Category: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Today, the Recorder of London, His Honour Judge Lucraft KC, who is overseeing the upcoming trial of the firearms officer known as NX121 for the indictment of murder of Chris Kaba, has ruled that on 30 January 2024 anonymity will be partially lifted, resulting in the name and date of birth of officer NX121 being in the public domain. Their address, image and any detailed description will continue to be protected.

In response to the announcement Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “I recognise that for officers this decision will be hugely concerning, and that the impact of this and recent cases is felt right across armed policing and beyond.

“The Met has supported the anonymity hearing by providing evidence and factual information to His Honour Judge Lucraft KC to assist him in making a decision. We take seriously the open justice principle, however it was important to make the court aware of the effect that loss of anonymity would have in this case. We acknowledge the judgement by the court and note the detailed and careful consideration that has taken place.

“We have also been continuing to make representation in the strongest terms to Government to expedite their Accountability Review, and welcome the commitment given by the Home Secretary for the review to report by the end of the year.

“Armed officers in London typically respond to around 4,000 armed incidents and 800 pre-planned operations every year, plus recover hundreds of firearms and weapons. Yet on average over the last 20 years firearms have been discharged at suspects on two or fewer occasions per year. Shootings by our armed officers are very rare.

“Taking on the additional responsibilities of being a firearms officer is voluntary in this country due to the very real additional risks the role entails. Accountability will always be crucial, however, it must be an accountability system that officers, and the public, can see fairly takes into consideration and gives appropriate legal protection to the unique role we ask armed officers to undertake.

“A role that is absolutely critical, in ensuring that the public and unarmed colleagues are protected from the most severe and very real threats faced on a daily basis.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

There is a photo being shared online of Met officers removing posters of those kidnapped in Israel from the shutters of a shop in Edgware.

We recognise why people are concerned and want an explanation. Below is what we know about what led to the officers doing what they did.

The posters were put up late on Saturday night. We received at least two calls about it from local residents.

They believed the posters were put on these specific shutters as a retaliation for comments about the conflict between Israel and Hamas that were made on social media by a person associated with the business.

It appears print outs of those comments may also have been put up next to the posters.

Both people who reported the posters to us were concerned that it would escalate an already tense situation. Officers went to the shop and acting in good faith they removed the posters in an effort to prevent any such escalation.

The removal of these posters elsewhere in London has caused anger and upset in recent weeks. We know a photo of our officers doing the same will cause further concern, particularly for anyone not aware of the full facts reported to us at the time.

We have no wish to limit the rights of anyone to protest or to raise awareness of the plight of those kidnapped and the terrible impact on their families.

But we do have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to stop issues escalating and to avoid any further increase in community tension. On this occasion, that is what officers were trying to do.

We’re in contact with local partners, community representatives and those directly involved in this incident. Officers are listening to and reflecting on any concerns raised with us.

We are also assessing the content of the comments made on social media to identify any potential offences.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating the death of a 16-year-old boy in Orpington have charged a third man with murder.

Justin Barton, 31 (03.02.92), of Neasden Lane, NW10, was charged on Sunday, 29 October. He will appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 30 October.

Tafari Thompson-Mintah was riding a moped along Sevenoaks Way in St Paul’s Cray when he was involved in a collision with another car at around 15:30hrs on Monday, 9 October.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.

His family have been informed of this development and continue to be supported by officers.

Two people have previously been charged as part of the same investigation:

Aaron Conway, 38 (25.02.85), from Orpington, was charged on Monday, 16 October.

Previously Joseph Barnes, 40 (14.09.83) of no fixed address, was charged on Saturday, 14 October.

Both men have been remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on 9 January 2024.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Justin Henry have released footage of his last movements as his family appeal to the public for information.

Justin was last seen in person on the evening of Sunday, 15 October at his partner’s address in Brixton. At around 21:50hrs on Sunday, 15 October, Justin was seen on CCTV buying food at a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant on London Road in Croydon.

A spokesperson for Mr Henry’s family said: “Our family is devastated and want answers. Justin is a loving and happy person and wouldn’t hurt a fly. This is a plea to the public for information on where Justin is. This could be your son or loved one. Justin comes from a very close family who are desperate for answers.”

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “We hope that in releasing this footage it will jog someone’s memory and help us give Justin’s family the answers they are desperately waiting for. Our investigation remains ongoing and I want to reiterate my commitment to his family that the search to find Mr Henry continues.

“I would ask the public to look at this footage. Do you remember seeing this car? Do you remember seeing the driver? Did you see this car after it left McDonald’s? Mr Henry’s family are depending on your answers to these questions. Please come forward and share what you know either with police directly or anonymously via CrimeStoppers.”

Justin Henry, 34, was reported missing to police on Monday, 16 October.

