Hewitt Apologises For Links To Paedophile Group

Who Were Paedophile Group PIE?

Updated: 1:43pm UK, Tuesday 25 February 2014

A campaign group for lowering the age of consent, a networking group for paedophiles and the publisher of newsletters giving easy access to child porn.

The Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) started life in 1974 as a splinter group - or special interest group - of a Scottish gay rights movement.

It quickly moved to London because that was where the greatest interest in its activities lay and by 1975 had been accepted as an "affiliate" group by the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL).

Run by paedophiles who had "come out" and openly lobbied for child sex to be legalised, the group also provided a means for the like-minded to contact each other.

It also published regular newsletters - which became the now-defunct magazine Magpie, which published pictures of children, paedophilia "jokes", and also assisted paedophiles to obtain child pornography.

The group won support among left-wing groups largely by allying itself with the battle for gay rights and academia.

The freelance journalist Eileen Fairweather, who worked for the feminist magazine, Spare Rib, and who went on to expose abuse in Islington children's homes wrote recently for The Daily Telegraph: "PIE fooled so many on the Left, within academia and in social work, because they adroitly hijacked the language of liberation.

"Little was known then or discussed about the extent or horror of child abuse. PIE members also portrayed themselves as 'child lovers', benign uncle figures who offered tenderness, not rape.

"They claimed that paedophiles, like women, gay men and children, were 'oppressed by the patriarchy'. Therefore we should all make common cause. Spare Rib, to its credit, refused to fall for this self-serving guff. But nor did we condemn it."

In 1975, PIE submitted a 17-page document to the Home Office Criminal Law Revision Committee lobbying for no age of consent.

During this time PIE sent a leaflet to MPs which said: "Paedophiles are ordinary, decent, sensible human beings, no more sexually depraved than yourself, and with a capacity for loving and helping children which is at present being repressed."

In 1977 PIE chairman Tom O'Carroll was allowed to make a speech at the spring conference of the NCCL, giving the group further legitimacy.

In late 2013, the Home Office announced an inquiry into claims that PIE was being inadvertently financed by the Labour administration of the time through grants.

In 1980 O'Carroll published "Paedophilia: the radical case" which argued for "a climate in which children come to view all consensual sex, including consensual paedophilia, positively and without guilt may be necessary for the welfare of everyone".

O'Carroll moved that a relationship between adults and children could proceed on a basis of signals being interpreted saying " … the man might start by saying what pretty knickers the girl was wearing, and he would be far more likely to proceed to the next stage of negotiation if she seemed pleased by the remark".

By 1981 O'Carroll had been jailed for the contact advertisements in PIE publications offering to put people in touch with child pornography distributors.

In 1984 the group was disbanded and in the years that followed a number of its senior members were sentenced for paedophilia offences.

In 2006 the last of the leading PIE associates was jailed. David Joy was sentenced to 18 months after 1,129 of the worst level of child pornography images were found at his Leicestershire home. The images were of children aged between one and 13.

The judge warned him that he may never be eligible for parole because of his commitment to paedophilia.

He said: "It's clear that you hold firmly to a set of beliefs involving sexual activity with adults and children.

"Those beliefs are wholly in variance to the views held by most members of society, views that most of society would find abhorrent."

Many in 2014 find it hard to believe that such a group existed openly but as the Tory MP Nadine Dorries recently pointed out in a tweet: "In 70's following legalisation of homosexuality (rightly) and a decade of 'free love' organisations like PIE genuinely thought they were next."

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Pistorius At Gun Range: Exclusive Pictures

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, in Johannesburg

Pictures have emerged of the Paralympian Oscar Pistorius demonstrating his prowess at a gun range, months before he shot dead his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home.

The athlete will appear in court on Monday accused of her murder in a case which will make South African history as the first to be broadcast live for millions around the world to follow.

A series of still photographs show the double amputee runner firing the same silver 9mm pistol he used when he shot Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

The athlete is accused of deliberately targeted his girlfriend after a jealous row. But the runner says he shot her after mistaking her for a burglar.

