December 2009 - Crime in the news

• Billionaire murder suspect hunt

  Detectives have said they won't give up the search for a 22-year-old, who is on Crimestoppers' Most Wanted, suspected of raping and murdering a Norwegian student in London. [22 December 2009]

• Facebook murder boy charged

  A teenage boy has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old, which was in response to a message posted on Facebook. [22 December 2009]

• Investigation after toddler handed to imposter

  An investigation will be undertaken after an 18-month-old girl was given to an imposter at a police station. [21 December 2009]

• Father jailed for honour killing

  A man has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years for murdering his 15-year-old daughter after she had a relationship with a man from a different branch of Islam. [18 December 2009]

• Ten year old boys charged with rape

  Two boys have been charged with raping an eight-year-old girl in London. [17 December 2009]

• Most Wanted foreigners in UK

  An appeal has been launched on Crimestoppers' Most Wanted to find 10 men believed to be hiding out in the UK after committing serious crimes abroad. [14 December 2009]

• More drivers use mobiles

  There has been a significant increase in the number of drivers using hand-held mobile phones in the past year, despite tougher penalties that were introduced in 2007. [11 December 2009]

• More support needed for Muslims leaving prison

  A charity has announced that it is planning to help reduce the number of Muslims reoffending after leaving prison by offering them mentors. [10 December 2009]

• 94 held in Greater Manchester Police raids

  Greater Manchester Police took 94 people in to custody this morning following a series of coordinated raids across the region. [9 December 2009]

• Six charged over fatal Lancashire fire

  A sixth person has been charged over a fatal house fire in Lancashire that killed a husband and wife. [7 December 2009]

• £10,000 reward offered for information on student rape

  Police investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman at the University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, have released CCTV of a man they wish to trace. [3 December 2009]

• Police face budget cuts

  Police in England and Wales are facing budget cuts of up to £500m over five years, it was announced today. [2 December 2009]

• Homeless man jailed for rape of girl

  A homeless man has been jailed indefinitely for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Wythenshawe, Manchester. [1 December 2009]

• More young people tagged

  There has been a sharp increase in the number of young offenders who have been electronically tagged in the last year. [15 December 2009]

• Nursery paedophile jailed

  Nursery worker Vanessa George, who sexually abused children in her care, has been jailed for at least seven years. [16 December 2009]