
County Durham car wash shooting arrest
The A691 has been closed while crime scene investigators work at the scene."We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause," a police spokesperson said.The force has launched an appeal for information and asked anyone who witnessed the shooting or has dashcam footage to get in touch.
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The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
A tale of two Chief Pams: Federal takeover brings confusion over command of DC police
Attorney General Pam Bondi is effectively in charge of the police department in Washington, D.C. — so says the White House. But the city's police force already has a Pam at the helm — Chief Pamela Smith — and she says she only reports to the mayor. D.C. and federal officials say they are working together after President Donald Trump announced he was placing the police department in the nation's capital under federal control to crack down on violent crime. But despite the unified tone, the unusual arrangement is raising questions about who gets to make decisions about D.C. police resources, personnel and policy and — in the event of a disagreement — which Pam gets the final say. According to D.C. leaders, the attorney general can request services of the mayor, but nothing has changed when it comes to the chain of command and the department's funding. And when pressed Tuesday about who she reports to in light of the federal takeover, Smith said: 'I answer to Mayor Muriel Bowser.' 'Let us not have any controversy with that, OK?' Smith told reporters outside the Justice Department after meeting with Bondi and other federal officials. 'Because I know people want to build upon and create division. We're here to work together with our federal partners, and that's what we're going to do.' Yet hours later, the White House struck a different tone, suggesting the ultimate authority lies in the hands of Bondi and Terry Cole, the Drug Enforcement Administration director whom Trump has tapped to serve as interim federal administrator of the police force. 'We plan to work with the Metropolitan Police Department, but ultimately, the chain of command is as such: the president of the United States, the attorney general of the United States, our DEA administrator, Terry Cole, who is now serving head of the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Cole is working with Smith 'to ensure that law enforcement officers are allowed to do their jobs in the city,' Leavitt said. Justice Department officials have not answered questions about whether the Trump administration believes it has the authority to make decisions about D.C. personnel, and whether the attorney general has issued any new orders for the police force. Smith took on her role as police chief in the nation's capital in November 2023 and briefly served in other units, including the homeland security bureau. She also led the police force's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and had served as chief of the United States Park Police after a long career in that federal force. The law allows Trump to take over the D.C. police for up to 30 days, though the White House has suggested it could last longer as authorities later 'reevaluate and reassess.' Extending federal control past that time would require congressional approval, something likely tough to achieve in the face of Democratic resistance. Hundreds of federal officers from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other agencies have been doing overnight patrols in Washington since last week. Cole said federal officers would be 'embedded' with D.C. police to patrol the streets, but did not offer specific details on what would change in the chain of command. Even so, he described Smith as 'very accommodating' and said she was sharing ideas, giving him an office at police headquarters, and introducing him to staff. 'We have tremendous cooperation, tremendous intel sharing, and what's most encouraging, the police are looking forward to doing their job again,' Cole said in a Fox News interview.


The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
More than 140 people have reported crimes to Al Fayed investigation
The Metropolitan Police have said 146 people have come forward to report a crime as part of their investigation into former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed. The number of reports was revealed as part of a video update sent to alleged victims earlier this week. It comes a month after Scotland Yard apologised to alleged victims for the distress they have suffered. In a letter leaked to the BBC, the officer leading the investigation said she was 'acutely aware the case is especially distressing to all those who have suffered'. 'Not least due to the fact that the main suspect will now never directly face justice for his crimes and, for this, I am truly sorry,' Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Craggs wrote. Al Fayed died in 2023 aged 94. The Met is currently conducting an investigation into how it handled historical allegations of offending by the tycoon. It will also look into any potential facilitators and enablers, and whether any misconduct or corruption occurred. A spokesperson for the force said: 'The live investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed Al Fayed's offending continues. 'The way the Met works has moved on immeasurably, and our teams have transformed the way we investigate rape and sexual offences. 'We're working with partners across the criminal justice system to ensure that victim-survivors are at the heart of our response, with a greater focus on suspects and their offending. 'We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed's actions, or aware of others who may have been involved or committed offences, to come forward. 'We cannot comment further at this time, but will provide an update as soon as we are able to and where this won't jeopardise criminal or other proceedings.' The force is expected to provide more written or video updates to victims over the coming months. In November, it said detectives were investigating more than five people who may have facilitated the former Harrods boss in his alleged sexual abuse of dozens of women and girls. They are looking at individuals surrounding the businessman who could have enabled him to commit crimes which are claimed to have spanned decades between 1977 and 2014. The force is also facing allegations of police corruption, with The Guardian newspaper reporting that officers were accused of taking bribes to help him persecute staff and avoid accusations of abuse. The Met said it has transformed the way it investigates rape and serious sexual offences and is doing more to put victim-survivors at the heart of its response to these crimes. More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Al Fayed have entered Harrods' redress scheme, the department store said last month.


The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Murder investigation launched as man killed in drive-by shooting outside petrol station
A murder investigation has been launched after a man was fatally shot in an apparent drive-by shooting near a petrol station in Yorkshire. West Yorkshire Police said officers received a report at 9.43pm on Tuesday that a man had been seriously injured after a shot was fired from a vehicle on Doncaster Road near the BP petrol station in Wakefield. The victim was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries. Police said he is understood to be a 50-year-old man who was living in the local area. The man's immediate family are aware and are being offered support by specially trained officers. Police said the vehicle involved is believed to be a blue/grey-coloured Toyota RAV4 with a grey trim, displaying cloned plates FV53FXT, and 'distinctive due to having bull lights on the roof above the windshield'. It added that the vehicle used in the offence is believed to be 'on false plates and was stolen in a burglary in Castleford on August 3'. Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, of West Yorkshire Police's homicide and major inquiry team, said: 'A man has lost his life, and it is an absolute priority for us to understand the circumstances of what has taken place and identify anyone who has had any involvement in this incident. 'We understand that the vehicle used in this offence was on false plates and was stolen in a burglary in Castleford on 3 August. The vehicle is particularly distinctive because of the bull lights fitted to the vehicle. 'We are interested in speaking to anyone who believes they have seen this RAV4 following this burglary, around the time of this offence and since. The vehicle may now be displaying different plates. 'Motorists who were in the Doncaster Road area last night who have dashcams fitted are also asked to check whether they have captured any footage of this vehicle. 'The driver was driving in the direction of Wakefield before they have turned around near the BP petrol station immediately prior to the shooting and then driven off in the direction they came from. 'We understand the shock and concern that an incident of this nature will cause, particularly given that a firearm has been involved. 'We are dedicating significant resources to this investigation and our neighbourhood policing colleagues are supporting this with an increased presence in the area to provide reassurance to the community.' Anyone who witnessed any part of the incident or who has any information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police's homicide and major inquiry team online or by calling 101 quoting Operation Ploughland.