He has links to the SE23 area and was last seen in person on the evening of Sunday, 15 October at the address of his partner in Brixton.

His family has not seen or heard from him since, and this is totally out of character.

Police are continuing to establish Justin’s movements, in particular late on Sunday, 15 October, and in the early hours of Monday, 16 October.

At around 21:50hrs on Sunday, 15 October, Justin was seen on CCTV buying food at a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant on London Road in Croydon.

Enquiries have led officers to believe Justin drove from that restaurant to nearby Waddon New Road where his vehicle, a silver Mercedes E Class, remained for approximately two-and-a-half hours.

The Mercedes was later located on Monday, 16 October in Kingswood Drive, SE19.

It is unclear who was driving the vehicle when it arrived at Kingswood Drive shortly after 01:00hrs on Monday, 16 October, due to indistinct CCTV image of the driver, but Justin’s family state that it was not him.

Officers have conducted forensic examinations of an address in Croydon and Justin’s car, as well as extensive CCTV and phone inquiries.

A 29-year-old man [B] and a 28-year-old man [C] have been charged in connection with the investigation.

On Wednesday, 18 October, a 27-year-old woman [A] was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping; she has since been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in mid-January 2024.

Detectives still desperately need more information about Justin’s disappearance and the days leading up to him going missing. Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter/X @MetCC. Please quote Operation Ashgulf or CAD 5224/21Oct.

You can also give information on Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a woman in Croydon.

Police were called at 16:10hrs on Sunday, 29 October, to a report of a woman deceased at a residential address in Ash Tree Way, Croydon.

Officers attended along with ambulance colleagues. A 19-year-old woman was found suffering stab injuries and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

The woman is believed to be an Indian national who is thought to have arrived in the United Kingdom relatively recently. Officers are working to trace and inform her family.

A 23-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. He has been taken to hospital suffering a minor head injury.

The man and woman were known to each other. At this stage, nobody else is sought in connection with the murder investigation.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation, including anyone who saw or heard a disturbance on Sunday afternoon at the address in Ash Tree Way, is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 4546/29oct.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Five people arrested during protests in central London on Saturday have been charged.

More than 1,000 officers were on duty as part of the policing operation.

Nine people were arrested on Saturday, two on suspicion of assaulting police officers and seven for public order offences.

A further two people were arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. Their arrests followed a public appeal about an incident in Trafalgar Square on Saturday evening.

The details of those charged are below.

Kadirul Islam, 33 (17.06.90) of no fixed address has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence (Section 5 Public Order Act). He will appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 1 December. The offence relates to an incident in Waterloo Road where racist abuse was shouted.

Emma Turvey, 51 (01.01.72) of Clarence Road, Grays, Essex has been charged with a public order offence (Section 4A Public Order Act). She is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 13 November. The offence relates to an incident in Whitehall where a can of beer was thrown at a protestor.

Atif Sharif, 41 (08.06.82) of Albert Road, Walthamstow has been charged with causing actual bodily harm. He was remanded and will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Monday, 30 October. The offence relates to an incident in Whitehall where an officer was assaulted and sustained a head injury.

Laura Davis, 22 (31.07.01) of Hendon Way, Barnet has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence (Section 5 Public Order Act). She will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 29 November. The offence relates to an incident in the vicinity of Piccadilly Circus where a placard that was threatening and racist in nature was displayed.

A second person who was arrested in the vicinity of Piccadilly Circus for a racially aggravated public order offence, also relating to a placard, was released with no further action to be taken following a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.

A 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with a public order offence (Section 5 Public Order Act). He will appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 15 November. The offence relates to an incident in Grosvenor Gardens where verbal abuse was directed at officers escorting protestors.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Officers are appealing for witnesses and any dashcam footage following a fatal collision on the M4 in west London.

At 11:39hrs on Sunday, 29 October, officers were called to reports of an overturned car on the eastbound M4 near to the Cranford Park Interchange.

Emergency services attended and four people were found with injuries, all of whom had been travelling in the car, a Mercedes.

A man, thought to be aged in his 20s, died at the scene. He was a passenger in the rear of the car. We are in the process of informing his next of kin.

Two other men, also thought to be aged in their 20s, were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A fourth person was treated at the scene for minor injuries before being taken to hospital.

Officers from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command are carrying out enquiries to establish the circumstances. The M4 is currently closed in both directions at the location.

Anyone with dashcam footage and any witnesses yet to speak with police are asked to call 101 quoting CAD 2906/29Oct.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A couple in Islington were scammed after they were offered fraudulent financial investment returns between January and May 2018 in excess of £230,000.

Haydee Daniel, 55 (13.01.68), of Valley Road, Henley-on-Thames, was sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday, 26 October.

She was found guilty on Tuesday, 24 October following a four-week trial at the same court.

