Latest news with #organisedCrime
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Illegal e-bikes will be crushed, Dorset Police warns
Illegally modified e-bikes, scramblers and scooters are being crushed in a crackdown on antisocial behaviour and organised Police said the operation, focusing on Poole and north Bournemouth, was in response to an increase in reported Nick Lee, of Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team, said illegally adapted electric vehicles were enabling serious violent crime, drug-dealing and acquisitive the start of 2025, the force has seized 52 electric scooters and 33 electric bikes which were being driven illegally. Police are also working with Bournemouth University to analyse data from the crackdown to inform future Lee said tackling antisocial behaviour remained "a key priority"."The large proportion of calls we have received demonstrates how concerned our communities are about the use of these vehicles in public," he and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: "If you're caught riding one of these vehicles illegally, it will be seized, crushed and recycled." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Telegraph
Drones could hoist escapers over prison walls, watchdog warns
Organised crime gangs could use drones to carry prisoners out of jail, the official watchdog has warned. Charlie Taylor, HM chief inspector of prisons, said the technology was developing so quickly that there was a 'theoretical risk' of drones being used to help prisoners escape. At the release event for his annual report published on Tuesday, he said drones were already bringing in 10kg packages of drugs on each flight. There had also been cases of zombie-style knives found in jails that officials believed had been brought in by drones. But he warned: 'What's scary, and we haven't reached this stage yet, but, if you look on Google, you'll be able to see someone being lifted up by a drone. So you know this isn't ultimately just a risk of what might come in. There is also a danger of what might go out of prisons as well.' Asked if he meant this posed a risk of a prisoner escaping by being carried out of a jail by a drone, he said: 'There is a theoretical possibility of that risk. So certainly that's concerning.' He added: 'Drone technology is moving fast. We've seen, particularly with Ukraine, that the technology has changed. There is a level of risk that's posed by drones that is different to what we've seen in the past both with stuff coming in [to jails] and ultimately the potential for something even more serious to happen.' He said security failings by the prison service meant it had 'ceded the airspace above many of our prisons to serious organised crime' with 'overwhelming' amounts of illegal drugs, mobile phones and contraband being brought in by drones. This was fuelling 'uncontrolled levels of criminality' and rising violence with as many as six in 10 inmates at the worst drug-ridden jails testing positive for drugs. The illegal phones brought in by drones meant crime bosses could not only continue to run their empires from jail but also orchestrate more drone drops. He said drones were delivering 10kg loads of drugs to an individual cell 'very quickly' with inmates provided with a menu of drugs from steroids to cannabis and cocaine to synthetic drugs like spice. Mr Taylor added: 'Prisoners have told us that pretty much anything you want is available.' In high-security jails like Manchester and Long Lartin, which held terrorists, organised crime bosses and other dangerous criminals, the regular deliveries of drugs, mobile phones and other contraband represented a 'threat to national security'. 'Physical security such as netting, windows and CCTV was inadequate and at Manchester, inexperienced staff were being manipulated or simply ignored by prisoners,' said Mr Taylor. 'The ingress of drugs, drones and indeed weapons, which I described as a potential security risk at maximum security jails like Manchester and Long Lartin, continue to be our biggest concern. 'It costs £57,000 a year to keep someone locked up, and at the moment, many of those people are in their cells for up to 22 hours a day, high on drugs, watching daytime TV. It has to be said, this is hardly a rehabilitative atmosphere, and it's hardly value for money for the taxpayer.' The threat from drugs being smuggled into jails was so serious that it 'needs to be taken seriously at the highest levels of Government', said Mr Taylor, warning that it was 'destabilising' prisons. Mr Taylor said his teams of inspectors regularly walked round prisons where they were greeted by the 'strong smell of cannabis'. He added: 'Only when drugs are kept out, and prisoners are involved in genuinely purposeful activity that will help them to get work and resettle successfully on release, can we expect to see prisons rehabilitate rather than just contain the men and women they hold.' He said prisons needed to adopt basic security measures including securing windows, ensuring netting was in place to block drones, proper searches on the gates and regular site checks. 'It's making sure that basic stuff is done, like mowing the lawn so that you don't get packages which we've seen disguised as grass clippings, or making sure that the grounds are properly checked before prisoners get out there. We've seen packages that have been disguised as things like astroturf,' said Mr Taylor. Lord Timpson, the prisons minister, said the report shows the scale of the crisis Labour inherited 'with prisons dangerously full, rife with drugs and violence'. He said the Government planned to build 14,000 extra prison places and reform sentencing 'to ensure we never run out of space again'. He added: 'We're also investing £40 million to bolster security, alongside stepping up cooperation with police to combat drones and stop the contraband which fuels violence behind bars.'
