Man in court in Exeter over serious city centre assault
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Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Confidence in police plummets to record low
Victim satisfaction with how police handle crime in England and Wales has dropped to a record low, a new survey has suggested. The number of people who reported seeing officers regularly on the beat in their neighbourhood was also at its lowest level since records began, while confidence in the criminal justice system continued to decline. The findings have been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) who used data from its long-running annual crime survey of people aged 16 and over. Some 51 per cent of respondents, who had been a victim of crime in the 12 months to March this year, said they were either very or fairly satisfied with how the police handled the matter. That was down from 55 per cent in the previous year, and the lowest figure since this question was first asked in 1992. Satisfaction rose steadily between 2006/07 and 2013/14 to a peak of 75 per cent, but has since been on a general downward trend. The ONS found differences in victim satisfaction in how crimes were dealt with by crime type, ranging from 62 per cent for domestic burglary and 58 per cent for violence, to 41 per cent for bicycle theft and just 26 per cent for theft from the person. Younger people were also less likely to be satisfied with the police response than the elderly. The proportion of incidents where the victim was satisfied with how the police dealt with the matter was higher when the offender was charged (95 per cent) compared with when no action was taken (36 per cent), and where the victim was kept informed by the police (77 per cent) compared with where the victim was not kept informed well (19 per cent). On the topic of police visibility, 11 per cent of respondents in the year to March reported seeing officers or community support officers on foot patrol in their local area once a week. This was down from 12 per cent in the previous year and is the lowest since this question was first asked in 2006/07, when it stood at 26 per cent. The figure peaked at 39 per cent in both 2009/10 and 2010/11, since when it has been on a continuous downward trend. People living in urban areas were more likely to report high police visibility (13 per cent) compared with rural areas (four per cent), while those aged 65 to 74 (four per cent) and 75 and over (seven per cent) were less likely to report this compared with other age groups. Some 49 per cent of all respondents gave their local police a positive rating in 2024/25, unchanged on the previous 12 months but down from 62 per cent a decade earlier. People from ethnic minorities were more likely to rate their local police positively than white people, while those who were aged 55 to 64 (44 per cent) and 65 to 74 (43 per cent) were less likely to provide a positive rating compared with other age groups. When asked whether they were confident the criminal justice system as a whole was effective, 48 per cent of survey respondents said they had confidence, down from 50 per cent the previous year and the lowest figure since 2012/13. Confidence rose from 38 per cent in 2008/09 to peak at 54 per cent in 2015/16, since when there has been a gradual decline. People aged 16 to 24 were more likely to report being confident in the effectiveness of the criminal justice system (61 per cent) than all other age groups, while people born in the UK were less likely to be confident (43 per cent) than those born outside the country (65 per cent).
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Police investigate St George's flag painted on roundabout
Police have launched an investigation after the St George's Cross was painted on a mini-roundabout. A video on social media appeared to show a man daubing stripes of red paint on to the roundabout in Bromsgrove, Worcs. The video has been shared amid a growing movement that has seen members of the public display patriotic flags in towns and cities across England. West Mercia Police confirmed that it was investigating the graffiti as criminal damage. Insp Richard Field, of Bromsgrove Police, said: 'Painting roundabouts is not only dangerous to drivers and pedestrians, but it also amounts to criminal damage. We are working closely with partners, including Worcestershire county council, to tackle this issue and investigate where appropriate.' At least five other roundabouts in the West Midlands have reportedly been painted in a similar way. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We're aware of criminal damage having occurred, and we're carrying out further inquiries.' On Tuesday, it emerged that Reform-led Worcestershire county council had removed the paint from the roundabout in Bromsgrove. Video posted online appeared to show a maintenance truck on the roundabout, with a council worker dressed in hi-vis cleaning off the paint. The council said such markings could be distracting to road users. A spokesman added: 'All road markings on the county's highway network are strictly regulated for safety, including those on roundabouts of any size. Changes to agreed road markings must not be made unless approved by the Highway Authority, in line with these regulations. 'Unofficial actions on the highway network could be distracting or cause confusion to some road users so will therefore be removed.' The council was embroiled in a row earlier this week over the hanging of patriotic flags from lampposts. On Monday, a spokesman said St George and Union flags hung from lamp-posts in Wythall, a village south of Birmingham, risked endangering pedestrians and motorists. But the remarks drew an angry reaction from Cllr Jo Monk, the council's leader, who said: 'I, of course, support flying both flags proudly on lampposts throughout the county. 'Our national flags are a symbol of our national pride, and I will champion any effort that celebrates our nation.' We won't remove flags, says Reform Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, insisted a press officer at the council had issued the statement about the flags without authority, and Reform UK later confirmed its 12 councils would not remove patriotic flags from lamp-posts. The flying of patriotic flags in public has become a contentious issue in recent weeks. Tower Hamlets, run by the pro-Gaza party Aspire, said it would remove any St George's flags from council property, including lampposts, 'as soon as possible'. In Birmingham, the Labour-run council – which declared effective bankruptcy in 2023 and has been grappling with bin strikes for more than five months – claimed the flags put the lives of pedestrians and motorists 'at risk'. The authority removed hundreds of the flags from lamp-posts and other street furniture last week. Critics have accused the two councils of 'two-tier bias' because Palestinian flags were not taken down for months after popping up in the aftermath of the start of the Israel-Hamas war. An online 'patriotism campaign' called Operation Raise the Colours, encouraging people to hang patriotic flags across England, has gathered momentum online. The Government has previously issued guidance saying it wants ' more flags flown, particularly the Union flag', as long as they are erected with 'the permission of the owner of the site'.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mercedes driver admits killing woman, 22, in 140mph hit and run crash on Christmas Day minutes after fleeing from police
A Mercedes driver has admitted to killing a 22-year-old woman in a 140mph hit and run on Christmas Day. Evan Forde, 32, was behind the wheel of a black Mercedes when he crashed into the back of a BMW early on December 25 2022. Maria Carolina Do Nascimento Migel, who was a passenger in the BMW was declared dead at the scene in Brent Cross, north London. Forde reached speeds of more than 140mph on a 40mph stretch of Hendon Way and hit the other car at around 3.45am. After the crash the occupants of the Mercedes did not stop for police and fled the scene on foot. Shortly beforehand, police officers on patrol in a marked vehicle had indicated for Forde's car to stop. However, the vehicle drove off from police and there was no pursuit, Scotland Yard had said. Police were later informed that the same car had been involved in a collision. Forde reached speeds of more than 140mph on a 40mph stretch of Hendon Way and hit the other car at around 3.45am On Tuesday, Forde appeared at the Old Bailey and pleaded guilty to causing the Brazilian's death by dangerous driving. Members of the victim's family wept in court after he admitted the offence. Defence barrister Tasmin Malcolm said Forde had 'always accepted' he was driving the Mercedes. She said: 'Undoubtedly the speed Mr Forde was driving will be an aggravating feature to the court. 'It is important we are satisfied of the accuracy of the material relied on by the Crown.' Prosecutor Frederick Hookway observed that small variations of the speeds involved in the case were unlikely to have an impact given the defendant had reached 'top speeds of over 140mph'. Judge Anthony Leonard KC adjourned sentencing until October 22 and granted Forde continued conditional bail. He told him: 'You have pleaded guilty to a very serious charge. There was perhaps no option other than to do so given the state of the evidence. 'However, the fact you pleaded at this stage will be taken into account at sentencing. 'You must understand the most likely result - if not the inevitable result - will be you sent to prison.'
