Real World News

Paedophile hunters: Should police be working with vigilantes? By Alex Bish & Matt Davison BBC News 9 December 2016 From the section Magazine Media captionSelf-appointed paedophile hunter ShanePaedophile hunters who pose as children to snare potential child abusers are increasingly working with law enforcers. They claim to have helped secure more than 90 convictions so far. But should we be relying on vigilantes to do the police's work? In the car park of a DIY superstore situated on the edge of the London commuter belt, a very 21st Century law e…

Anti-fracking activist Tina Rothery spared £55k legal bill 9 December 2016 From the section Lancashire Image caption Tina Rothery said she was "delighted" after she walked out of court An anti-fracking campaigner who failed to comply with the courts has been spared a £55,000 legal bill. Tina Rothery was fined after taking part in a three-week protest at a field in Lancashire, which was earmarked for shale gas exploration, in 2014. She initially refused to provide her financi…

Why watching sport on TV is not a black and white issue By Bill Wilson Business reporter, BBC News 9 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright HULTON ARCHIVE Image caption The 1970 FA Cup final replay was watched by a TV audience of 28.49 million The days when 30 million people would gather around their TV sets to watch a football World Cup or FA Cup final are long gone, as the satellite …

Defined benefit pension transfer values 'shooting up' By Brian Milligan Personal Finance reporter 9 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Most workers are allowed to sell their defined benefit pensions for cash Six million people with defined benefit pensions have seen their transfer values shoot up in the last year, according to a big insurance company. Un…

Donald Trump phone call to Nicola Sturgeon 9 December 2016 From the section Scotland politics US President-elect Donald Trump and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have spoken on the phone. The two leaders discussed the "longstanding relationship between Scotland and the United States". Ms Sturgeon also emphasised shared values during the brief call, the Scottish government said. The call came a year after she stripped him of his role as business ambassador for Scotland, after his controversial remarks about Muslims. In a statement, th…

Calais child migrants: More than 750 brought to UK 9 December 2016 From the section UK Related Topics Europe migrant crisis Image copyright PA Image caption Campaigners from pro-refugee charity Citizens UK welcomed children arriving in the UK from the Calais migrant camp in October More than 750 children have been brought to the UK from the Calais migrant camp, the governmen…

Prince Andrew denies rift over daughters Eugenie and Beatrice 9 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA There is "no truth" in press claims of a split in the Royal Family over the future roles of Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, the Duke of York has said. Prince Andrew said in a statement he wished to stop "speculation and innuendo" relating to his daughters. He said it was "complete fabrication" to suggest he wanted titles for any future husbands of the princesses. He added that cont…

Murderer jailed for 1986 rape thanks to DNA testing advances 9 December 2016 From the section Nottingham Image caption John Bainbridge, pictured under a blanket following a court appearance in 1987, had previously been jailed for murder A convicted murderer has been given a second life sentence for a rape he committed 30 years ago - thanks to advances in DNA testing. John Bainbridge, now 54, raped a mother at knifepoint in front of her two children in Nottingham in May 1986. …

Youth coach Hugh Stevenson continued in football after child sex claims By Mark Daly, Martin Conaghan & Calum McKay BBC Scotland Investigations Unit 9 December 2016 From the section Scotland Media captionHugh Stevenson officiated at senior levels including this match at WembleyA suspected paedophile was allowed to carry on working in football for several years after being reported to police and the SFA, a BBC Scotland investigation has revealed. Youth coach and referee Hugh Stevenson, who is now dead, has been accused of a series of child sex off…

Charing Cross and Victoria stations end toilet charges 9 December 2016 From the section London Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Passengers were previously charged 50p to use toilet facilities at Victoria Station Toilet charges at two London railway stations have been stopped to compensate passengers for travel disruption. Network Rail said it has taken the decision to temporarily scrap charges at Charing Cross and Victor…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Paedophile hunters - their role within criminal justice 9 December 2016 Last updated at 18:00 GMT More than a dozen self-styled paedophile hunter groups established in the UK claim to be responsible for nearly 100 convictions. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy reports on their relationship with the police and role within the criminal justice system. View the full article

Media playback is unsupported on your device Birmingham couple buys house for asylum seekers 9 December 2016 Last updated at 17:41 GMT A couple saving for their own home bought a house for asylum seekers instead. Matthew and Steph Neville, from Birmingham, had been saving for years when they decided to help people who had nowhere else to turn. The couple are part of a Christian community and live in a church. Asylum seekers who have recently arrived in the country are expected to move into the terraced house, in an undisclosed West Midlands location, by Christmas. View the full article

Football sex abuse: Crewe 'knew of claims against Bennell' 26 November 2016 From the section UK Image caption Barry Bennell has served three jail sentences for child sex offences Crewe Alexandra were aware in the late 1980s of allegations that youth team coach Barry Bennell had sexually abused a junior footballer, a former director of the football club has said. Hamilton Smith told the Guardian senior officials had discussed sacking Bennell but decided there was not enough ev…