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A British man who fought against so-called Islamic State is to be charged with a terror offence.

Ex-soldier Jim Matthews, 43, of London, travelled to Syria and fought with the Kurdish forces, the YPG.

Mr Matthews will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 14 February to be charged with one count of attending a place used for terrorist training. He appeared in a Channel 4 documentary – The Brits battling Isis – about his fight against the jihadist group.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said Mr Matthews was alleged to have attended “a place or places in Iraq and Syria where instruction or training was provided for purposes connected to the commission or preparation of terrorism on or before 15 February 2016”.

The offence comes under section 8 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

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An increasing number of people threatening to seriously harm themselves or take their own lives is putting “strain” on police resources, a force has said.

In the three years up to 2017 there was a 39% increase in reports to West Yorkshire Police where the word suicide was used, figures seen by the BBC show.

Ch Supt Paul Money said dealing with them was tying up his officers’ time. Mental health professionals now work in the control room advising officers.

West Yorkshire Police logged 19,519 calls containing the word suicide in 2016. In 2014 it received 11,859 calls and 15,045 in 2015.

“I’m not convinced it’s entirely a policing matter to deal with but it’s certainly taking a lot of our time,” Ch Supt Money said. “There’s no doubt about it, the demand is increasing and there’s a strain on resources as well and to say anything other than that would not be an accurate reflection of what’s going on.”

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US President Donald Trump has asked the Pentagon to organise a large military parade in the nation’s capital.

The president made the request of top military chiefs in late January, after reportedly being impressed by a French Bastille Day parade last year. “It was one of the greatest parades I’ve ever seen,” he later said. “We’re going to have to try and top it.”

Democrats compared the plan to displays of military might organised by autocratic nations.

The plan was first revealed by the Washington Post, before being confirmed by the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders.

“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe,” she said. “He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”

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Raids have taken place across England in an operation to tackle people smuggling involving suspected Kurdish gangsters.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said 350 officers were involved in the raids in Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton, Newcastle, Hastings and London.

Officers raided about 20 addresses and made 21 arrests in the major operation.

The gang is suspected of charging up to £10,000 per head to smuggle migrants in the back of lorries across the Channel.

As well as residential properties, a number of car washes believed to be linked to money laundering activities were also raided.

The NCA said most of the trafficked immigrants are Iraqi Kurds and mostly men, but some families have also been brought into Britain.

Deputy director Tom Dowdall said: “We believe we have identified and disrupted a significant network which is suspected of smuggling hundreds of migrants into the UK and planned to carry on going.”

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A holidaymaker has been jailed for four years for trying to bring home 38 weapons which he said were “souvenirs”.

Father-of-two Ryan Sullivan, 24, of Cardiff, had been on a break with his girlfriend and children when he returned from Bulgaria in July 2017.

Border Force staff at Cardiff Airport airport found items including knuckle dusters, stun guns and nunchucks, the city’s crown court heard. Sullivan admitting possessing prohibited weapons.

The court heard he tried to smuggle the weapons disguised as mobile phones and torches.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones said Sullivan told security they were souvenirs, but added: “There were two stun guns disguised as mobile phones, which were capable of discharging between 5,000 and 8,000 volts. “There were five more disguised as torches. “There were 13 CS gas canisters and pepper sprays capable of causing nausea, vomiting, and muscular dysfunction.”

His suitcase also contained nine knuckle dusters, six metal batons, a set of nunchucks, and a butterfly knife. Jonathan Lewis, defending, said: “He was ignorant of just how serious a position he was putting himself in.”