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Sailing experts' bid to increase safety in America's Cup

Thirty seven recommendations to increase safety in the America's Cup by sailing experts, following the death of British Olympic sailing champion Andrew Simpson.

The group, led by regatta director Iain Murray, unveiled proposals nearly two weeks after a training run turned deadly.

Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Andrew Simpson Credit: Chris Ison/PA Wire

Suggestions included quipping crews with body armour, high-visibility helmets, and hands-free breathing apparatus.

Thirty-six-year-old Simpson, nicknamed Bart, died trapped underneath his Artemis Racing AC72 catamaran after the vessel overturned in San Francisco Bay on May 9.

Headteacher at Woolwich primary school describes 'lock-down'

David Dixon, headteacher of Mulgrave Primary School and Early Years Centre, near the attack in Woolwich said the school had been in lock-down and described seeing a body lying in the road.

Speaking to BBC News he said:

We got word of an incident at the end of our road, so I went out to find out the nature of it and of course there were lots of police and saw a body lying in the road.

Went immediately back to school and got us to lock all the gates and in to lock-down and make sure all the children were inside, so they were as safe as possible.

All the traffic had stopped. There were gunshots after that so I am not sure about the situation after.

But all I needed to know was that there was an emergency and we needed to go into our emergency procedures to make sure that the children were as safe as possible.

That was my main priority.

We got all the staff to get the children in because some of them were outside doing activities, we locked all the gates.

I and some of my senior staff liaised with police to find out what we needed to do after that.

He also said that the air ambulance had landed in the playground of the school.

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Woolwich attackers 'may have been Boston copycats'

Counter-terrorism expert Richard Barrett has raised the possibility that the Woolwich attackers may have been "copycats" of the Boston bombers.

He said:

I don't think we have seen much of this in terms of attacks on armed service personnel in the UK before.

It may be that this is a copycat after the Boston bombings. That two individuals could cause a lot of mayhem is maybe more of an inspiration than attacking soldiers.

The former United Nations co-ordinator for the al Qaida and Taliban monitoring team, who has served with MI5 and MI6, said it was clear the attackers wanted to "explain" their actions:

It looks like an attack which has certainly been done for effect. The way that they are hanging about and wanting to be arrested and explain what they were doing fits a pattern of people who want to send a message.

Home Office: 'By law' PCCs must register interests

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.

– Home Office spokeswoman

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MPs' tributes after Woolwich attack

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:

Chhcalling?size=bigger

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:
Theresecoffey?size=bigger

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:

National parks 'contribute billions' to the economy

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.

Ponies grazing in the New Forest National Park at Lyndhurst, Hampshire Credit: Chris Ison/PA Wire

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."

Labour: PCC register is 'vital for accountability'

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."

Labour MP Keith Vaz Credit: Andrew Parsons/PA Archive

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".

Queen's 'concern' after attack at barracks she is due to visit

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

– Buckingham Palace spokesperson

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.

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