Jury in 21-year-old Alfie Coleman's terror plot trial discharged
Coleman accepted he had a large quantity of extreme right-wing material and had pleaded guilty to possessing 10 documents containing information likely to be useful to terrorists.He had also admitted attempting to possess both a firearm and ammunition but denied he was preparing for a terrorist attack.
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The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Purple pavement markings part of Mind the Grab campaign to tackle phone theft
Purple lines with the warning 'Mind the Grab' have been marked on London's busy Oxford Street to help tackle phone theft. The campaign, which is supported by the Metropolitan Police, Westminster Council and Crimestoppers, features the markings on the pavement at the central London location that is usually packed with shoppers, commuters and tourists. Theft hotspots in Westminster last year saw a mobile being stolen every 15 minutes and 77% of Britons view phone snatching as a significant problem in the UK, rising to 88% in large cities such as London, according to research commissioned by tech retailer Currys. The wording on the purple markings, which is inspired by London Underground's 'Mind the Gap' catchphrase, aims to remind pedestrians to step back from the kerb, keep their phone hidden and reduce their risk of snatch and grab theft. The Metropolitan Police said the campaign is part of its strategy to tackle phone theft. Superintendent Natasha Evans, the Met's local policing lead for Westminster, said: 'Officers are relentlessly pursuing criminal gangs intent on committing robbery and phone theft. 'We have increased patrols in hotspot areas to identify and deter perpetrators – and robbery has reduced by 20% in the West End since April. 'We are putting extra officers into central London to help drive forward our focus on reducing crime and bringing offenders to justice. 'We're also working closely with businesses in the area and support the campaign by Currys to encourage people to be aware of their surroundings to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.' The campaign is run by Currys and the University of London's Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR), in an effort to raise awareness and cut down on the numbers of high street phone thefts. Aicha Less, deputy leader and cabinet member for children and public protection of Westminster City Council, said the campaign aims to raise awareness about phone thefts and promote simple measures to stay safe in public spaces, such as keeping valuables out of sight and planning routes home in advance. It is part of 'identifying the key crime and disorder issues facing our city and making the West End a safer place for visitors, residents and businesses,' she said. Ed Connolly, Currys chief commercial officer, said: 'Phone theft isn't just about losing a device, it's frightening, invasive, and cuts people off from their loved ones, their money and their daily lives. 'Enough is enough. It's time to draw the line on phone theft – that's why we've launched the Mind the Grab campaign – a bold pavement marking we believe can make a real difference by encouraging people to step back from the kerb.' Kate Johnston, director of business and fundraising at the independent UK charity Crimestoppers, said: 'Mobile phone theft is not just a statistic, it's a crime that leaves people feeling vulnerable and shaken.' She described the campaign as an 'innovative approach' which uses clear visual cues, and urged pedestrians to be vigilant. She said: 'Prevention is only part of the solution.
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Full list of London police station front desks being shut - see on our map if your local counter is being axed
Half of the front desks at London police stations will close as the Met has unveiled a new money-saving plan. The Mail's interactive map shows the full list of affected areas after Scotland Yard admitted it would break its pledge to have one counter accessible 24 hours a day in each of the capital's 32 boroughs. Only 20 desks will remain open with 18 set to be axed by the Metropolitan Police as the force scrambles to balance its £260million budget shortfall. The Met has faced criticism it will now be 'less accessible' as critics claim the change is 'another nail in the coffin of community policing'. Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist and Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Sadiq Khan 's deputy mayor for policing and crime, are expected to face a number of angry London Assembly members at an extraordinary additional meeting where the proposals will be discussed. The full list of affected police stations can be viewed in the map below. The closures will impact Kentish Town in Camden; Tottenham in Haringey; Edmonton in Enfield; Harrow; Bethnal Green in Tower Hamlets; Dagenham; Chingford in Waltham Forest; Kensington; Hammersmith; Twickenham in Richmond; Lavender Hill in Wandsworth; Wimbledon in Merton; Hayes in Hillingdon; and Plumstead in Greenwich. Four more stations, which already operate with reduced desks, will also shut - at Barking Learning Centre, Church Street in Westminster, Royalty Studios in Kensington and Chelsea and Mitcham in Merton. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp posted on X: 'The police will now be less accessible and Londoners even less safe.' Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham Munira Wilson also wrote to the Home Secretary demanding she fully commits to funding the force. It comes as Yvette Cooper has been warned 'further cuts only put another nail in the coffin of community policing'. As a result of the policy, residents in south west London will now no longer be able to walk in and speak to an officer face-to-face due to the losses in Twickenham, Merton, Wimbledon, Lavender Hill and Mitcham. There are also fears those on bail may have to travel miles to report as part of their conditions - increasing the risk a defendant could abscond. But surprisingly, Kingston police station will remain open so the nearest 24-hour counter Richmond is not Acton, Sutton or Lambeth. Last week the Mail revealed London as the 15th most dangerous city for crime in Europe. The capital, which is also the 100th worst out of 385 locations around the world, is less safe than rival European cities from Athens to Brussels and Milan to Barcelona. London is also worse than major US cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Dallas as well as other global destinations from Cancun to Cairo and Bali to Bangalore. The city is however only the fifth worst UK location for crime - behind Bradford, Coventry, Birmingham and Manchester, according to Numbeo's Crime Index. Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, where a young woman was raped in the town centre on June 29, claimed the police in her borough did not want to 'engage with the public at all'. Her comments came upon hearing Chingford would close and residents would have to go to Stratford or online if they wanted to contact someone. Paula Dodds, chair of the rank-and-file Met Police Federation, said: 'If we close police station front counters the public can't have access to us when they need it most. 'We can't hide behind technology because not everyone has access to technology to call the police or go online to report a crime – they want that personal interaction. The public are going to have to go further to get access to a police station if they need it out of hours.' A Met spokesman said: 'Just five per cent of crimes were reported using front counters last year, with only one per cent of these being made during the night. 'At the busiest front counter in London on average 15 crimes are reported a day – less than one an hour - and in the least busy, only 2.5 crimes are reported a day. 'Londoners tell us they want to see more officers on our streets. 'The decision to reduce and close some front counters will save £7million and 3,752 hours of police officer time per month allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London.' The force added the Met 'is focusing ruthlessly on visible policing on London's streets, modernising services and increasing visibility in neighbourhoods with over 300 additional PCSOs and over 300 additional officers'.
Telegraph
7 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Police hire private security firm to stop children terrorising residents
Private security guards have been recruited to support police patrols in a seaside town in an attempt to stop children from terrorising residents during the school holidays. Businesses in Herne Bay, Kent, say groups of children have been stealing from shops, shouting abuse and using catapults against animals in the park. Akon Security has been given an £8,500 contract, funded by the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner's office, to help council enforcement officers crack down on antisocial behaviour. Two security guards will work five days a week to patrol the streets, while police increase their presence on Fridays and Saturdays. Akon workers cannot arrest anyone, but will act as a deterrent, assisting officers and reporting crimes straight to police. Heena Thakkar, 49, who owns a corner shop on the high street, said the children had been terrorising her for years – but that things were starting to improve with the new patrols. She said: 'We have had problems with them but with the new patrols it has gotten a lot better. They come to check on my shop at least two times a day. 'We had kids coming in a little gang, and they are only about eight or 10 years old. They would always steal stuff. 'They would also throw eggs and fruit at our doors. They were always lobbing trolleys at the windows. This was going on for four months, then they started killing ducks in the park.' A charity shop worker, who wished not to be named, said: 'If anyone ever leaves donations when we are closed, then the bags are destroyed and stink of urine. 'Theft has gone up loads even though we have cameras. These kids don't care that we have them. They steal about 50 items a month, which is a few hundred pounds of revenue. 'Most of our volunteers are old or vulnerable so even if they see something there isn't a lot that they can do.' Kamal Virdi, 59, who runs a vape shop in the high street, said: 'There is a group of around four or five kids that come up here on their e-scooters. I have thrown them out of the shop a few times. 'They are loud, and they come in the shops to try and steal stuff about two or three times a week. 'There are a lot of elderly people being terrorised by yobs. But there isn't anything that they can do.' The Kent Police and Crime Commissioner's office has funded the project, which will help the work of Kent Police, Kent county council (KCC) wardens and city council enforcement teams. A commissioner spokesman said that as part of the KCC budget for 'crime reduction grants', Canterbury's County Community Safety Partnership (CSP) was given an additional £8,500 so they can 'respond to seasonal ASB in the coastal area of Herne Bay'. Chief Insp Paul Stoner, the district commander in nearby Canterbury, said: 'Being visible is the bedrock of Kent Police's neighbourhood policing model, with community-focused beat teams as well as officers working with licensed premises dedicated to keep the town and surrounding areas safe and enjoyable for all. 'Partnership working with other agencies including Canterbury city council is well-established and any initiative introduced by a partner organisation aimed at making an area safer will be supported appropriately.'
