February 2008 - Crime in the News

• Significant finds in Jersey cellar

  After more 'significant' finds in a cellar at the Jersey children's home, police continue searching for more evidence to support the child abuse allegations. [29th February 2008]

• Woman murdered on way home from night shift

  A woman has been murdered near her home in East London, while she was walking home after a night shift in Canary Wharf. [29th February 2008]

• DNA database controversy continues

  Discussions continue this week about implementing a universal DNA register. While some say it would create a 'nation of suspects', others argue that many more criminals would be caught and brought to justice. [28th February 2008]

• New anti-extremist strategy

  After a counter-terrorism conference this week, a strategy has been approved to help prevent al Qaida recruiting fresh supporters. [28th February 2008]

• Jersey home: Digging commences and third room found

  As well as digging more suspicious areas for child remains in the Jersey children's home, police are also investigating a third cellar, following a tip-off from an ex-staff member there. [28th February 2008]

• Anti-freeze wife gets 30 years

  The woman who tried to poison her husband by putting anti-freeze in his food and wine will go to jail for 30 years. [28th February 2008]

• Seven convictions for Wiltshire hammer attack

  Seven young people have been convicted after they brutally attacked a 16-year old with a claw hammer. [28th February 2008]

• Early morning drugs raid in Kent

  Twenty-one people have been arrested in Kent after a crackdown on Class A drugs by Kent police. [28th February 2008]

• Coroner ruling: Shed prisoner was unlawfully killed

  A coroner has ruled that Kevin Davies, 29, who was imprisoned in a garden shed in Gloucester for four months, was unlawfully killed. [28th February 2008]

• Government gets tougher on drug dealers

  The new 10-year drugs strategy, which will be announced today, may mean that drug dealers will have their assets seized on arrest, rather than later on after they are charged. [27th February 2008]

• Detectives receive 30 calls about Milly Dowler

  Since Levi Bellfield, convicted of murdering two women this week, was named as the prime suspect in the Milly Dowler murder, police have received 30 calls about the case. [27th February 2008]

• Fears grow for missing Shannon Matthews

  After a week the search continues for missing 9-year old Shannon Matthews. Detectives fear she may have fallen into the 'wrong hands'. [27th February 2008]

• Brothers jailed for murdering woman for her life savings

  Two brothers have been jailed after murdering restaurant owner Kam Chung in West London, after she refused to hand over her life savings. [27th February 2008]

• Men murdered and chopped up their half-brother

  35-year old Andrew Scanlan's body was found in two shallow graves near Aldershot after his head and hands had been chopped off. [27th February 2008]

• Convicted Nottinghamshire killer to be stripped of assets

  John Paul Allan, who is currently serving a lfe term for drugs-related murder and drugs trafficking, may also be stripped of £300,000 worth of assets. [27th February 2008]

• Thieves strip Lincoln pub of copper and lead

  Criminals who removed £100,000 worth of copper and lead from a pub went back for a second time, this time taking the lead out of the bay windows. [27th February 2008]

• Levi Bellfield gets life sentence

  The man who murdered Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell, after they got off London buses, has been sentenced to life in jail. [26th February 2008]

• Search in Jersey cellar and trenches for clues of more child deaths

  After a child's remains were found in the Jersey children's home, investigators are focusing on searching a bricked-up cellar for more clues. [26th February 2008]

• Two held for murder after fatal Manchester stabbing

  The 25-year old victim was approached by two men before being attacked and stabbed to death in the neck on Canal Street on Monday. [26th February 2008]

• New counter-terrorism campaign

  A new advertising campaign by the Metropolitan Police Service is encouraging people to call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 if they suspect terrorist activity. [25th February 2008]

• Illegal drugs have cost £110billion

  The total crime and health costs of Class A drug use has been £110billion in the last 10 years. [25th February 2008]

• More children's remains possible in Jersey children's home

  Six more sites are being investigated at the Jersey children's home, where a child's remains were found under inches of concrete. [25th February 2008]

