Heywood criticised over ‘plebgate’

CABINET Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood was sharply criticised by MPs today for his botched investigation into former chief whip Andrew Mitchell’s “plebgate” row with Downing Street police officers.

The Commons Public Administration Committee said Sir Jeremy was not the “appropriate figure” to carry out such an inquiry and suggested that his role as an “impartial investigator” was compromised.

Mr Mitchell was forced to resign following claims that he swore repeatedly at the officers and called them “plebs” after they refused to allow him to cycle through the Downing Street main gates.

Man questioned over teenager murder

A MAN is being questioned on suspicion of murder after a “caring and quiet” teenager died when he was stabbed in the heart in broad daylight.

The family of 18-year-old Kieran Crump Raiswell “had his whole life ahead of him”, his family said, and may have been intending to hand out his CV to shops and businesses in Manchester city centre when he was attacked in Whalley Range on Wednesday afternoon.

A 26-year-old man from Bracknell, Berkshire, was arrested last night on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody for questioning, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said.

Date for key EU speech awaited

DOWNING Street will today announce the date of David Cameron’s delayed speech on Britain’s future relations with the European Union.

After months of preparations, the Prime Minister was forced to cancel his planned address in the Netherlands last Friday due to the Algerian hostage crisis.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday that the speech would now go ahead this week.

Woman in court for murder of boy, two

A WOMAN will appear in court today charged with the murder of a two-year-old boy.

Angela Vane, 40, from Champernowne, Modbury, Devon, will appear at Torquay Magistrates’ Court, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The toddler’s identity has not been released.

Labour trafficking ‘a hidden crime’

THOUSANDS of people are being trafficked to the UK for forced labour in a “hidden crime” where victims go unnoticed, experts said today.

The workers are forced to put in long hours with little food while living in squalid conditions, the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) said, and may be employed by firms unaware of the abuse.

UKHTC has launched a campaign with Crimestoppers and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) to highlight the plight of the workers.