UK Policing News

Two police officers were attacked by a mob in south London when they asked a 15-year-old girl to pick up some litter she dropped. Metropolitan Police said one of the officers suffered injuries including a bite wound in the attack in Northend in Croydon, on Wednesday afternoon. Up to 30 people attacked the officers when the girl refused to pick up the litter and became aggressive. A girl who was arrested on suspicion of assault has been released on bail. Two men, aged 34 and 38 and both from South Norwood, were held on Thursday morning on suspicion of assault and violent disorder. Police said the girl initially picked up the litter when asked by the patrolling off…

Police 'to be freed from targets' More visible police presence is promised by government Police are to be given greater freedom from red tape and targets under a government "new deal" launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. All but one of the national targets imposed on forces will be scrapped under the Green Paper reforms, allowing officers more time to tackle crime. Ms Smith said removing "top down" targets was "a significant mark" of her trust in senior police chiefs. The Tories said the government's proposals were mainly "rehashed". The launch of the Green Paper came as new figures showed police-recorded crime fell 9% in the 12 months to March in England…

Police have begun a murder inquiry following the death of a two-year-old girl in Greater Manchester. A post-mortem examination revealed that Demi Leigh Mahon died from the result of a serious head injury. She was taken to hospital after reports that a child had been injured at a house in Liverpool Road in Salford on Tuesday. She died two days later. Paul Billington, 53, and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed to 15 October. Murder inquiry Greater Manchester Police are still trying to establish how Demi Leigh came to suffer her injuries. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "There is no suggestion a weapon has been invol…

The country's most senior Asian officer has suspended an employment tribunal claim in which he had accused the Metropolitan Police of racism. The announcement came after Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur met the National Black Police Association and Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. Scotland Yard said the mediation process between the parties had got "back on track". It also said mediation would hopefully take place within the next week. His allegations have included being silenced over concerns against 42-day detention and also being sidelined by Sir Ian in key decisions. Mr Ghaffur is also said to have complained of being humiliated, undermined and subjugated by …

'Have-a-go heroes' get legal right to defend themselves By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent and Chris Hope, Home Affairs Correspondent Last updated: 6:54 AM BST 16/07/2008 Home owners and “have-a go-heroes†have for the first time been given the legal right to defend themselves against burglars and muggers free from fear of prosecution. They will be able to use force against criminals who break into their homes or attack them in the street without worrying that "heat of the moment†misjudgements could see them brought before the courts. Under new laws police and prosecutors will have to assess a person’s actions based on the person’s situation "as they sa…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7507659.stm

Alert on new horror wasp knife Jul 16 2008 SENIOR police officers in the West Midlands have been told to look out for a terrifying new knife capable of instantly ‘exploding’ its victims and freezing their internal organs. Policy makers fear the wasp knife, which injects a frozen ball of compressed gas capable of killing a victim instantly, could be heading for the area’s streets. // // The Metropolitan Police have told colleagues in the West Midlands to be on the lookout for the blade, which is designed to kill sharks and bears. Police are concerned that the £200 weapon which injects gas through a needle embedded in the blade could fall into the wrong hands…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7513393.stm

Warning over 'dangerous' knifeman Police hunting a man suspected of two knife attacks in Swansea have warned the public not to approach him as he is "extremely dangerous". Detectives have issued a photograph of Marc Stephens, 38, and warned that he is thought to carry a large knife at all times. Police said he had "caused significant injury" to two victims in separate stabbings in the city centre. They have issued an urgent appeal for information on his whereabouts. His last known address was in Gorseinon, but police believe he is in the Swansea or Neath areas. Police said that on 28 June and again on 11 July, he approached friends in Swansea to demand money. When …

Three tonnes of cannabis seized The seized drugs are now being examined by forensic experts Three tonnes of cannabis resin have been found by West Midlands Police in its largest seizure of the drug. The resin, which police believe has a street value of £9.5m, was found in a raid in Coventry on Tuesday. The drugs were found in six pallets, each containing 500kg of cannabis resin bars. A 41-year-old man was charged and another man arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. The charged man was expected to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court later. The seizure was carried out at what was believed to be a warehouse on the out…

From Police Oracle A police dog mauled an innocent teenager when it mistook her for a fleeing criminal. Cops unleashed a German Shepherd to catch a car thief as he made off down an alley. But the police dog instead sank its teeth into Chelsea Birkenhead, 18, as she came from the other direction. The dental nurse, returning from a night out, suffered a gaping wound to her left arm before it was prised free. She needed 24 stitches and was left with no feeling in her fingers. Paramedics took her to hospital, where she was still recovering last night. Chelsea, of Liverpool, said: “The officer was shouting at it, but it wouldn’t let go. I was hysterical. I used…

Teenager dies in stabbing attack The stabbing is the latest in a spate of violent teenage deaths A teenager has died after being stabbed in south London. The 18-year-old was found with a stab wound to the stomach by police called to reports of an assault in Guildford Road, South Lambeth. He was taken to hospital, but died about an hour later. The area was sealed off and forensic experts have been examining a car in Guildford Road. A 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with Thursday's stabbing is being questioned by detectives. Police said he was arrested at his home in Brixton, south London, early on Friday. A crime scene cordon was set up following the a…

BBC News An accurate claim? A result of less crimes being reported? A 'conjuring trick' with figures?

Updated with full story now........... Police-recorded crime down by 9% Police-recorded crime in England and Wales fell 9% in the 12 months to March, latest figures suggest. The first-ever reliable figures for knife crime showed there were 22,000 offences last year. They also show that while the risk of being a victim is at its lowest ever level, people still think that the rate is going up. …