Pistorius is a well-known gun enthusiast. He went to gun ranges regularly and the pictures illustrate not only his familiarity with weapons but also how much of a marksman he is.

He is seen firing at a water melon which explodes as the athlete hits it right in the centre.

A voice which sounds very much like Pistorius' is heard remarking afterwards: "It's not as soft as brains but f*** it is a zombie stopper", as his friends shriek in delight.

In other rare footage, the Paralympian is seen as a 17-year-old schoolboy larking around with his fellow pupils.

He had taken up running with blades a few month earlier and had gone on to compete in the 2004 Athens Paralympics, bringing back a gold medal.

But the young man with an incredible talent for running is self-effacing and sweetly innocent, thanking his "dorm buddie" for all their support.

Pistorius is a well-known gun enthusiast

He goes on to speculate what it would have been like to have had legs. Pistorius' legs were amputated below the knee just before he turned one, after it was discovered he had been born without a fibula in either limb.

But at 17, Pistorius says: "Everything happens for a reason. I wouldn't have taken up running if I'd had legs."

The athlete's knowledge of guns and weapons will be examined at his trial.

He says he has a strong fear of intruders after previous burglaries and "death threats" and he kept his 9mm pistol underneath his bed because of this fear - despite living on a residential estate with 24-hour security.

It was this pistol he reached for in the early hours of Valentine's Day when he says he heard a noise from the bathroom area and thought it was an intruder.

In a sworn affidavit, he said the bedroom was "pitch dark" so he failed to see his girlfriend was not in the bed.

Reeva Steenkamp was shot at Pistorius' home in Pretoria

He says he ran towards the bathroom and then fired four shots at the toilet cubicle, where unbeknown to him, his girlfriend had gone to relieve herself.

Three of the bullets hit his lover. Pistorius says she died in his arms. The prosecution says he intended to kill her after the couple had a jealous row.

In the pictures on the gun range, he is also seen shooting alongside the South African Springbok rugby star Francois Hougaard, who was romantically linked with Ms Steenkamp at the same time she was dating Pistorius.

The two men appear to be good friends, both enjoying a pastime popular with many well-to-do South Africans.

The trial is scheduled to go on for three weeks.

:: Sky News will have live coverage of the trial from Monday, with a special highlights programme at 9.30pm.

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'Cut Snobbery' To Get Youth Back In Work

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Correspondent

Making it compulsory for young people to improve their maths and English, as well as a Ucas-style website for work-based training, are among the latest Government plans to cut youth unemployment.

In a speech at a school in South London later, Nick Clegg will announce changes to how young people are helped to get into training and employment.

The Deputy Prime Minister will say: "Together, these changes will help us simplify your choices, end the snobbery surrounding vocational education that limits your prospects and support you as you make these decisions.

"We want every young person to be able to follow their chosen path.

"This is my commitment to you - to do whatever we can to ensure you get an equal shot at the life you want."

Nick Clegg will announce the plans in South London

Earlier this week the Lib Dem leader said there are record numbers of people going to university, with the number of people coming from disadvantaged backgrounds rising faster than average.

But this latest announcement will target the six out of ten young people who choose not to go to university and decide instead to go straight to work.

It will include plans for each local area to set up a website similar to the Ucas university application system, but this time dedicated to work-based training including apprenticeships or other vocational courses.

There will also be a focus on basic skills, so any 18-21-year-old who is looking for a job and does not have a C-grade in GCSE maths and English will retake the qualification or be given equivalent training to improve their basic skills.

If people refuse to do this training, they would not get their benefit.

Schools are also being encouraged to give better career advice, and 16 or 17-year-olds will also be able to get advice in job centres.

Work experience will be offered to any young person who has not had a job for six months.

The latest unemployment figures found the number of young people out of work had fallen to 917,000, however the director of the British Chambers of Commerce recently said 16 to 24-year-olds are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than members of the workforce as a whole.

