News

A Home Office spokeswoman has responded to calls for greater scrutiny from PCCs, she said by "by law" they are expected to publish a register of interests, including budgets and expenses.

The local electorate will judge whether PCCs are making best use of public money and hold them to account at the ballot box.

Police reforms are working and crime is falling - by more than 10% under this government.

PCCs have brought democracy into policing for the first time and given people a real say over priorities in their area.

The Home Office will consider the committee's recommendations.

• UK
• Police and Crime Commissioners

Many MPs have taken to Twitter to pay tribute to those who witnessed the attack in Woolwich yesterday and tried to help and sent their thoughts to the family of the man who was killed:

Not a day for humour. Time now to pray for the family of the man murdered in Woolwich & salute the bravery of those who went to help him.

From @chhcalling on Twitter: (about 4 hours ago)

Following the barbaric murder in #Wolwich Our community must stand together against all extremists that seek to divide us

From @CliveEfford on Twitter: (about 4 hours ago)

Reading accounts of the brave women in Woolwich tonight shielding the body of the soldier (RIP) & quietly tackling the murderers. Heroines.

From @theresecoffey on Twitter: (about 4 hours ago)

• UK
• London

Activities within England's national parks contribute billions of pounds to the economy, a report has found.

National Parks England said the ten sites generate between £4.1 billion and £6.3 billion for the economy, which is the equivalent to the UK aerospace industry.

It added that more than half of the English population lives within an hour's drive of a national park, receiving about 90 million visitors a year.

Environment minister Richard Benyon said: "Our national parks are the most treasured places in the country. More than 90 million people visit them each year, helping to boost economic growth in rural areas.

"This report highlights the value of these areas in promoting tourism and contributing to the UK economy."

• UK

The chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee said that a national register for PCCs is "vital for local accountability".

Keith Vaz MP said: "We need to guard against maverick decision-making," he added, "the Government is going to publish a register of chief constables' interests, but has so far refused to do so for PCCs, who share the power over policing."

Last year PCCs replaced police authorities in 41 force areas across England and Wales, they were handed the power to set force budgets and even hire and fire chief constables.

A report from the Committee said Home Secretary Theresa May was "keen to distance herself from any responsibility to assess the performance of the PCCs", stating that they were ultimately "accountable to the electorate".

• UK
• Keith Vaz
• Theresa May

The Queen is of course concerned by the report of an attack in Woolwich earlier today. Her Majesty is being kept informed.

The spokesperson also confirmed the Queen will visit the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Woolwich barracks on 31st May, which was planned before today's attack.

• UK
• Queen
• London

Doctors treating victims of the Oklahoma tornado should be on alert for a rare deadly fungal infection caused by wind-whipped debris, NBC News has reported.

Five people died from similar infections following the 2011 twister in Joplin, Missouri, it said.

According to the broadcaster, government experts in such infections have warned clinicians to "be aware that these infections can happen".

• World
• USA
• Tornado

MPs have warned that stronger scrutiny is needed from elected police commissioners to prevent "maverick decision making".

The Home Affairs Select Committee found that only a quarter of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) had revealed certain financial data, despite being required by law to do so.

Home Secretary Theresa May previously shot down the idea of a national register of PCCs' interests, pay, perks and hospitality, but a recent report from the committee said it is "vital".

It comes after a string of heavily-criticised decisions made by commissioners including the suspension of a chief constable in Lincolnshire and the hiring of a youth commissioner in Kent.

• UK
• Theresa May
• Police and Crime Commissioners

The killing of a man on the streets of London this afternoon has sparked calls for the Government to revive plans to extend internet and email monitoring powers to the security services.

Labour ex-home secretary Lord Reid said such measures were "essential" to combating terrorism, warning it could otherwise take "some huge tragedy" to show the decision was wrong.

Former independent reviewer of terror laws Lord Carlile said it should provoke a "pause for thought" on the decision to drop the planned Communcations Data Bill from the Queen's Speech.

Speaking on BBC2's Newsnight, Lord Carlile said:

We have to learn proportionate lessons from what has occurred.

We mustn't rush to judgment. But we must ensure that the police and the security services have for the future the tools they need which will enable them to prevent this kind of attack taking place.

I hope that this will give the Government pause for thought about their abandonment for example of the Communcations Data Bill and possibly pause for thought about converting control orders into what are now called Tpims, with a diluted set of powers.

• UK
• London

Supporters of the far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) gathered at Woolwich Arsenal train station near the scene, there were reports of bottles thrown at police.

Riot police with shields stood guard around the protest for a short time, before moving back into their vans.

Dozens of supporters had gathered, some wearing black balaclavas with an EDL logo on the front.

• UK
• London