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Talbot Green Joanne Penney shooting accused appear in court
Seven people have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the death of a woman who was shot dead at a block of flats in south Wales. Joanne Penney was found seriously injured at Green Park in Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 9 March and died at the people have been charged in connection with the case and seven of them appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday where a trial date of 20 October was inquest opening in March heard that the 40-year-old died after being shot in the chest, suffering injuries to her heart and lung. Emergency services were called to Llys Illtyd flats on 9 March to find Ms Penney with serious at the time took flowers to the scene and Ms Penney's family released a statement saying they were devastated by their loss and that her "kindness, strength and love for her family will never be forgotten". Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 39, from Leicester, is charged with murder and participating in the activities of an organised crime group but did not attend Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said she would arrange a new hearing date after her plea has been seven defendants who appeared in court were: Marcus Huntley, 20, from St Mellons, Cardiff, charged with murder and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime groupSai Raj Manne, 25, of no fixed abode appeared via video link from HMP Hewell charged with participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and having in his possession/purchasing or acquiring a firearmKristina Ginova, 21, from Oadby, Leicestershire, charged with murder and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime groupJoshua Gordon, 27, from Oadby, charged with murder and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group, appeared from HMP BristolJordan Mills-Smith, 33, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, charged with murder and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime groupTony Porter, 68, from Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, charged with murder and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime groupMolly Cooper, 33, from Leicester, charged with participating in the activities of an organised crime group and having in her possession/purchasing or acquiring ammunition for a firearm without a certificate
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Sleaford students warned about county lines through drama
More than 400 students have been learning about the dangers associated with organised crime and county lines drug gangs through a creative production, called CODE, was performed at St George's Academy in Sleaford by charity Justice in Motion, which has been touring for two years to raise awareness of the issue.A mixture of physical theatre and bike stunts, along with rap and music were used to tell the story of an individual who gets involved in knife crime and drug Meinhardt, artistic director of the charity, said: "The show touches pretty much everyone in society. Too many children are involved in a trade that is an exploitation of young people." The term county lines refers to criminal gangs who move illegal drugs from cities to rural locations, and sell them using dedicated mobile phone gangs often recruit young or vulnerable people to distribute the drugs, according to Lincolnshire Home Office estimates that about 14,500 children were identified as at risk or involved in child criminal exploitation in 12, who watched the performance, said: "I thought it was an excellent performance. It wasn't just a lecture, and it used younger people which not many performances do."Louise, 13, added: "I thought it was a really important message to tell everyone that no matter what age, gender or race you are it could happen to anyone."The show was part of a three-day residency in the area, which also included workshops and will also be performances on Saturday at 10:30 and 14:00 BST at Sleaford Market Place. The events have been organised by North Kesteven District Council, alongside Lincolnshire County Council Public Health and the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership. Sgt Mel Standbrook, education sergeant at Lincolnshire Police, said: "If children are preyed upon, or if they do find they're being groomed or exploited, it's about being able to say this is what's happening, and this is how I can get help."Preventative education around knife crime and county lines is really important for our young people." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Police seize £618k in drugs in county lines crackdown
Eight drug lines have been dismantled in the West Mercia Police area during a week of action, the force says. Drugs with an estimated value of £618,000 were seized by officers along with more than £77,000 in cash and 20 weapons. Police also made 65 crackdown on county lines networks from 23 June formed part of Operation Target, the force's campaign to tackle serious and organised crime. the force worked alongside Merseyside Police, West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and partner agencies, including councils and housing associations. Drugs seized included a "large amount of cannabis, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and heroin".Machetes, swords, knives and a crossbow were among the weapons recovered. 'Hostile environment' Officers made 34 visits to addresses believed to be forcibly used for drug dealing and as a result, safeguarded 14 vulnerable young people and adults, the force said. The force also went to schools and community events to raise awareness of the dangers and signs of county lines Ch Insp Jo Woods said: "Organised crime gangs seek to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people, spreading misery, intimidation and violence in the name of profit."Our aim is to create a hostile environment for these individuals who wish to cause harm to members of our communities." Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he continued to back the force with its year-round efforts to break supply said: "Drugs devastate communities, from addiction all the way to the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
