Youths overturn canoe causing huge Lake District rescue response
A canoe which was pushed into a lake by youths sparked a huge emergency response involving a helicopter flying from Wales.Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) said it deployed search teams to Thirlmere in the Lake District after reports were received of an overturned canoe, with the potential for people in the water, near the dam late on Friday evening. Cumbria Fire Service deployed a boat onto the reservoir, while a HM Coastguard Helicopter flew in from Caernarfon, North Wales, to help with the search. KMRT said it then received a report that "three youths admitted to pushing a boat into the water".
The team said it had thoroughly searched the shore from the Armboth area to Thirlmere dam before standing down.
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BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Thousands of criminal cases collapsing due to missing or lost police evidence
Thousands of criminal cases - including some of the most serious violent and sexual offences - are collapsing every year because of lost, damaged or missing evidence, the BBC has than 30,000 prosecutions in England and Wales collapsed between October 2020 and September 2024, data from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) include 70 homicides and more than 550 sexual chiefs say not all the cases relate to lost evidence and the figures include situations where officers may not be able to find an expert witness or get a medical statement. However, it follows a series of damning reports about how police forces are storing evidence.A leading criminologist says the increase was largely "a resourcing issue" brought about by cuts to police forces throughout the ex-police officers told the BBC it was unsurprising and the amount of evidence they deal with is "overwhelming".When police forces build cases around defendants they hand a file to the CPS. But when the CPS cannot proceed to trial because police do not have the necessary evidence needed to secure a conviction - they record it in their data as an "E72".The BBC, alongside the University of Leicester, managed to obtain Freedom of Information (FOI) requests showing the number of E72s recorded between 2020 and 2024 at police forces in England and can include:Physical evidence - including forensic evidence - being lost, damaged or contaminated during storageDigital evidence, such as victim interview footage or body camera footage, being lostWitness statements or pathology reports not being made available by policeKey evidence not gathered from the crime sceneThe figures obtained by the BBC do not break down why cases have the data does suggest the number of cases recorded as an E72 are increasing, with a higher proportion of prosecutions failing to result in a conviction because of lost or missing evidence each 2020, a total of 7,484 prosecutions collapsed because of lost, missing or damaged evidence. In 2024, that had risen by 9%, to 8,180. 'It can really affect someone's mental state' When Kiera was just nine years old she gave an interview on camera to Lancashire Police describing the harrowing details of the sexual abuse she had been subjected to over several a few months later, she says, police officers told her mother they had lost the recording."It was really hard, because I sat there for hours and hours telling people what had happened to me and for that to be lost, I just thought like what's the point in doing it again?" said Kiera, now 19."They did want me to do it again, but I just couldn't go through with it at the time."It wasn't until nine years later, when Kiera was an adult, that she felt strong enough to provide her evidence October 2024, her perpetrators were jailed for almost 30 years for raping and sexually assaulting seven children, including her."It can really affect someone's mental state. It's also not protecting other people because these people then don't get convicted of crimes."A Lancashire Police spokesperson apologised for the lost interview disc in her case, and said, since 2015, it had introduced new processes to prevent similar issues happening again. 'The amount of it is overwhelming' Former police officers have told the BBC they are not surprised by the findings."It's [evidence] chucked all over the place," said one former officer."The amount of it is overwhelming… it's unsurprising it gets lost or damaged," another told the Carole McCartney, a criminologist and expert in evidence retention believes the loss of the dedicated Forensic Science Service (FSS) in 2012 is one of the reasons behind the growing proportion of cases affected by unavailable 2012, all police forces could send exhibits that needed storing or analysing to the service, but the government-owned company was closed that year after making large then, police forces have had to make their own evidence storage arrangements and contract private providers for forensic McCartney said she had witnessed an officer pull out what he called a "box of horrors" from underneath a desk which contained various pieces of un-catalogued evidence including a plastic bag with a broken wine bottle in it and a car numberplate. All Items held by the FSS from before 2012 were moved to a different facility - the National Forensics Archive just outside of Birmingham - that year, but that archive is for unsolved cases only and does not accept new in the archive were crucial in overturning the convictions of both Andrew Malkinson and Peter Sullivan. Its director Alison Fendley says that without a dedicated forensic service, police forces were currently suffering from a lack of resources and expertise at a local level."Police forces have got lots of other things to do - archiving is not their day job and there's so much material coming and going it must be difficult to keep on top of," she backlogs at courts, the growth in online crime and the increase in digital evidence such as body worn video are all adding to a growth in the amount of exhibits police have to National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said police and the CPS worked together to ensure evidence was "gathered and presented in a timely manner, bringing