September 6, 2010, 6:49 am
![Image]( "Head injury killed golf course man")
A young man whose severely burnt body was found at a golf course probably died from a blow to the head, detectives said.
An eight-hour post-mortem examination was conducted after the body was found by golfers as they walked between the 17th and 18th holes at the Dyke Golf Club on the outskirts of Brighton, East Sussex, just before noon on Saturday.
Detectives from Sussex Police's Major Crime Branch believe he had been murdered elsewhere before being taken to the golf club on the South Downs and set alight.
In an effort to identify him, police trawled missing person files and submitted a DNA sample for analysis to find out whether he was known to police.
Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles, leading the murder inquiry, said they had not established what caused the head injury and further tests were being conducted.
He said: "Initial results from the post-mortem, which took eight hours, suggest that this young man died from a head injury. We have not established yet what may have caused the injury and further examination of the body and tests are being carried out.
"We now know that the man was probably in his late teens or 20s, was 5ft 4in and of very slim build.
"What is particularly significant is that he had an upper dental plate with five false teeth, very unusual in a person of that age."
On Sunday, Mr Bowles said initial suspicions that the victim had been mutilated proved false following detailed examination of the scene.
Officers now believe a foot was removed by an animal as it dragged the body a few feet from the point at which he was torched.
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September 6, 2010, 6:49 am
![Image]( "Unpaid tax demand 'may be too late'")
People hit with an unexpected tax demand may be able to refuse to pay up as HM Revenue & Customs could have exceeded its own time limits in which to ask for the money, experts have said.
Under tax rules HMRC must issue demands for underpaid tax within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it became aware that people had underpaid.
It emerged over the weekend that nearly six million people have paid the wrong amount of tax through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system.
Around 4.3 million of these have paid too much and are due a refund, but 1.4 million have underpaid and will have to hand over an average of £1,428 each.
But if people provided HMRC with all the information they needed to get their tax code right, it should have used this information within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it was received to claw back the extra money.
If HMRC failed to do this, taxpayers can ask for an Extra Statutory Concession, also known as an ESC A19.
The latest round of errors date back to April 2008, meaning anyone who alerted HMRC to changes in their circumstances that affected their tax code before the start of the new tax year in April 2009 may be able to cite this clause.
Angela Beech, partner at chartered accountants Blick Rothenberg, said: "Those that receive these demands need to think before they automatically pay up.
"If you had given HMRC information that would have enabled them to adjust your tax code to make sure that you did pay the right amount of tax, then, if the time limit has passed for them to use that information, they cannot pursue you for the unpaid tax."
HMRC has begun sending out the first 45,000 letters to people who are affected, around 30,000 of whom are due a rebate, while 15,000 have underpaid tax.
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September 6, 2010, 7:46 am
![Image]( "May backs police in hacking case")
Home Secretary Theresa May said it was "right" for the police to consider any fresh newspaper phone-tapping evidence, amid mounting pressure on David Cameron's communications chief.
But Mrs May insisted the decision on whether to reopen the investigation was for Scotland Yard and ministers would not interfere.
The comments came after Number 10 communications chief Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, told police he would be happy to meet them voluntarily to discuss the latest claims.
Controversy over the case has erupted again after ex-NotW journalist Sean Hoare claimed Mr Coulson knew of eavesdropping tactics used during his time in charge.
The newspaper's former royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, were jailed in 2007 following disclosures that phones belonging to public figures had been targeted.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister retained full confidence in Mr Coulson, who has consistently denied any knowledge of the activities, and that the new allegations made no difference to his position.
But Labour MPs lined up to grill Mrs May on the issue after she was summoned to the Commons to answer an urgent question.
Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said he was reassured by the Met when in government last year that they had not received any allegations about other journalists.
The police had also pledged to take "all proper steps" to inform victims or suspected victims of phone tapping, he said.
"You must subject the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in this case to greater scrutiny in the light of this allegation and the new revelations from the New York Times," he insisted.
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September 6, 2010, 7:46 am
![Image]( "Rooney 'happy to play' amid claims")
Wayne Rooney is "happy to play" for England on Tuesday despite lurid headlines about his private life, manager Fabio Capello has said.
The player flew to Switzerland with the squad following allegations that he had sex with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their first child.
At a press conference in Basel, Capello insisted that all the players remained "focused on the game" ahead of the Euro qualifier.
Rooney, 24, who appeared grim-faced as he jetted off with the rest of the team from Luton Airport, has so far made no comment about the allegations.
But ahead of the second qualifier in the group stage, Capello suggested that the claims would not affect his game.
The 64-year-old Italian said: "He told me he is ready to play, he wants to play and I'm sure that he will play (on Tuesday)."
The England team manager added: "I spoke to him and he is happy to play."
Asked about the impact on the team ahead of the match, Capello said: "We are focused on the game, not about the private lives of the players."
England captain Steven Gerrard gave his support to Rooney during the press conference.
The Liverpool midfielder said of his international teammate: "Wayne is a big character. I have known him for a long time, he loves playing football."
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September 6, 2010, 7:46 am
![Image]( "Blair cancels book-signing session")
Tony Blair has cancelled a high-profile signing session of his new memoir in central London amid concerns over planned protests.
The former prime minister was due to attend the flagship Waterstone's store in Piccadilly on Wednesday - where anti-war campaigners had promised a hostile reception.
But he said he did not want to subject the public to the "inevitable hassle" protests would cause or use up police resources keeping order at the event.
Eggs and shoes were hurled by protesters and one attempted to make a citizen's arrest when Mr Blair signed copies of the book - A Journey - in Dublin.
Earlier, Mr Blair said he was considering scrapping Wednesday's planned follow up amid suggestions other groups, including the British National Party could also turn up.
Announcing the decision, Mr Blair said he would provide signed copies to the store for those who had planned to attend.
"However, I have decided not to go ahead with the signing as I don't want the public to be inconvenienced by the inevitable hassle caused by protesters.
"I know the Metropolitan Police would, as ever, have done a superb job in managing any disruption but I do not wish to impose an extra strain on police resources, simply for a book signing.
"I'm really sorry for those - as ever the majority - who would have come to have their books signed by me in person. I hope they understand."
