Prince William's plea to Londoners to help young homeless

Pic:Prince William: The Duke of Cambridge has written to Londoners highlighting the plight of young homeless people /REUTERS
Royal correspondent(wp/es):

The Duke of Cambridge today joins us in telling Evening Standard readers they have “the chance to save young lives” in a letter marking the start of our Christmas Appeal.

We are partnering with Centrepoint, the youth homeless charity of which Prince William is patron, to launch a helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 

As the charity warns that 25,000 young people could be at risk this Christmas, we echo William’s call that we must help “our most vulnerable young people”. 

The money raised will do vital work by launching the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, the first such service to deliver essential information to desperate young people in London and beyond.

Together we can help save young people who are at risk of sleeping on the streets. Thank you.

The Duke of Cambridge today joins us in telling Evening Standard readers they have “the chance to save young lives” in a letter marking the start of our Christmas Appeal.

We are partnering with Centrepoint, the youth homeless charity of which Prince William is patron, to launch a helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 

As the charity warns that 25,000 young people could be at risk this Christmas, we echo William’s call that we must help “our most vulnerable young people”. 

The money raised will do vital work by launching the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, the first such service to deliver essential information to desperate young people in London and beyond.

Together we can help save young people who are at risk of sleeping on the streets. Thank you.

In a letter to Evening Standard readers, the Duke wrote: “As a society we all have a duty to help our most vulnerable young people. 

“Over the coming weeks you will see and hear more about Centrepoint and the work it does to help young people escape homelessness.

“Ending youth homelessness is not just about putting a roof over someone’s head. It’s about teaching a young person to read and write. 

“It’s about helping them to live with the consequences of abuse and neglect. It’s about stopping people becoming homeless in the first place.

“When a young person’s world falls apart, they have nowhere to go. This is why we are launching the ‘Centerpoint Helpline’ in 2017. 

“‘Centrepoint Helpline’ will provide information and support that vulnerable young people need before they become homeless. 

“Over the past decade I have met hundreds of courageous and inspiring young people trying to escape homelessness.

“Unfortunately their courage alone is not enough.

“Thanks to the Evening Standard, you have the chance to save young lives.”

Teenager fighting for life after street fight in north west London

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A teenager is fighting for life after being stabbed in a street fight in north west London.

The 19-year-old was with a group of friends when he was attacked in Northolt Road, South Harrow, at around 5.10pm on Friday.

Dramatic images on social media showed a police cordon surrounding a row of shops on the road.

Forensic officers were spotted outside Chicken Hut takeaway, near South Harrow Tube station.

The teenager was rushed to hospital where his condition remains critical.

Doctors face prosecution over genital cosmetic surgery in London clinics

Health reporter(wp/es):

Two London doctors are facing prosecution for allegedly carrying out illegal cosmetic surgery on women at clinics in the capital. 

The women who had the “designer vagina” procedures were adults who paid for the surgery in the belief that it would make them more attractive. 

But Scotland Yard detectives are now carrying out a criminal investigation after being alerted to the cases and deciding that the doctors’ actions involved a potential breach of legislation outlawing female genital mutilation.

Files on both doctors have now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions. A file has also been sent to prosecutors on a third case in Cheshire.

The news will raise hopes that a first conviction under anti-FGM legislation could be secured after the failure last year of the only prosecution so far.

The police investigations will also prompt renewed debate about cosmetic genital surgery, which includes labia reduction and vaginal tightening.

It comes after the pop star Sinitta revealed plans to have her own “vaginoplasty” filmed and broadcast online.

The singer, 53, has already put footage of a friend having a “designer vagina” operation on the Periscope site.

Such procedures — which critics say are wrongly promoted as enhancing sexual pleasure and attractiveness — are carried out widely at clinics in Harley Street and elsewhere.

The Home Office warned two years ago, however, in evidence to Parliament, that the operations may be illegal unless there was a medical or psychological reason for them.

That prompted renewed attention on the issue from police and prosecutors, resulting in the criminal investigation into the two London doctors.

It is understood that in both cases prosecutors believe the evidential test which they apply before bringing charges has been met.

Prosecutors are assessing whether bringing charges is in the public interest. Sources say that since the application of law to “designer vagina” surgery has not been tested in court, government departments are being consulted.

The views of royal medical colleges and anti-FGM campaign groups will also be considered as prosecutors prepare guidance to determine their approach. This is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Decisions over bringing charges will follow. 

“So-called designer vagina surgery is classed as FGM when it comes to rules on mandatory reporting,” said a source. “The question [here] is whether it is in the public interest to prosecute.”

There are no official figures on the number of cosmetic genital operations carried out, since many are conducted privately, but doctors believe the surgery is becoming more common.

A study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has blamed the trend on “marketing by the private sector” and images online.

Doctors warn that women are being pressured by “unrealistic representations of  vulval appearance in popular culture” and the advertising of the surgery as an “unproblematic lifestyle choice”.

A report by the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology on labia reduction has warned that there is “no scientific evidence” to support the practice and that the health risks, particularly to girls under 18, include infection and a loss of sensitivity.

There are similar concerns about surgery designed to increase the size of the “g-spot” and tighten the vagina.

Campaign groups against FGM have complained that a “double standard” is applied under which ethnic minority communities, which have traditionally practised mutilation, are being targeted by law enforcers while identical surgery carried out on white women for cosmetic reasons is tolerated.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee raised the same concern in a 2014 report and asked Theresa May, then the home secretary, to consider whether legislation was needed to close this potential “loophole”. Mrs May replied that the 2003 Female Genital Mutilation Act covered cosmetic surgery.

