Category: Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman in Romford.

A 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder, alongside a 21-year-old and 22-year-old who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A murder investigation was launched on Saturday, 16 August after police and the London Ambulance Service were alerted to a woman who had been assaulted in Chadwell Heath Lane, Romford at around 05:30hrs. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Although formal identification has yet to take place, officers believe the victim was in her twenties. Her family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.

Early enquiries by detectives indicate this is an isolated incident and those involved are believed to be known to each other.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hobbs said: “Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends in light of this truly tragic event.

“Although we have now made arrests, local residents will continue to see an increased number of officers in and around the area while our investigative work is carried out.

“I would ask anyone who was in the area of Romford, who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, to speak to us.”

If you saw anything, or have any information then please contact police via 101 quoting 1625/16Aug. Alternatively, to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives are investigating a fatal assault in Romford.

On Saturday, 16 August at 05:34hrs police were called to Chadwell Heath, Romford following reports of an assault.

Officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service, but despite their best efforts, the woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Although formal identification has yet to take place, officers believe the victim was in her twenties.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.

The woman’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers. We await formal identification.

No arrests have yet been made at this early stage in the investigation.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hobbs said: “Our thoughts today are with the victim’s family and friends in light of this truly tragic event.

“Local residents will see an increased number of officers in and around the area while our investigative work is carried out. I want to thank residents for their patience while this continues. I would ask anyone who was in the area of Romford, who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, to come forward to us.”

If you saw anything, or have any information then please contact police via 101 quoting 1625/16Aug. Alternatively, to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with the murder of Ahmed Ali Jama in Camden in 2023.

Arlind Hashani, 22 (04.05.03), of Bray Fellows Road NW3 appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 15 August where he was charged with murder following his extradition from France. This follows his arrest in Paris on 30 July.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday, 19 August.

Ahmed, aged 29, was found with stab wounds near Gaymead, on the Abbey Estate, in Abbey Road at around 19:32hrs on 29 December 2023.

Officers and paramedics provided first aid and Ahmed was taken to hospital, where he sadly died later that evening.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman in Bethnal Green.

Mizanur Rahman, 45 (14.6.1980), will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Saturday, 16 August after being charged on Friday, 15 August.

Officers were called by the London Ambulance Service to an address on Russia Lane at 21:00hrs on Thursday, 14 August.

A woman was found with a serious head injury and pronounced dead at the scene. She has since been identified as 73-year-old Sufia Khatun.

Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A further 60 people will be prosecuted for showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action.

This follows the arrest of more than 700 people since the group’s proscription on 7 July.

The Metropolitan Police, Counter Terrorism Policing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Attorney General’s Office have been working closely together to process the case files with more prosecutions expected in the coming weeks. We have put arrangements in place that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary.

Palestine Action was proscribed in July after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in South Gloucestershire. Proscription of Palestine Action made membership or support of it a criminal offence.

There is a difference between showing support for a proscribed organisation – an offence under the Terrorism Act – and legitimate protest in support of cause. Individuals are entitled to protest within the law, but where that activity breaks the law, the police will make arrests and the Crown Prosecution Service will bring prosecutions.

Last weekend in central London 15,000 people demonstrated peacefully in support of the Palestinian cause with only one arrest taking place. However, 522 were arrested for an illegal show of support for Palestine Action on the same day. There have been hundreds of protests expressing support for the Palestinian cause over the last two years without showing mass support for proscribed terrorist groups.

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 organisation 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.”

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.

“At the same time, we 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. They are simply the enforcement of a specific provision under the Terrorism Act in relation to a specific proscribed terrorist organisation, Palestine Action.

“Where officers see these offences, 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.”

The consequences for those charged with offences under the Terrorism Act include:

•A maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment.

•The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will have a record of a person’s TACT conviction, and this will be seen by employers who use DBS to carry out checks on staff or new applicants. The existence of a TACT conviction may be seen by employers as grounds for a refusal to employ a person or to dismiss them.

•Universities also carry out DBS checks, and may refuse entry to courses to those with terrorism convictions.

•Any application to visit another country usually requires a declaration of criminal convictions. A TACT conviction will be a potential bar to entry to countries including the US, Australia, Japan, and from 2026 when the ETIAS system is introduced, countries of the European Union.

•If a person is a member of a professional body, they may face disciplinary proceedings and potentially removal from the profession.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Police are appealing for help to find Yaqub, 16 who is missing from Camden.

Yaqub was reported missing on Sunday, 22 July at 17:30hrs. He was last seen near Tottenham Court Road wearing Nike grey clothing and has a distinctive crossbody bag.

He has links to Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster, but could be anywhere in London.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur from the Missing Persons Unit:

“We are appealing for any information on Yaqub’s whereabouts. His family are very worried about him and are urging anyone to contact police if they have heard from him.

“We continue to progress several lines of enquiry to locate Yaqub, but are becomingly increasingly worried about him.”

You can call police on 999, report online or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD8615/22JUL or contact the Missing Persons phone on 07881330963.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man who murdered his partner and then attempted to stage a false scene has been convicted after Met Police detectives uncovered his lies.

Clifford Cowen, 59 (18.08.1966) of Kensington Park Gardens, W11 appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, 14 August where it took the jury just six hours to find him guilty of murdering Rita Fleming.

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who led the investigation said:

“As our investigation into Rita’s death developed, it became clear that Clifford Cowen was a controlling and abusive partner.

“Clifford called 999 that day and attempted to make Rita’s death look like an accident, as though she had drowned in the bath.

“Thanks to the information given by key witnesses and the work of our Specialist Crime Team, we have been able to show the court what a cowardly individual Cowen is.”