Waterstone's said a limited amount of signed copies of A Journey will be available from the Piccadilly store from on Thursday, sold on a first come, first served basis, one copy per customer.
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September 6, 2010, 9:07 am
![Image]( "Officer 'will be hugely missed'")
The family of a British soldier who died in hospital in the UK after being injured in Afghanistan said he would be "hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives".
Captain Andrew Griffiths, 25, from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after he was wounded in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand province last month.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, the family of Capt Griffiths, who was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, said: "Andrew was a beloved son, brother and boyfriend who will be hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives.
"We are immensely proud of him and all that he has achieved in his all too short a life. He died doing a job he loved and excelled at."
A British soldier killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in southern Afghanistan was named by the MoD earlier as Lance Corporal Joseph Pool.
L/Cpl Pool, 26, from the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed in an explosion in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand on Sunday.
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September 6, 2010, 8:25 pm
![Image]( "Gillard to form minority government")
Prime minister Julia Gillard's Labour Party will form a minority government to rule Australia after two independent politicians backed her coalition.
The decision announced by Tony Windsor and Robb Oakeshott gives Ms Gillard's party control of 76 seats in the 150-seat House or Representatives.
The decision means Ms Gillard can continue with her plans to introduce a 30% tax on iron ore and coal miners' burgeoning profits and make Australia's biggest polluters pay for carbon gas emissions.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott's coalition won 73 seats and another independent, Bob Katter, announced earlier on Tuesday that he preferred Mr Abbott as prime minister, partly because he opposed the mining and carbon tax plans.
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September 6, 2010, 8:49 pm
![Image]( "MPs to grill officer over phone row")
A top Scotland Yard officer is facing a grilling from MPs over the newspaper phone-hacking row threatening to engulf David Cameron's communications chief.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates is due to be questioned by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee amid intense pressure on Number 10 aide Andy Coulson.
Mr Yates has indicated that he is willing to reopen the investigation into allegations that News of the World reporters accessed mobile phones belonging to public figures, if new evidence is forthcoming.
Mr Coulson, who was editor of the newspaper at the time, has also volunteered to meet officers to discuss the latest claims. He denies any knowledge of the activities - for which the NotW's ex-royal editor Clive Goodman and a private detective were jailed in 2007.
Labour upped its attack over the row on Monday, summoning Home Secretary Theresa May to answer questions in the Commons after former NotW journalist Sean Hoare claimed Mr Coulson knew that illegal tactics were being used.
Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said he was reassured by the Met when in government last year that they had not received any allegations about other journalists.
The police also pledged to take "all proper steps" to inform victims or suspected victims of phone tapping, he said. "You must subject the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in this case to greater scrutiny in the light of this allegation and the new revelations from the New York Times," he insisted.
A spokesman for Mr Coulson said he had not been contacted by the police but was "happy" to meet with them following Mr Hoare's claims.
"Mr Coulson emphatically denies these allegations. He has, however, offered to talk to officers if the need arises and would welcome the opportunity to give his view on Mr Hoare's claims."
Downing Street said the Prime Minister retained full confidence in Mr Coulson, and that the new allegations made no difference to his position. Mr Cameron is due to return from paternity leave on Tuesday.
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September 6, 2010, 8:49 pm
![Image]( "Diamond named new head of Barclays")
Multi-millionaire banker Bob Diamond has been named as the next chief executive of banking group Barclays.
Mr Diamond, who is estimated to be worth £95 million, will take over from John Varley after the incumbent steps down on March 31 next year, the bank announced.
In a dramatic day for the banking sector, it is also expected that HSBC chairman Stephen Green will move on to become Trade Minister in the Government.
Mr Diamond, one of the world's highest paid bankers, joined the group in 1996 and currently serves as president and chief executive of Barclays Capital, the firm's investment arm.
The 59-year-old American said he was "honoured" to take on the role in "the critical period ahead".
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September 6, 2010, 8:49 pm
![Image]( "Hague: I've nailed sexuality rumour")
Foreign Secretary William Hague insists he has "nailed" false rumours of an inappropriate relationship with a former special adviser.
Mr Hague said the suggestions made about him and Christopher Myers were a "big lie", as he thanked colleagues and the public for their support.
The married minister - described by David Cameron as his effective Tory deputy - issued an extraordinary personal statement last week in an attempt to kill long-running speculation over his sexuality.
He disclosed that his wife of nearly 13 years Ffion had suffered a series of miscarriages as they tried to have children.
Although he admitted sharing a twin hotel room with Mr Myers during the General Election campaign, he insisted their relationship was purely professional.
Mr Hague expressed regret that the 25-year-old felt he had no choice but to quit rather than endure the "untrue and malicious" slurs.
Posting on social networking site Twitter, Mr Hague wrote: "Thanks for another day of very supportive comments.
"What was said about me was a big lie which I hope has been nailed. I am enjoying my work."
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September 6, 2010, 8:53 pm
![Image]( "Warning over poverty 'blind eye'")
An extra four million of the world's poorest children have died over 10 years because governments are "turning a blind eye" to those most in need, according to a report published by a leading charity.
The number of deaths of young children in developing countries has fallen but global targets will be missed if developing countries do not focus on helping the poorest communities, Save the Children said.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said it was a "global scandal" that children were dying at a rate of one every three seconds. He promised Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg would push for action at the forthcoming gathering in New York where world leaders will discuss progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Some nine million children a year are still dying "preventable deaths" often because of malnutrition and a lack of basic healthcare. But the toll has been made worse by the trend of "tackling the low hanging fruit", with many countries guilty of helping richer communities because it is "more convenient", according to the report, A Fair Chance of Life.
The target set for MDG4 was to reduce the number of deaths of under fives by two-thirds, but so far child morality has been reduced by just 28% since 1990.
Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children International's chief executive, said: "It is a disgrace that some countries are 'ticking a box' on child mortality without ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable children benefit equally.
"Nearly nine million children under the age of five die every year - many of them from easily preventable or treatable illnesses - just because they can't get to a doctor or because their parents can't afford food that is nutritious enough to keep them alive.
"Yet many governments are turning a blind eye to these deaths simply because it is easier or more convenient to help children from better-off groups.