PC Evan Mcloughlin, from the Met’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “The impact of this crime on the victims is absolutely shocking. Daniel masterminded a sophisticated and convincing investment fraud to take advantage of vulnerable victims on a large scale. The money was used to fund a lavish and extravagant lifestyle, showing complete contempt for the victims.

“Daniel felt no remorse for what she put the victims though. She even tried for more than three years to postpone her trial by faking numerous medical conditions at great expense to the National Health Service.”

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime’s Economic Crime Team began investigating the scam in 2019.

The court heard how Daniel befriended a couple with a young, ill child and showed them that she lived a lavish lifestyle.

She told the victims that she could get them cheap properties from Barclays bank through a fictitious contact she made up. Daniel, acting as the fake contact, convinced the victims that their credit ratings were too low to purchase the properties and that Daniel would have to act as their guarantor.

She then told the victims that they would have to prove that they had enough money to pay off the mortgage during periods when they were not earning. The contact then told them that they should send money to a bank account set up by Daniel.

They were assured that money would be ring-fenced and then returned to them once the contact was satisfied that they would be financially able to pay back any loans.

The contact convinced them to make several payments in to the “ring-fence account”. These payments came to a total of £230,496. In reality the money was not ring-fenced and Daniel would spend it almost immediately on luxury rentals and goods, or send it to other people she knew.

The victims were left destitute and heavily in debt to their family, who they had borrowed money from, believing it would be available again once the deal went through.

In their impact statement the victims said that the loss of over £230,000 was not a mere number; it represented the theft of their security, aspirations for the future, and their child’s well-being. They explained that the constant stress and anxiety caused by Daniel’s actions had affected every aspect of their life.

As part of the elaborate plan, Daniel also lied to the victims by telling them that she had cervical cancer and only had 18 months to live. She claimed that she wanted to help them make a better life for themselves before she died.

Daniel had actually been cured of her cancer in the 1990s and was at the time of the offence, and still is, cancer free.

Officers were able to confirm the fictitious contact was Daniel as the phone’s location showed it has always been used in the vicinity of her home address.

When examining Daniel’s phone they also discovered that both she and the contact left the WhatsApp group with the victim’s two hours before her police interview.

Despite her attempts to cover her tracks, officers were able to recover over 1000 pages of WhatsApp messages between the victims and Daniel.

Officers read through these conversations regarding the property purchase which showed that the victims fully believed they would get four properties after sending their money.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man was critically injured after being assaulted in Edgware.

Officers were alerted by hospital staff after the man was brought into a central London hospital for treatment; he remains there in a critical condition.

The incident happened at around midnight on Saturday, 28 October next to a kiosk outside Burnt Oak underground station on Watling Road, Edgware.

The victim was punched by another man before falling to the ground. Officers are continuing to work to establish the man’s identity and would appeal to anyone who help to get in contact.

Detective Sergeant Emma Thompson from the North West Command Unit said: “We know from CCTV that there were people in the area outside Burnt Oak tube station at around midnight who saw what happened and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.

“A man is lying critically ill in hospital as a result of this act of violence and we need to find who is responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD1419/28Oct. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives are appealing for information following the death of a man who was found injured at his home in Waltham Forest and are urging any witnesses to come forward.

Police were called at about 04:45hrs on Monday, 16 October to reports of two males believed to be breaking into cars on Boundary Lane, E13.

Officers attended and arrested a 25-year-old man. He was found to be in possession of a car key registered to an address on Matcham Road, E11.

Officers attended this address, less than four miles away, and found a 68-year-old man seriously injured.

He was taken by the London Ambulance Service to hospital in a critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, sadly he died in the early hours of Thursday, 26 October.

His family have been informed and he has been named as Evaldas Simanaitis.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

An investigation was immediately launched, and detectives reviewed CCTV footage from the local area. They established that the victim had been outside his home at about 04:00hrs and was seen to shout at two males. One of these males struck him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command have launched an investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellam for the Specialist Crime Command said: “Although an arrest was quickly made as officers responded to the call from Boundary Lane, we still need to establish exactly what happened earlier that night.

“Did you see or hear a disturbance in the early hours of Monday, 16 October?

“Please can you check any CCTV cameras, or footage captured on your doorbell? We need your help to identify the second person who was there.”

Chief Superintendent Simon Crick from the North East Basic Command Unit, said: “We know that this incident will have created a lot of distress in the area. A man has lost his life, and I would like to assure you that we are working with our colleagues and doing everything we can to establish what happened.

“I would encourage anyone with concerns to speak with your local officers. We are here to listen, and will take any action as appropriate.”

A 25-year-old has been charged in connection with the investigation.

Enquiries remain ongoing to identify and locate the second male.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 847/16Oct. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.