UK

More than half of child sexual abuse offences recorded in 2022 were committed by other children, new figures reveal. Police say the rise of child-on-child abuse is fuelled by access to violent pornography and smart phones. Data from 42 police forces in England and Wales shows that a total of 106,984 child sexual abuse offences

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells will hand back her CBE with immediate effect amid the fallout of the Horizon IT scandal. The scandal led to the convictions of hundreds of sub-postmasters. Ms Vennells said in a statement: “I continue to support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry and expect to be giving evidence

Hundreds of domestic abuse survivors will receive cash payments of £2,500 each to help them flee their tormentors, under a new initiative. The £2m scheme, which launches this month, is described as a “lifeline” for women who can’t flee – or are forced to return to – abusive relationships because they cannot afford essentials. A

Gill Catchpole, the wife of singer James Morrison, has died.  Ms Catchpole, who had two daughters aged 15 and five with the singer, was found dead in her home in Whitminster, Gloucester, on Friday. In a statement, Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Police were called to Whitminster in Gloucester at around 9.10am on Friday 5 January following

A petition calling for former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to lose her CBE over the Horizon scandal has attracted more than one million signatures. Demands to remove Ms Vennells CBE emerged again after ITV aired a new drama into the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which tells how former subpostmasters and subpostmistresses

Planned strikes which would have crippled London Underground services this week have been called off, according to a union. RMT say the industrial action by its workers on the Tube network – scheduled to take place from Monday to Thursday – will no longer go ahead, after positive talks with Transport for London (TfL). The

The government is being urged to “wake up and smell the flood water” following Storm Henk – amid fears that climate change is making extreme weather events more common. More than 1,800 properties have flooded after heavy downpours fell on already sodden ground, and the Environment Agency has warned more homes will be affected as

Areas hit hard by flooding after Storm Henk will be able to apply for thousands of pounds in government money to pay for recovery work and repairs. The government has announced the financial support will be available to eligible areas in England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding. Schemes include flooded households being eligible for

A yellow cold weather alert across England comes into force at 9am this morning – and will remain in force for most of next week. All of this comes as many parts of the country continue to grapple with the aftermath of Storm Henk, with heavy rainfall inundating homes and almost cutting off communities. As

HMRC used a sarcastic post on X quoting a Sky News story to remind Luke Littler of his income tax obligations after his remarkable run to the World Darts Championship final. After reporting in our new Money blog that Littler, 16, will pay £83,000 in tax from his £200,000 earnings collected from his stunning performance

A major incident has been declared after Nottinghamshire was hit by widespread flooding – as the south of England faces another deluge of rain. Nottinghamshire County Council said the incident was declared “due to rising levels along the River Trent” and that residents who live in flood risk areas should be prepared to evacuate their

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to commit to unfreezing tax thresholds if Labour wins the next general election, saying he won’t make promises he can’t keep. However, the Labour leader was firmer in his position on inheritance tax, telling Sky News if the Tories reduce it, he will reverse that change because he does not

Several NHS trusts across England have declared critical incidents on the first day of the junior doctors’ strike, while some are calling for staff to return to work amid patient safety concerns. The six-day walkout – the longest in NHS history – began on Wednesday as junior doctors who are members of the British Medical

A hero couple saved a stranded three-year-old girl and her mother as their car sank into a swollen river amid Storm Henk. Liam Stych and his partner Tia Draper were out for a walk in Hall Green, Birmingham, when they saw a Fiat Punto sinking into a torrent. Qucking-thinking Mr Stynch, a roadworks engineer, climbed

Junior doctors in England are due to walk out for six days, starting on Wednesday morning. The industrial action, from 7am on 3 January to 7am on 9 January, is the longest in the history of the NHS. Health service executives have said the strike could mean “one of the most difficult starts to the

A “jealous” woman who ran over her fiance after an argument following a party has been found guilty of murder. Prosecutors said Manchester University student Alice Wood, 23, used her Ford Fiesta as a weapon against partner Ryan Watson, 24, near the home they shared in Rode Heath, Cheshire, at about 11.30pm on 6 May

The government is claiming victory in clearing the backlog of asylum claims – but that has been described as “misleading” as thousands are still waiting for a final decision. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged in December 2022 that he would “abolish” the legacy backlog of asylum claims made before 28 June of that year, with

A 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death on New Year’s Eve in London has been named by police. Harry Pitman was attacked at about 11.30pm in Primrose Hill on Sunday night, the Met police said. Officers have launched a murder investigation and have appealed for information from any witnesses, including mobile phone or dashcam

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of two women in Staffordshire. Police were called to a home in Cheadle, near Stoke-on-Trent, at 3pm on New Year’s Eve to reports that a woman’s body had been found, and another woman was injured. Both women were pronounced dead at around 3.50pm.

The family of a British mother and son killed by an avalanche on Mont Blanc in France have said they are “beyond heartbroken” following the “tragic accident”. Kate Vokes, 54, and her 22-year-old son Archie were found dead under snow by mountain rescuers around Saint-Gervais, a resort near Chamonix in the French Alps, on Thursday