"Governments must not be blind to the issue of equity, they must be held accountable for reducing child mortality across all groups in society, regardless of wealth or background.
"Every child has a right to survival and every government has an obligation to protect them. What's more, our research shows that prioritising the poor is one of the surest ways countries will reduce child mortality."
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September 6, 2010, 8:53 pm
![Image]( "Millions hit by Tube staff strike")
Millions of commuters are enduring travel chaos after London Underground workers began a fresh wave of 24-hour strikes - a move that will cost the economy almost £50 million.
Thousands of members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association walked out at 5pm on Monday, with another wave at 9pm, in protest against plans to axe 800 jobs.
The action, to be followed by further stoppages in October and November, will disrupt Tube services, used by millions of passengers every day.
London Mayor Boris Johnson criticised the industrial action as a "trumped-up and politically motivated" attempt to attack the coalition Government.
The strikes followed a 24-hour stoppage from 7pm on Sunday night by up to 200 maintenance staff at depots on the Jubilee and Northern lines in a separate row over pay and conditions, which the RMT said was "solidly" supported.
The RMT highlighted three recent incidents - fire scares at Euston and Oxford Circus and the arrest of a man with a sword and two loaded guns - as reasons for maintaining staffing numbers.
General secretary Bob Crow, who will join a picket line at Euston on Tuesday, said: "We have laid out the clearest possible evidence to the mayor and his officials that if he breaks his promises and slashes station staffing numbers he will be giving the green light to disaster, and yet he is failing to take any account of the hard facts of these three recent incidents - each of which could have had lethal consequences.
"Boris Johnson opposed these very cuts before he was elected and now stands accused of rank political opportunism as his officials take the axe to safety standards right across the Tube network with the prospect of worse to come this autumn. That's what RMT and TSSA are striking over - the whole future of a safe Tube system is now on the block."
Mr Johnson said new staffing proposals were "moderate and sensible" and accused the unions of "cynically deciding to try the patience" of commuters.
"They will undoubtedly succeed in causing disruption to Tube services," the mayor wrote in Monday's London Evening Standard.
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September 6, 2010, 8:53 pm
![Image]( "Taxpayers learn of payment errors")
Some of the nearly six million people who paid too much or too little income tax are to find out whether they are due a rebate or have to make more payments.
Around 5.7 million people have paid the wrong amount of tax through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system because of an HM Revenue & Customs blunder.
About 4.3 million of these have paid too much and are due a refund, but 1.4 million have underpaid and will have to hand over an average of £1,428 each.
HMRC has sent out the first 45,000 letters to people who are affected, around 30,000 of whom are due a rebate, while 15,000 have underpaid tax.
The remainder of people affected will be contacted between now and Christmas.
Experts said people hit with an unexpected tax demand may be able to refuse to pay up as HMRC could have exceeded its own time limits in which to ask for the money.
Under tax rules, HMRC must issue demands for underpaid tax within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it became aware that people had underpaid.
But if people provided HMRC with all the information they needed to get their tax code right, it should have used this information within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it was received to claw back the extra money.
If HMRC failed to do this, taxpayers can ask for an Extra Statutory Concession, also known as an ESC A19.
The latest round of errors date back to April 2008, meaning anyone who alerted HMRC to changes in their circumstances that affected their tax code before the start of the new tax year in April 2009 may be able to cite this clause.
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September 6, 2010, 8:53 pm
![Image]( "Vote referendum plan clears hurdle")
Controversial plans for a referendum on changing the Westminster voting system have comfortably cleared their first hurdle in the House of Commons.
But although legislation paving the way for a referendum on May 5 next year was passed with a majority of 59 on Monday night, there were signs of the tensions to come between the coalition partners.
Tory backbenchers lined up to speak against changing the first-past-the-post system, with one claiming the referendum was the "high price we have to pay" for the alliance with the Liberal Democrats - who have long demanded electoral reform.
Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who opened the debate on the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, insisted the legislation would restore faith in the way MPs were elected.
He conceded there were "different views" in the coalition over the arrangements for the referendum, and what outcome it should deliver. However, he said "where we emphatically agree is that the final decision should be taken not by us but by the British people".
Conservative backbencher Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest) said she would support the Bill because it was a "matter of honour" to fulfil the coalition agreement. Having a referendum was the condition for a stable government "but what a high price we have to pay" in both political and financial terms.
Tory former minister David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) said: "What I fear is that we will have a circumstance where maybe 30% of the population will turn out, maybe 15% or 16% will vote for this system and on that basis we will have the biggest change in our constitutional history for half a century."
Even though Labour supports moving to Alternative Vote, the party has opposed the Bill because it will also reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and equalise constituency sizes.
Shadow justice secretary Jack Straw challenged the timing of the plebiscite, claiming the chances of a yes vote will be diminished by the "deep unpopularity" of the Government by May. And he condemned the changes to the number and size of parliamentary constituencies as the "worst kind of political skulduggery".
But the attempt to derail the legislation failed when it was given a second reading by 328 votes to 269, Government majority 59.
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September 6, 2010, 8:53 pm
![Image]( "Osborne to back EU banking controls")
Chancellor George Osborne is to endorse sweeping European supervisory powers over banks and financial institutions in response to the economic crisis.
EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels are set to approve three new pan-European watchdog bodies to oversee the banking, insurance and securities markets across Europe.
The aim is better coordination of national financial services watchdogs as an early warning signal of any future economic disasters.
Mr Osborne has backed the move since taking office, insisting that the new system will still leave day-to-day financial supervision within the UK in the hands of national authorities.
But Open Europe, campaigning for EU reforms, said the plan represented a clear shift in power from the UK, giving EU officials a mandate to "interpret, apply and even enforce EU laws at the expense of national regulators", according to Open Europe director Mats Persson.
Unveiling a new Open Europe report which warns of a risk to the City of London, Mr Persson said: "This proposal is moving substantial control over financial services away from national authorities and governments. Once established, the EU supervisors are likely to extend their powers incrementally, since the proposal is designed to allow for more and more laws to come under their authority. While a single rulebook could benefit the City of London, the voting arithmetic within the supervisors leaves the UK in an unusually weak position to block unwelcome proposals. This, in turn, could expose the City to interventions from countries which don't share the UK's view of financial markets."
