Category: Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

The father of a teenager who was murdered in Newham five years ago has appealed for anyone who knows who is responsible for the fatal attack to contact police.

Sami Sidhom, who was 18, was fatally stabbed just before 23:00hrs on 16 April 2018 as he walked along Chestnut Avenue in Newham. He was on his way home after watching West Ham United play Stoke City at the London Stadium in Stratford.

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered by police for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Sami’s murder.

Detectives have pursued a number of promising lines of enquiry since 2018, resulting in 10 arrests, but so far nobody has been charged.

A number of tip offs have been provided by an anonymous person, but they have never spoken directly to officers.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, who is leading the investigation, said: “It has now been five-and-a-half years since Sami’s murder and his family are still searching for answers as to who killed him.

“I believe people in the Newham community know who was responsible for the murder. I understand how daunting it can be to come forward after such a terrible crime, but, hopefully now some time has passed, someone will be brave enough to come forward and tell us what they know.

“Sami’s family have been devastated by the senseless loss of their son. They have had only questions, but no justice.

“I urge anyone who has information about Sami’s murder, but in particular the person who has reached out anonymously before to provide key information, to contact us.”

Sami’s father, Samer Sidhom, has also made an emotional appeal for information. He said: “My son’s life was taken away for no reason whatsoever. It’s so cruel, he did nothing wrong. If you’re out there, and you know who these people are, I plead with you to do the right thing. Sammy didn’t deserve this and we need to have justice. If these killers continue walking free, they can just do it to someone else. There is a reward of £20,000 being offered and you can provide information anonymously. Please contact anonymously, we need your help.”

After watching the football match in Stratford, Sami took a bus to Romford Road and set out on the last part of his journey by foot.

He made his way along Sebert Road and turned left into Cranmer Road. He then turned left into Capel Road before crossing over into Chestnut Avenue.

At the same time, CCTV shows a silver car approaching the end of Chestnut Avenue where Sami crosses. The same CCTV show three men chasing Sami back into Chestnut Avenue followed by the same silver car.

Following the attack, the silver car and another car are seen to drive off.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is being urged to call detectives on 020 8345 3715. Your information will be dealt with by experienced officers who understand how difficult it can be to make that call.

Or information can be given, 100 per cent anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating an assault on a teenager on board a bus in Shepherds Bush have released an image of a person they want to identify.

The incident happened at around 19:30hrs on Tuesday, 1 August as the route 283 bus drove from Hammersmith Broadway to Shepherds Bush Green.

The victim, a 13-year-old girl, boarded the bus near Shepherds Bush Green and made her way to get a seat at the rear of the bus.

The suspect, a woman described as aged in her late teens or early 20s, was sitting blocking the aisle and refused to move her legs.

She then took a drink from the girl and poured it over her before launched a violent assault. A man tried to intervene but was also assaulted by the suspect.

The bus stopped outside the Bush Theatre on Uxbridge Road, W12 and the suspect got off leaving the victim on the floor.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

PC Tom Jasper from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command said:

“This was an unprovoked assault which resulted in excessive violence being used against a young girl. We have issued an image of the woman we want to identify – if you recognise this person, or have any information about this incident, then please get in contact immediately.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD6796/1Aug. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A serving officer has been dismissed without notice after being convicted of harassing a woman.

Trainee Detective Constable Christopher Gibbons, aged 32, who was attached to the Met’s Central West Command, was found guilty of harassment following the conclusion of a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 13 July.

He appeared at the same court on Thursday, 10 August where he was sentenced to ten weeks in custody, suspended for two years. He was issued a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation. He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

On 12 October 2023 an accelerated misconduct hearing found allegations that DC Gibbons behaviour had breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct proven and he was dismissed without notice.

Chief Superintendent Louise Puddefoot, in charge of policing in Central West BCU, said: “We have been clear that any police officer or member of staff who commits a criminal offence will be brought to justice.

“To give London the Met that it deserves, any officer who acts in this manner simply has no place in our organisation.”

Former PC Gibbons will now be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing.

Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police, local policing bodies (PCCs), the Independent Office for Police Conduct or Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been found guilty of stabbing his wife to death before starting a house fire to cover up the murder.

Amidu Koroma, 48, (01.01.1975) of Railton Road, SE24, was found guilty of the murder of 46-year-old Mariam Kamara, after facing trial at the Old Bailey. He was also convicted of arson with intent to endanger life.

He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, 16 October.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal murder and an appalling act of violence against a woman.

“After murdering his wife, Koroma then started a fire to cover up his actions. This was a further selfish act which put other members of the public at risk.

