Sex And Drugs Ban For Undercover Police

A new rule book for undercover police officers bans them from having sex with surveillance targets and taking drugs.

It comes amid an inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales, following a string of controversies and claims which have resulted in payouts to several women who unwittingly became involved in relationships with covert officers.

The 80-page document, which is to be consulted on, has been published by the College of Policing.

Alex Marshall, the organisation's chief executive, said sexual relationships "can't be authorised".

"It's wrong, it shouldn't happen," he said.

"If in some extreme circumstance something happens where the operative has gone outside this guidance then you have to report it and it will be investigated."

The guidance warns operatives should be aware of the "dangers" posed through "exposure in true identity" on social media.

It also says undercover officers can only de deployed once they have been "accredited" and should undergo psychological screening or personality assessments.

Mr Marshall said covert operations were an "essential tactic" to protect the public, save lives and bring serious and organised criminals to justice.

"By publishing the vast majority of the guidance, withholding only operational tactics which would no longer be viable if shared, we want the public to see the measures we have in place to ensure undercover policing is used in a way that is proportionate, lawful and ethical," he added.

The guidance was welcomed by lawyer Jules Carey, of Bindmans, who is representing individuals affected by undercover policing.

However, he said: "It is disappointing that the guidance fails to spell out that in a democracy the first consideration should be whether it is necessary to use an undercover officer at all, or whether the intelligence could be obtained through some other means.

"The guidance should also make it clear that the degree of intrusion should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime being investigated."

Sex And Drugs Ban For Undercover Police

A new rule book for undercover police officers bans them from having sex with surveillance targets and taking drugs.

It comes amid an inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales, following a string of controversies and claims which have resulted in payouts to several women who unwittingly became involved in relationships with covert officers.

The 80-page document, which is to be consulted on, has been published by the College of Policing.

Alex Marshall, the organisation's chief executive, said sexual relationships "can't be authorised".

"It's wrong, it shouldn't happen," he said.

"If in some extreme circumstance something happens where the operative has gone outside this guidance then you have to report it and it will be investigated."

The guidance warns operatives should be aware of the "dangers" posed through "exposure in true identity" on social media.

It also says undercover officers can only de deployed once they have been "accredited" and should undergo psychological screening or personality assessments.

Mr Marshall said covert operations were an "essential tactic" to protect the public, save lives and bring serious and organised criminals to justice.

"By publishing the vast majority of the guidance, withholding only operational tactics which would no longer be viable if shared, we want the public to see the measures we have in place to ensure undercover policing is used in a way that is proportionate, lawful and ethical," he added.

The guidance was welcomed by lawyer Jules Carey, of Bindmans, who is representing individuals affected by undercover policing.

However, he said: "It is disappointing that the guidance fails to spell out that in a democracy the first consideration should be whether it is necessary to use an undercover officer at all, or whether the intelligence could be obtained through some other means.

"The guidance should also make it clear that the degree of intrusion should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime being investigated."

Sex And Drugs Ban For Undercover Police

A new rule book for undercover police officers bans them from having sex with surveillance targets and taking drugs.

It comes amid an inquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales, following a string of controversies and claims which have resulted in payouts to several women who unwittingly became involved in relationships with covert officers.

The 80-page document, which is to be consulted on, has been published by the College of Policing.

Alex Marshall, the organisation's chief executive, said sexual relationships "can't be authorised".

"It's wrong, it shouldn't happen," he said.

"If in some extreme circumstance something happens where the operative has gone outside this guidance then you have to report it and it will be investigated."

The guidance warns operatives should be aware of the "dangers" posed through "exposure in true identity" on social media.

It also says undercover officers can only de deployed once they have been "accredited" and should undergo psychological screening or personality assessments.

Mr Marshall said covert operations were an "essential tactic" to protect the public, save lives and bring serious and organised criminals to justice.

