Briefsfromshittu

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The lead Typhoon pilot said: “The Baltic Control and Reporting Centre had radar contact on the unidentified aircraft and ordered us to scramble. "As always we were airborne in minutes and intercepted and identified the variety of Russian military aircraft. "We remain on standby all day, every day to respond to any requests of this nature, this is what we do.” Four RAF jets were deployed last month to join the Baltic Air Policing mission, where NATO members help countries who are not able to police their own skies. They will stay there until the end of August.

RAF Typhoon fighter jets have intercepted five Russian aircraft north of Estonia as part of a NATO protection mission.

The British planes were initially shadowing two Su-27 Flanker fighters and an IL-20 'Coot-A' Reconnaissance plane when two more Su-27s were detected, according to the Ministry of Defence.

It was the second time in a week that RAF Typhoons had been scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft as part of the policing mission in the region.

In the latest intercept, an MoD statement said the Russian planes were operating without transmitting recognised identification codes and were not communicating with regional air traffic control centres.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "For the second time in a week, the RAF have been on hand to respond to Russian activity at a moment’s notice.

24 hours a day, seven days a week, we will continue to secure the Baltic skies on behalf

The lead Typhoon pilot said: “The Baltic Control and Reporting Centre had radar contact on the unidentified aircraft and ordered us to scramble.

"As always we were airborne in minutes and intercepted and identified the variety of Russian military aircraft.

"We remain on standby all day, every day to respond to any requests of this nature, this is what we do.”

Four RAF jets were deployed last month to join the Baltic Air Policing mission, where NATO members help countries who are not able to police their own skies.

They will stay there until the end of August.

Police Federation Concedes Hillsborough 'Errors'

The Police Federation held a minute's silence for the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy at its annual conference before acknowledging "errors" were made in how officers reacted.

Inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans during an FA Cup semi-final found the actions of the police and ambulance service had "caused or contributed" to Britain's worst sporting disaster.

It also ruled that the behaviour of fans was not a factor in the tragedy, in which supporters were crushed before the game against Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989.

The Police Federation has previously seemed reluctant to apologise for what happened, arguing that those on duty "did their best".

But chairman Steve White said on Tuesday it was now time to "draw a line" and move on.

"Sadly, like every organisation, errors are made - nowhere more so than at Hillsborough 27 years ago," he told the Federation's conference.

"The tragic events of that day left 96 families mourning for their loved ones, and others - fans, stewards, and emergency service workers - traumatised by their desperate attempts to help and save lives.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the families and friends of the 96 people who lost their lives."

Home Secretary Theresa May said the tragedy should serve as a reminder to police of the need for change.

Speaking at the conference, she said: "Let's not forget when we look at Hillsborough, the principle obstacle to the pursuit of justice has not been the passage of time.

"The problem has been due process was obstructed, and the police - the custodians of justice - failed to put justice firs

"We must not let the lessons of Hillsborough and other past injustices go unheeded, and we must not be afraid to face up to the challenges of today."

She told delegates that the tragedy should serve as a "touchstone" for how police respond to future events.

After leading the conference in a minute's silence, Steve White added that it was "unfair" to hold the officers of today responsible for what happened at Hillsborough.

"It is right that we are held to account - whether that's policing a football match, policing a picket line in a long-running dispute, policing a demonstration, or policing a riot.

"But we must draw a line.

"And we must also draw a distinction between the actions of a minority of senior officers decades ago, and the behaviours of the majority of our members today."

After the inquests' findings were handed down last month, the chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, David Crompton, was suspended from duty.

Dismissal proceedings have now commenced, with the force set to decide whether to call for Mr Crompton to retire or resign.

Dr Alan Billings, the area's police and crime commissioner, said it was the only course open to him given the "erosion of public trust and confidence".

Predator Posed As Blogger Zoella To Groom Girls

An online predator who pretended to be beauty and fashion blogger Zoe Sugg, known as Zoella, has been jailed for eight years for grooming children.

David Harmes, 20, lured young girls into performing sex acts by posing as well-known names he thought would appeal to them.

He claimed to be YouTube star Zoella as well as a member of boy band Bars And Melody and a modelling agent.

Harmes, from Regent Street, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire would contact victims across the UK by Skype using the false identities and coerce them into sex acts.

DC Simon Ledger of Cheshire Police, said: "Harmes duped young girls into thinking they were talking to people they looked up to and in some cases posed as a modelling agency representative so that he could manipulate them for his own pleasure.