“My officers conducted an in-depth investigation into this murder and worked hard to gather a range of evidence which pointed to Koroma as the killer.

“Our thoughts are with Ms Kamara’s family and friends and in particular with her son who we continue to support through this trauma.

“The Met is committed to reducing violence against women and thankfully Ms Kamara’s killer has been brought to justice today.”

The jury heard how detectives launched a murder inquiry after being called to the house fire in Railton Road in the early hours of Monday 24 January 2022.

Koroma and the couple’s son had escaped the building but Ms Kamara’s body was found in the top bedroom. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were immediately suspicious after observing that Koroma had made little attempt to rescue his wife from the burning building, despite re-entering at one point to get some clothes for his son.

They also discovered a large store of jerry cans containing petrol in the loft of the house and detected the distinctive smell of an accelerant coming from the vicinity of Ms Kamara’s body, which led them to suspect that the fire may have been started deliberately.

A post-mortem examination found that, despite Ms Kamara’s body being extremely badly fire damaged, she had in fact suffered one or more stab wounds to the neck and chest prior to her death. An absence of evidence of smoke inhalation confirmed that she had been killed before the fire was set.

Detectives undertook an extensive investigation, conducting a detailed search of the property, analysing key evidence, gathering witness statements and drawing on expert advice.

They sought input from a forensic scientist who found that the fire was likely to have been started by the ignition of petrol.

A consultant plastic surgeon also confirmed that a burn wound on Koroma’s foot of about 8-9cm, could only have been caused by close contact with the fire. This in contrary to Koroma’s claims that he could not access the room where the fire was to rescue his wife.

Forensic evidence was also identified of Mariam’s blood on his clothing as well as burn damage caused by a transient flame.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A police officer has been dismissed without notice after he made racist and offensive comments to a female police officer in Sussex.

PC Dylan Cusano, attached to the Central South Command Unit, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy and equality and diversity.

The hearing heard how in July 2023, PC Cusano – who was off duty at the time – called police claiming he had been assaulted in Hastings.

Officers from Sussex Police arrived at the scene and attempted to speak with PC Cusano.

However, PC Cusano was abusive to them and directed a racial slur towards one female officer, making reference to the Traveller community, before leaving the scene.

The matter was reported to the Metropolitan Police who initiated misconduct proceedings against PC Cusano.

After hearing all of the evidence available, the hearing concluded on Thursday, 12 October and PC Cusano was dismissed without notice.

Superintendent Rachel Walmsley from the Central South Command Unit said: “The actions of PC Cusano fall far below what is expected of a serving police officer and it is right that he has been dismissed.

“Behaviour like PC Cusano’s undermines the positive work the vast majority of our officers and staff undertake on a daily basis throughout London.

“It is imperative that we remain resolute and ruthless in our determination to rid the Met of those whose actions in no way align to our standards.”

PC Cusano will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list meaning he cannot serve as a police officer or in a number of other related roles in the future.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with raping a woman in Finchley in 1989.

Lester Jackson, 54 (08.01.1969) of no fixed address appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 11 October charged with one count of rape.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, 8 November.

The charge follows an investigation by detectives from the North West Command Unit.

The offence is alleged to have happened in 1989 at an address in Finchley, North West London.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed for murdering a woman in Primrose Hill.

Nicole Hurley, a 37-year-old mother of four, was brutally murdered by her controlling partner.

Jason Bell, 42 (17.07.81) of Broxwood Way, NW8 appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 12 October where he was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for murder. Bell also received sentences totalling seven years for offences of false imprisonment and dangerous driving. These sentences will be served concurrently.

He had previously been convicted by a jury at the same court on Tuesday, 8 August.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, said: “Nicole was murdered by Bell while her four children were at the address – three of them witnessed the frenzied attack on their mother.

“She suffered defence injuries to her forearms indicating that she tried to shield herself from the blows that Bell inflicted with at least two knives.”

Police were called to Broxwood Way in Primrose Hill shortly before 00:56hrs on 10 October 2021 to reports of an assault. The alarm was raised by local residents; they provided initial first aid to Nicole and gave care to her distraught children.

Officers, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended. At the scene, Nicole was found suffering multiple stab wounds and signs of having been beaten. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Having murdered Nicole, Bell then packed a bag, including all of the mobile phones at the address in a bid to prevent the victim’s children from calling for help. Once away from the address he discarded the bag in an area where he could possibly retrieve it at a later time. The location of the bag was reported to police by members of the public; closer inspection revealed that the bag also contained a blood stained knife.

