Brexit Britons could pay fee to keep EU membership rights

Political reporter(wp/es):

Individual Britons could pay a fee to retain the benefits of EU citizenship after Brexit under plans being considered by MEPs.

The European Parliament's lead Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt said he supported the idea in principle, which would see UK citizens sending an annual fee to Brussels.

The former Belgian prime minister said Britons who voted Remain did not want to sever their links to the EU.

"Many say 'we don't want to cut our links'," he told The Times. 

"I like the idea that people who are European citizens and saying they want to keep it have the possibility of doing so. As a principle I like it."

Under the proposal, people who paid would still benefit from free movement, be able to live in other EU countries under existing rules and vote in the union’s elections.

MEPs will vote on the proposals by the end of the year, but any Brexit deal with the UK would have to have the agreement of the leaders of the other 27 EU nations as well as the parliament.

Brexit-backing Tory MP Andrew Bridgen warned that Brussels would attempt anything to prevent the UK leaving the the EU.

He told the newspaper: "It's an attempt to create two classes of UK citizen and to subvert the referendum vote. 

"The truth is that Brussels will try every trick in the book to stop us leaving."

Meanwhile, the Scottish and Welsh governments have set out their legal objections to Mrs May triggering Article 50 - the formal mechanism for leaving the EU - without seeking parliamentary approval.

The UK Government has appealed to the Supreme Court after judges ruled that MPs must be given a say before she can fire the Brexit starting gun.

But Scotland's Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC will argue that the consent of Holyrood should also be required before Mrs May can notify fellow EU leaders of the formal start of the process.

In a written submission to the Supreme Court, he said triggering Article 50 "cannot lawfully be made by an exercise of the prerogative alone" would require an Act of Parliament and would also require the legislative consent of the Scottish Parliament. 

Counsel General for Wales Mick Antoniw echoed those views in a written statement, stressing that he was "not seeking to reverse the referendum result" but a new law would need to be passed at Westminster and Mrs May could not "short circuit" the requirement for the devolved institutions to give their consent.

The Supreme Court has also given permission for pro-Brexit group Lawyers for Britain to file written submissions on the case.

Teenage girl and boy knifed in west London

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A teenage girl and boy have been knifed in a double stabbing in west London.

Police were called to Greenway, Hayes, at 2.15am on Saturday after reports of a fight near the junction with Welbeck Avenue.

When they arrived, officers found a 17-year-old girl suffering from stab wounds.

She was rushed to hospital by ambulance and remains there in a stable condition. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police say.

At the same time, an 18-year-old boy arrived at a central London hospital also suffering from stab wounds. He later discharged himself.

Police have arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of GBH with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

He is currently being quizzed by detectives at a west London police station.

Greenway remained cordoned off by police for several hours on Saturday morning as officers investigated the stabbing.

Celebrity dog walker Lucy Kennedy, who appeared on The Apprentice, found dead

Pic:Lucy Kennedy was found dead 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

The director of a London dog walking company, who appeared on The Apprentice, has been found dead.

Lucy Kennedy, 56, owned Happy Dogs which trained, walked and groomed dogs in areas of the capital popular with celebrities including Bayswater, Belgravia and Chelsea.

The trained animal psychologist also appeared on TV shows including The Apprentice, It’s Me Or The Dog and The Wright Stuff.

She was found dead at an address in the village of Tetsworth near Thame, Oxfordshire, on October 31, The Sun reported.

The death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious, Thames Valley Police confirmed.

A former neighbour of Ms Kennedy, who lives in Bayswater, told the Sun she was a “lovely woman” and described her as a “local celebrity”.

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned at Oxfordshire Coroners' Court earlier this month.

Barclays Canary Wharf headquarters evacuated after 'chemical incident'

Business reporter(wp/es):

Barclays' Canary Wharf headquarters was evacuated after reports of a "chemical incident", sending 400 workers pouring on to the street.

Fire crews descended on the Churchill Place office block after the incident just after 7.20pm on Thursday.

It is believed the the cause of the problem was cleaning products which reacted with one another to form a chlorine gas.

It is understood the top two floors of the 32-storey tower were affected by the problems.

Four people needed treatment by paramedics for breathing difficulties after the incident, the London Fire Brigade said.

Around 400 people were also sent out of the building as a precautionary measure while fire fighters carried out a sweep of the building.

Photos from the scene showed a string of emergency response vehicles parked next to the tree-lined concourse.

The building was declared safe and the emergency services left at 1.25am the following morning - some six hours after they were called.

A spokesman for Barclays said: "It wasn't a major incident.