But a Government spokesman insisted the new supervisory arrangements were "a good deal for us", adding: "We are happy with this. Once it has been agreed by finance ministers, the technical details will be sorted out by national officials later this week or next week.
"But day-to-day supervision (of British banks and financial institutions) remains at national level - that is what we have said all along."
Mr Osborne and his colleagues will also discuss another post-crisis plan to tighten control on banks - a possible EU-wide levy on all finance houses to go to a central pot to fund any future wind-up of failing institutions, avoiding any repeat of the financial fall-out being absorbed by customers.
Mr Osborne has already announced that he will introduce a British levy at the start of next year, but with the proceeds going into general UK Treasury revenue.
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September 6, 2010, 11:22 pm
![Image]( "Gillard to remain as Australian PM")
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will lead Australia's first minority government in 67 years after two independent politicians threw their support behind her centre-left Labour Party.
The decision ended two weeks of uncertainty left by national elections which finished on a knife-edge.
Australia's first woman prime minister promised that her government would be stable over the next three years, although the defection of a single politician would bring down the Labour administration.
"Labour is prepared to deliver stable, effective and secure government for the next three years," she told reporters.
The independents' support means Ms Gillard can continue with her plans to introduce a 30% tax on iron ore and coal miners' burgeoning profits and make Australia's biggest polluters pay for carbon gas emissions.
Labour gained the ability to form a government for a second term after two independent politicians, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, joined her coalition more than two weeks after elections failed to deliver a clear winner for the first time since 1940.
Their decision gives Ms Gillard's party control of 76 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives and avoids the need for another round of polls.
Ms Gillard has rewarded the two rural-based politicians by promising 10 billion Australian dollars (£5.9 billion) in new investment on rural schools and hospitals.
She also announced that she had offered Mr Oakeshott a Cabinet post, which he had yet to accept. Mr Windsor had said he did not want such a job in the government.
Ms Gillard also said she would keep her promise to make her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, a senior Cabinet minister.
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September 6, 2010, 11:32 pm
![Image]( "Tube strike misery for travellers")
Millions of commuters and other passengers are facing travel misery as a strike by rail workers causes major disruption to London Underground services.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said every Tube line in the capital is suspended or running only a skeleton service after "rock solid" support for a series of walkouts.
Thousands of members of the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association walked out on Monday night for 24 hours in protest against plans to axe 800 jobs.
London Mayor Boris Johnson cycled to the Stock Exchange in the City to speak at the opening session of the Capital Markets Climate Initiative, and said new staffing proposals were "moderate and sensible" and accused the unions of "cynically deciding to try the patience" of commuters.
Mike Brown, London Underground's managing director, said: "The RMT and TSSA leaderships have chosen to disrupt Londoners for no good reason. The safety argument they now deploy - which has never been raised in any formal forum - is completely without foundation. It is simple scaremongering designed to mask their wish to strike."
RMT general secretary Bob Crow, who joined a picket line at Euston station, said: "Our members have shown in their rock-solid support for this action that they will not sit idly by while staffing levels are hacked to the bone and the management open the door to a major disaster."
LU said later that nearly 40% of Tube trains were operating, despite the strike.
"Some 194 out of a total of 500 Tube trains are in operation, providing a service on all but one of London's Tube lines," said a spokesman.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "These Tube strikes will be bad for passengers, bad for business and bad for London.
"At a time when public finances are under pressure, any strike by Tube workers will be seriously damaging - undermining the case we are making within the spending review for continued investment in the Tube."
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September 6, 2010, 11:50 pm
![Image]( "Baby's body discovered in garden")
The body of a newborn baby has been discovered in a garden, police have said.
Wrapped in a shawl, the body was found by a woman near her front doorstep in Tinline Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, at around 11am on Monday.
Emergency services were called but the child, thought to be up to a week old, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
Detectives are now appealing for information to track down the baby's mother over concerns for her welfare. They have not revealed whether the baby was a boy or a girl.
A cause of death has not yet been established and a post-mortem examination and further tests on the body are being carried out but there were no obvious signs of injury.
One theory police are examining is that the child was stillborn, perhaps to a mother who fell pregnant and could not tell anyone.
Police are now carrying out door-to-door inquiries and a tent has been set up while forensic officers examine the spot where the baby was found.
Detective Superintendent Sam Haworth of Greater Manchester Police's major incident team said: "There are obvious health concerns with the mother and we want to make sure she is safe.
"We are checking CCTV in the area to try and find out who left the baby but I would ask people to think carefully about your friends and family.
"If you know of any women or girls who were pregnant and due to give birth in the last week and had been acting strangely, or if the news of the baby being found dead is seriously affecting someone you know, then please call us."
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September 6, 2010, 11:50 pm
![Image]( "Darker streets 'could be dangerous'")
Switching off street lights to save money could lead to more crashes and more crime, the AA has said.
A number of councils are turning some lights off completely and turning others off at selected times as an economy measure.
The Highways Agency has also switched off some lights on English motorways.
AA president Edmund King said: "There is a fear that in some areas these switch-offs could lead to more crashes and crime.
"Lighting can improve safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians and deter street crime. The public are in favour of street lighting as a way of improving road safety. Cyclists and pedestrians are more at risk on unlit streets."
Mr King went on: "Local authorities should consider more environmentally-friendly lighting, that can save them £46 a light, rather than putting us all in the dark. In terms of reducing CO2, AA research shows that local authorities will have more effect improving traffic flow than turning off the lights."
An AA study shows that driving outside daylight hours is more dangerous. Only a quarter of all travel by car drivers is between the hours of 7pm and 8am, yet this period accounts for 40% of fatal and serious injuries.
Also worried about the lighting is House of Commons transport committee chairman Louise Ellman.
She told the BBC: "I am extremely concerned that financial pressures are leading to steps which can jeopardise people's lives and increase the number of injuries.
"We've made great progress in recent years in reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our roads. It would be tragic if by switching the lights off, that progress was to be put back many years."
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September 7, 2010, 8:14 am
![Image]( "'Motorbike thief' killed in crash")
A suspected motorbike thief who police refused to chase because he was not wearing a helmet has been killed in a crash - riding with no helmet on a stolen machine.