Bell then walked to the home of a long-time male friend where he admitted having stabbed Nicole. Bell then falsely accused his friend of having an affair with Nicole and proceeded to keep him at the address overnight. Bell slept by the door to prevent his friend from leaving.

In the morning of 11 October Bell, armed with a knife, forced the man to leave the address with him in his vehicle. Fearing for his life, the friend escaped from the vehicle while it was still moving. He was treated at hospital for minor injuries.

Bell was arrested later that same day and charged the following day with murder, false imprisonment in relation to a third party, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified with no insurance.

DCI Eastwood added: “Nicole had been attempting to remove herself from the relationship with Bell. She had been isolated and controlled due to his paranoia.

“It is only right that he spends considerable years of his life in a place where he can no longer hurt the innocent.

“Bell’s defence was that he lost control due to Nicole’s behaviour – a calculated attempt to blame her for his horrendous actions that meant the children have lost their mother, her family has lost a loved one and a community has lost a friend.

“Nicole’s death has had a tremendous impact on her children and wider family. Her local community continue to question why they lost Nicole in such a violent manner. My thoughts are very much with them all as they continue to come to terms with their loss.

“Nothing will bring Nicole back, but I hope that today’s conviction brings the family a sense that justice has been served.”

Speaking on behalf of Nicole’s family her father, Tom, said: “We’ve all lost a hugely important part of our family, and the thought that none of us will share our lives with Nicole ever again, and that she will miss so much of her children’s lives, deeply saddens us every day. This should never have happened, and it didn’t need to happen.

“I had to bury my daughter, and her children had to attend her funeral. This won’t ever make any sense and we will forever wish that things were different for all of us.

“Domestic violence should have no place in a modern, civilised society. To exert control over another person by taking advantage of their vulnerabilities, and slowly manipulating them behind the false pretence of some twisted idea of love is one of the most despicable, abhorrent behaviours. This brutal, cowardly and vicious crime, mostly but not only perpetrated against women and girls, ought to stop.

“We will make sure that Nicole’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain, we must keep strong and carry on for her children, and we will do that every day, albeit with a heavy heart.”

Information is available to help recognise domestic abuse and how to report it.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed for more than 21 years after tenacious officers dismantled a drugs and firearms operation run through Enrochat in west London.

Samuel Black, 28 (06.05.95) of Dormers Rise, Ealing, was sentenced to 21 and a half years’ imprisonment at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, 9 October.

Between April and June 2020, Black was involved in the supply of at least two firearms, a .38 Revolver and a semi-automatic Walther PPK, and had access to other firearms (9mm Glocks) and ammunition.

He had also conspired with others to supply more than 14.75 kilograms of cocaine, 60 kilograms of ‘skunk’ cannabis and handled around £2 million in cash.

Specialist Crime officers and staff from Met Intelligence were able to review data and attributed the owner of the ‘SAVAGETOPS’ & ‘EUROSANDPOUNDS’ handles as Samuel Black from February 2022.

Detectives from the Met closed in on Black after European partners accessed an encrypted communications network called Encrochat in 2020 – passing data to them via the National Crime Agency (NCA). When the handle was first passed to the Met by the National Crime Agency it was prioritised not only because it was involved in the onward supply of large amounts of drugs but also firearms.

Officers were able to attribute the handle to Black by thorough careful analysis of images of a living room and bedroom which were sent on the Encrochat. In these images Black was counting large sums of money. Black was known to have stayed in the property in 2020 and when they compared the decoration and the layout of the rooms in 2022, they were identical.

Black’s nickname was ‘crack’ and that is what others called him and how he referred to himself to on the Encrochat network.  He regularly talked about playing his PlayStation 4 and his account username was ‘Crack_west6’. He even shared an image of his TV showing this username. 

Black also made the mistake of uploading an image of himself on his Encrochat device.

Detective Inspector Driss Hayoukane, from Operation Eternal in the Met’s Specialist Crime team, said “Black arranged large-scale drug and gun deals to make as much money as possible, with no thought of the misery and devastation he would cause in communities because of the the violence it inevitably leads to.

“Black traded and bought firearms to protect his organised crime network. This investigation has undoubtedly prevented deadly violence that would have seriously impacted communities.

“He believed using encrypted devices rendered him untouchable, and sought to facilitate the most violent of crimes. However, the Met is unceasing in our efforts to target and dismantle the organised criminal networks which seek to blight our streets. Ironically, the steps taken by Black to conceal his operation sealed his fate, presenting us with the very evidence used to convict him.”