"We notified the relevant specialist authorities.

"This morning everything is restored to normal."

Armed police officer could face charges over fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker

Pic:Jermaine Baker Killed by police
Crime reporter(wp/es):

An armed Met police officer who shot dead Jermaine Bakermay have committed a criminal offence and could be prosecuted, an independent police watchdog has announced.

The 28-year-old was killed in Wood Green on December 11 last year during a botched prison van break.

Mr Baker, from Tottenham, had been shot by armed officers who swooped as he waited in a car near Wood Green Crown Court. 

An imitation Uzi machine gun was later found in the back passenger seat of the vehicle.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said its investigation into the incident has now concluded and a file of evidence would be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: "Following a criminal investigation the IPCC must decide whether or not to refer the matter to the CPS.

"On the basis of the evidence we gathered during our homicide investigation, there is an indication a criminal offence may have been committed. 

“I will be submitting our evidence to the CPS for it to decide whether or not to bring a prosecution. 

“The evidence relates to the actions of the firearms officer who shot Mr Baker."

The referral does not mean that criminal charges will automatically follow.

Mr Baker had been part of a five-strong gang who had attempted to stop Izzet Eren, 33, from being transported to Wormwood Scurbs.

The gang, including Eren, were jailed for the foiled escape attempt following a trial in June.

A spokeswoman for the Met said: “It is only right that the IPCC follow due process and refer this matter to the Crown Prosecution Service if they believe it necessary. 

“Ultimately, it is for the CPS to independently assess all the evidence and determine if there is sufficient evidence to charge anyone for any offence.

“We hope that the CPS carry out their assessment of the evidence as thoroughly and as quickly as possible for the sake of all concerned.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Baker's family at this difficult time as they also await the outcome of this investigation.

“All of the officers who were involved in the operation that day continue to receive the fullest support of the MPS.

“The other five men who were subject to the police operation to prevent a dangerous criminal from being broken out of lawful custody on the day that Mr Baker was shot are serving over 45 years in prison, collectively.”

murder probe launched after death of boy, 5, following incident in park

Crime reporter(wp/es):

Residents have spoken of their devastation after a murder investigation was launched following the death of a five-year-old boy who was injured in a park.

Detectives launched a probe after reports of “an incident involving a man in the company of a child” at Mountsfield Park, Catford, on Sunday evening.

Officers were called to the south London hospital at 1.45am on Monday when the child, believed to be from Bromley, was admitted with “critical head injuries”.

A man appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and was remanded in custody. The boy died from his injuries on Tuesday afternoon and the inquiry was passed to the Met’s homicide and major crime command. A post-mortem examination was conducted yesterday and investigators were awaiting its findings today. 

Cathy Knott, 45, was in the playground with her five-year-old daughter shortly before the incident. She said: “When we left it was already getting dark and there were only about four other people in there and nothing strange, just a happy family afternoon. It was dark and cold and everyone was going home. We are all devastated. We can’t believe something like this has happened.”

A statement on behalf of community group Friends of Mountsfield Park said: “We and the park users we represent are devastated by this dreadful news. We will help in any way we can.”

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Lynes, who is leading the Met's investigation, said: “We are appealing to find any witnesses who were in, or near to, Mountsfield Park, Catford, between approximately 5.15pm and 6.45pm on Sunday November 20. We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard anything regarding an incident involving a man in the company of a child.” 

Marvin Iheanacho, 38, from Hounslow was arrested on Monday and appeared at Bromley magistrates’ court. He was remanded in custody to appear at Woolwich crown court on December 20.

Boy, 10, in serious condition after hit-and-run outside Bow Road Tube station

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A 10-year-old boy was left in a serious condition in hospital after being struck in an apparent hit and run outside Bow Road station.

Police were called and the London Air Ambulance scrambled this morning after the child was hit while crossing the road.

The car involved didn't stop at the scene and was found abandoned by officers nearby, police said.

The boy was treated at the scene for a head injury and rushed to an east London hospital.

His injuries are believed to be life-changing.

An 18-year-old man was arrested shortly after at an address in Tower Hamlets.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called at 08:13am on Friday November 25 to Bow Road, Tower Hamlets, to reports of a road traffic collision. 

"It was reported that a vehicle had been in collision with a child pedestrian.

"The injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

"Local road closures are in place while emergency services are at the scene."

A LAS spokeswoman added: “We sent an ambulance crew, a single responder in a car and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. 

“We treated a boy at the scene for a head injury and took him as a priority to a major trauma centre in east London.”