedly all from the same family, were killed.

According to the news website sudinfo.be, the victims were a 68-year-old grandfather, a 39-year-old mother, and three children aged 7, 6 and 3. They are thought to be from Brussels.

There were no immediate indications of what caused the crash, which happened at 10am local time (9am GMT).

Firefighters sprayed water on the plane that was reduced to a wreck of twisted metal, with only the tail still visible.

Police said the airport, which is a hub for Ryanair and other low-cost carriers, would be closed until mid-afternoon. Several flights were cancelled and others delayed or diverted.

Queues of passengers built up after the airport was closed

"Our priority is dealing with this drama. Flights are being diverted to Liege and Brussels," Ms Milioto said.

The crash came at the start of the Belgium school half-term holidays.

Charleroi airport, also known as Brussels South Charleroi, serves as the country's second international airport after Brussels' main Zaventem airport and expects to handle 140,000 passengers over the half-term holiday period.

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Sex Assault Suicide: Police Defend Handling

Greater Manchester Police has defended its care of Frances Andrade, who killed herself after giving evidence against her abusers.

The violin teacher's testimony was central to the case against choirmaster Michael Brewer and his ex-wife Kay, who were found guilty of sexually assaulting their victim more than 30 years ago.

In a statement released after the verdicts, Mrs Andrade's son Oliver said his mother had praised an officer assigned to look after her, but that police had "heavily advised" her not to receive therapy until the end of the case.

He said: "She was forced to cope on her own with only the support of her family and very close friends.

"This meant that even after several attempts at her own life she did not get the help she needed. The state of mental healthcare in this country needs reform."

Greater Manchester Police say it is the force's policy to encourage victims to seek support.

Victim Frances Andrade has been described as "an amazing person"

GMP's head of public protection Detective Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle said: "I would firstly like to extend my sympathies to the family of Frances Andrade.

"Our thoughts remain with them at this desperately difficult time and it is tragic she is not able to see she has been vindicated for the bravery she consistently showed throughout the investigation.

"I want to make it clear that it is Greater Manchester Police's policy and practice to encourage victims to seek whatever support they need.

"The advice to Frances not to seek support may have been given by another party but it was not the advice of Greater Manchester Police. Victims who have suffered sexual abuse have every right to seek whatever help they need.

"As Frances' son Oliver said in his very moving statement, the GMP officer who was assigned the case did everything he could to help Frances."

The body of Mrs Andrade, 48, was found less than a week after she gave evidence in the trial at Manchester Crown Court.

 The Crown Prosecution Service decided to continue with the trial and Judge Martin Rutland ruled that news of Mrs Andrade's death should be kept from jurors until after they reached their verdicts.

After sending the jury out, the judge said: "Tragically a lady has lost her life during the course of these proceedings. She took her own life. She left no note. We do not know the circumstances in which she took her own life."

Mrs Andrade was visibly agitated on occasions as she gave her evidence over two days on January 16 and 17.

She chose to take to the witness box in full view of everyone in the courtroom, including the two defendants in the dock.

The jury heard that the police investigation was sparked by National Youth Choir teacher Jenavora Williams after Mrs Andrade, her friend, told her about her time at Chetham's.

Mrs Andrade told the court she wanted it to be dealt with internally but she said Mrs Williams went to the police in 2011 without telling her.

She then agreed to co-operate with the police and help the prosecution.

The mother-of-four, from Guildford, Surrey, who was married to acclaimed viola player Levine Andrade, was supported from the public gallery by one of her sons.

At one point she complained about Brewer smiling as she gave her evidence, but she chose to press on without drawing a curtain to block off the dock.

Judge Martin Rudland remarked that she was "clearly undergoing a cathartic experience, whatever the source" while giving evidence.

He said she was "combative" during cross-examination by Kate Blackwell QC, representing Brewer, and she had taken personal issue with some of the barrister's questions but the judge indicated that Ms Blackwell had acted professionally.

During the cross-examination, Mrs Andrade told the barrister: "You are hugely insulting, even though it's your job."

The judge  told the defendants a jail sentence for both of them was "inevitable" as he remanded the pair in custody.

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US Blizzard Dump Cuts Power To 650,000

A massive storm packing hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions has dumped more than two feet of snow on the northeast of the United States and knocked out power to 650,000 customers.

A state of emergency has been declared in five states and thousands of air flights have also been affected as a result of the monster storm.

The storm has been blamed for at least four deaths in New York and Canada.

More than 28 inches of snow had fallen in parts of central Connecticut by early Saturday, and areas of southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire notched over two feet or more.