Black previously pleaded guilty to the following at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 21 December 2022:

1. Conspiracy to supply cocaine
2. Conspiracy to supply cannabis
3. Conspiracy to acquire criminal property
4. Conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons
5. Possession of criminal property

Op Eternal leads the way in using precise, data-led policing to target those criminals causing the most harm in London – a commitment made in the Met’s A New Met for London plan. To read more about our plans to tackle violence caused by drugs read A New Met for London.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynne Owens has written an open letter to London’s Jewish communities following the terror attacks in southern Israel.

In 2017, when our whole country was shaken by acts of terrorism, the Jewish community was among the very first to stand with policing.

In London, within hours of the awful events on Westminster Bridge, the Chief Rabbi reached out, his support quickly mirrored in Tel Aviv with our flag displayed in solidarity at its city hall. And in Manchester, a local rabbi brought hot drinks to officers guarding the terrible scene at the Arena, speaking about the need to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, demonstrating acts of enduring kindness.

Today it is those of you in the Jewish community who need our support and our solidarity.

Nobody can fail to have been absolutely appalled by the acts of terrorism we saw in Israel on Saturday. The murder of more than 900 people and the kidnapping of so many others – including children and the elderly – must be condemned in the strongest terms.

We also understand that it has had a direct impact on people across the world, including right here in London, particularly those of you in our Jewish communities, including the Jewish officers and staff who work for the Met.

We stand firmly with you and we will do all that we can to make sure you feel safe and protected here at home.

I know that many families will today be grieving and fearful for their friends and relatives in Israel. It must be unimaginably painful to be so far away from people you are so close to at times like these. Please know you are in our minds and that we stand ready to support investigations and to help get Britons home if called on by the Government to assist.

I know too that many people will be worried about their safety here, in London. Nobody should be concerned about their child’s journey to school, their safety on a bus or a train, their visit to the shops, or to a place of worship.

Working with community leaders and the Community Security Trust, we are increasing our presence at schools and synagogues and in communities. Our neighbourhood policing teams and dedicated schools officers will be there to provide assurance and support, but also to investigate and prosecute any instances of antisemitic hate or harassment.

I can also understand why, just days after such a barbaric terrorist attack, the sight of people gathering outside the Israeli Embassy, waving flags, chanting, letting off flares, some with scarves across their faces, will be interpreted by many of you as a direct statement of support for what took place on Saturday in Israel.

Many of you will no doubt find it morally reprehensible, intimidating, and even frightening and I can understand why there is an expectation that the police would have acted to stop the demonstration or to take action against those involved.

Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation under UK law. Hezbollah is too. Anyone who expresses support for these organisations, waves their flag, holds up a placard or directly expresses support for them is committing an offence and can expect to be dealt with.

The law on this is very clear, but it is also very specific and we have to act within it.

What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable.

An expression of support for the Palestinian people more broadly, including flying the Palestinian flag, does not, alone, constitute a criminal offence.

Of course behaviour at protests goes beyond what is and isn’t seen as support for proscribed groups. I know that in the past we have seen people use these opportunities to make statements that are quite clearly antisemitic and a hate crime.

Abuse or intimidation that is religiously motivated will not be accepted and officers will act when they see it.

There are practical points on making arrests in the midst of thousands of people that call for judgments but we will step in, and have done so, to arrest those committing offences.

In the coming days and weeks there will no doubt be further challenges and further protests. We will police them without fear or favour and I expect our officers to act where they see offences, including expressions of support for proscribed organisations or any instance of religious hatred.

Please know those of us who joined policing to serve and protect find acts of violence, threats and kidnapping abhorrent.

I have heard the strength of feeling from many of you in the Jewish community. Our officers hear it too. We will act swiftly where people break the law and we will do everything in our power to protect you and to make you feel safe.

This letter was originally provided to and reported on by the Jewish Chronicle on 11 October 2023.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are appealing for anyone in the UK who has direct evidence related to the terrorist attacks in southern Israel to contact police.

The attacks began on Saturday, 7 October and continued into the following days. UK nationals are among those who were killed or are missing.

Specialist officers are in close contact with colleagues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to act upon information about UK nationals being received.

Family liaison officers from UK police forces are supporting the affected families. UK policing also has a role in assisting with any repatriation of their loved ones back to the UK.

In addition, we have started gathering information that may assist any subsequent coronial process.

This appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks.

There may also be people in the UK who have friends, relatives or loved ones in Israel and have been sent direct messages, images or videos.

We would ask that people don’t report footage or information that they have come across through open source research – media reports, online or on social media.

Footage and other material can be shared via https://ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk/upload/choose, or police can be contacted in confidence on 0800 789 321.

Officers have also been deployed to ports across the country, as part of our efforts to engage with, and offer assistance to, anyone returning from Israel.