Other News In Brief

Men Deny French Student Deaths

Two men accused of murdering two French students have denied the charges. Nigel Edwards Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, and Danno Sonnex, 23, from Peckham, south London have denied murder, arson, burglary and false imprisonment. Mr Farmer and Mr Sonnex also deny charges of trying to pervert the course of justice. The charges relate to the deaths of Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bobomo, both 23, who were found bound and gagged with multiple stab wounds in the New Cross bedsit on 29 June. The two – who entered their pleas by video link – were remanded in custody by an Old Bailey court until 21 April next year.

Fatal Accident Inquiry Consultation Launched

A consultation began today as part of a Scottish Government-commissioned review of the existing laws on fatal accident inquiries (FAIs). This system of public inquiries is used whenever a death raises public concerns or happens in the workplace, or in police custody. The Government reports that between 35 and 80 inquiries have been held each year since devolution. This is set against roughly 14,000 reported deaths each year. At present FAIs are governed by legislation from 1976. The consultation will assess each stage of an inquiry – from its establishment, through investigation and reporting – to examine where improvements can be made. "The purpose of publishing this consultation paper is in order to inform interested parties of the principal issues to be considered by the review and to take their views on such issues," Lord Cullen, the head of the review, said.

New Deputy Chief Nursing Officer

David Foster has been appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health, it was announced today. David will replace Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Janice Sigsworth, who left the Department of Health in October this year. The appointment will take effect on 1 December. David's new role will focus on modernising nursing careers and driving up the quality of nursing and midwifery care as part of the Next Stage Review that set out reforms to the NHS. He has been working in the Chief Nursing Officer's team at the Department of Health since April 2008. His recent work has included responsibility for midwifery, acute care, workforce, education and clinical academic training issues.

Ten Arrested In Alcohol Fraud Investigation

Ten people from addresses in the London, Essex and Dorset area were arrested by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers early yesterday morning in connection with a suspected multi million pound excise and money laundering fraud. 'Alcohol Diversion' fraud is a sophisticated organised criminal attack on the excise duty system where bonded alcohol products are diverted onto the UK home market. Over 100 HMRC criminal investigators executed 13 search warrants at business and domestic addresses in London, Dartford, Hornchurch, Wanstead, Rayleigh, Shoeburyness, Bournemouth and Christchurch and overseas. Nine men and one woman were arrested in the operation.

(JM)