No further action against man arrested Whitehaven park rape
Detectives and uniformed officers are also carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.The victim is being supported by specialist officers and partners, police said.
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The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Pete Hegseth is requiring so much security it's taking officers off of criminal investigations
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 's security requirements are so extensive that it is placing a strain on the U.S. Army 's Criminal Investigation Division, according to a report. The Washington Post reports that the CID, which is responsible for protecting top Pentagon officials as well as serving as the Army's law enforcment arm, has been forced to draft agents who would otherwise be investigating criminal offenses concerning members of the Armed Forces to help watch over Hegseth's family and their properties in D.C., Minnesota and Tennessee. 'I've never seen this many security teams for one guy,' one official told the newspaper. 'Nobody has.' The CID reportedly maintains around 1,500 agents in total, around 150 of whom are typically assigned to VIP security details. But since Hegseth took office in January, the number shifted over into personal protection roles has risen to between 400 and 500, according to two differing estimates the paper received. One CID official quoted by the Post expressed their frustration with the situation by saying agents were being prevented from 'doing what we are supposed to be doing' in order to 'sit on luggage' or 'sit in the cars on the driveway.' Others complained of having to shepherd the secretary's children to school or patrol the perimeter of his properties. 'It is literally taking away from [CID's] law enforcement mission,' they said. 'You are taking hundreds of people out of the field to provide this level of protection.' One of the reasons for the heightened security surrounding the secretary is the fact that he received a bomb threat at his Tennessee home late last year shortly after he was nominated to his post by President Donald Trump, which came a matter of months after two attempts were made on Trump's own life during the campaign, the first of which saw the Secret Service heavily criticized. Another is the complexity of Hegseth's blended family, which includes one child from his marriage to Jennifer Hegseth as well as three from her previous marriage and another three from his. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell reacted angrily to the Post 's reporting and warned in a statement that the media scrutinizing a cabinet secretary's security arrangements 'puts lives at risk,' adding that Hegseth's were 'appropriate' and that 'any action pertaining to the security of Secretary Hegseth and his family has been in response to the threat environment and at the full recommendation of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.' The Independent has also reached out to the Department of Defense for additional comment. Hegseth's reign as the nation's top defense official has been tumultuous so far, with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin's departure on Monday only the latest in an ongoing shake-up that has seen the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of naval operations, the commandant of the Coast Guard, and the vice chief of staff of the Air Force all changed in recent months. The secretary has also struggled to replace his own chief of staff, spokesman and senior aides after they left and found himself caught up in the 'Signalgate' scandal, which erupted in March when Trump's short-lived national security adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat in which top secret information about an upcoming bombing raid on Houthi rebels in Yemen was discussed. In addition, Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host, has been caught up in a number of culture war issues, from the renaming of the U.S.S. Harvey Milk to questions arising from his decision to post a video on X in which a Christian nationalist pastor expressed his support for depriving women of the vote.
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Manhunt launched after woman ‘raped in broad daylight' in park
Police are appealing for information after reports that a woman was raped in a park in East Sussex. The incident at Barrack Hall Park, in Bexhill, was reported just after 5.30pm on Monday, Sussex Police said. The victim, a woman in her twenties, is receiving support from specially trained officers, the force said. Sussex Police described the alleged perpetrator as a white man wearing a short-sleeved top and trousers. He is not believed to be known to the victim. The force said officers are keen to speak to anyone who was in or around Barrack Hall Park, or near the entrance, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on Monday 18 August. They are also appealing to anyone who may have captured video footage in the park around that time – including on mobile phones, dashcams, or other devices – to come forward, as this could provide vital evidence. Officers are also looking at CCTV in the area. Detective Inspector James Meanwell said: 'We understand this incident will cause significant concern within the local community. We want to assure residents that we are working tirelessly, with dedicated patrols in place to provide reassurance and visibility while we carry out a thorough investigation. 'The victim in this investigation will continue to receive the full support of specialist officers. 'We are particularly appealing to anyone who may have been in Barrack Hall Park, or its vicinity, around the time of the offence to get in touch immediately.' made online on Sussex Police's website or by calling 101, quoting Operation Calcot.
BreakingNews.ie
27 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Kneecap rapper faces month-long wait over whether terror charge is thrown out
A member of rap trio Kneecap faces a month-long wait to find out whether his terrorism charge will be thrown out. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was once again greeted by hundreds of fans as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday for a three-hour hearing. Advertisement Prosecutors allege the 27-year-old displayed a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. During Wednesday's hearing, his defence team argued the case should be thrown out, citing a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought. Brenda Campbell KC told the court the Attorney General had not given permission for the case to be brought against the defendant when police informed him he was to face a terror charge on May 21st. She said consent was given the following day, but that meant the charge falls outside of the six-month time frame in which criminal charges against a defendant can be brought. Advertisement Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove said permission was not required until the defendant's first court appearance and that permission did not need to be sought in order to bring a criminal charge. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26th, when he will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case. Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Hundreds of Kneecap supporters waving flags and holding banners greeted O hAnnaidh as he arrived at court alongside fellow bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh. Demonstrations in support of the rapper were organised outside the court building in London, as well as in Dublin. Advertisement The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions limiting where the demonstration outside the court could take place, saying they were needed to 'prevent serious disruption'. A man was detained by police outside the court building because of a placard he was holding following the hearing. Surrounded by officers, he told reporters his hand-made sign made no reference to any proscribed organisations. O hAnnaidh was swamped by photographers as he arrived, with security officers taking more than a minute to usher him into the court building. Advertisement Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh outside Westminster Magistrates' Court (Ben Whitley/PA) Supporters greeted the Kneecap rapper with cheers as he made his way from a silver people carrier to the building. Fans held signs which read 'Free Mo Chara' while others waved Palestine and Irish flags before the rapper's arrival at court. Chants of 'Free, free, Mo Chara' could also be heard over a megaphone, which was repeated by the crowd. Mr O Caireallain and Mr O Dochartaigh sat at the back of the courtroom with three others as O hAnnaidh confirmed his name, date of birth and address to the court at the start of the hearing. Advertisement In response to the Met imposing conditions on the protest, Kneecap described the move as a 'calculated political decision' that was 'designed to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome'. Supporters of Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh gathered outside the court (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The court previously heard the 27-year-old defendant is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum was a 'wholly different thing'. O hAnnaidh, of Belfast, is yet to enter a plea to the charge and is on unconditional bail.