Bobby Carl Hodgkins, 24, was one of two men arrested days after a £20,000 raid on motorbikes at a showroom in Altrincham, Cheshire, last month.
At the time officers from Greater Manchester Police came under fire after they refused to chase the thieves over safety fears as they were not wearing crash helmets.
But senior police said their officers were following national policy on pursuing bike thieves without helmets.
Hodgkins, on bail for the earlier raid, suffered serious head injuries when a Kawasaki 450 off-ride bike he was riding collided with a Toyota van in Wythenshawe, south Manchester, on Saturday afternoon. He died a short time later.
The motorbike had been stolen during a burglary in Audenshaw, east Manchester, on August 26.
Hodgkins was due to answer bail for the showroom theft on Friday.
His family paid tribute to him in a short statement: "Bobby was a loving and loyal son who would do anything for his family. He will continually shine in our hearts forever."
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A young man whose severely burnt body was found at a golf course probably died from a blow to the head, detectives said.
An eight-hour post-mortem examination was conducted after the body was found by golfers as they walked between the 17th and 18th holes at the Dyke Golf Club on the outskirts of Brighton, East Sussex, just before noon on Saturday.
Detectives from Sussex Police's Major Crime Branch believe he had been murdered elsewhere before being taken to the golf club on the South Downs and set alight.
In an effort to identify him, police trawled missing person files and submitted a DNA sample for analysis to find out whether he was known to police.
Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles, leading the murder inquiry, said they had not established what caused the head injury and further tests were being conducted.
He said: "Initial results from the post-mortem, which took eight hours, suggest that this young man died from a head injury. We have not established yet what may have caused the injury and further examination of the body and tests are being carried out.
"We now know that the man was probably in his late teens or 20s, was 5ft 4in and of very slim build.
"What is particularly significant is that he had an upper dental plate with five false teeth, very unusual in a person of that age."
On Sunday, Mr Bowles said initial suspicions that the victim had been mutilated proved false following detailed examination of the scene.
Officers now believe a foot was removed by an animal as it dragged the body a few feet from the point at which he was torched.
People hit with an unexpected tax demand may be able to refuse to pay up as HM Revenue & Customs could have exceeded its own time limits in which to ask for the money, experts have said.
Under tax rules HMRC must issue demands for underpaid tax within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it became aware that people had underpaid.
It emerged over the weekend that nearly six million people have paid the wrong amount of tax through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system.
Around 4.3 million of these have paid too much and are due a refund, but 1.4 million have underpaid and will have to hand over an average of £1,428 each.
But if people provided HMRC with all the information they needed to get their tax code right, it should have used this information within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it was received to claw back the extra money.
If HMRC failed to do this, taxpayers can ask for an Extra Statutory Concession, also known as an ESC A19.
The latest round of errors date back to April 2008, meaning anyone who alerted HMRC to changes in their circumstances that affected their tax code before the start of the new tax year in April 2009 may be able to cite this clause.
Angela Beech, partner at chartered accountants Blick Rothenberg, said: "Those that receive these demands need to think before they automatically pay up.
"If you had given HMRC information that would have enabled them to adjust your tax code to make sure that you did pay the right amount of tax, then, if the time limit has passed for them to use that information, they cannot pursue you for the unpaid tax."
HMRC has begun sending out the first 45,000 letters to people who are affected, around 30,000 of whom are due a rebate, while 15,000 have underpaid tax.
Home Secretary Theresa May said it was "right" for the police to consider any fresh newspaper phone-tapping evidence, amid mounting pressure on David Cameron's communications chief.
But Mrs May insisted the decision on whether to reopen the investigation was for Scotland Yard and ministers would not interfere.
The comments came after Number 10 communications chief Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, told police he would be happy to meet them voluntarily to discuss the latest claims.
Controversy over the case has erupted again after ex-NotW journalist Sean Hoare claimed Mr Coulson knew of eavesdropping tactics used during his time in charge.
The newspaper's former royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, were jailed in 2007 following disclosures that phones belonging to public figures had been targeted.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister retained full confidence in Mr Coulson, who has consistently denied any knowledge of the activities, and that the new allegations made no difference to his position.
But Labour MPs lined up to grill Mrs May on the issue after she was summoned to the Commons to answer an urgent question.
Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said he was reassured by the Met when in government last year that they had not received any allegations about other journalists.
The police had also pledged to take "all proper steps" to inform victims or suspected victims of phone tapping, he said.
"You must subject the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in this case to greater scrutiny in the light of this allegation and the new revelations from the New York Times," he insisted.
Wayne Rooney is "happy to play" for England on Tuesday despite lurid headlines about his private life, manager Fabio Capello has said.
The player flew to Switzerland with the squad following allegations that he had sex with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their first child.
At a press conference in Basel, Capello insisted that all the players remained "focused on the game" ahead of the Euro qualifier.
Rooney, 24, who appeared grim-faced as he jetted off with the rest of the team from Luton Airport, has so far made no comment about the allegations.
But ahead of the second qualifier in the group stage, Capello suggested that the claims would not affect his game.
The 64-year-old Italian said: "He told me he is ready to play, he wants to play and I'm sure that he will play (on Tuesday)."
The England team manager added: "I spoke to him and he is happy to play."
Asked about the impact on the team ahead of the match, Capello said: "We are focused on the game, not about the private lives of the players."
England captain Steven Gerrard gave his support to Rooney during the press conference.
The Liverpool midfielder said of his international teammate: "Wayne is a big character. I have known him for a long time, he loves playing football."
Tony Blair has cancelled a high-profile signing session of his new memoir in central London amid concerns over planned protests.
The former prime minister was due to attend the flagship Waterstone's store in Piccadilly on Wednesday - where anti-war campaigners had promised a hostile reception.
But he said he did not want to subject the public to the "inevitable hassle" protests would cause or use up police resources keeping order at the event.
Eggs and shoes were hurled by protesters and one attempted to make a citizen's arrest when Mr Blair signed copies of the book - A Journey - in Dublin.
Earlier, Mr Blair said he was considering scrapping Wednesday's planned follow up amid suggestions other groups, including the British National Party could also turn up.
