Accused peer quits

A PEER accused of groping a woman and promising her a peerage in exchange for sex has resigned from the House of Lords, it has been reported.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill told The Times he will step down with immediate effect.

The 82-year-old was suspended from the Liberal Democrats after the allegations came to light, claims which the prominent QC has called “completely untrue”. THE Prince of Wales has called for a renewed effort to “make a dent” in the scourge of knife crime and the youth violence responsible for “appalling” human disasters.

Charles and the Duke of Sussex convened a Clarence House summit and gathered experts, former gang members, bereaved families, celebrity supporters and charity bosses to discuss solutions.

The heir to the throne suggested more vocational training opportunities and after-school activities were needed for those who may find themselves drawn into gangs or violence.

He told invited guests, including Prince’s Trust ambassadors actor Tom Hardy, rapper Tinie Tempah and England football manager Gareth Southgate: “There must be better ways if we’re going to prevent all these appalling disasters and tragedies happening to so many people’s families.”

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has insisted the tide is turning against the rise in violent crime.

But she has admitted it would take a long time to tackle the 180 violent gangs in London that are dragging children into crime.

She was speaking as the number of homicides in London so far in 2018 hit 125, the highest figure for a calendar year this decade.