Man seriously injured and robbed in Dumfries assault
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BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Security at fire-ravaged Raven Hotel in Droitwich to be stepped up
Security will be tightened at the site of a Grade II listed hotel after it was gutted by blaze, believed by police to have been deliberately started, tore through the black and white timbered Raven Hotel in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, on Sunday, causing parts of the centuries-old building to District Council said that the owner, Live Urban Two, would bring in enhanced security at the site, including a dog and Worcester Fire Service formally handed control of the site to the owner and the developer, Inroka Limited, on Friday. The authority said it would monitor the additional security services were called to the blaze at the hotel at about 16:45 BST on 10 August and residents gathered in tears behind cordons as they watched the building, some of which dated back to the 15th Century, girls, 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and were later released on bail. The Raven shut as a hotel more than a decade ago and has planning permission for new homes and a gin bar - but concerns have previously been raised over its condition, vandalism and trespassing at the district council has been pushing the owners to get on with their authority has also worked with the site's developer for the past six months on urgent works to protect the site, following a court order secured in 2024. 'We will keep pressure on owners' Structural engineers confirmed that parts of the listed building could be saved.A council spokesperson said work would now focus on agreeing the priorities for safety at the site, measures to prop parts of the building up and make sure that planning conditions were met, before significant work took issues at the back of the building were being addressed and the spokesperson said the authority would monitor the effect of the fire, working with partners to support businesses affected by the added that the UK Health Security Agency told them that asbestos was present in the hotel but its assessment of the fire and resulting air quality did not identify any significant public health concerns."I want to reassure residents that we are doing everything we can, alongside our partners, to safeguard what remains of this important landmark, ensure the safety of the site, and support the process of rebuilding," said councillor Richard Morris, leader of the council."We will continue to keep pressure on the owners to fulfil their responsibilities and deliver on their obligations." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment brazen shoplifters in Lidl get stopped by hero employee before abandoning a mountain of stolen goods
Footage has captured the unbelievable moment a pair of brazen shoplifters were stopped in Lidl by a hero employee before abandoning a mountain of stolen goods. Two women were caught on camera as they emptied their pockets of stolen goods after being barred from exiting the budget supermarket. In the background of the clip, a passer-by asks the brave employee if the store is 'calling the police on them' to which the man nods his head in confirmation. Meanwhile the shoplifters, dressed in black leggings, matching white t-shirts and gilets, are filmed abandoning a mountain of stolen goods. Their haul appears to include: sanitary pads, dishwasher tablets and 12 bottles of Lynx deodorant. The astonishing clip has been viewed more than 2.5million times on Instagram and TikTok with the caption reading: 'How do people actually do this?' Taking to the comments to express their disgust, one person commented: 'It's all going right back on the shelves after being down their pants! Yikes!' A second user added: 'They don't even have any shame.' @orson0910 £365 for all of that #stealin #ho #fyp ♬ original sound - orson It comes as a police chief warned that some shoplifters 'feel they can rob shops with impunity'. Katy Bourne, the national lead for shoplifting at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said more robust police interventions and 'meaningful criminal justice measures' are needed to prevent reoffending. Shoplifting hit a record high in 2024, with the number of offences surpassing 500,000 for the first time, up 20 per cent from 2023. 'What on earth has happened to our high streets and our city centres?' Ms Bourne, the police and crime commissioner for Sussex, asked. 