• Calls for change to rape coverage

  A Home Office funded study has found that media representations of rape are damaging conviction rates in court. [25th February 2008]

• Appeal for information over fatal hit-and-run

  A man was knocked down and killed by a car a year ago in North Yorkshire. Crimestoppers are offering £1,000 reward to catch the killer. [25th February 2008]

• Sally-Anne Bowman's murderer gets life

  37-year old Mark Dixie denied the murder of the 18-year old aspiring model in 2005, but will now serve a minimum of 34 -years in prison. [22nd February 2008]

• Prostitute murderer will spend life in prison

  Steve Wright, who murdered five prostitutes in Suffolk, has received the maximum jail sentence of life imprisonment. [22nd February 2008]

• Prostitute killer awaits sentencing

  Murderer Steve Wright, who was found guilty of murdering five Ipswich prostitutes yesterday, will be sentenced today. [22nd February 2008]

• Search for missing 9-year old continues

  Anyone with information about the disappearance of 9-year old Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury is being urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. [22nd February 2008]

• Two arrested for latest teen murder

  Following the murder of 15-year old orphan Sunday Essiet in Woolwich on Tuesday, an 18-year old and a 21-year old have been arrested. [22nd February 2008]

• Rhys Jones murder: Weapon found

  Since 11-year old Rhys Jones was murdered in Liverpool six months ago, 108 guns have been taken from the streets. One of these guns is believed to be the murder weapon. [21st February 2008]

• Missing 9-year old Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury

  Anyone with information about the disappearance of 9-year old Shannon Matthews in Dewsbury is being urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. [21st February 2008]

• Murder inquiry launched after young person is stabbed to death

  A 16-year old boy was found with fatal stab wounds in Woolwich, South East London on Tuesday, marking the fifth London teenager to be killed this year. [20th February 2008]

• Married man found guilty of murdering young lover

  A man has been found guilty of murdering his 19-year old lover after she started a relationship with his older brother. [20th February 2008]

• London taxi driver faces rape charges

  A 50-year old London taxi driver who told women he was a lottery-winner will face rape charges, after a number of victims came forward claiming that he had given them date rape drugs and assaulted them. [19th February 2008]

• New evidence in 1970 murder case

  The murderer of 19-year old woman murdered in Liverpool 38-years ago was never caught, but new evidence has led to the case being reopened. [19th February 2008]

• Real life raids on giant screens

  Footage of real-life raids will be beamed onto giant public screens as part of an anti-crime campaign in South Yorkshire. [19th February 2008]

• Tackling Violence Action Plan

  Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will be announcing a new drive to tackle violent crime in England and Wales today. [18th February 2008]

• Gang members getting younger

  Children as young as 10 years old are joining gun and knife gangs in an area of South London where five young people have been killed in the last 12 months. [15th February 2008]

• Car crash victim was stabbed in neck

  A man who appeared to have died as a result of a car crash in South London has actually been stabbed in the neck, a post-mortem has revealed. [18th February 2008]

• Parents given power over sex criminals

  Parents may be given new powers whereby they can check if people who have access to their children have paedophile convictions. [18th February 2008]

• £100million drug trafficking raid

  Addresses across London have been raided to bust a cocaine and cannabis ring. So far, 22 people have been arrested. Their questioning continues today. [14th February 2008]

• Young boy stabbed in face while protecting mother

  A nine-year old boy was stabbed in the face while trying to protect his mother from a knife attack. [14th February 2008]

• 24 people die every day as a result of alcohol abuse

  First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said that reducing fatalities from alcohol abuse was a priority for the Welsh Assembly Government. [14th February 2008]

• Georgian billionaire's death in London is suspicious

  Exiled Georgian billionaire, Badri Patarkatsishvili, who claimed recently that he was the target of an assassination plot, has been found dead in his home in London. [13th February 2008]

• Boris Johnson wants neighbourhood crime maps

  If elected as London's mayor, Boris Johnson has promised to introduce New York-style crime maps, showing crime levels in every neighbourhood. [13th February 2008]

• Post-mortem on stabbed teenager

  A post-mortem will be carried out today on 17-year old Joe Dinsdale, who was stabbed to death in Hull on Monday. [13th February 2008]

• Operation Maximum Impact seizes £1million in drugs

  Just 10 days into the month-long operation in Yorkshire and Humberside, more than £1million in drugs and 117 weapons have been recovered. [13th February 2008]

• Should anti-teen mosquito device be scrapped?