:: Nick Clegg will be live on Sky News at 7.35am. Watch on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

:: The Deputy Prime Minister's speech will be live on Sky News at 10am.

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Pre-Nups Should Be Legally Binding, Says Report

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs Editor

Pre-nuptial agreements should become legally binding in court, according to an influential report.

The body which reviews law in England and Wales wants them to have contractual force, and is calling on parliament to change the law.

"Pre and post-nuptial agreements are becoming more commonplace but the courts will not always follow them and lawyers are therefore not able to give clear advice about their effect," said Professor Elizabeth Cooke, Law Commissioner for property, family and trust law.

"(Our recommendations) would give couples autonomy and control, and make the financial outcome of separation more predictable.

"We have built in safeguards to ensure that they cannot be used to impose hardship on either party, nor to escape responsibility for children or to burden the state."

Pre-nups have traditionally been treated with suspicion by English courts, but have gradually become more and more influential after a series of rulings recognising their terms.

In 2010 the Supreme Court upheld the terms of German heiress Katrin Radmacher's pre-nup in a landmark ruling that lawyers say has made the agreements more popular.

Divorce lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt said: "We have seen an increase in pre-nups since Radmacher.

"And what we have especially noticed is an increase in demand for pre-nups from women. They have a property that they have acquired before a marriage, which they want to protect.

"Pre-nups are legal in the US, Australia, and many European countries. But some say that aspects of British culture are unique and make their use more difficult.

"For many English women, money is a dirty word, whereas in America for example, women are comfortable discussing money openly. 90% of the women I see don't have a clue what their husbands are earning and what assets they have.

"I worry that if pre-nups are enforced by the courts, women will be put in a position where they won't want to spoil the wedding by suddenly saying its off because the terms of the pre-nup are unreasonable."

Yet divorce in England and Wales is on the rise. Some 42% of marriages are now expected to end in divorce.

In 2012 the number of couples divorcing increased to 118,140, up from 117,558 the previous year.

The prevalence of divorce has led to more calls for pre-nups to be recognised, provided they are not unfair.

The Law Commission said its recommendations did include the necessary safeguards, and that pre-nups would only be enforced if both parties were provided for.

Prof Cooke said: "We believe that married couples and civil partners should have the power to decide their own financial arrangements, but should not be able to contract out of their responsibilities for each other's financial needs, or for their children."

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NHS Staff Should Be Trained To Spot Abuse

Doctors and nurses should be trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse to help, according to new guidance.

An estimated two million people experience domestic abuse in England and Wales every year - and experts believe these figures are likely to underestimate the problem.

One in three women and almost one in five men will experience it at some point in their lives.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) wants a wider understanding in health and social care to help victims.

Doctors and nurses - who come into contact with victims - are being asked to be more aware of the signs of abuse and how to deal with it.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health at Nice, said: "Everyone in society needs to understand both the extent of the problem and the damage it causes.

"It can affect anyone - particularly women and children - but also men, regardless of age, geographical location, income, relationship type, family set-up or ethnic origin.

"It causes significant short and long-term health problems, not only for the victim but for those around them, and can lead to criminal and civil sanctions."

The measures include ensuring people who use services are given maximum privacy - for example by arranging reception areas so people cannot be overheard.

Gene Feder, professor of primary health care at the University of Bristol and chair of the group which developed the Nice guidance, said: "We need to wake up to the high prevalence of domestic abuse and its impact on our patients.

"The doctors and nurses in general practice need training: to ask safely about abuse, about how to respond effectively, and about how to help by encouraging patients to go to local specialist domestic violence services."

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Lee Rigby's Killers Could Die Behind Bars

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby will learn later if they are to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey at 2pm for the gruesome killing outside Woolwich barracks in south east London.

In May last year the pair ran the fusilier down in a car, leapt out and then began a sustained and frenzied attack on the motionless body of the solider.

During the trial the jury was told "Michael Adebolajo made a serious and almost successful attempt to decapitate him".

Adebolajo argued in court he was a "soldier of Allah" acting as part of a wider conflict between the west and the Islamic world.