offenders to justice and ensuring victims are safeguarded".It said the data obtained by the BBC refers to all evidence that is either missing or unavailable when a defendant is going to trial after being this could include situations where police cannot find an expert witness or may not be able to obtain a required medical statement. A number of recent reports have raised serious concerns about police storage of 2022, His Majesty's inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found police forces were "struggling to meet the demands placed on it by the digital age" as a result of the fast growth in digital University of Leicester's study into police retention of investigative materials, found three quarters of lawyers it surveyed had worked on a criminal conviction where evidence had been lost, destroyed or contaminated. Almost half claimed this had happened on multiple Baroness Casey's 2023 review into the culture of the Metropolitan Police found officers having to contend with "over-stuffed, dilapidated or broken fridges and freezers containing evidence including the rape kits of victims".It found an "overworked and inexperienced workforce" lacked the "infrastructure and specialism" for dealing with sexual offences, which existed before a specialist unit was disbanded in BBC study found around one in 20 prosecutions by the Met had been dropped as a result of missing evidence between 2020 and comparison around one in 50 were dropped across England and Met said the number included situations where police could not find an expert witness or were not able to obtain a required medical statement and to suggest it was simply down to lost evidence was acknowledged that on "a rare number of occasions" evidence is misplaced, adding: "We continue to make improvements to our recording systems to minimise this risk."The Home Office refused the BBC's offer to NPCC said: "When evidential issues occur in a case, the CPS will raise this with police for any action deemed necessary and we will work together to ensure these are resolved wherever possible."The results of a consultation by the Law Commission, which proposed re-establishing a national forensic service and making the mishandling of evidence a criminal offence in some circumstances, are set to go before Parliament next week. Additional reporting by Catherine Heuston and Claire Jones.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Drivers speed more in 20mph zones than any other limits - and councils want to up restrictions
Drivers speed in 20mph zones more than any other limits, a massive survey of motorists has found. It comes as councils across the country continue to push for blanket 20mph restrictions across their towns and cities. The poll of more than 10,500 drivers uncovered that 44 per cent admit to breaching 20mph limits, whereas just a fifth speed in 50mph areas. It comes as Labour-ran Birmingham, which already has 20mph limits for a third of its city streets, is exploring extending the restriction to more roads, while Glasgow has announced it will introduce 20mph limits on all major street while the Scottish Government asses whether to make it a nationwide fixture. While the theory for reducing residential limits from 30mph is that it will bolster safety, the introduction of blanket 20mph zones has proven extremely unpopular in the past. Wales imposed its country-wide 20mph restriction in 2023 at the cost of £34million. However, it reversed the decision less than a year later, with some roads reverted back to 30mph following a public backlash. Campaign group '20's Plenty for Us' recently estimated that one in three Britons (around 28 million) live in local authorities with 20mph limits. Drivers speed in 20mph zones more than any other limits, a massive survey of motorists has found - as councils across the country continue to push for blanket 20mph restrictions across their towns and cities The AA's study highlights that drivers are more likely to speed in residential areas than anywhere else. Some 38 per cent of those polled said they knowingly break 30mph limits, which the motoring group said is a major concern for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. However, when driving out of town, motorists are seemingly are more conscious of adhering to restrictions. In 40mph zones, just 24 per cent say they speed. In 50mph limits, only 21 per cent go over the restriction. And on stretches of road governed by 60mph limits, 22 per cent admit they drive faster. But on motorways, the nation's fastest-moving roads, attitude towards the speed limit is far more relaxed. More than a third (35 per cent) say they speed on 70mph stretches, which comes with greater risk of fines and penalty points given the widespread adoption of 'smart' motorways, which all have variable speed limits that can change at the drop of a hat. Motorists were also asked how much over each the speed limit they deemed is 'acceptable and safe'. In 20, 30 and 40mph zones, most drivers believed up to 4mph over was acceptable. For 50 and 60mph limits, the 'safe' margin was 5mph over, while on 70mph routes this allowance rises to 6mph. When asked why they exceeded speed limits, the most common response was 'I wasn't aware of the speed I was doing,' which was cited by more than two fifths (44 per cent). 