
Illegal cigarettes and vapes worth £67K seized in Huddersfield
The operation was part of a series of initiatives to tackle sources of finance for organised crime in Huddersfield and prosecute people involved in activity such as drug dealing.Between September 2024 and July 2025, officers have made 85 arrests, executed 15 warrants, and seized an estimated £230,000 worth of Class A and B drugs, the force said.
Ch Insp Rebecca Calpin said: "A substantial amount of work has been ongoing across Kirklees this year to combat organised crime, and these latest warrants are just one part of that work."It is proven that money raised from illegal vape and tobacco sales can be used to fund organised crime and these illegal products can also be more harmful to public health."The vapes can contain higher nicotine content and are not regulated or tested, making them potentially hazardous, especially to young people."She added it was important these sources of money were taken away from those "who create misery in our communities".
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Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Exposed: Palestine Action supporters plot to overwhelm police
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Protests are planned for towns and cities across the UK, but the main event will take place in Westminster where thousands are being urged to attend and deliberately flout the terror legislation. The Telegraph can today expose the plan, co-ordinated by a number of groups including Cage International and Defend Our Juries, after attending a pro-Palestine event last week. At the meeting, hosted by Cage International in Birmingham, Moazzam Begg, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee, called on the Muslim community to join in the act of defiance and declare their support for Palestine Action. He told supporters: 'I would urge everybody to join the action of the 9th of August. That is the first step to take for the resistance. 'Those from the Muslim community, we have a massive presence in this city, and we must engage our leaders, our Imams, our habibs, those in positions of power, to join, there is strength in numbers, stop being a coward, cowards never win battles.' 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Experts have warned that the action could create a significant headache for police forces if thousands of people deliberately break the law in a co-ordinated campaign. Graham Wettone, a retired Metropolitan Police officer with many years experience working in public order policing, said: 'There are a limited number of custody cell spaces available in London and as we saw a couple of years ago with Just Stop Oil, these can fill up quickly. 'The Met may seek to take some of those arrested outside of the capital but there is no doubt that if thousands of people turn up and take part it will test the system to the limit. Simply put, they will not be able to arrest and process everyone.' The courts backlog is running at a 25-year high, with about 77,000 cases waiting to be heard and some trials being listed for 2027. Last year, Labour's early release scheme freed thousands of prisoners who were 40 per cent of the way through their sentence, rather than halfway. Legal challenge against proscription Palestine Action was outlawed by Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, on July 5 after a group of its members allegedly entered RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military aircraft. Last week, the co-founder of the group won the right to bring a legal challenge against proscription, arguing that the ban breached the right to freedom of expression and protest. A judicial review over the legality of the group is due to be heard in the autumn and could see the ban lifted. Of the 200 or so people who have been arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action since its proscription, none have yet been charged. It is thought that prosecutors are waiting for the outcome of the legal challenge before they make a decision on whether to put people before the courts.


Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Former councillor killed on road he tried to make safer
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Times
23 minutes ago
- Times
Police ‘cover-up' of Afghan asylum seekers accused of raping girl
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