Six Metropolitan Police officers who dragged a black off-duty fireman from his car and shot him with a Taser should face charges of racial discrimination, a statutory watchdog says. The victim claims he was simply requesting assistance. Following a 20-month investigation into this case, the Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC) said there was noteworthy evidence the officers had profiled the fireman in a discriminatory manner. Now-retired Inspector David Burgum – the senior officer among the accused – denies the allegations levelled at him and his colleagues and questions fireman Kennedy-Macfoy’s motives throughout the case. He also strongly condemns the IPCC for being politicised and biased. The IPCC will pass the file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, suggesting that one particular constable could face criminal charges over the use of the Taser and there was a failure on behalf of the officers to act with courtesy, patience, integrity, professionalism, diplomacy or common sense.

After abuse was exposed at Winterbourne View care home in 2011 the NHS realised a stronger framework was needed to address serious shortcomings in the system currently in place supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism in the community. They commissioned a review, which resulted in a report published on Wednesday that suggests a framework to support people with learning disabilities and autism as they move out of hospitals and into the community. This framework introduces a charter of rights for patients and their families, giving them a ‘right to challenge’ decisions and the right to request a personal budget.It includes a  requirement for local decision-makers to follow a mandatory framework setting out who is responsible for which services and how they will be held to account;  a planned closure programme of ‘inappropriate’ in-patient facilities and improved training and education for NHS, local government and service provider staff.

30 November is St Andrew's Day, is 30th November and Prayer Scotland are calling for 500 to come to praise, pray and proclaim outside the Scottish Parliament - rallying to  a Trumpet Call at 2.45 p.m. Scotland’s Flag or Saltire (meaning cross) depicts how Andrew the disciple of Jesus was crucified for His faith. Many believe now is the time for the Church to step out into the public arena and speak out with one voice for their Christian faith. Laws have been passed breaking God's laws and the freedom, authority and truth of the Gospel are being eroded.  This Call is an opportunity for Christians to cry as one before the Lord, honouring and exalting the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of Scotland; repenting for personal and national sin and seeking forgiveness for the Church's turning away from clear biblical values. The day will be about honouring Jesus.

On Monday The Church of England today gave the final seal of approval to the appointment of women bishops, following the passing of legislation by the General Synod in July. At the Synod's meeting  at Church House, an amendment which states that ‘A man or woman may be consecrated into the office of bishop’ was written into Canon Law following a final show of hands. Six officers signed the instrument of enactment before members of the Synod. The House of Bishops was scheduled to meet immediately after the close of Synod. Archbishop of York John Sentamu, prayed for unity within the Church following the motion being carried. The legislation was approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords last month and has also already received royal assent.

A growing number of Christians in Britain who come from a Muslim background are facing persecution, warns Release International. They include Yasmin whose ex-husband planned to kill her. She was attacked in the street and taken under police protection because she became a Christian. Yasmin even relocated to another part of the country but her ex-husband tracked her down and demanded custody of their children. Her case is not isolated - Christian Concern For Our Nation have launched a safe haven initiative for Christian converts from Islam and offer confidential advice and support to those considering leaving Islam. They may even help individuals to relocate through a specialist team who will be the public link between those in danger and those offering refuge. They believe there are 1,100+ Muslim-background believers throughout the UK who are at risk. The real figure may be considerably higher. See also 

In today's society, growing older is often seen as a reason for sadness or regret. But the Methodist Church and the Church of England have published a new resource which urges Christians to celebrate and affirm the 'second half of life'. Through creative discussion material, 'Seasons of My Soul' offers people a chance to explore and share with one another key aspects of their lives and experiences. It focuses on eight themes for discussion; identity, memories, transition times, wisdom, roles and relationships, forgiveness and reconciliation, death and dying, and the celebration of life.‘Often when  talk about the demographic of church attendance, we concern ourselves more with those who are not within our church communities than with celebrating and resourcing those who are’, said Doug Swanney, Connexional Secretary for the Methodist Church. ‘Seasons of My Soul is a creative way of redressing this balance.’

More than 800,000 - or one in five - of all crimes reported to the police each year are not being recorded by officers, a report suggests. The problem is greatest for victims of violent crime, with a third going unrecorded. Of sexual offences, 26% are not recorded. An HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report looked at more than 8,000 reports of crime in England and Wales. The watchdog said the failure to record crime properly was ‘indefensible’. Home Secretary Theresa May described the findings as ‘utterly unacceptable’, but police representatives said the situation had improved since the study. An unrecorded crime is classed as one that is reported to the police but not recorded as an offence. It means an investigation into the alleged crime is unlikely to happen.

Children as young as four could have the chance to join savings clubs in an attempt to prevent them getting into debt later in life. The Church of England is proposing a network of clubs in primary schools, run by run by credit unions, to help raise children's financial awareness. Under the plans, they would be able to save small, regular amounts of money. They would also take part in running the groups, such as working as junior cashiers or bank managers. Parents and school staff could also sign up to the clubs, with mothers and fathers able to set up accounts to save for particular expenses, such as trips and school uniform. The Church says practical learning would be reinforced by classroom teaching materials. The proposed teaching resources would cover areas such as understanding the role money plays in our lives, how to manage money and managing risks and emotions associated with money.

The Church of England (C of E) is the latest institution to brand new standards requiring schools to actively promote ‘British values’ as dangerous and divisive. The Department for Education has been accused of rushing through a consultation on the school standards, which was published in July. The standards came into force in late September. The C of E’s submission to the consultation speaks of the ‘danger’ of regulating under such loose terms, describing the standards as a ‘negative and divisive approach’. Nigel Genders, Chief Education Officer for the C of E, cautioned that: ‘British values’ cannot be allowed to become a test or an assessment of whether somebody is ‘safe’ or ‘loyal’. Genders went on to argue that ‘extremism thrives when religion is banished to dark corners’. He added, ‘more importantly, if we reject all forms of religion from our schools, we are failing to prepare young people for the realities of life’.

A Christian pressure group is campaigning to oust a high-profile university professor who boasted about his 1,000 sexual conquests. Eric Anderson, 46, a Winchester University professor of sports studies, told a gathering of gay and lesbian students at Oxford that he liked sex with ‘16, 17, 18-year-old boys’. He dismissed Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, as a ‘total bigot’ and ‘liar’ and said ‘the damage that’s caused by child molestation is socially constructed by the western world’. The pressure group Because Children Matter wrote to Joy Carter, Winchester Universities vice-chancellor, urging her to dismiss the professor. It warned that the gay/lesbian group will distribute thousands of leaflets with the professors comments to members of the university’s board, head teachers of secondary schools in its area, students and members of the public. The university says it has reprimanded the professor for his remarks, but defended him as an ‘internationally renowned sociologist.’(Ps.5:4)