News in Brief

The Conservatives have given details of plans to cut police bureaucracy, saying that police should be able to charge people with minor offences rather than prepare files for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Police ‘too hasty’ to suspect McCanns

Portugal’s top policeman has said that detectives were hasty in making Madeleine McCann’s parents suspects in her disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann were named as “arguidos” – or formal suspects – four months after their daughter vanished from their holiday flat in Praia da Luz. Alipio Ribeiro, the national director of the PolÍcia Judici?ria (PJ) – Portugal’s CID – said he believed that there “perhaps should have been another assessment” before this happened.

The PJ is leading the investigation into what happened to Madeleine on May 3. In an interview with Radio Renascença in Portugal, Mr Ribeiro emphasised that he did not give his officers orders about who should be named an arguido. But he said there was a “certain hastiness” in making the McCanns suspects.

Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ spokesman, welcomed the comments. He said: “It follows that there is no case for Kate and Gerry to answer.”

The McCanns’ official Find Madeleine website has been relaunched after a £2,500 revamp.

Bosses paid bonuses for poor performance

More than a quarter of chief executives receive bonuses even if their company’s profits barely keep pace with inflation.

A study by the Bow Group, a centre-right think-tank, found that 27 per cent of FTSE 100 chief executives have contracts that continue to pay bonuses if profits rise by as little as 1 per cent above inflation. Nearly one in ten firms will still pay bonuses if profits fail to beat inflation.

Christopher Mahon, the report’s author, said: “Boardroom bonuses should reward exceptional performance and should not be paid by default. Setting very low performance targets encourages a ‘bonuses for nothing’ culture where merely standing still is rewarded.”

Cameron wants fun put back for children

David Cameron will offer support to fearful parents today by urging them to form teams of volunteers to take turns keeping an eye on children in play-parks or as they walk to school (Greg Hurst writes). He will call for a cultural change to remove bars such as “no ball games” signs and urge police and councils to let youngsters enjoy childhood. The concept coincides with the start of a review of childhood by the Tory universities spokesman, David Willetts.

The Tories have also recruited the former heads of government watchdogs, Sir David Arculus, John Tiner and Teresa Graham, to review business regulation.

Crowds salute troops’ return home

Soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan and Iraq were given a rapturous reception in their regiment’s home town yesterday. More than 1,500 people lined the streets in the Oxfordshire town to cheer 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps.Captain Geoff Murray, 39, who served in Kabul, said: “I find it hard to believe there could be a better turnout anywhere across the country.” Haydn Jones, 80, expressed his admiration for the troops. “It’s wonderful to see so many people turn out to welcome our soldiers home. They’re doing a grand job.”

Clowns congregate to celebrate hero

It’s an age-old joke: a clown stares through a camera lens then squirts his hapless victim. But this one looks as if he is intent on truly capturing the moment at the annual church service to celebrate the life of Joseph Grimaldi, one of the country’s most celebrated clowns. Hundreds of clowns gathered at Holy Trinity Church in Hackney, East London, to celebrate the life of Grimaldi, who died 70 years ago. He excelled at stage buffoonery and set the standard for the modern clown. The service has been a tradition since 1946. Clowns have been able to attend in costume since 1967.

Soldiers sidelined

One in 14 infantrymen is either sick or injured, according to parliamentary figures, leaving battalions in the Iraq and Afghanistan theatres increasingly overstretched. The emergence of the figures, relating to 10 battalions sent to Afghanistan, follows the disclosure in The Times last week that army recruits were having their combat training cut so that they could be rushed to Afghanistan.

Sneezing mice

The first mouse to catch a cold could open doors to new asthma treatments. Researchers have created a laboratory mouse that is susceptible to rhinoviruses, which cause most common colds. Sebastian Johnston, from Imperial College London, said: “These mice should provide a major boost to research efforts to develop new treatments for the common cold, as well as for more potentially fatal illnesses.”

Fluoride backed

The Health Secretary is to reopen the debate on adding fluoride to the water supply. Alan Johnson will argue tomorrow that fluoridation is an “effective and relatively easy way” to help poor children by preventing later dental problems. Critics say adding fluoride has been linked to bone cancer.

Apologies also lost

More than 100,000 families did not receive the letter of apology they were promised from the Government after their personal details were lost by Revenue & Customs last year. Letters sent to 1.4 per cent of the 7.25 million households affected were returned because the address held by authorities was incorrect.

Ukip ‘will not split eurosceptic vote’

The UK Independence Party will not stand candidates against Eurosceptics from the Conservatives or Labour in the next general election, its leader Nigel Farage said yesterday.

Mr Farage said that Ukip would put what it saw as the national interest ahead of party advantage by standing aside in constituencies where it risked splitting the eurosceptic vote.

He said he expected Ukip to achieve its highest share of the vote in next year’s elections to the European Parliament, when it will campaign on the back of the Government’s refusal to grant a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

War on cowboys

New “scambuster” teams are to go to war on cowboy builders, cold-call conmen, rogue traders and e-mail swindlers. John Hutton, the Business Secretary, has announced funding of £7.5 million to set up teams across the country. Mr Hutton said: “Cold-calling fraudsters who prey on the elderly and vulnerable bring fear to our communities. We are determined to bring them to justice.”

Polygamy benefits

People in polygamous marriages are to be allowed to continue to claim income support, after a review found that the current system does not unfairly favour them, the Department for Work and Pensions said. Although marriage to multiple spouses is a crime in Britain, the welfare system recognises as valid polygamous marriages that take place in countries where such arrangements are legal.

Sneezing mice

The first mouse to catch a cold could open doors to new asthma treatments. Researchers have created a laboratory mouse that is susceptible to rhinoviruses, which cause most common colds. Sebastian Johnston, from Imperial College London, said: “These mice should provide a major boost to research efforts to develop new treatments for the common cold, as well as for more potentially fatal illnesses.”

Surfer dies on wave

A top surfer has died of a heart attack while riding a wave on holiday. Ian Davies, 50, from Bridgend, South Wales, a former international champion, had travelled to Costa Rica with friends and was surfing for fun when he was seen to fall from his board. His friend Bill Webber said: “Ian was a legend in the sport. He surfed with the most laid-back and natural style that most of us could only dream of.”

Altar agreement

Many brides would like their bridesmaids to sign agreements promising not to put on weight or get pregnant before their big day, a survey suggests. Almost half of those questioned said that they would sack a bridesmaid who did not abide by the contract, according to the survey, commissioned by You & Your Wedding magazine, which has produced a draft agreement for brides-to-be to use.