Police manhunt as woman murdered in home 'for diamond encrusted Rolex'
Jennifer Abbot, 69, was found stabbed to death in her home on Mornington Place when emergency services were called at 6pm on Friday night to reports of an unresponsive woman. The 69-year-old was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Metropolitan Police has urged any witnesses or people with information to step forward.
Jennifer, known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, had worked in the creative industries and was known as a popular member of her community.
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The Guardian
9 hours ago
- The Guardian
UK rights watchdog warns against ‘heavy-handed' policing of Gaza protests
The UK's official human rights watchdog has written to ministers and police expressing concern at a potentially 'heavy-handed' approach to protests about Gaza and urging clearer guidance for officers in enforcing the law. In the letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan police, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the perception that peaceful protest could attract disproportionate police attention 'undermines confidence in our human rights protections'. Kishwer Falkner, the EHRC chair, wrote that it was vital that any policing of protests was both proportionate and based on clear legal tests. The letter raised concerns about 'reports of police engagement with individuals participating in forms of protest that are not linked to any proscribed organisation'. It cited as an example the case of Laura Murton, first revealed by the Guardian. Keny police threatened her with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and having signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide'. Murton filmed police telling her that even such general statements 'all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government'. During the exchange, one officer said the phrase 'Free Gaza' was 'supportive of Palestine Action', that it was illegal 'to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation', and that she had committed that offence with her signs. Falkner wrote: 'Whilst we acknowledge police expertise in assessing security risks, we want to emphasise that any interference with protest rights must be lawful and assessed case by case. 'Heavy-handed policing or blanket approaches risk creating a chilling effect, deterring citizens from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly through fear of possible consequences. 'This concern extends beyond those directly affected by police engagement to the broader health of our democracy, because the perception that peaceful protest may attract disproportionate police attention undermines confidence in our human rights protections.' Falkner urged ministers and police to make sure all officers were given 'clear and consistent guidance on their human rights obligations in relation to protest', which should 'ensure that the appropriate balance is maintained between public safety and the protection of essential human rights'. Murton told the Guardian last week that her solicitors had issued a letter of claim on her behalf to the chief constable of Kent police, in what was also said to be a move to remind other police forces of their responsibilities towards peaceful protests. Falkner said in a statement: 'The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy and must be protected even when dealing with complex and sensitive issues. 'We recognise the genuine challenges the police face in maintaining public safety, but we are concerned that some recent responses may not strike the right balance between security and fundamental rights. 'Our role as the national human rights institution is to uphold the laws that safeguard everyone's right to fairness, dignity and respect. When we see reports of people being questioned or prevented from peaceful protests that don't support proscribed organisations, we have a duty to speak out.' The Liberal Democrats called on Cooper to act swiftly. Lisa Smart, the party's home affairs spokesperson, said: 'The lack of clarity that has been given to police officers has led to confusion, increasing tensions and risks creating a chilling effect on freedom of speech. 'The home secretary needs to step in and give officers, often dealing with incredibly complex and sensitive situations, clear direction as to what is expected of them at protests. 'Without that officers will be left exposed and those exercising their democratic rights worried about the consequences.' The warning comes in the context of wider police operations targeting protesters who, unlike Murton, appear to directly express support for Palestine Action, which is illegal given the group's banned status. Membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act. The group was proscribed last month after incidents including one in which four people were arrested over damaged caused to two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. In the latest of a series of mass protests against the decision, more than 500 people were arrested in London last Saturday, almost all for displaying placards or signs allegedly supportive of Palestine Action. Half of those arrested were aged 60 or above, according to police figures. On Friday night the Metropolitan poice said a further 60 people would be prosecuted for 'showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action'. Amnesty International UK said that while it welcomed the EHRC letter, the watchdog had 'failed to acknowledge the hundreds of people unfairly arrested for peacefully exercising their right to free expression'. Sacha Deshmukh, the organisation's chief executive, said: 'This isn't just about the chilling effect on freedom of speech for people 'not linked to any proscribed organisation', as the EHRC states, it's also about the excessive policing of citizens' right to protest against a decision made by their elected government. 'Under international human rights law, protest speech should only be criminalised if it incites violence, hatred or discrimination. Holding a placard and peacefully stating opposition to a government decision to proscribe an organisation cannot realistically be treated as an example of incitement.' Downing Street has justified the ban on Palestine Action by saying it is 'a violent organisation that has committed violence, significant injury, extensive criminal damage', a description one of its co-founders has said is false and defamatory. The Home Office said the issues the EHRC had raised were an operational matter for the police. The Met referred the query to the Home Office.
Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Telegraph
Further 60 Palestine Action supporters to be prosecuted
A further 60 people will be prosecuted for showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. The force said it followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group's proscription on July 7, including 522 in central London last Saturday. Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: 'The decisions that we have announced today are the first significant numbers to come out of the recent protests, and many more can be expected in the next few weeks. 'We are ready to make swift decisions in all cases where arrests have been made.' The Met said: 'We have put arrangements in place that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary.' Palestine Action was proscribed earlier in 2025 after the sabotage of aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. Anyone found guilty of supporting or gathering support for a proscribed organisation faces a maximum of six months' imprisonment and a £5,000 fine. Just being arrested is enough to stop someone being allowed into the US or work in education. Supporters of Palestine Action described the ban as a 'gross abuse of power' designed to stifle expressions of support for the Palestinian cause. Mr Parkinson added: 'The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation, and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act.' Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said: 'To be clear, these arrests and prosecutions do not outlaw people's right to demonstrate in support of Palestine or any other cause. 'They are simply the enforcement of a specific provision under the Terrorism Act in relation to a specific proscribed terrorist organisation, Palestine Action.' The number of arrests on Saturday was among the largest at a protest in decades. A total of 339 people were arrested during the poll tax riots in London on March 31 1990, when protesters fought with police in Trafalgar Square, central London.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Police prosecute 60 more people for supporting Palestine Action
A further 60 people will be prosecuted for 'showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action', the Metropolitan Police said. It comes after a chaotic London march on Saturday saw more than a staggering 500 activists arrested - bringing the total to over 700 since July 7, when the group was proscribed. Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: 'The decisions that we have announced today are the first significant numbers to come out of the recent protests, and many more can be expected in the next few weeks. 'We are ready to make swift decisions in all cases where arrests have been made. The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country, and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organization and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act. 'When protest conduct crosses the line from lawful activity into criminality, we have a duty to enforce the law. 'People should be clear about the real-life consequences for anyone choosing to support Palestine Action. A terrorism conviction can severely impact your life and career – it can restrict your ability to travel overseas and work in certain professions. 'I urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests. Anyone who chooses to disobey the law will have to face the consequences.' Following the announcement of Friday's prosecutions, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: 'I am proud of how our police and CPS teams have worked so speedily together to overcome misguided attempts to overwhelm the justice system. 'If necessary, we are able to investigate and quickly charge significant numbers of people each week if people want the potentially life-changing consequences of a terrorist conviction'. He assured that the force will continue to police the numerous protests each week where people express their views in support of Palestine without choosing to break Counter Terrorism Laws by supporting proscribed terror groups. 'To be clear, these arrests and prosecutions do not outlaw people's right to demonstrate in support of Palestine, or any other cause,' he said. 'They are simply the enforcement of a specific provision under the Terrorism Act in relation to a specific proscribed terrorist organization, Palestine Action. 'Where officers see these offenses, we will continue to make arrests and, as shown today, the CPS and police will work to quickly secure charges, at whatever scale is necessary'. He explained that the consequences for those charged under the Terrorism Act include a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) having a record of a person's TACT conviction which will be seen by employers who use DBS to carry out checks on staff or new applicants. On Saturday, August 9, during a day of mayhem and farce, Left-wing protesters swamped London's Parliament Square in support of the organization , which was proscribed by the Government last month as a terrorist group. Hundreds held placards declaring 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' in deliberate 'idiotic' acts of law-breaking designed to overwhelm police resources and the courts. On Saturday, the Met Police announced that more than 360 people had been detained following the scenes of disorder - at an estimated cost of about £3million. Protesters were accused of a 'colossal' waste of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money after seemingly getting deliberately arrested by officers. However, in an update on Sunday afternoon, the Met said the number of total arrests had skyrocketed to 532 - with 522 of these being for people allegedly displaying placards supporting the proscribed terror group. One of those arrests took place at the form up of the Palestine Coalition march in Russell Square, but the remaining 521 arrests were carried out during the rally in Parliament Square. There were a further 10 arrests, which included six for assaulting police officers, one for racially aggravated public order, two for breaching a Section 14 Public Order Act condition and one for obstructing a constable in the execution of their duties. The average age of those detained by police was 54, the force said, with the youngest person cuffed by cops being aged just 17.
