Appeal Following Murder In Forest Gate

On Monday police were alerted to the body of a man found at an address in Capel Road, Forest Gate, in east London. London Ambulance Service attended however the 37-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still informing next of kin and await formal identification. A post-mortem examination held on Tuesday 1 February at East Ham Mortuary gave cause of death as severe blunt trauma injuries to the head. The property in which the man was found, had recently been used as a squat. It is believed the victim had not been seen since Thursday 20 January and he may have been attacked as early as that date. Officers are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen or heard a disturbance or witnessed any activity at that house in the last few weeks and specifically around Thursday 20 January. An incident room has opened at the Homicide and Serious Crime Command under Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald. There have been no arrests at this stage.

Bell Re-Appointed At Civil Aviation Authority

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has re-appointed Dr Catherine Bell as a Non-executive Director of the Civil Aviation Authority for a further three years from 1 April. Dr Bell has been a member of the CAA Board since April 2006, after a career in the civil service. At the CAA, her work has included chairing the Remuneration Committee and membership of the NATS price control panel. She has also played an important role in implementing the changes to the corporate governance of the CAA recommended in Sir Joseph Pilling’s 2008 strategic review. Dr Bell’s time commitment to the CAA will reduce from the present two days per week to one, in line with other Non-executive Members of the Authority. There will be a corresponding reduction in her salary to £22,000 per annum, but with additional remuneration for chairing committees and participation in appeals hearings. In addition to her role at the CAA, Dr Bell is a Non-Executive Director of the United Utilities Group Plc and Ensus Ltd, and has recently been appointed as a Non-executive Director at the Department of Health; she will receive a salary of £15,000 per annum for this role. She is also a Governor of the London School of Economics and Chair of the Investment Committee of the Civil Service Benevolent Fund; neither of these positions is remunerated.

Defra Helps Companies Build Confidence In Green Claims

Defra has published new Green Claims Guidance to help companies describe the environmental credentials of their products in a way that people find easier to understand. The Guidance is designed to help consumers make more informed judgements about what they buy, prevent misleading claims and encourage the development of greener products. As people look to purchase more products promising less environmental impact they often have to face a confusing array of advertising labels. More products enter the market every day and they tend to bring a new crop of environmental terms along with them – while recycling is well understood newer phrases like ‘negative carbon footprint’ can seem more confusing. Research suggests that consumers find it difficult to know which products are better for the environment. At the same time, businesses faced with a crowded marketplace can find it difficult to communicate about genuine improvements they have made to their products. Environment Minister Lord Henley said: “Sales of ‘green’ goods contribute billions of pounds towards the economy while helping to reduce our impact on the environment. If people are making the effort to buy green it is only right that we try to make the process as easy as possible. Our guide will make things easier for both business and consumer – helping restore public faith in environmental advertising and acting as a resource for companies developing more sustainable products.”

(BMcN/GK)