'This was particularly common in 20mph and 30mph zones, where drivers have not adjusted to lower limits or failed to notice signage.,' the AA said. In rebuttal, motorists often argue that adhering to a 20mph restrictions in a modern car can be difficult, with just minor levels of acceleration typically resulting in exceeding the limit due to already travelling a relatively pedestrian speeds. Other excuses given by the panel of drivers included a belief that the speed limit in place is too low (33 per cent), and the road being quiet (30 per cent). Running late (4 per cent), peer pressure, and following the speed of the vehicle in front (3 per cent) were also reasons provided. There are notable differences in attitudes towards speed limits across age and gender profiles too. Somewhat unsurprisingly, men are significantly more likely to admit to speeding than women (47 per cent versus 38 per cent respectively), and it's the youngest motorists on the road (18 to 34 year olds) who are statistically most likely to speed on residential streets. Over 65s are least likely to go over the limit in any zone, the report found. More education and increased policing in 20mph zones Road casualty statistics show that speeding is the biggest factor in traffic deaths and injuries. In 2023, more than half (56 per cent) of fatal collisions were linked to one of three speed-related factors: exceeding the speed limit; driving too fast for conditions; and driving aggressively, dangerously or recklessly. It means 809 of the 1,441 fatal collisions on Britain's roads two years ago were caused due to motorists travelling too fast. The AA concluded from its findings that more enforcement is required on roads, especially where the speed limit is lower. It called for 1,000 more traffic officers to help improve safety and catch offenders in the act. However, it also said improvements could be made to driver education, explaining in greater detail to new motorists and those sitting speed awareness courses the rationale behind lower limits, which some often misunderstand or see as excessive. Edmund King, AA president, said: 'We can't afford to be complacent as speed kills. Every mile per hour over the limit matters and these figures are a wake-up call. Speed limits aren't optional – they're lifesavers. 'Whether it's a school run or on a quiet residential street, the difference between 20 and 30mph can be the difference between life and death. 'While many drivers don't speed maliciously, these findings show many are distracted, unaware of their surroundings, or simply not paying attention. 'That's why we need better driver attention, improved signage, clearer road markings, and smarter enforcement.' List of 20mph highway authorities in the UK Here is a list from 20's Plenty For Us of what it described as '20mph highway authorities' across the UK - Local Authorities which accept 20mph as the right speed limit where people live, work or play. County councils Cambridgeshire Lancashire Oxfordshire Unitary authorities Bath and North East Somerset Brighton and Hove Bristol, City of Cheshire West and Chester Cornwall Darlington East Riding of Yorkshire Herefordshire, County of Kingston upon Hull, City of Leicester Middlesbrough Luton Nottingham Portsmouth Southampton Southend-on-Sea Warrington York Metropolitan districts Birmingham Bolton Bradford Bury Calderdale Coventry Doncaster Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle-upon-Tyne Rochdale Sefton Sheffield South Tyneside St Helens Stockport Wigan Wirral London boroughs Camden City of London Croydon Ealing Hackney Hammersmith & Fulham Haringey Hounslow Islington Kensington & Chelsea Kingston Lambeth Lewisham Mitcham Newham Richmond Southwark Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster Scottish authorities Clackmannanshire Edinburgh Fife Glasgow Highland Scottish Borders West Dunbartonshire Countries Wales
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Tributes to ‘kindest of souls,' 20, killed in horror ‘quad bike crash' as five arrested & murder probe launched
A HEARTBROKEN family have paid tribute to the "kindest of souls", 20, who was killed in a quad bike crash. Ethan Powell tragically died after the horror unfolded on a stretch of road between Rhymney and Dowlais, in Merthyr Tydfil, on May 31. 2 Officers were called to the incident at around 4.50am and pronounced the youngster dead at the scene. Ethan's devastated family have now paid tribute to their son. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we, as a family, can confirm the passing of our much loved and cherished son Ethan," they said in a statement shared by Gwent Police. 'Ethan had the kindest of souls, the biggest of hearts and enough love to give to absolutely anyone he came across in life. "He was the funniest of characters and always managed to light up a room. 'He will forever live on through his sisters Eleanor and Isabella with our family remembering him every second of every day. 'Our family is truly heartbroken at the news, a young life taken far too soon with so much ahead of him. 'We would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support which we have had since Saturday. 'It brings a bit of comfort to see how loved and well thought of he really was, but we would now like to ask for privacy and space to grieve following this unimaginable loss to our family.' 'Ethan; forever 20, forever loved.' It comes as police have arrested five people in connection with Ethan's death. A 43-year-old man, from Tredegar, and a 34-year-old man, from Pontypridd, were both arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender. They remain in police custody. A Merthyr man, 41, was also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender. He has been released on conditional bail as investigations continue. However he was recalled to prison in connection with an unrelated enquiry. Another Merthyr man, 40, was detained on suspicion of murder and driving whilst unfit through drink and driving while unfit through drugs. A second man, 37 and from Merthyr also, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender. Both were released on conditional bail as enquiries continue. Detective Chief Inspector for Gwent Police, Matthew Edwards, the senior investigating officer, said on Tuesday: "We're keen to speak to anyone who was travelling along the A465 between the hours of 2am and 5am on Saturday morning, especially motorists with dashcam, as they could have details that might assist our enquiries. "It is still our view that a second vehicle – a white BMW that was found burnt out in the Dowlais area – may have been involved in the collision. If you have any information about this car, then please get in touch. A spokesperson for the force added: "Anyone with information that could assist our investigation is asked to call 101, contact us via our website or send us a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2500171434. "You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously with information by calling 0800 555 111 or going to their website to report online in confidence."
