Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Derbyshire Police has said they are “disappointed and surprised” by a Home Office decision to suspend them from a stop and search standards scheme.

The force is the only one out of the 43 authorities in England and Wales to be removed from the Best Use of Stop and Search due to problems with record-keeping.

Image source, Getty Images

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "To ensure high standards continue to be met, I have suspended Derbyshire with immediate effect and now expect them to take this opportunity to improve their performance.”

A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said the issue affected a “very small percentage of forms” and inspectors had been assured a roll-out of technology to deal with it would be completed by the end of next month.

The suspension will not affect the force’s stop and search powers.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

A fell-running champion is beginning an 18-year jail sentence for trying to murder a UK Athletics staff member from Derbyshire .

Lauren Jeska, a transgender athlete, admitted trying to kill Ralph Knibbs at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium in March last year.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The "cool, calculated attack" followed a dispute over her eligibility to compete as a female.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Jeska, 42, stabbed Mr Knibbs in the head and neck, leaving a 2cm hole with "blood pumping out".

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

More cat news now...

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service says it worked with RSPCA officers to rescue a moggy that got stuck on the roof of a house, external in Hemlock Lane in Ilkeston earlier.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Blue skies at Long Eaton's West Park this morning. Thanks to Tracey Bunce for sending in the photo.

Image source, Tracey Bunce

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Police have released video footage of a man they want to speak to after a parked car was scratched with a sharp object, external in Melbourne.

The Audi A4 was targeted in Alma Street on Saturday 18 February.

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BBC Sport

Derbyshire's director of cricket Kim Barnett says Matt Henry's international experience makes him a great acquisition for the club .

Image source, Getty Images

"He came highly recommended as a fast bowler and also someone with a high strike-rate with the bat," he said.

"Matt has plenty of experience around the world, internationally and here in England with Worcestershire last season. He knows our conditions well and we look forward to him joining us."

Derby Telegraph

A "dangerous" arsonist poured fuel through the letterbox of his partner's home and set it alight while she and her two children were inside, external .

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

A cat is recovering after being put in a box, tied in a bag and dumped in a field in Burton.

The female feline was found next to Walton Road in Drakelow by a passer-by who heard a loud meow.

Thankfully she was physically unharmed and is now being looked after by RSPCA staff, who have named her Bagpuss.

Image source, RSPCA

RSPCA inspector Laura Bryant said: “Apart from wetting herself, luckily the cat was unharmed so we presume that she had only been there for a short while.

“It is a quiet country road and Bagpuss is extremely lucky she was found.

"It is concerning that whoever abandoned her like this did so with the intention of leaving her to die, as she was dumped in a quiet place where she could quite possibly not have been found inside her box."

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby Sport

Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough has been taking questions from the media at a news conference ahead of Saturday's home game against Brentford.

He said his squad was in good shape fitness-wise going into the final stretch of the season and he was "delighted" to see Gary Rowett handed the reins of Derby County.

BBC Radio Derby

Derbyshire Police say they're "surprised" and "disappointed" to be the only force in the country suspended from the Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme. 

The initiative's designed to make the controversial police measure fairer and more transparent.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd made the decision to suspend Derbyshire after Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found the force was failing to properly collect and publish information about the searches.

Mrs Rudd said: “To ensure high standards continue to be met, I have suspended Derbyshire with immediate effect and now expect them to take this opportunity to improve their performance.”  

Image source, PA

Derbyshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable, Bill McWilliam, said: “The specific criticisms made by HMIC relate to a very small percentage of forms where we cannot link, in a way suitable way for a publication, the search to an outcome, for example an arrest and the reason for it. 

"New mobile data terminals used by officers have alleviated this problem but the roll-out of the technology will not be completed until the end of March."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News Online

Two brothers  jailed for modern slavery offences  earlier this year have been made the subject of a new court order in a bid to further protect their victims.  

Erwin and Krystian Markowski, from Nottingham, were jailed for six years after they recruited men from Poland to work at the Sports Direct warehouse in Shirebrook.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Under the 10-year order the pair will have to disclose their bank details to police and are forbidden from carrying more than £500 in cash.

Nottinghamshire Police said it was the first time it had applied for a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, under the Modern Slavery Act.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Chesterfield look certain to be relegated after being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Peterborough last night.

A second-half equaliser earned the Spireites a point but the result leaves them ten points adrift of safety in League One.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Electronic signs are to be installed on the approach to Swarkestone Bridge warning heavy vehicles not to use it. 

Derbyshire County Council announced the move following complaints drivers were damaging the Grade I-listed bridge by ignoring the 7.5 tonne weight restriction.

Image source, Google

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

Here's what we can expect today...

East Midlands Today

A man from Derby whose father killed himself is campaigning to reduce the stigma of mental health among Asian communities. 

Kal Singh Dhindsa says too many British Asians seek help too late for problems like depression.

He's written a book featuring his father's battle with mental illness and says it's important people talk more about the issue.

Mr Singh Dhindsa said: "People seem to think that people suffering from it are either possessed or someone you need to completely stay away from.

"But it's not on because these people obviously need help and need to be directed to medical assistance or counselling." 

Image source, Kal Singh Dhindsa

Derbyshire have signed New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, external as their overseas player for this year's T20 Blast competition.

The 25-year-old is currently playing in the Indian Premier League with King XI Punjab but will relocate to the East Midlands before the start of July.

Image source, Getty Images

He has featured in six Twenty20 and 30 one-day internationals for New Zealand.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

G'day, as they say in Oz. I'll be with you over the coming hours to provide all the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

I always relish the chance to feature your photos, questions, comments and poems, so get in touch at any point via email , Facebook, external or Twitter, external .