"By publishing the vast majority of the guidance, withholding only operational tactics which would no longer be viable if shared, we want the public to see the measures we have in place to ensure undercover policing is used in a way that is proportionate, lawful and ethical," he added.

The guidance was welcomed by lawyer Jules Carey, of Bindmans, who is representing individuals affected by undercover policing.

However, he said: "It is disappointing that the guidance fails to spell out that in a democracy the first consideration should be whether it is necessary to use an undercover officer at all, or whether the intelligence could be obtained through some other means.

"The guidance should also make it clear that the degree of intrusion should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime being investigated."

Young Boy Hunted Over Station Sexual Assault

A boy, thought to be just 11 years old, is being hunted by police after a woman was sexually assaulted at a railway station.

The incident happened at Stockport station at around 3.45pm on Friday 24 June.

Detectives have said the suspect laughed as he left the scene before returning and spitting at station staff.

PC Rebecca Swift said: "The victim was waiting with her boyfriend in the booking hall of the station when she was inappropriately touched by a young boy who then left the station laughing.

"He returned a short while later and began messing around by the ticket barriers at the Edgeley side of the station.

"Station staff asked him to leave and he responded by spitting at them.

"A saliva sample was collected following the incident, and officers are now working to try to identify the boy."

The boy is described as white, about 11, with short dark hair, and was wearing a black bubble jacket with a hood, black trousers and black trainers.

:: Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40.

PM Blames Leave Vote On Immigration Concerns

David Cameron has told EU leaders he lost the Brexit referendum because so many voters believed there was no control over immigration from Europe.

Speaking to leaders at an EU dinner in Brussels, the outgoing PM warned leaders they could not "shy away" from the issue.

Failure to tackle immigration could scupper any chance of a UK-EU trade deal when a new prime minister takes over in September.

Mr Cameron was speaking after Germany's Angela Merkel warned the UK must accept free movement if it wants to retain single market access.

She assured her parliament she would not allow the UK to "cherry-pick" favoured elements of the EU package.

"If you wish to have free access to the single market then you have to accept the fundamental European rights as well as obligations that come from it," she said.

"This is as true for Great Britain as for anybody else."

She made clear that she saw no chance that Britain might go back on its decision to leave the EU.

A UK Government source said: "Mr Cameron believes that one of the key issues in the referendum campaign, and therefore why a lot of people voted to leave, is this sense that there was no control on the scale of immigration and freedom of movement.

"That was one of the factors."

Addressing journalists after the dinner, Mr Cameron said he did not regret holding the referendum.

"I don't regret holding the referendum - I think it was the right thing to do," he said.

"I regret losing the referendum, of course. I'm a democrat and the British people have decided Britain should go.

"At the end of the day, we cannot leave to parliament questions about the nature of the way we are governed."

Earlier, arriving at the summit, Mr Cameron said: "While we are leaving the European Union, we mustn't be turning our backs on Europe.

"These countries are our neighbours, our friends, our allies, our partners.

"And I very much hope we will seek the closest possible relationship in terms of trade and co-operation and security, because that is good for us and it's good for them."

Ahead of the meeting, several EU leaders repeated calls for talks on withdrawal to start immediately.

But there were also signs that some are beginning to accept that the process must await the selection of  a new PM.

France's Francois Hollande said the EU had "no time to lose" in planning its future without Britain.

But Dutch PM Mark Rutte, who faces calls for a "Nexit" vote in the Netherlands, said: "It would be unwise to force a rapid departure.

"It would be prudent to give Britain time."

Mr Cameron was served quail and veal at the EU dinner, the last he will attend as Prime Minister.

Working dinners are a regular feature of European Council summits, often lasting into the early hours as the leaders wrangle over the latest crisis.

Here is what the leaders had to chew over:

Quail and green bean salad with a crispy dried fruit pastry triangle;

:: Poached veal tenderloin with seasonal baby vegetables;

:: Strawberries.

At Least 36 Killed In Istanbul Airport Attack

At least 36 people have been killed in an attack on the main airport in Istanbul, a senior Turkish official has told the Associated Press.

