UK Policing News

This is the moment a prolific thief was caught on CCTV targeting passengers on trains at Paddington station. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/art...d-20000-haul.do what a good result for the british transport police to catch him and was jailed at Southwark crown court for 18 months

A move stopping Northamptonshire police riding bicycles on patrol until they have a 10-hour lesson has been called health and safety "gone too far". Officers in the Parklands area of Northampton have been issued mountain bikes by the force. But they cannot ride them until the summer when they will have completed a 10-hour training course. Borough councillor Malcolm Mildren said: "This is a health and safety doctrine that has gone too far." He said: "I have ridden a bike for years but I think I could ride a mountain bike safely, if not quickly, after about half an hour. "I imagine that in the good old days of Dixon of Dock Green when officers went to Hendon (police train…

Pickpockets are being warned they will be wasting their time operating in Hammersmith after a new partnership between police and design students looks set to come up with innovative ways of tackling the problem. Officers have made concerted efforts to target the menace after incidences of the crime rose last year, particularly in King Street. But since August they have made 29 arrests, including six on one night at the Apollo, with a total of 53 charges being successfully brought. And officers have shown they no intention of resting on their laurels after they enlisted the help of design students at Saint Martin's College, London, to come up with a raft of new measures…

Man, 25, issued with harassment warning after allegedly taking photo of a female colleague at Heathrow Full-body scanners were introduced at Heathrow last month. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA The police have issued a warning for harassment against an airport worker after he allegedly took a photo of a female colleague as she went through a full-body scanner at Heathrow airport. The incident, which occurred at terminal 5 on 10 March, is believed to be the first time an airport worker has been formally disciplined for misusing the scanners. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police received an allegation regarding an incident that happened at Heathrow Terminal 5 on March 1…

This is the moment a prolific thief was caught on CCTV targeting passengers on trains at Paddington station. Chef Adam Newton, 21, stole almost £20,000 of luggage and Christmas presents from rail passengers who had just embarked on trains that were about to leave London. The CCTV footage shows the thief stepping on to one train empty-handed and then, moments later, stepping off carrying a large suitcase and a holdall. Newton was jailed at Southwark crown court for 18 months yesterday and banned from London stations for three years after pleading guilty to stealing from 18 passengers. He was caught in the act by plain-clothes British Transport police who were on the l…

So, I am watching the budget, and Alistair darling has just stated that public pay increases will be capped at a maximum of 1% until 2013. Does that include Police, bearing in mind the restrictions on activities outwith work, no right to strike etc, or will the PNB still have a legitimate role to perform after the last of the 3 agreed pay rises in September this year?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/notting...ire/8579464.stm Shot Pc Rachel Bown retires from police force Pc Rachel Bown was shot in the stomach at the scene of a break-in A Nottinghamshire policewoman shot while trying to arrest a suspect is to retire on health grounds. Pc Rachel Bown, now 27, was shot in the stomach at the scene of a break-in in Lenton in February 2006. She said she still suffers panic attacks, nightmares and flashbacks, and has developed phobias of hospitals and the dark. Trinidadian Trevon Kyron Thomas, from Bilborough, was jailed for 30 years in December 2006 for attempted murder. Pc Bown, who was shot during her probationary period, returned…

MEMBERS of a Warwickshire drugs gang headed up by a “prolific†dealer have been jailed for a total of 20 years. Coventry Crown Court heard Iain Herdman, aged 37, of Alcester Road, Stratford was a “seasoned and professional†dealer who targeted the “middle class market†in the county, dealing in thousands of pounds worth of cannabis and cocaine. As well as dealing drugs from his home, the court heard undercover police observed him dealing from a Warwickshire pub he owned with his parents. Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu told the court: “It has always been the crown’s case that Iain Herdman was at the very centre of this conspiracy. He is a prolific dealer in War…

A BOGUS love guru conned desperate Midlanders out of thousands of pounds by claiming he could mend their broken hearts with the power of prayer and secret ingredients, a court heard. Niem Mohammed portrayed himself as a faith healer and a spiritualist, who could work miracles and ward off evil spirits, alleged Barry Berlin prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court. The court heard one couple who were struggling to conceive a child paid Mohammed £9,650 after he guaranteed them he could resolve their problems. And another woman paid the 41 year-old £1,300 to put her life back in order. When nothing happened he told her he needed a further £1,800 and, unless she paid u…

Fresh inquiries are being made into the death of Dame Shirley Bassey's daughter in Bristol after the family of a convicted serial killer's victim handed detectives fresh information. The Welsh singer has always maintained that the death of Samantha Novak, 25 years ago, was not an accident or suicide. Miss Novak, 21, was found face-down in the River Avon, near Bristol and the 250ft Clifton Suspension Bridge. Shortly after her death, a coroner said it appeared Miss Novak tumbled off the riverbank after a night out with friends, and there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. But Avon and Somerset Police revealed the family of convicted killer Michael Moffat'…

Five members of staff have today been suspended at a school criticised at an inquest after the death of an 11-year-old boy who suffered an asthma attack in class. Sam Linton died after neglect at Offerton High School, in Stockport, "significantly contributed" to his death, the inquest jury ruled. He was made to sit in a corridor struggling to breathe, no ambulance was called and by the time his mother was summoned to the school his lips were turning blue. The boy died a few hours later in hospital on December 4, 2007. Stockport Council today said five staff have been suspended from the school. A spokesman said the suspensions are while an internal inquiry is carried…

A man killed himself today after holding a child hostage at gunpoint for three hours. The youngster was snatched by the 50-year-old gunman last night before being held captive in Dingwall, Ross-shire. Police managed to negotiate the child's safe release after several hours of talks, but despite further negotiations the gunman later killed himself, Northern Constabulary said. Police launched a major operation in the Highlands last night after receiving an emergency call from Beauly saying a child had been snatched by a man with a firearm. The man was traced to nearby Dingwall where police sealed off the area and opened talks with the man. At around 1am, they managed to…

Serious Fraud Office raids British offices of French engineering group as part of investigation into bribery and money laundering Three UK directors of the French engineering group Alstom have been arrested on suspicion of bribery and other offences after raids this morning by the Serious Fraud Office. The three men have been taken to police stations to be interviewed by the SFO. They are accused of bribery and corruption, conspiracy to pay bribes, money laundering and false accounting. The agency said search warrants were executed this morning at five Alstom premises and four homes. The SFO has been working closely with authorities in Switzerland, including Swiss fed…