June 2008 - Crime in the News

• Youths bailed over street murder

  Two 16-year olds arrested for the murder of Ben Kinsella in North London have been released on bail. [30 June 2008]

• Adults worry about children's immorality

  A report has found that 66% of adults feel that children's morality today is not as strong as it was when they were young. [30 June 2008]

• Prisoner released early allegedly committed rape

  A prisoner who was released early under a government scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding, allegedly raped someone after being freed. [27 June 2008]

• Criminal gangs stealing cars for scrap

  Millionaire criminal gangs are stealing family cars to be crushed and sold for scrap. [27 June 2008]

• Home-made submarines used for cocaine smuggling

  Cocaine smugglers have found a new way of transporting tons of drugs - via home-made submarines. [27 June 2008]

• Straw to outline emergency legislation plan

  Justice Secretary Jack Straw will make a statement to MPs outlining a plan to allow witnesses in some trials to stay anonymous. [26 June 2008]

• Entwistle convicted for killing his wife and baby daughter

  Brit killer Neil Entwistle was convicted by a US jury yesterday of murdering his wife and their nine-month-old daughter.

• Teenager beaten and thrown to his death after failed pin number

  Three predators threw 17-year-old Robert Gills into the Great Ouse, in Bedford, because they thought he was lying about his pin number. [26 June 2008]

• Cases in jeopardy because of anonymous witness rule

  40 to 50 cases that are going through courts or about to start could be affected by last week's Law Lords ruling. [25 June 2008]

• Arson death could have been caused by revenge gang

  Hameeda Belgum, 71, was killed by a house fire on Monday night. [25 June 2008]

• Leslie denies knowing woman making rape claim

  Former TV presenter John Leslie denies a new rape allegation, calling it “totally untrue” and claiming not to know the accusing woman. [25 June 2008]

• Plans for anti-terror border force

  Senior police officers are making plans for a 3,000-strong, anti-terrorism border force. [24 June 2008]

• People-trafficking arrests in Britain yesterday

  Six people were arrested in Britain yesterday in one of the largest co-ordinated crackdowns on people-trafficking. [24 June 2008]

• Drug trade booming in Britain's prisons

  Drug trade in Britain's prisons has become a multi-million pound industry, with jail staff making a record 15,000 seizures of cannabis, heroin and cocaine in the past three years. [23 June 2008]

• Councils warned over abusing surveillance power

  Councils in England have been asked to review the way they use their surveillance privileges to investigate suspected crime. [23 June 2008]

• Youth crime convictions and cautions rise

  The number of children being convicted or cautioned in the UK has risen more than 25 percent, according to figures released yesterday. [23 June 2008]

• Best performing police forces should be given more independence

  The best performing police forces should be given "foundation" status to make them more independent, said Ken Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). [20 June 2008]

• Four in court over Rhys shooting

  Four people will appear in court today facing charges connected to the murder of schoolboy Rhys Jones. [20 June 2008]

• Detectives conclude Meredith murder inquiry

  Detectives in Italy have concluded their investigation into the murder of student Meredith Kercher. [20 June 2008]

• Public has lost faith in crime statistics

  Sir Ian Blair, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has said there is “almost no public faith” in UK crime figures. [19 June 2008]

• Companies employing illegal immigrants to be named

  In order to further punish firms who smuggled illegal immigrants, the names of companies and directors will be made public. [19 June 2008]

• New Years Eve murderers may appeal

  The four men that murdered Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare outside a New Years party may go to the Court of Appeal. [19 June 2008]

• Criminals' punishment must be more visible

  In order to restore public confidence to the justice system, criminal punishment needs to be more visible, according to a review for the Cabinet Office. [18 June 2008]

• Mother forgives killers of her son

  The mother of schoolboy Michael Dosunmu, shot dead in a mistaken identity murder, forgave his killers. [18 June 2008]

• Boy in critical condition from stab wounds

  A teenager is in critical condition with stab wounds to the chest and the stomach after a row with a group of youths in Southwark. [18 June 2008]

• Reward offer over April attack

  A £6.000 reward has been offered for information about the attack on 25-year-old Stephen Wilson. [16 June 2008]

• Home Office launches binge drinking adverts

  A shocking series of adverts launched by the Home Office are warning 18-to-24 year olds about the consequences of binge-drinking. [17 June 2008]

• Crime suspect bail laws reviewed

  Bail laws will soon be reviewed because of the number of crimes committed by suspects released while awaiting trial. [17 June 2008]

• Man charged over Saturday shooting

  Police have charged a man with the shooting of a 16-year-old girl in Manchester. [16 June 2008]

