21/05/2014

Other News In Brief

Voters Warned Not To Take 'Selfies'

The Electoral Commission has issued a warning to voters not to take "selfies" while at the polling booth.

Polling stations staff have been told to stop people taking photographs of themselves over fears that "selfies" posted to social media sites could threaten the secrecy of the ballot.

The commission has told staff to put up signs warning people not to take photographs.

Under Section 66 of the Representation of the People's Act it is a criminal offence to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote - or to communicate the unique identification number on the ballot paper.

The Electoral Commission fears people taking selfies could accidentally reveal details about how they, or someone else, has voted, potentially putting them in breach of the Act.

Police Hunt Jewel Theft After Phone Left Behind Has His Picture As Screensaver

Police are hunting a man suspected of stealing £18,000 worth of jewellery on 18 May.

Police say they identified the man from a mobile phone thought to have been left at the scene by the thief, which had his picture as the screensaver.

He has been identified as 27-year-old French national Germain Ibrahim Fofana.

Police say that Mr Fofana entered the shop on the day of the robbery with a woman pushing a pram and asked to look at engagement rings.

They say that around thirty minutes later Mr Fofana returned to the store, again asking to see some engagement rings and a wedding band, but once the assistant had handed the rings over, he allegedly ran from the store.

British Journalist Detained By Ukrainian Security Forces

A 35-year-old British journalist has been detained by Ukrainian security forces, the BBC have reported.

According to reports Graham Phillips was stopped at a check point in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine on Tuesday.

Mr Phillips works as a freelance journalist and had been contributing to Russia Today.

Russia Today said Mr Phillips had called to tell them of his detention but they had since lost all contact with him.

(MH/CD)

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