UK Policing News

Three men have been charged with people smuggling offences after a fishing boat was intercepted off the coast of East Anglia. As part of an intelligence-led operation involving the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force, the vessel was located on Tuesday evening. The three crew members, Igor Kosyi, 56, and Volodymyr Mykhailov, 48, both from Ukraine, and Aleksandrs Gulpe, 43, from Latvia, appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court this afternoon and have been remanded in custody. The boat had sailed from the Ostend area of Belgium and was accompanied into Harwich harbour by Border Force cutters Searcher and Vigilant in the early hours of Wednesd…

Reuters *:not([hidden]):not(style) ~ *:not([hidden]):not(style){margin-top:1rem;}]]>A draft report concluded in the summer that Home Secretary Priti Patel had broken rules on ministers' behaviour, sources familiar with the contents say. The Cabinet Office began an inquiry into her conduct after Sir Philip Rutnam, the most senior Home Office official, resigned in February. Sir Philip - who is suing for unfair dismissal - alleged that staff felt Ms Patel "created fear" in the department. Ms Patel has always strongly denied allegations of bullying. Patel bullying report 'with the PM' - SedwillPublish Patel claims report - PM adviserThe report, carried out by the government's…

National Crime Agency officers have arrested four people in Northern Ireland as part of a major investigation into the alleged importation of drugs. In a series of raids supported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, arrests were made in Lisburn, Antrim and Crumlin on Tuesday (17 November), and Limavady yesterday. Three of the people were charged last night with offences relating to the supply of class A and B drugs and money laundering. They are Samuel Manning, 33, from Lady Wallace Gardens, Lisburn, Mervyn John Armstrong, 41, from Millhouse Road, Antrim, and Sean Gerard Cassidy, 44, from Tully Road, Antrim. Cassidy was also charged with conspiracy to import …

The 2020 Suspicious Activity Report (SARs) Annual Report has been published today (19 November). Read the report. The UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) saw another record number of SARs, receiving and processing 573,085 (a 20% increase on the previous period of 478,437), with an 81% increase in requests for a defence against money laundering or terrorist finance (62,408). The UKFIU continued its efforts to provide law enforcement agencies with focused asset recovery opportunities as a result of Defence Against Money Laundering (DAML) requests. Over the year £172m was denied to suspected criminals as a result of DAML requests – up 31% on the previous year’s £132m …

EPA *:not([hidden]):not(style) ~ *:not([hidden]):not(style){margin-top:1rem;}]]>The largest military investment in 30 years is set to be announced by the prime minister - an extra £4bn a year over the next four years. The money will fund space and cyber defence projects such as an artificial intelligence agency, and could create 40,000 new jobs, the government said. Boris Johnson said it would help the UK to "bolster our global influence". The Ministry of Defence's annual budget is around £40bn, so the £16.5bn over four years is about a 10% increase. The extra spending is on top of the Conservatives' 2019 manifesto commitment. Then, the government pledged to increase defe…

An Isle of Wight businessman has been charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into child sexual abuse. A National Crime Agency spokesman said: “Peter Tomlinson, 63, of Baring Road, Cowes, Hampshire, has been charged with 12 counts as part of an NCA investigation. He will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court by video link this afternoon (Wednesday 18 November) to face the following charges: five counts of paying for the sexual services of a girl under 13; two counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child under 13; two counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission of an either way offence and three counts of making in…