Massachusetts has also prohibited vehicles from using any road in the state.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says up to three feet is expected in Boston, threatening the city's 2003 record of 27.6 inches.

Throughout the Northeast, hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lost electricity.

Airlines cancelled more than 5,300 flights through Saturday, and New York City's three major airports and Boston's Logan Airport closed.

Numerous cars that had been abandoned on the Long Island Expressway on Friday night remained stuck on Saturday morning, trapped by ploughed snow.

A nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, automatically shot down due to the snow but regulators say there is no threat to public safety.

The most intense part of the storm moved into Connecticut on Saturday morning as conditions eased around New York City.

According to forecasters, the storm is expected to hit New England throughout Saturday afternoon, with 75mph winds and a risk of up to 36 inches of snow.

The NWS also warned about the risk of flooding along the Atlantic Coast possibly affecting up to eight million residents.

NY mayor Michael Bloomberg earlier advised against panic buying of food and fuel, like what occurred during Hurricane Sandy.

Central Park in New York City reportedly received up to 8in of snow during the dumping.

Flights to and from Britain and other international destinations have been badly affected and airport staff advised passengers to check status with their airlines.

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Aamir Siddiqi Hitmen Jailed For 40 Years

Two hitmen who stabbed an innocent schoolboy to death by mistake have been jailed for a minimum of 40 years.

Ben Hope, 39, and Jason Richards, 38, both from Cardiff, were each paid £1,000 in "blood money" to murder a middle-aged family man who owed money to a shady businessman.

But the "hit" went wrong when the balaclava-clad killers, who were high on drugs, went to the wrong address in Roath, Cardiff, in April 2010 and murdered teenager Aamir Siddiqi by mistake.

The 17-year-old's frantic parents, Iqbal and Parveen, fought to save their son but were also knifed by the killers, who let out chilling howls.

Both men had protested their innocence throughout the four-and-a-half month trial at Swansea Crown Court and attempted to blame each other.

Aamir Saddiqi had won a place at Cardiff University

But a jury unanimously found them guilty of Aamir's murder and the attempted murder of his parents.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Royce said he had no choice but to "significantly increase" the minimum term of 30 years the prosecution had asked for.

"Aamir Siddiqi was the youngest child and only son of Sheikh Iqbal and Parveen Ahmed," he said.

"He was a bright, gentle and courteous boy who was much loved by his family. He had secured a place to study law at Cardiff and his future was brimming with promise.

"He was awaiting the arrival of his Koran teacher when he rushed past his parents to open the door.

Aamir's parents, Sheikh Iqbal and Parveen Ahmed

"You two came in, wearing balaclavas and making a terrible wailing sound. Your attack on him was brutal, savage, callous and cruel.

"You hacked him to death in front of his parents, who fought in vain to save Aamir.

"It was simply good fortune that they were not killed. It was your intention that they should die too. The aggravating features of this case mean the starting point should significantly increase.

"The starting point is 40 years. If you die in jail, few will shed a tear and many will say it will be more than deserved."

During their trial, the court heard Hope and Richards had been paid by a businessman, angry over a collapsed property deal, to kill a father-of-four who lived in a neighbouring street.

The teenager was set upon on the doorstep of his home

But they went instead to a similar looking red brick, end-of-row house just around the corner in Ninian Road in the leafy suburb of Roath.

Aamir had run down the stairs to answer the door expecting to see his imam, who was due to give him a Koran lesson. Instead, he opened the front door to two masked killers high on heroin.

Hope and Richards wielded daggers over their heads and howled as they set upon the helpless A-level student.

The teenager desperately tried to run back into the house but they chased him and repeatedly lashed out.

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Horsemeat Scandal: 'Criminal Activity' Blamed

Who's In Charge Of Keeping Food Safe?

Updated: 1:38pm UK, Friday 08 February 2013

There are a number of different agencies responsible for food labelling and safety in the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for food standards legislation in England that is principally non-safety, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitors standards that are safety based.

Food Standards Agency:

The FSA, a non-ministerial government department, is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food.

This includes food safety and hygiene, labelling for safety and allergies and food law enforcement.

It aims to:

1) make sure foods produced or sold in the UK are safe to eat

2) ensure imported food is safe to eat

3) make sure food producers and caterers give priority to consumer interests in relation to food

4) give consumers the information and understanding they need to make informed choices about where and what they eat

5) make sure regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks

6) ensure enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate and is focused on improving public health.

In the wake of the horsemeat scandal the FSA announced it is demanding a more comprehensive testing programme from food businesses.

