Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have appealed for “understanding and respect” to be given to the American actress’ father amid speculation he has pulled out of the royal wedding.

Thomas Markle has been caught up in controversy after he allegedly staged paparazzi photographs of himself in the run-up to the ceremony being held at Windsor Castle this Saturday.

Speculation that Mr Markle will not walk his daughter down the aisle began after a celebrity website claimed he would not attend, following the fallout from the pictures.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding.

“She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”

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Facial recognition software should be dropped by police amid concerns it is “almost entirely inaccurate”, campaigners have warned.

Figures revealed in response to Freedom of Information requests by Big Brother Watch have shown that, for the Metropolitan Police, 98% of “matches” found by the technology were wrong, and for South Wales Police the figure was 91%.

The software is used at major events like the Notting Hill Carnival, sporting fixtures and music concerts to detect people on a watch list, including wanted criminals.

Director of Big Brother Watch Silkie Carlo said: “We’re seeing ordinary people being asked to produce ID to prove their innocence as police are wrongly identifying thousands of innocent citizens as criminals."

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Asylum seekers were subjected to excessive use of restraints after escort staff were given “dire” warnings about the potential for disruption on a removal flight, an inspection report found.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons said it had “serious concerns” after observing an operation to transport detainees to three European countries in January.

The assessment detailed how 80 staff accompanied 23 people from two immigration removal centres on a charter flight from the UK to France, Austria and Bulgaria.

All but one of those being removed were restrained in a waist belt, which restricts arm movements and can hold arms clamped to the body in the secure position.

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