'Why do some people feel they can rob shops with impunity and abuse and assault staff without any fear of retribution?' She argued that there must be rehabilitation for some offenders as well as 'significant alternatives to our overcrowded prisons. Ms Bourne also announced Sussex will see 'the first electronic tagging scheme for persistent shoplifters'. The force will work with the courts on how to issue the tags and with industries to see how they can be monitored. Writing in The Telegraph on Saturday, the policing chief also criticised the 'purist application of data protection law' advising shopkeepers not to share images of suspected offenders. She said she is pleased that forces including Sussex Police will roll out live facial recognition cameras in specially-adapted police vans. It was reported that officers spoke to a shopkeeper in Wrexham after he posted a sign referring to 'scumbag shoplifters'. North Wales Police said it did not appear he had committed any offence. Ms Bourne said it appeared to be an example of 'warranted officers of the law policing the potential for hurt feelings'. She asked: 'How have we got to the point where police forces are more worried about upsetting career criminals than catching them?' Jon Cummins, Assistant Chief Constable from Avon and Somerset Police, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that wider societal issues including poverty, the cost-of-living crisis and addiction are contributing to the shoplifting spike. He said on Saturday: 'If they see somebody shoplifting, my advice to them is they must call us... not to intervene. We clearly want to be attending and will be attending reports'. Ms Bourne also cautioned against members of the public attempting to apprehend shoplifters. They may be armed and people 'run the risk' of committing assault, unlawful restraint or wrongful arrest. Earlier this week, supermarket chain Iceland said it would offer customers a £1 reward if they spot shoplifters in the act. The retailer's boss, Richard Walker, said any shoppers who point out offenders to members of staff will receive a payment to their membership card. It comes as the Government agreed that shoplifting should be called 'shop theft' to avoid downplaying its seriousness. In a letter to ministers, peers warned the 'outdated' word was 'trivialising the severity of the offence' and called for it to be phased out in legislation and guidance. The Government responded to commit to using 'shop theft' where appropriate, the Daily Telegraph reported. And the national police unit for organisations acquisitive crime, Opal, also said it would encourage the use of the term in its general communications. The letter from peers sent in November said: 'The use of the outdated term 'shoplifting' serves to trivialise the serious, organised nature of an increasing element of shop theft which is having a devastating effect on the retail sector. We recommend its use should be phased out.' In response, policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'The Government will use the expression 'shop theft" where appropriate.' Shoplifting rates have almost doubled in two decades, with three thefts a minute recorded across England and Wales in the year to March. There were 530,643 reported to the police in this time, up 20 per cent on the previous year's 444,022. The problem is becoming increasingly rife in chemists, with an estimated increase of 88 per cent in the theft of drugs and medical supplies in the past 12 months. Sir Keir Starmer has made tackling shoplifting one of his top priorities since taking office, and pledged to spend an extra £200m on neighbourhood policing, as well as making assaulting a shop worker a more serious offence. The Prime Minister came under criticism this week, however, for failing to refer to shoplifters as 'scumbags.'
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Carjacker dragged delivery driver down the road in her own vehicle after demanding 'I want your car'
A delivery driver has claimed she was dragged down the road by her own vehicle after a 'scumbag' carjacker jumped into her front seat before speeding off. Angela Johnson, 53, says she was in the middle of a working shift in Wattsville, near Caerphilly, South Wales, when a man approached her blue Audi A1 and said 'I want your car'. The suspect is then said to have opened the driver's side of the unlocked vehicle, before removing her from it after a 'back and forth' tussle during the incident on August 10. Ms Johnson said she tried to wrestle the door back open, but her attempts were unsuccessful and the alleged thief quickly sped off. Recalling the ordeal, Ms Johnson said: 'He jumped in my car seat, shoved me out of the way and slammed the door. 'He fought back and forth with the door. Next thing he drove off high speed and took me with him a little bit of the way and I was on the floor.' Ms Johnson, who also works as a cleaner, said she was terrified as the incident unfolded, adding: 'I couldn't do anything because I didn't have anything - he took everything: my phone, my car and my handbag.' Neighbours called the police and rushed to assist Ms Johnson, who was able to track the location of her phone half and hour after it was taken. Police found the abandoned car empty with many of her possessions missing, including equipment from her cleaning job. Angela said: 'I'm not coping very well, I'm not sleeping, I'm just walking around in circles because I don't know what to do. 'He doesn't know what he's done. He's not worth my breath. I'd call him a scumbag if I saw him because that's what he is.' Urging anyone with information to come forward, a Gwent Police spokesman said: 'An unknown man is alleged to have entered the unlocked blue Audi A1 and driven away. 'Officers attended and located the car in St John's Terrace, Crosskeys, at around 10.50pm. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.'