• Children and man's death in car remains a mystery

  Investigations are still under way into the death of two children and a man who were found in a Land Rover off a hillside road in Conwy Valley. [16 June 2008]

• Drunk children escaping punishment

  It was claimed yesterday that drunk and disorderly children are escaping punishment. [13 June 2008]

• Second person charged over shopper murder

  A second person has been charged with the murder of a shopper at a supermarket. [13 June 2008]

• Teaching on domestic violence

  MPs have called for children to be educated on domestic violence, honour-based crimes and forced marriages. [13 June 2008]

• 21 July bombing accomplices to be sentenced

  The wife of a man who attempted to bomb a Tube train is facing jail for failing to go to police with his plan. [12 June 2008]

• Knife crime to be ranked alongside murder and rape under new rules

  Carrying a knife unlawfully will be placed in a category of “excluded offences” for which offenders are automatically charged. [10 June 2008]

• Jealous, drunken killer given life sentence

  James Bellas, who strangled his girlfriend because she was late replying to his text, was jailed for life yesterday. [12 June 2008]

• Civil servant suspended after leaving terror files on train

  The Cabinet Office has suspended its employee who lost top-secret documents on al-Queda and Iraq. [12 June 2008]

• %3Cimg%20title%3D%22First%20picture%20of%20the%20%22%20alt%3D%22First%20picture%20of%20the%20%22%20src%3D%22../../../../webimages/New%2520thumbs/Street-thumb.png%22%20today%3F%3D%22%22%20released%3D%22%22%20Stalker%3F%3D%22%22%20Night%3D%22%22%20/%3EFirst picture of the 'Night Stalker' released today

  Police have released the first detailed image of the serial sex attacker referred to as the 'Night Stalker'. [10 June 2008]

• Police officer shot during training exercise

  Pc Ian Terry had been playing the role of a criminal fleeing in a car when he was shot by a colleague. [10 June 2008]

• Art stolen from the University of British Colombia

  Art pieces worth $2 million were stolen from the University of British Colombia's Museum of Anthropology between Friday night, 23 May, and early Saturday morning, 24 May. [9 June 2008]

• UK society is ‘demonising' children

  A joint report by children's commissioners said youngsters are being ‘demonised' by a society that is locking too many of them up. [9 June 1008]

• Player charged with death of two brothers

  Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick will be in court, accused of causing the death of two young brothers by dangerous driving. [9 June 2008]

• Inquest will open into Khyra's death

  The inquest into the death of seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq, who is thought to have starved to death in Birmingham, will open later. [9 June 2008]

• All young knife carriers should be prosecuted

  The prime minister has told prosecutors that every young person who carries a knife should be prosecuted. [5 June 2008]

• Dial-a-crime recommendations

  An official report has suggested that call centre-style automated phone systems with numbered menus should be introduced for victims to report crimes. [5 June 2008]

• Student in court for murder

  A 21-year old student is due to appear in court today for the murder of a 15-year old girl who was found murdered in a lift on her housing estate. [5 June 2008]

• Police were aware that stabbed girl had a harasser

  The family of stabbed schoolgirl Arsema Dawit said she was harassed by a man prior to her death, and at such a level that they contacted the police. [4 June 2008]

• Problems with easy-to-buy alcohol discussed

  Chief Constable Stephen Otter has warned that alcohol is “just as readily available as a glass of Coca-Cola.” [4 June 2008]

• Anti-gun campaigner's grandson charged with her murder

  The 20-year-old grandson of Patricia Regan has been charged with her murder, after he stabbed her to death on Sunday. [4 June 2008]

• Man in court for Jersey abuse

  Michael Aubin, 45, has appeared in court on Jersey, accused of sexually abusing three boys at fomer children's home Haut de la Garenne. [3 June 2008]

• Parents advised on how much alcohol to give children

  Parents in England will be be given advice on how much alcohol to give their children, to help tackle underage drinking. [2 June 2008]

• Body found in suitcase

  Detectives have discovered the remains of a Bournemouth man in a suitcase and 'strongly believe' that he was murdered. [2 June 2008]

• Mother of stabbed children detained

  The mother of two children who were stabbed to death in their home has been detained under the Mental Health Act. [2 June 2008]

• Thousands exploited by gangmasters

  The number of foreign workers abused by employment agents is far higher than previously thought, according to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. [3 June 2008]

• Academies for young offenders proposed

  A panel of criminal justice experts has proposed a plan involving young offender “academies” to try to reduce re-offending rates. [17 June 2008]