In a submission to Parliament, she added: “The 2003 Act does not contain any exemption for cosmetic surgery. If a procedure ... is unnecessary for physical or mental health ... then it is an offence ... it would be for a court to decide if cosmetic surgery constitutes mutilation and is therefore illegal.”

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that it was assessing three files on suspected FGM offences, but declined to comment further.

The Met also declined to comment.

Southern Rail admits 'absolutely shocking' campaign against striking RMT was mistake

Pic:The company has admitted its campaign was a mistake 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

A boss of crisis-hit rail company Southern has admitted an “absolutely shocking” campaign which pitted customers against the RMT union was a mistake.

Last month, a tweet by the train operator, urging commuters to message the RMT about upcoming strikes to “tell them how you feel”, led to a fierce backlash, with most people slamming the firm instead.

Alex Foulds, deputy chief operating officer of Govia Thameslink Railway, which owns Southern, faced criticism over the tweet and subsequent newspaper adverts when he was questioned at Lambeth council.

Councillor Ed Davie said he could not believe the company would spend tens of thousands of pounds on the ads calling on its customers to attack the union, describing it as "absolutely shocking".

Mr Foulds said the adverts were a "mistake", adding that the RMT had also made blunders, describing the current climate as "very tense",

RMT leader Mick Cash said on Monday: "It is shocking that hundreds of thousands of pounds of fare- payers' money has been wasted by Southern on attacking and bullying their own staff.

"That money could have been invested in keeping guards on the trains and keeping the public safe. It is absolutely scandalous."

At the council meeting, Mr Foulds apologised for the level of service being provided by Southern, whose services have been delayed, disrupted or cancelled for months because of the industrial action, staff shortages and other problems.

He conceded that Southern was the worst-performing train operator in the country "by some distance".

Mr Foulds told councillors there had been a "considerable" rise in sickness among staff, while less overtime was being worked, adding: "This has made it very difficult to run a reliable service."

Jennifer Brathwaite, Lambeth Cabinet member for environment and transport, said later: "The service provided by Southern is nothing short of scandalous. 

“Lambeth's residents are completely fed up with cancelled and delayed trains on a seemingly daily basis and we have been calling for the franchise to be taken over by Transport for London for a long time.

"London's Mayor agrees, as does nearly every other local authority affected by Southern's abysmal service, so we need the Government to stop dragging its feet and put in place a clear plan for this franchise to be transferred as soon as possible.

"The advertising campaign from Southern, which effectively attacked their own staff members and cynically attempted to bully the RMT, was extremely poorly judged and I'm afraid symptomatic of the shambolic way this franchise has been managed for years."

Ms Brathwaite has co-signed a cross-party letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, with representatives from Southwark, Lewisham, Croydon, Merton and Sutton Councils, asking for the immediate transfer of Southern's rail franchise to TfL.

RMT members will stage another 48-hour strike from Tuesday, with further stoppages planned next month, including just before Christmas, and over the new year.

Members of the drivers' union Aslef on Southern are currently voting on whether to go on strike in a row over driver-only trains.

Southern said it will run more trains during this week's strike, with 62 per cent of the normal timetable operating.

Passenger services director Angie Doll said: "We are doing everything we can to provide as many services for our passengers as possible and I'm pleased that we're able to add more services this time to help passengers get where they need to go.

"We're sorry that once again our passengers are facing disruption through unnecessary industrial action. 

“Over 99 per cent of affected conductors have now signed up to the new role, which makes this strike even more pointless."

Southern said there will be no train services on some routes, with some stations closed during the action. 

Pregnant woman and baby rescued from flooded car as Storm Angus wreaks havoc on capital

Pic:Londoners were hit by heavy rain again on Monday after Storm Angus battered the capital over the weekend 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

A pregnant woman and her one-year-old child were dramatically rescued from their car after they became trapped in flood water.

The distressed woman dialled 999 after her vehicle became stuck in 4ft deep waters in Buttsbury Wash near Brentwood on Sunday evening.

Specialist firefighters waded through the flood, which had submerged the village country lane, to rescue the pair.

The salvage operation was sparked by Storm Angus as powerful thunderstorms lashed down across London and the south-east.

And on Monday, a heavy bout of fresh rainfall sparked further chaos.

Five people were taken to hospital after a three-car crash on the M2 London-bound carriageway between junctions 3 (Maidstone, Channel Tunnel) and 2 (Rochester) just after 7am.

And on Monday, a heavy bout of fresh rainfall sparked further chaos.

Five people were taken to hospital after a three-car crash on the M2 London-bound carriageway between junctions 3 (Maidstone, Channel Tunnel) and 2 (Rochester) just after 7am.

Kent Police said no 

-one suffered any serious injuries.

A spokesman said: "Police were called at 7.04am following a three-vehicle collision on the M2 London-bound between junctions 3 and 2.

“Officers are currently in attendance and two lanes of the motorway are closed. Five people are being taken to a London hospital with injuries not believed to be serious.”

In London, no major disruption was reported on the capital's roads and railways following the deluge.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for London with heavy downpours expected in the capital throughout the day.

Forecasters predicted up to 60mm of rain could fall in the worst-affected areas.

The warning remains in place until just before midnight. Authorities warned of flooding to low lying land and roads next to rivers.

A flood alert remains in place across south-east London affecting Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich and Croydon after the storm caused tide levels in the River Ravensbourne to rise.

The Environment Agency said no homes should be under threat from flooding.

On Sunday, rail services were cancelled as Storm Angus left a trail of destruction across London and the south coast.

In west London, flooding was reported on and around Talgarth Road in Hammersmith including Lower Mortlake Road and Chalker's Corner.

Other Londoners told how they woke up to leaky roofs as they described “horrible conditions” on the roads. 

Angus, which is the UK’s first storm of this season, arrived in the UK at midnight on Saturday and swept over London on Sunday morning.