Announcing the decision, Mr Blair said he would provide signed copies to the store for those who had planned to attend.
"However, I have decided not to go ahead with the signing as I don't want the public to be inconvenienced by the inevitable hassle caused by protesters.
"I know the Metropolitan Police would, as ever, have done a superb job in managing any disruption but I do not wish to impose an extra strain on police resources, simply for a book signing.
"I'm really sorry for those - as ever the majority - who would have come to have their books signed by me in person. I hope they understand."
Waterstone's said a limited amount of signed copies of A Journey will be available from the Piccadilly store from on Thursday, sold on a first come, first served basis, one copy per customer.
The family of a British soldier who died in hospital in the UK after being injured in Afghanistan said he would be "hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives".
Captain Andrew Griffiths, 25, from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after he was wounded in an explosion in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand province last month.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, the family of Capt Griffiths, who was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, said: "Andrew was a beloved son, brother and boyfriend who will be hugely missed for the joy he brought into our lives.
"We are immensely proud of him and all that he has achieved in his all too short a life. He died doing a job he loved and excelled at."
A British soldier killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in southern Afghanistan was named by the MoD earlier as Lance Corporal Joseph Pool.
L/Cpl Pool, 26, from the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed in an explosion in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand on Sunday.
Prime minister Julia Gillard's Labour Party will form a minority government to rule Australia after two independent politicians backed her coalition.
The decision announced by Tony Windsor and Robb Oakeshott gives Ms Gillard's party control of 76 seats in the 150-seat House or Representatives.
The decision means Ms Gillard can continue with her plans to introduce a 30% tax on iron ore and coal miners' burgeoning profits and make Australia's biggest polluters pay for carbon gas emissions.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott's coalition won 73 seats and another independent, Bob Katter, announced earlier on Tuesday that he preferred Mr Abbott as prime minister, partly because he opposed the mining and carbon tax plans.
A top Scotland Yard officer is facing a grilling from MPs over the newspaper phone-hacking row threatening to engulf David Cameron's communications chief.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates is due to be questioned by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee amid intense pressure on Number 10 aide Andy Coulson.
Mr Yates has indicated that he is willing to reopen the investigation into allegations that News of the World reporters accessed mobile phones belonging to public figures, if new evidence is forthcoming.
Mr Coulson, who was editor of the newspaper at the time, has also volunteered to meet officers to discuss the latest claims. He denies any knowledge of the activities - for which the NotW's ex-royal editor Clive Goodman and a private detective were jailed in 2007.
Labour upped its attack over the row on Monday, summoning Home Secretary Theresa May to answer questions in the Commons after former NotW journalist Sean Hoare claimed Mr Coulson knew that illegal tactics were being used.
Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said he was reassured by the Met when in government last year that they had not received any allegations about other journalists.
The police also pledged to take "all proper steps" to inform victims or suspected victims of phone tapping, he said. "You must subject the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in this case to greater scrutiny in the light of this allegation and the new revelations from the New York Times," he insisted.
A spokesman for Mr Coulson said he had not been contacted by the police but was "happy" to meet with them following Mr Hoare's claims.
"Mr Coulson emphatically denies these allegations. He has, however, offered to talk to officers if the need arises and would welcome the opportunity to give his view on Mr Hoare's claims."
Downing Street said the Prime Minister retained full confidence in Mr Coulson, and that the new allegations made no difference to his position. Mr Cameron is due to return from paternity leave on Tuesday.
Multi-millionaire banker Bob Diamond has been named as the next chief executive of banking group Barclays.
Mr Diamond, who is estimated to be worth £95 million, will take over from John Varley after the incumbent steps down on March 31 next year, the bank announced.
In a dramatic day for the banking sector, it is also expected that HSBC chairman Stephen Green will move on to become Trade Minister in the Government.
Mr Diamond, one of the world's highest paid bankers, joined the group in 1996 and currently serves as president and chief executive of Barclays Capital, the firm's investment arm.
The 59-year-old American said he was "honoured" to take on the role in "the critical period ahead".
Foreign Secretary William Hague insists he has "nailed" false rumours of an inappropriate relationship with a former special adviser.
Mr Hague said the suggestions made about him and Christopher Myers were a "big lie", as he thanked colleagues and the public for their support.
The married minister - described by David Cameron as his effective Tory deputy - issued an extraordinary personal statement last week in an attempt to kill long-running speculation over his sexuality.
He disclosed that his wife of nearly 13 years Ffion had suffered a series of miscarriages as they tried to have children.
Although he admitted sharing a twin hotel room with Mr Myers during the General Election campaign, he insisted their relationship was purely professional.
Mr Hague expressed regret that the 25-year-old felt he had no choice but to quit rather than endure the "untrue and malicious" slurs.
Posting on social networking site Twitter, Mr Hague wrote: "Thanks for another day of very supportive comments.
"What was said about me was a big lie which I hope has been nailed. I am enjoying my work."
An extra four million of the world's poorest children have died over 10 years because governments are "turning a blind eye" to those most in need, according to a report published by a leading charity.
The number of deaths of young children in developing countries has fallen but global targets will be missed if developing countries do not focus on helping the poorest communities, Save the Children said.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said it was a "global scandal" that children were dying at a rate of one every three seconds. He promised Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg would push for action at the forthcoming gathering in New York where world leaders will discuss progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Some nine million children a year are still dying "preventable deaths" often because of malnutrition and a lack of basic healthcare. But the toll has been made worse by the trend of "tackling the low hanging fruit", with many countries guilty of helping richer communities because it is "more convenient", according to the report, A Fair Chance of Life.
The target set for MDG4 was to reduce the number of deaths of under fives by two-thirds, but so far child morality has been reduced by just 28% since 1990.
Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children International's chief executive, said: "It is a disgrace that some countries are 'ticking a box' on child mortality without ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable children benefit equally.
"Nearly nine million children under the age of five die every year - many of them from easily preventable or treatable illnesses - just because they can't get to a doctor or because their parents can't afford food that is nutritious enough to keep them alive.
"Yet many governments are turning a blind eye to these deaths simply because it is easier or more convenient to help children from better-off groups.
"Governments must not be blind to the issue of equity, they must be held accountable for reducing child mortality across all groups in society, regardless of wealth or background.