"It is a timely reminder that while the internet is an amazing tool, it has a darker side which we need to be mindful of and shows just how imperative it is that parents are aware of the sites their children are accessing and who they are communicating with.

"People like Harmes have no qualms with using the internet to their own perverse means."

Harmes admitted 35 offences against 28 victims, aged eight to 18, and also asked for a further four offences to be taken into consideration.

The offences include causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and making and distributing indecent photographs of a child.

He did not meet up with any of the victims.

Harmes was jailed for eight years at Chester Crown Court on Monday and ordered to serve five years behind bars and three years out on licence.

Zoella, 26, is hugely influential on social media and her main YouTube channel has 10 million subscribers. She has also released two books and appeared on television.

Advice on internet safety and security, including social networking and chatrooms is available at www.getsafeonline.org.

Brexit Will Make Islamic State Happy, Says PM

David Cameron has said the leader of Islamic State would be happy if the UK voted for Brexit.

So, according to the Prime Minister, would Vladimir Putin.

Making his case for Britain to remain at the World Economic Forum, Mr Cameron listed a number of reasons why the country was not diminished by working with European counterparts.

Then added: "It's worth asking the question: who would be happy if we left?

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi filmed in Mosul

"Putin might be happy. I suspect al Baghdadi might be happy.

:: Johnson's Hitler Remarks Are Dangerous, Says Tusk

"Our friends around the world are giving us a very clear message, they are saying 'it's all up to you, it is your sovereign choice'.

"But our friends in Australia and New Zealand and America and all around the world and all round Europe, they are saying 'it's all up to you, its all your choice, but we would like you to stay, we think it's good for us and it's good for you'."

Boris Johnson said that it was a "bit much" to suggest that Abu Bakr al Baghdadi was an ally of Brexiteers.

He said: "One might argue it’s a bit much to start comparing people arguing for freedom in this country or the restoration of democracy in this country to say our allies are Putin and Daesh.

"I think that’s a bit much really."

Johnson himself has been under fire for suggesting that the EU was trying to create a single European state like the Nazis in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph.

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council said: "Boris Johnson crossed the boundaries of a rational discourse, demonstrating political amnesia."

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Johnson hit out at Mr Cameron over the disclosure of a leaked letter between the chief executive of Serco, the outsourcing firm which has multibillion-pound contracts with the Government, and the Prime Minister on mobilising the pro-EU business voice ahead of the referendum.

The former London mayor described it as the "biggest stitch-up since the Bayeux Tapestry".

Iran Cracks Down On 'Un-Islamic' Modelling

Iran has arrested eight people, including a leading model, for what it calls "un-Islamic" acts online such as posting photos of themselves without their hair covered.

According to state media, the crackdown is part of an operation code-named Spider II, and is particularly aimed at those who share images of themselves on Instagram and other social media sites.

A television report included footage of Iranian model Elham Arab speaking before Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi in a conference room.

Arab, who is well-known for modelling wedding dresses and posting pictures of herself without a headscarf, said: "All people love beauty and fame.

"They would like to be seen, but it is important to know what price they will pay to be seen."

The report did not say what charges she faced, nor did it identify the other seven people arrested but they are among 170 people police are investigating.

It is believed most of them work mainly in the fashion industry and include makeup artists, photographers and designers, many of whom have had their businesses shut down as a result.

Mr Dowlatabadi has been quoted by the state-owned Iran newspaper as saying "we must fight with enemy's actions in this area, of course our actions in this area will continue".

The arrests are said to show that hard-liners in the police and judiciary still hold significant power in the country despite President Hassan Rouhani having a reputation as a moderate.

In recent years, Iranian women, especially in the capital Tehran, have worn the mandatory scarf loosely on their heads, which has angered conservatives.

Tehran's police chief General Hossein Sajedinia announced in April that 7,000 male and female officers would go undercover to enforce the government-mandated Islamic dress code.

The crackdown on the fashion industry is part of a broader emphasis to control online expression in the county.

Nearly 40% of Iran's 80 million people can access the internet, although the American-based watchdog Freedom House describes web access as "not free" due to censorship and filtering.

In May 2014, authorities arrested a group of young Iranian men and women for an online video of them dancing to Pharrell Williams' song Happy.

Even though the arrests drew widespread criticism, including from the musician himself, those involved were each given suspended sentences of six months' in prison and 91 lashes.

Journalists, filmmakers, writers and activists have also been detained, sentenced or imprisoned.

Photo-sharing site Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, has not yet commented.