Growing up in and around London, Adebolajo and Adebowale had both been involved in gang crime, drugs and then, at different times, converted to Islam.

Adebolajo travelled to Kenya in 2010 hoping to get to Somalia but was detained by the authorities and deported back to Britain.

Authorities are looking to see if the murder could have been prevented

He was being tracked by the UK security services and had resisted efforts to try to persuade him to work with intelligence agents.

The jury at the murder trial were unanimous in their guilty verdicts over the murder but cleared Adebolajo and Adebowale of attempting to murder a police officer in the aftermath of the attack.

Dramatic footage was played in court showing how Adebolajo sprinted at armed officers with a knife held aloft - with such an immediate threat an officer opened fire from the backseat and Adebolajo fell just yards from the police team.

The trial ended on December 19 but sentencing was delayed until a ruling at the Court of Appeal over the validity of whole life tariffs where prisoners expect to die in prison.

Last week a ruling backed the legality of the whole life tariff and it is understood to be one of the options open to the judge when he passes sentence on Adebolajo and Adebowale this afternoon. 

An Intelligence and Security Committee in Westminster is also examining whether any opportunities to prevent the murder were missed by the authorities.

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Teachers Told To 'Get Tough' On Bad Behaviour

Misbehaving pupils face a return to the days of writing out lines hundreds of times or being told to pick up litter under a major overhaul of school discipline.

Education Secretary Michael Gove says he wants a return to traditional classroom discipline and is urging teachers not be afraid of "getting tough" on bad behaviour in schools.

He will set out a list of new guidelines for teachers, to be issued this week, that will say "tough but proportionate" punishments such as writing lines "are just as crucial to an effective education as praising and rewarding good behaviour".

The "community service" sanctions could include picking up litter in the playgrounds, weeding, mopping dirty floors and removing graffiti.

Pupils could also be ordered to report to school early, attend weekend detentions, or forfeit privileges such as joining in a non-uniform day.

Mr Gove, who has been critical of "trendy" teaching methods, told The Mail on Sunday: "Writing lines is tedious, monotonous, boring - and a perfect punishment for bad behaviour. Children need to learn the importance of strong discipline and to understand that misbehaving at school has consequences."

Mr Gove blames Labour for 'decline in education standards'

"We are making crystal clear to teachers that telling children to write lines is an entirely appropriate punishment.

"These new guidelines will give teachers the confidence to be tougher on bad behaviour and ensure every child has the chance to learn in a controlled, orderly environment."

Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig said: "Mr Gove has blamed Labour for a decline in standards and says the party left office with '600 pages of confusing, dense, contradictory guidance for teachers on how to manage behaviour'.

"He calls it 'mind-numbing waffle' and says the new Tory guidance will be a handy 50 pages."

He added: "Labour have already hit back. Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has said Cameron and Gove have dropped the ball on discipline, and their decision to allow unqualified teachers into the classroom on a permanent basis means we have teachers who lack the training required to keep order."

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Flood-Hit Parts Of Britain Face Further Woe

Continuing high tides, heavy downpours and gale force winds are expected to bring further risks of flooding today in already swamped parts of the UK and Republic of Ireland.

UK forecasters warn the coast of Wales and southwest England, including the coasts and tidal areas of Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, will continue to bear the brunt of the weather.

There are currently more than 400 flood alerts, warnings and severe warnings in place across England and Wales, according to the Environment Agency.

Of those, three are severe flood warnings - the highest level of alert meaning there is an imminent danger to life - issued along the Severn estuary, near Gloucester.

Flooding in central Limerick, Ireland (pic: Sean Keogh/@Fame_For_Sale)

On Saturday in the Republic of Ireland dozens of people were rescued and the army was drafted in to deal with "unprecedented" flooding in Limerick City after the river Shannon burst its banks.

With gusts of almost 80mph in coastal areas of the country, several parts were hit by flooding and at one stage 5,500 homes and properties were left without power, 4,000 of them in Ennis, Co Clare.