"Every child has a right to survival and every government has an obligation to protect them. What's more, our research shows that prioritising the poor is one of the surest ways countries will reduce child mortality."
Millions of commuters are enduring travel chaos after London Underground workers began a fresh wave of 24-hour strikes - a move that will cost the economy almost £50 million.
Thousands of members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association walked out at 5pm on Monday, with another wave at 9pm, in protest against plans to axe 800 jobs.
The action, to be followed by further stoppages in October and November, will disrupt Tube services, used by millions of passengers every day.
London Mayor Boris Johnson criticised the industrial action as a "trumped-up and politically motivated" attempt to attack the coalition Government.
The strikes followed a 24-hour stoppage from 7pm on Sunday night by up to 200 maintenance staff at depots on the Jubilee and Northern lines in a separate row over pay and conditions, which the RMT said was "solidly" supported.
The RMT highlighted three recent incidents - fire scares at Euston and Oxford Circus and the arrest of a man with a sword and two loaded guns - as reasons for maintaining staffing numbers.
General secretary Bob Crow, who will join a picket line at Euston on Tuesday, said: "We have laid out the clearest possible evidence to the mayor and his officials that if he breaks his promises and slashes station staffing numbers he will be giving the green light to disaster, and yet he is failing to take any account of the hard facts of these three recent incidents - each of which could have had lethal consequences.
"Boris Johnson opposed these very cuts before he was elected and now stands accused of rank political opportunism as his officials take the axe to safety standards right across the Tube network with the prospect of worse to come this autumn. That's what RMT and TSSA are striking over - the whole future of a safe Tube system is now on the block."
Mr Johnson said new staffing proposals were "moderate and sensible" and accused the unions of "cynically deciding to try the patience" of commuters.
"They will undoubtedly succeed in causing disruption to Tube services," the mayor wrote in Monday's London Evening Standard.
Some of the nearly six million people who paid too much or too little income tax are to find out whether they are due a rebate or have to make more payments.
Around 5.7 million people have paid the wrong amount of tax through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system because of an HM Revenue & Customs blunder.
About 4.3 million of these have paid too much and are due a refund, but 1.4 million have underpaid and will have to hand over an average of £1,428 each.
HMRC has sent out the first 45,000 letters to people who are affected, around 30,000 of whom are due a rebate, while 15,000 have underpaid tax.
The remainder of people affected will be contacted between now and Christmas.
Experts said people hit with an unexpected tax demand may be able to refuse to pay up as HMRC could have exceeded its own time limits in which to ask for the money.
Under tax rules, HMRC must issue demands for underpaid tax within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it became aware that people had underpaid.
But if people provided HMRC with all the information they needed to get their tax code right, it should have used this information within 12 months of the end of the tax year in which it was received to claw back the extra money.
If HMRC failed to do this, taxpayers can ask for an Extra Statutory Concession, also known as an ESC A19.
The latest round of errors date back to April 2008, meaning anyone who alerted HMRC to changes in their circumstances that affected their tax code before the start of the new tax year in April 2009 may be able to cite this clause.
Controversial plans for a referendum on changing the Westminster voting system have comfortably cleared their first hurdle in the House of Commons.
But although legislation paving the way for a referendum on May 5 next year was passed with a majority of 59 on Monday night, there were signs of the tensions to come between the coalition partners.
Tory backbenchers lined up to speak against changing the first-past-the-post system, with one claiming the referendum was the "high price we have to pay" for the alliance with the Liberal Democrats - who have long demanded electoral reform.
Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who opened the debate on the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, insisted the legislation would restore faith in the way MPs were elected.
He conceded there were "different views" in the coalition over the arrangements for the referendum, and what outcome it should deliver. However, he said "where we emphatically agree is that the final decision should be taken not by us but by the British people".
Conservative backbencher Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest) said she would support the Bill because it was a "matter of honour" to fulfil the coalition agreement. Having a referendum was the condition for a stable government "but what a high price we have to pay" in both political and financial terms.
Tory former minister David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) said: "What I fear is that we will have a circumstance where maybe 30% of the population will turn out, maybe 15% or 16% will vote for this system and on that basis we will have the biggest change in our constitutional history for half a century."
Even though Labour supports moving to Alternative Vote, the party has opposed the Bill because it will also reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and equalise constituency sizes.
Shadow justice secretary Jack Straw challenged the timing of the plebiscite, claiming the chances of a yes vote will be diminished by the "deep unpopularity" of the Government by May. And he condemned the changes to the number and size of parliamentary constituencies as the "worst kind of political skulduggery".
But the attempt to derail the legislation failed when it was given a second reading by 328 votes to 269, Government majority 59.
Chancellor George Osborne is to endorse sweeping European supervisory powers over banks and financial institutions in response to the economic crisis.
EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels are set to approve three new pan-European watchdog bodies to oversee the banking, insurance and securities markets across Europe.
The aim is better coordination of national financial services watchdogs as an early warning signal of any future economic disasters.
Mr Osborne has backed the move since taking office, insisting that the new system will still leave day-to-day financial supervision within the UK in the hands of national authorities.
But Open Europe, campaigning for EU reforms, said the plan represented a clear shift in power from the UK, giving EU officials a mandate to "interpret, apply and even enforce EU laws at the expense of national regulators", according to Open Europe director Mats Persson.
Unveiling a new Open Europe report which warns of a risk to the City of London, Mr Persson said: "This proposal is moving substantial control over financial services away from national authorities and governments. Once established, the EU supervisors are likely to extend their powers incrementally, since the proposal is designed to allow for more and more laws to come under their authority. While a single rulebook could benefit the City of London, the voting arithmetic within the supervisors leaves the UK in an unusually weak position to block unwelcome proposals. This, in turn, could expose the City to interventions from countries which don't share the UK's view of financial markets."
But a Government spokesman insisted the new supervisory arrangements were "a good deal for us", adding: "We are happy with this. Once it has been agreed by finance ministers, the technical details will be sorted out by national officials later this week or next week.
"But day-to-day supervision (of British banks and financial institutions) remains at national level - that is what we have said all along."