Chief executive Catherine Brown said: 'Following our investigations into Findus products, the FSA is now requiring a more robust response from the food industry in order to demonstrate that the food it sells and serves is what it says it is on the label.

"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat."

There are separate FSAs for Scotland, Wales and the Irish Republic.

Defra:

In July 2010 food labelling was transferred from the FSA to Defra.

Food standards legislation sets out specific requirements for the labelling, composition and, in some cases, safety parameters for specific high value foodstuffs which are potentially at risk of being misleadingly substituted with lower quality alternatives.

The legislation makes sure consumers are not misled as to the nature of food products when it is sold to them.

It also makes the playing field level for food producers, so they have established standards they can work to when producing well known or traditional foodstuffs.

Most legislation on food standards is developed in Europe, with full involvement from UK Government officials.

Secondary legislation is then used to either implement the requirements or put in place enforcement powers, depending on the nature of the European legislation

Meat:

For a range of meat products there is legislation setting out specific compositional and labelling requirements.

The rules set out minimum meat content requirements for certain meat products sold using reserved descriptions such as sausages, burgers, corned beef, meat pies, pasties, etc.

In addition, there are very specific labelling rules for certain meat products that look like a cut, joint, slice, portion or carcass of meat.

Where any added water over certain limits as well as any added ingredients of different animal species to the rest of the meat must be mentioned in the name of the food.

Department of Health:

The DoH takes the lead on nutrition labelling police in England.

In October 2012 it announced proposals for front-of-pack nutrition labelling that displays how much fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories foods contain.

This is colour-coded and shows a guideline daily amount.

The advertising of food is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

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Choirmaster Michael Brewer Guilty Of Sex Abuse

Top choirmaster Michael Brewer and his ex-wife have been found guilty of indecently assaulting a former music student more than 30 years ago.

The former national youth choir music director, aged 68, was convicted of sexually abusing the victim in his office at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester when she was aged 14 and 15.

His ex-wife, Kay Brewer, 68, was also convicted of indecently assaulting her when she was an adult at their former family home.

The jury at Manchester Crown Court is still deliberating on charges that Brewer raped the same victim when she was aged 18 and that Mrs Brewer aided and abetted the attack.

Brewer was cleared of one charge of indecently assaulting the victim as a child in his home.

One of the defendants' four daughters audibly gasped in the public gallery when the jury returned its verdict on Kay Brewer.

The sole complainant in the case said she was abused by Brewer as she visited his office. The jury was told she did not consider it sexual abuse at the time and did not make an official complaint.

In a separate incident, Brewer quit Chetham's in 1994 after an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

The court heard she regularly visited his office and recalled he would persuade her to take off her top and bra and he would fondle her.

Giving evidence, Brewer admitted the 1994 affair. The full extent of the relationship was covered up as he resigned.

Brewer went on to become the artistic director of the National Youth Choirs of Britain and has directed the World Youth Choir.

More follows...

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Dale Cregan 'Fired 32 Bullets In 31 Seconds'

A jury has been told of the moment that Dale Cregan began firing at two unarmed police officers after he had lured them to a house he was hiding in.

In just over 31 seconds the jury was told that he had fatally wounded PC Fiona Bone, 32 and PC Nicola Hughes, 23, firing all the bullets he had at the young officers.

The court was told how he later handed himself in to police at Hyde Police station telling them: "I'm wanted by the police and I've just done two coppers."

He allegedly added: "Sorry about those two that have been killed, I wish it was men."

He went on: "I've dropped the gun at the scene and I've murdered two police officers. You were hounding my family so I took it out on yous (sic)."

The jury was shown video of the moment Cregan was arrested at the front desk of the police station.

Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes were shot dead

He is seen speaking on his mobile phone, cradling it, after a police officer jumps over the front desk and handcuffs him.

Relatives of the two murdered police officers wept as they watched footage of the pair leaving the police station for the last time.

Chilling details of the double shooting were revealed for the first time in court this morning.

The court was told how On September 18 last year, Cregan was in hiding in a house in Abbey Gardens, Hattersely, Manchester.

He made a 999 call to police claiming there was a burglary and when told an officer was on the way, Cregan replied: "I'll be waiting," said the prosecution.

Nicholas Clarke QC told the jury: "He had carefully put in place a plan that he knew would ensure that an unsuspecting police officer or officers would be sent to the door, to attend to a household who had been the victim of damage to his house.

"Cregan knew that the officers who attended would have no idea what would be waiting for them."