  Campaigners are calling for 'the mosquito', the high-pitched device used to disperse teenagers, to be scrapped because it infringes their human rights. [12th February 2008]

• Illegal downloaders could be banned from the internet

  The government is considering banning those who illegally download music and films online from using the internet. [12th February 2008]

• Newlove teen murderers jailed

  Three teenagers have been given life sentences after they kicked father-of-three Garry Newlove to death outside his Warrington home. [12th February 2008]

• Internet paedophile caught by covert officers

  Roger Manning, a 43-year old security guard at Exeter Crown Court, has been caught for grooming young girls on a social networking website. [11th February 2008]

• Domestic abuse rise after football defeat

  Domestic abuse in Scotland rose by 37% above average on the day Scotland were beaten 2-1 by Italy in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. [11th February 2008]

• Scrapyard killer jailed for 25 years

  Richard Barlow, nephew of scrapyard owners George and Joyce Barlow, has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for murdering his uncle and aunt. [11th February 2008]

• Pensioner pinned down during burglary

  A 66-year old woman was held down by a burglar in her Shropshire home while his friend searched her property. [11th February 2008]

• Debt collector's kidnappers jailed

  A debt collector was abducted after two men burst into his home, tied him up and bundled him into a car last year. The abductors, both from Gillingham, have been sentenced to ten years each imprisonment. [11th February 2008]

• Drunken youths destroying volunteers work

  Drunk young people have been blamed for a series of attacks on a clubhouse being built by Stoke Gifford, Bristol. [11th February 2008]

• 100-year old woman chases off bogus callers

  Bogus callers in Lancashire stole the savings of a 100-year old woman and her 106-year old sister. 100-year old Alice tried to chase the criminals, but she fell and hot her head as they escaped. [11th February 2008]

• More rapists spared jail sentences

  New figures have revealed that the number of rapists who aren't given jail sentences has doubled. [11th February 2008]

• Headless corpse man named

  The headless body found in Kilburn last week has been named as 43-year old Algerian national Lakhdar Ouyahia. A man is appearing in court today charged with his murder. [11th February 2008]

• Arrests made following Kent school gas attack

  A 12-year old boy has been arrested after illegal pepper spray aerosol was set off in the stairwell of a school in Ashford. [8th February 2008]

• Murder hunt map released

  Detectives looking for the murderer who killed grandmother Georgina Edmunds have released a map of her movements on the day she died. [8th February 2008]

• Wanted Lancashire millionaire arrested

  A millionaire shoplifter, who was wanted by three different police forces, has been arrested after months of investigations by Lancashire police. [7th February 2008]

• Using voice distortion technology to protect witness anonymity

  Audiovisual company 'Impact Marcom' has announced it will be providing voice distortion technology designed to protect the anonymity of witnesses in the courtroom. [7th February 2008]

• Jailed airgun teacher wants more action against anti-social behaviour

  The Manchester teacher who fired a gun near two teenagers outside her house says she was driven to it, after months of harrassment and crime. She's calling for more action against ant-social behavior. [7th February 2008]

• Ex-Radio 1 DJ to be extradited for child abuse charges

  The former Radio 1 DJ, Chris Denning, will be extradited to Slovakia to face child sex abuse charges. [7th February 2008]

• Cannabis factory shut down in Wiltshire

  A cannabis factory capable of making £250,000 a year for the gang running it has been shut down in Wiltshire. [7th February 2008]