Initial indications suggest Islamic State was behind the attack, the official said.

Figures suggested up to 50 people had been killed - however that has now been downgraded.

A weapon lies on the floor of the airport following the attack

Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up at the international terminal of Ataturk Airport, Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin told NTV television.

Several witnesses reported two explosions but Mr Sahin said authorities believed there were three bombers.

He said some 60 people were wounded. Six of those sustained serious injuries, the state-run Anadolu Agency said. 

Two of the attackers detonated their explosives when police fired at them, a second official said, citing information from the interior ministry.

A witness told NBC News that he saw a police officer diving to tackle one of the attackers - who then detonated his bomb.

The attack is understood to have happened near the airport entrance - before the assailants would have gone through security checks.

Speaking in the Turkish parliament earlier, justice minister Bekir Bozdag said he could only confirm one attacker, based on initial information.

According to information I have received, at the entrance to the Ataturk Airport international terminal a terrorist first opened fire with a Kalashnikov and then blew himself up," Mr Bozdag said.

Pictures posted on social media showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside the terminal buildings.

"There was a huge explosion, extremely loud. The roof came down. Inside the airport it is terrible, you can't recognise it, the damage is big," said Ali Tekin, who was at the arrivals hall when the attack took place.

A German woman named Duygu, who was at the airport, told Reuters: "Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors."

Another passenger told the Associated Press that she hid under a counter after hearing an explosion and a loud bang.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was "urgently seeking further information" following the attack.

"Our staff in Istanbul and London stand ready to support any British nationals affected," he said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the attack was aimed at undermining Turkey through the killing of innocent people.

"It is clear that this attack is not aimed at achieving any result but only to create propaganda material against our country using simply the blood and pain of innocent people," he said.

Flights to the airport have been diverted.

British Airways flight BA680 from London Heathrow to Ataturk was returned to the UK in the wake of the blasts.

In recent months Turkey has suffered several attacks linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.

The attacks include two bombings targeting tourists in Istanbul, which authorities blamed on IS.

28 Dead As Bombers Attack Istanbul Airport

At least 28 people have been killed and 60 wounded in an attack at the main airport in Istanbul, the city's govenor has said.

Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up at the international terminal of Ataturk Airport, Vasip Sahin told Turkey's NTV television.

The attackers detonated their explosives when police fired shots at them, an official said, citing information from the interior ministry.

A weapon lies on the floor of the airport following the attack

A witness told NBC News that he saw a police officer diving to tackle one of the attackers - who then detonated his bomb.

The attack happened around the airport entrance before the assailants would have gone through security checks, officials said.

Speaking in the Turkish parliament earlier, justice minister Bekir Bozdag said he could only confirm one attacker, based on initial information.

"According to information I have received, at the entrance to the Ataturk Airport international terminal a terrorist first opened fire with a Kalashnikov and then blew himself up," Mr Bozdag said.

Pictures posted on social media showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside the terminal buildings.

Two South African tourists, Paul and Susie Roos, were at the airport and due to fly home at the time of the blasts.

We came up from the arrivals to the departures, up the escalator when we heard these shots going off," a shaken Mr Roos said.

He added: "There was this guy going roaming around, he was dressed in black and he had a handgun."

Another passenger told the Associated Press that she hid under a counter after hearing an explosion and a loud bang.

Taxis were ferrying the wounded from the hospital and witness Ercan Ceyhan told CNN Turk he saw around 30 ambulances rush to the scene.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was "urgently seeking further information" following the attack.

"Our staff in Istanbul and London stand ready to support any British nationals affected," he said.

Flights to the airport have been diverted.

British Airways flight BA680 from London Heathrow to Ataturk was returned to the UK in the wake of the blasts.

In recent months Turkey has suffered several attacks linked to Kurdish or Islamic State group militants.

The attacks include two bombings targeting tourists in Istanbul, which authorities blamed on IS.