Mr Osborne and his colleagues will also discuss another post-crisis plan to tighten control on banks - a possible EU-wide levy on all finance houses to go to a central pot to fund any future wind-up of failing institutions, avoiding any repeat of the financial fall-out being absorbed by customers.
Mr Osborne has already announced that he will introduce a British levy at the start of next year, but with the proceeds going into general UK Treasury revenue.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will lead Australia's first minority government in 67 years after two independent politicians threw their support behind her centre-left Labour Party.
The decision ended two weeks of uncertainty left by national elections which finished on a knife-edge.
Australia's first woman prime minister promised that her government would be stable over the next three years, although the defection of a single politician would bring down the Labour administration.
"Labour is prepared to deliver stable, effective and secure government for the next three years," she told reporters.
The independents' support means Ms Gillard can continue with her plans to introduce a 30% tax on iron ore and coal miners' burgeoning profits and make Australia's biggest polluters pay for carbon gas emissions.
Labour gained the ability to form a government for a second term after two independent politicians, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, joined her coalition more than two weeks after elections failed to deliver a clear winner for the first time since 1940.
Their decision gives Ms Gillard's party control of 76 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives and avoids the need for another round of polls.
Ms Gillard has rewarded the two rural-based politicians by promising 10 billion Australian dollars (£5.9 billion) in new investment on rural schools and hospitals.
She also announced that she had offered Mr Oakeshott a Cabinet post, which he had yet to accept. Mr Windsor had said he did not want such a job in the government.
Ms Gillard also said she would keep her promise to make her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, a senior Cabinet minister.
Millions of commuters and other passengers are facing travel misery as a strike by rail workers causes major disruption to London Underground services.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said every Tube line in the capital is suspended or running only a skeleton service after "rock solid" support for a series of walkouts.
Thousands of members of the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association walked out on Monday night for 24 hours in protest against plans to axe 800 jobs.
London Mayor Boris Johnson cycled to the Stock Exchange in the City to speak at the opening session of the Capital Markets Climate Initiative, and said new staffing proposals were "moderate and sensible" and accused the unions of "cynically deciding to try the patience" of commuters.
Mike Brown, London Underground's managing director, said: "The RMT and TSSA leaderships have chosen to disrupt Londoners for no good reason. The safety argument they now deploy - which has never been raised in any formal forum - is completely without foundation. It is simple scaremongering designed to mask their wish to strike."
RMT general secretary Bob Crow, who joined a picket line at Euston station, said: "Our members have shown in their rock-solid support for this action that they will not sit idly by while staffing levels are hacked to the bone and the management open the door to a major disaster."
LU said later that nearly 40% of Tube trains were operating, despite the strike.
"Some 194 out of a total of 500 Tube trains are in operation, providing a service on all but one of London's Tube lines," said a spokesman.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "These Tube strikes will be bad for passengers, bad for business and bad for London.
"At a time when public finances are under pressure, any strike by Tube workers will be seriously damaging - undermining the case we are making within the spending review for continued investment in the Tube."
The body of a newborn baby has been discovered in a garden, police have said.
Wrapped in a shawl, the body was found by a woman near her front doorstep in Tinline Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, at around 11am on Monday.
Emergency services were called but the child, thought to be up to a week old, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
Detectives are now appealing for information to track down the baby's mother over concerns for her welfare. They have not revealed whether the baby was a boy or a girl.
A cause of death has not yet been established and a post-mortem examination and further tests on the body are being carried out but there were no obvious signs of injury.
One theory police are examining is that the child was stillborn, perhaps to a mother who fell pregnant and could not tell anyone.
Police are now carrying out door-to-door inquiries and a tent has been set up while forensic officers examine the spot where the baby was found.
Detective Superintendent Sam Haworth of Greater Manchester Police's major incident team said: "There are obvious health concerns with the mother and we want to make sure she is safe.
"We are checking CCTV in the area to try and find out who left the baby but I would ask people to think carefully about your friends and family.
"If you know of any women or girls who were pregnant and due to give birth in the last week and had been acting strangely, or if the news of the baby being found dead is seriously affecting someone you know, then please call us."
Switching off street lights to save money could lead to more crashes and more crime, the AA has said.
A number of councils are turning some lights off completely and turning others off at selected times as an economy measure.
The Highways Agency has also switched off some lights on English motorways.
AA president Edmund King said: "There is a fear that in some areas these switch-offs could lead to more crashes and crime.
"Lighting can improve safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians and deter street crime. The public are in favour of street lighting as a way of improving road safety. Cyclists and pedestrians are more at risk on unlit streets."
Mr King went on: "Local authorities should consider more environmentally-friendly lighting, that can save them £46 a light, rather than putting us all in the dark. In terms of reducing CO2, AA research shows that local authorities will have more effect improving traffic flow than turning off the lights."
An AA study shows that driving outside daylight hours is more dangerous. Only a quarter of all travel by car drivers is between the hours of 7pm and 8am, yet this period accounts for 40% of fatal and serious injuries.
Also worried about the lighting is House of Commons transport committee chairman Louise Ellman.
She told the BBC: "I am extremely concerned that financial pressures are leading to steps which can jeopardise people's lives and increase the number of injuries.
"We've made great progress in recent years in reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our roads. It would be tragic if by switching the lights off, that progress was to be put back many years."
A suspected motorbike thief who police refused to chase because he was not wearing a helmet has been killed in a crash - riding with no helmet on a stolen machine.
Bobby Carl Hodgkins, 24, was one of two men arrested days after a £20,000 raid on motorbikes at a showroom in Altrincham, Cheshire, last month.
At the time officers from Greater Manchester Police came under fire after they refused to chase the thieves over safety fears as they were not wearing crash helmets.
But senior police said their officers were following national policy on pursuing bike thieves without helmets.
Hodgkins, on bail for the earlier raid, suffered serious head injuries when a Kawasaki 450 off-ride bike he was riding collided with a Toyota van in Wythenshawe, south Manchester, on Saturday afternoon. He died a short time later.
The motorbike had been stolen during a burglary in Audenshaw, east Manchester, on August 26.
Hodgkins was due to answer bail for the showroom theft on Friday.
His family paid tribute to him in a short statement: "Bobby was a loving and loyal son who would do anything for his family. He will continually shine in our hearts forever."