• Civilian staff can perform many duties better than police

  A report published today by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Inspector of the Constabulary, says that only about 10% of policing tasks need fully-trained police officers. [7th February 2008]

• London is UK's most fraudulent city

  London has the highest rate of credit and debit card fraud in the UK, with one in five people having their cards cloned from cash point machines. [6th February 2008]

• Foiled armed robbery in Essex

  Witnesses are being asked to come forward following an attempted armed robbery at a corner shop in Chelmsford on Tuesday 5th February. [6th February 2008]

• Graffiti costs Peterborough tax-payers £133,000 per year

  The latest figures show that Peterborough City Council has spent £534,000 on removing graffiti since 2003, with the average spend going up by 2.5% per year. [6th February 2008]

• OAP smuggler stopped at East Midlands Airport with 62,000 cigarettes

  A 70-year old Sunderland OAP was stopped with a man in his 20s for smuggling 62,000 cigarettes from the Canary Islands. [5th February 2008]

• Gang culture taking root in Leicester

  It has been revealed that police officers are attempting to crack down on up to twenty violent gangs in Leicester. [6th February 2008]

• Government to fine parents of underage drinkers

  The parents of under-age children found drinking in public may be fined up to £1,000 or be forced to do community work. [6th February 2008]

• Race hate crimes at record levels in Manchester

  Home Office figures have revealed that the number of people found guilty of racially-aggravated assaults has more than doubled in just four years. [6th February 2008]

• Calls for balcony killer to be prosecuted in the UK

  The father who killed his six year old son after plunging over a balcony in Greece wtih him may face a re-trial when he returns to Britain. [6th February 2008]

• Teenage model's accused murderer appears in court

  The man accused of murdering teenage Croydon model Sally Anne Bowman has confessed to having sex with her, after she was dead. [5th February 2008]

• Cannabis law change has fuelled organised crime

  The reclassification of cannabis from class B to class C status three years ago will be reviewed this week. Senior police officers will urge the Government to reverse its decision, claiming that the reclassification has sent out a 'soft' message about its use and that cannabis cultivation in the UK has soared since. [5th February 2008]

• Glasgow has same number of gangs as London

  The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think-tank has revealed that there are 170 teenage gangs in Glasgow. This matches the number of teenage gangs found in London, yet Glasgow has just a sixth of London's population. [5th February 2008]

• BBC Newsround films focus on social issues

  Newsround will be tackling the issue of young people carrying and using knives in a 15-minute animated programme. [5th February 2008]

• Honour crimes on the rise in the UK

  A report has been published today about the rise of honour crimes against women from immigrant communities in the UK. The Crown Prosecution Service says that about 12 women are victims of honour killings in the UK each year, but researchers of this report fear the real number is much higher. [4th February 2008]

• 'Maximum Impact On Crime' - Tackling crime in Yorkshire

  Operation Maximum Impact is undertaking a series of raids across Yorkshire and Humberside throughout February to target crime in communities, violent crime, domestic violence, vandalism and stolen goods. [4th February 2008]

• Fraud is at highest in 12 years

  Cases of fraud in 2007 totalled more than £1billion - the highest its been in 12 years. [4th February 2007]

• Operation Captura fugitive gets life

  Clifford Hobbs escaped from a prison transport van on Tuesday 10 June 2003 and fled to the Costa del Sol region of Spain. As a result of our ‘Most Wanted' appeal in October 2006 he was finally arrested last year and brought back to the UK to face justice. Today he received a life sentence for his part in a £1 million robbery in Brixton in 2003. [1st February 2008]

• Metal detectors in every Southampton school

  Every primary and secondary school in Southampton will be issued with hand-held metal detectors, which will be used to scan children for weapons. [1st February 2008]

• British man extradited from Morocco over Securitas raid

  A British man in Morocco has been charged in connection with the Securitas raid in Kent. [1st February 2008]

• One in twelve victims of gun-related murder is a child

  Home Office figures published yesterday show that child murders in 2006/07 rose by 31%. [1st February 2008]