PC Hughes and PC Bone were assigned the call and made their way from Hyde Police station to the address.

"On arrival, the two officers stepped out of their van and walked forward the short distance to number 30.

"Cregan's carefully laid plan had been successful," said Mr Clarke.

"He had lured two unarmed officers to his door and he was armed, ready and waiting for them.

"As Nicola and Fiona walked through the small front garden, he opened the front door and immediately fired his Glock."

The jury heard how both officers were shot in the chest. The body armour they were wearing protected them and the bullets did not penetrate, the prosecution said.

The officers, the court heard, made a "tactical retreat".

"PC Fiona Bone moved to the right, getting out of the line of sight and PC Nicola Hughes turned to run up the path. As they retreated more shots were fired.

"PC Hughes was shot just below her armoured vest in the middle of her back and was immediately paralysed causing her to fall forwards onto the path.

"As she was falling or lying flat on her stomach she was shot three more times.

"Cregan then turned his attention to PC Fiona Bone. She was trapped in front of the lounge window and he discharged 24 shots at her. Some struck the officer others the house," the court heard.

She managed to draw and fire her Taser but it was discharged into a hard surface, probably the paving, the jury was told.

The court was told that only a matter of 31 seconds had passed between PC Hughes switching off the engine of their vehicle and PC Bone firing the Taser.

Mr Clarke said: "Most of the bullets struck her body armour or the wall at the front of the house but she was the central target."

PC Bone was shot between five and eight times receiving a total of eight gunshot-related injuries, the prosecution said.

"As she turned and fell one bullet managed to get through under her arm. She was killed by a perforating shot to the upper left side of her chest which caused fatal injuries to the top of her heart.

"Cregan wasn't finished. He turned his attention to PC Hughes and fired three more shots into the back and side of her head. She was shot eight times causing a total of seven gunshot-related injuries," the jury heard.

The court was told that Cregan fired a total of 32 bullets at the two unarmed police officers.

Mr Clarke added: "Before he fled Abbey Gardens he made sure he left his usual calling card.

"He launched a fragmentation grenade back towards the garden of number 30 where the two police officers were lying on the floor."

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Mother Killed In Hinckley Shooting Named

A mother-of-two killed in a shooting in Leicestershire has been named by police.

Hayley Pointon, 30, died from a single gunshot wound at an address in Hinckley on Sunday night.

Police leading the investigation have appealed for witnesses who may have seen two hooded men nearby at the time of the shooting.

Detective Superintendent Tom Davies said: "Hayley's death has left two young children without a mother and it is vital that those involved are dealt with.

"We are still keen to speak to anyone who saw two men in the area at the time.

"The men both had their hoods up and were said to have left the scene in a dark car that was parked in the street.

"If you were in the area or you have any information about the incident or the events leading up to it, please come forward."

Three men have so far been arrested in connection with the shooting, including a 26-year-old man who has been released without charge.

The other two, who are aged 29 and 36, have been released on bail pending further investigation. Ms Pointon was from the Coventry area.

:: Anyone with information is urged to call Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Stuart Hall Vows To Fight 'Callous' Sex Charges

Veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has vowed to fight sex offence charges and "regain my reputation".

He said he had been through a "living nightmare" and questioned why the allegations had taken so long to surface.

The 83-year-old was speaking after a brief appearance at Preston Magistrates Court.

He told reporters: "The allegations are pernicious and callous and cruel and, above all, spurious. I'm not guilty and I will be defending (myself against) the accusations.

"Like a lot if other people in this country today, I'm wondering why it's taken 30 and 40 years for the allegations to surface.

"The last two months of my life have been a living nightmare. I've never gone through so much stress in my life and I'm finding it difficult to sustain.

"Fortunately I have a very loving family and they're very supportive and I think but for their love I might have been constrained to take my own life.

"But they've encouraged me to fight on and fight the charges, regain my reputation and good name, whatever I've represented to this country down the years.

"I was a healthy 83-year-old but I'm now incubating a heart complaint and I'll be very lucky to survive another couple of years.

"But I hope to survive those two years and regain my honour and reputation and more than ever, my life."

Hall faces one charge of raping a 22-year-old woman in 1976 and a further 14 charges of indecently assaulting 10 girls aged aged nine to 16 between 1967 and 1986.

Hall, of Prestbury Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, appeared at the same court last month to face separate charges of historic sex offences.

He pleaded not guilty on January 7 to three indecent assault charges dating between 1974 and 1984.

At today's hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 1.

Hall has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and was last year awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.

His eccentric and erudite football match summaries have made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

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