Several flights out of Dublin airport were cancelled because of the strong winds.

Environment Agency staff have been hard at work near the Somerset village of Burrowbridge, where several road closures remain in place.

Large waves caused by high winds and spring tides batter Lahinc

Road access to the village from the neighbouring Moorlands has been shut off, with several large-scale pumps being used to direct the water out into the bursting River Barrett.

Huge sandbags have been placed by the waters edge, along with several signs erected by residents urging the authorities to "dredge the river".

In the north of England, Cumbria County Council said its workers had to deal with a "major weather incident" in West Cumbria - after 150 tons of debris brought on the by the floods washed up on a road.

In west Wales 10 people were rescued after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a big wave near Newgale.

Milford Haven Coastguard was contacted just after 7pm last night with reports the bus was stuck on the seafront and was surrounded by water. The wind at the time was gusting over 50mph.

The Anchor Bleu in Bosham (pic Stephen Sumner)

Meanwhile, tests for Sky News have found floodwater in Somerset, where the floods have persisted for weeks, contains 60 times the amount of safe bacteria for agricultural water.

Microbiologist Nathaniel Storey, who carried out the research, said the results were not unexpected given the extent of the flooding.

"It's perhaps unsurprising considering there's septic tanks in these people's gardens that are overflowing and animals within close proximity," he told Sky News.

"Therefore all this excrement that's in these areas is being dredged up by the floodwater and taken into houses and into gardens."

Mr Storey predicted it would take "about two to three months" for the bacterial levels to drop significantly, and warned that those involved in the clean-up operation must take precautions such as washing hands.

Some areas of Somerset has been under several inches of stagnant water

David Cameron has admitted it was "not acceptable" for people to have to live in the conditions they have faced for the past month and said dredging would begin "as soon it is safe to do so".

But Ian Liddell-Grainger, Conservative MP for Bridgwater in Somerset, said the county's constituents were "sick to death" of the situation in the South West.

The MP hit out at the Environment Agency for what he described as its failure to dredge the river, and called on the Government to hand over money that would bring a reprieve to beleaguered communities.

Following a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee yesterday, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said that all requests from local authorities and emergency services for additional support had been met.

"Everything possible is being done over the weekend to help those affected by flooding and to prepare for the further bad weather and high tides forecast overnight and into next week," he said.

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Weather: Rain And High Tides Are 'Risk To Life'

Heavy rain, large waves and strong winds are expected to create a "significant risk to life", as parts of Britain are hit by another band of severe weather.

The Environment Agency warned "extraordinary measures" may be taken in Gloucestershire on Saturday to keep back tidal and river floods.

It issued severe flood warnings - meaning there is an imminent danger to life - for several parts of the county and the coasts of Cornwall and north Devon, where a spring tide and stormy seas whipped up by gusts of more than 60mph pose a serious threat.

:: Click here for live updates from across the UK

The Severn laps over a road in Arley, Worcestershire. Pic: Neill Woodward

Further warnings are in place along the length of the River Severn amid fears it could burst its banks.

Flood barriers have already been installed in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and Bewdley, Worcestershire, as the water level rises.

The Environment Agency warned against all non-essential travel amid fears drivers could become stranded, while Gloucestershire Police urged people to stay away from river banks.

England and Wales are covered by flood warnings and alerts

In the Republic of Ireland, Munster, Leinster, Connacht, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan were told to prepare for possible flooding, while communities in west Wales and along the south coast from Dorset to Kent were also put on alert.

Hundreds of university students in Aberystwyth were told to leave accommodation on the town's seafront amid fears high tides could hit the town for the second time in a month.

As well as wind and rain, the Met Office warned of snow for Northern Ireland and parts of western Scotland, as well as icy stretches on roads across much of the UK.

As heavy rain fell in the South, snow swept across parts of the North

Wintry weather swept across northern areas on Friday, closing the Lake District's exposed Kirkstone Pass and causing hazardous driving conditions elsewhere.