An investigation was launched on Sunday, 23 June 2024 after officers were called to 70-year-old Rita Fleming’s address on Golborne Road, W10 by the London Ambulance Service following reports of her being found unresponsive in the bath.

The call had come from Clifford Cowen, who called to say he had looked through the letterbox of Rita’s property and seen her feet in the bed and was concerned for her welfare. However, when officers and paramedics arrived, Rita was found fully clothed in the bath with multiple injuries.

Officers flagged concerns around Cowen’s behaviour at the scene as he was repeatedly asking officers to check CCTV to prove he wasn’t at the address.

Officers arrested him at the scene on suspicion of murder.

In interview, Cowen tried to claim that he was in a loving relationship with Rita, however officers found multiple messages and voice notes indicating that he would regularly get drunk and verbally abuse Rita.

He was charged with murder on Friday, 5 July 2024.

Following a four-week trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found Cowen guilty of murder.

He will appear at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, 1 September for sentencing.

DCI Alison Foxwell added:

“Cowen is a master manipulator who tried to portray his relationship with Rita as a loving one.

“He attempted to cover up his actions with an elaborate alibi, however officers were able to unpick this along with evidence of his controlling and manipulative behaviour.

“Rita was much loved by her family and friends and I hope that Cowen’s conviction gives them an element of closure.

“We understand how isolated victims of domestic abuse can feel. We encourage anyone to contact police and report so we can support alongside our specialist partner agencies.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man identified as one of London’s most dangerous offenders has been jailed for rape and sexual assault following an investigation led by Met Police detectives.

The Met’s innovative ‘V100’ programme is transforming the way officers can identify and target the most dangerous perpetrators of violence against women and girls. The V100 programme uses data to identify and target the men who pose the highest risk to women. This allows us to focus the efforts of local and specialist Met officers across London on reducing the threat posed by the most dangerous perpetrators and protecting potential victims from the devastating damage they cause. 

Clinton Easy, 32 (10.09.92), of Lutwyche Road, SE6, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 12 years on Thursday, 14 August at Woolwich Crown court.

A restraining order will also be imposed by the judge.

The sentencing followed two trials. During the first trial beginning in July 2024, Easy pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and two charges of actual bodily harm and was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour.

The second trial began in May 2025 where Easy was found guilty of two charges of rape.

Detective Inspector Jemma Gregory, who led the Met’s investigation, said: “Easy’s offending is shocking and sets him as a dangerous individual who, thanks to the reports from the victim and strong storyboard of evidence collated by the team, is now safely behind bars.

“I would like to commend the victim on her strength throughout the investigation and thank her for her support throughout the court processes. It is clear that her early reporting has strengthened this case to secure a strong sentence.

“The Met is dedicated to tackling violence against women and girls by hunting down predatory men, with innovative methods being used in practice to secure convictions and strong sentences against those who pose the highest risk.”

Officers were alerted to Easy’s offending following a report made by the victim on 11 January 2024.

Earlier in the evening, Easy had subjected the victim to multiple rapes within her own home, after persuading her to allow him to enter her property.

Threatening her with extreme violence, Easy had bound the victim’s hands while he assaulted her.

A report was made by the victim within hours of the offending taking place, and so officers worked resourcefully to obtain photos of injuries and collect evidence from the scene of the offending, including a cup of Easy’s urine which had been thrown.

Through speaking to the victim, detectives uncovered a pattern of offending which had begun with controlling behaviours against the victim, where Easy would take her phone and post on her social media accounts.

It became apparent that Easy’s offending had been ongoing for over a year with medical records acquired by detectives showing that his attacks had led to the victim to require hospital treatment on multiple occasions in 2023.

Officers established a timeline with a storyboard of evidence gathered post the events

Easy was arrested following a manhunt on 1 February 2024.

The Met is using a number of tactics including our V100 to improve the response to violence against women and girls (VAWG). We have also rolled out training to 20,000 frontline officers and added 565 specially trained officers and staff into teams tackling VAWG which has doubled charges for rape since 2022 and secured 389 Stalking Protection Orders.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A murder investigation has been launched and a man arrested after the death of a woman in Bethnal Green.

Officers were called by the London Ambulance Service to an address on Russia Lane at 21.00hrs on Thursday, 14 August.

A woman, 73, was found with a serious head injury and pronounced dead at the scene. Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

A 45-year-old man, who was known to the victim, was arrested and remains in custody.

Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads the Central East Command Unit, said: “Our team of officers and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to this woman’s tragic death.

“This is believed to be an isolated incident, with no wider risk to the general public. However, residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.

“If you have any information, if you saw or heard anything suspicious in the area in the hours leading up to 9pm last night, please contact us to help with our enquiries.”

Please call police on 101 quoting CAD 7726/14AUG. Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting the website.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been arrested and a woman charged following incidents in the Isle of Dogs on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night we released an initial statement following an incident where a man allegedly entered a woman’s flat. He was detained by members of the public nearby.

Our investigation continued on Thursday, with officers carrying out extensive CCTV enquiries and speaking to witnesses.

As a result of this, in the early hours of this morning – Friday, 15 August – we arrested a man in the Hackney area on suspicion of common assault. He is believed to be in his early 20s.

We can confirm that this is the man who allegedly entered the flat. He is now in police custody.

A 22-year-old woman who was arrested on Wednesday evening has since been charged with a number of offences. We can confirm that she is an occupant of the flat that was entered.

Channay Augustus, 22 (28.10.02) of Byng Street, Tower Hamlets has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, affray, assault on an emergency worker, common assault and possession of cannabis.

The charges of affray and common assault relate to an altercation at the Britannia Hotel in Marsh Wall later on Wednesday evening.

The alleged victim of the common assault is a security guard at the hotel, not the man who allegedly entered her flat.

Augustus has been remanded in custody to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court later this morning.