The latest forecasts will be met with trepidation in flood-stricken communities in Somerset, where the military is on standby to help with the relief effort.

On Tuesday, Prince Charles will meet people who remain cut off by water after the wettest January on record.

Residents in the village of Muchelney, Somerset, have been cut off

Some residents have criticised the Government and the Environment Agency for what they say is a lack of action to prevent the floods.

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Flooding: PM's 'Enormous Sympathy' For Victims

David Cameron has admitted a "long-term" action plan is needed to reduce the devastating impact of flooding on communities.

With heavy rain, large waves and strong winds expected to create a "significant risk to life" in parts of south and west England this weekend, the Prime Minister said he had "enormous sympathy" for people whose homes had been swamped.

He insisted the Government was doing "everything we can to help people recover as quickly as possible".

However, he admitted there was work to do, especially in Somerset, where some residents remain cut off after the wettest January on record.

In a letter to the Western Daily Press, Mr Cameron said: "Like everybody across the country I feel enormous sympathy for the people who live on the Somerset Levels and are suffering from the devastating impact of the flooding."

He added: "We need long-term action to reduce the risk of this happening again. That is why (Environment Secretary) Owen Paterson is working with the Environment Agency (EA) and local agencies in Somerset to deliver a robust plan for the next 20 years.

"Flooding wreaks havoc in communities and businesses. And the impact on people's lives cannot be underestimated.

"I want to reassure people in Somerset that I am making sure everything that can be done is being done - every resource is being made available to keep Somerset moving and make it a prosperous place for those that live and work there."

The Somerset Levels have seen weeks of flooding this winter

The Prime Minister said plans to dredge rivers will begin "as soon it is safe to do so" and the EA will spend "the coming months improving river flows" across the south west, dredging and weed clearance.

Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis has claimed a lack of river dredging for the past 40 years has worsened the impact of the flooding in Somerset.

"The EA decided to abandon the dredging for the sake of the river bank and they sold the wonderful dredging machines for scrap," said the dairy farmer.

"Can you believe it? That was 40 years ago. This (flooding) is the result of that decision."

He said it only used to be that the area flooded every 20 years. "There is flooding every year now; it's a serious disaster, a serious problem. It's impossible to live there and run the whole dairy industry.

"We've been campaigning for years to get this sorted out. Finally, I think the Prime Minister is going to deal with it and get the money to do the job, but it's taken a long time to get there.".

Mr Eavis, who farms at Pilton, on the edge of the Somerset Levels, spoke out after its was announced that Prince Charles will visit flood-stricken communities in the South West.

The visit, on Tuesday, had been planned in advance of the floods for Charles to learn how communities coped with similar problems in 2012.

He is likely to receive a warmer reception than Environment Secretary Owen Paterson who received a hostile reaction from locals when he visited on Monday.

Residents said they were living in "Third World" conditions - with "overflowing" septic tanks and water in their homes.

Emergency workers help people leave the cut-off village of Muchelney

Military personnel are currently on standby to move in to flood-hit Somerset, with further heavy rain and high tides due to hit parts of the UK in the next 48 hours.

An amber severe weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for southwest England, parts of which have been flooded for more than a month.

The public has been warned of significant disruption from flooding across the Somerset Levels.

Pat Flaherty, deputy chief executive of Somerset County Council, said: "With potential for high winds and high tides and more rain... falling on an already soaked catchment we have potential for further flooding over the weekend.

"And with that, ongoing flooding for a number of weeks to come.

"We're still working very closely with the military who remain in Somerset, planning with us and we also have the resilience of knowing that their equipment and personnel are ready to be mobilised should we require them."

The Ministry of Defence has tweeted that personnel involved in helping with Somerset floods are drawn from all three services, with the majority from Taunton-based 40 Commando Royal Marines.

In addition to vehicle crews, up to 100 military personnel are on stand-by for duties likely to include sandbag filling and loading.

The Red Cross has also sent its 7.5-ton Unimog, an emergency supply vehicle capable of driving through deep floodwater.

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