Category: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man arrested in connection with a series of arson attacks remains in police custody.

The 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 May on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

He was arrested at an address in Sydenham.

The man was taken to a London police station, where he currently remains in police custody.

The arrest relates to three incidents.

On Monday, 12 May at 01:35hrs, police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address in NW5.

Officers attended the scene. Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, nobody was hurt.

As a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into this fire. Enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it.

The investigation team are also considering two other incidents – a vehicle fire in NW5 on Thursday, 8 May and a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on Sunday, 11 May – and are investigating whether they may be linked to the fire in NW5 on 12 May.

All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “We are working at pace and continue to explore various lines of enquiry to establish the cause of the fires, and any potential motivation for these. A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure.

“We recognise that this investigation may cause concern to other public figures – particularly MPs. The protection of MPs is something we take extremely seriously across the whole of policing and I would encourage any MP who is concerned about their own safety to get in touch with their dedicated local Operation Bridger officer, who can provide further advice and support.

“In the meantime, our investigation remains ongoing and we will continue to work closely with local officers in the areas affected. Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in those areas over the coming days, but if anyone has concerns, then please speak with a local officer, or call us.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 101 quoting CAD 441/12 May.

We would ask the public to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that doesn’t look or feel right, then to report it to police – either by calling police, in confidence, on 0800 789 321 or via www.gov.uk/ACT

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A former Met constable has been jailed for misconduct in public office following an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl while he was a serving officer.

Che Homersham was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, 13 May following an investigation by the Met’s Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, as directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Former PC Homersham’s offending came to light after he was arrested over a separate matter in August 2023.

An examination of his phone found evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl he had met while attending a domestic incident involving the teenager in December 2018.

The investigation found he had pursued her over several weeks, sending intimate messages and touching her inappropriately when they met.

He was arrested in December 2023.

Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, who leads policing in north west London, said:

“Former PC Homersham’s conduct in making inappropriate contact with a victim of crime was completely unprofessional and unacceptable.

“Any woman or girl should feel safe with a male police officer, but Homersham’s actions have clearly undermined that trust the public have in us. It is right he has faced criminal charges, and is no longer a part of the Metropolitan Police Service.”

Homersham, who was attached to the North West policing team, resigned from the Met in January 2024.

A misconduct hearing was held in June 2024 which found that had he still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice. The hearing found Homersham had breached professional standards of behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity and authority, respect and courtesy.

Homersham was 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.

Anyone with any information about a police officer or member of staff who works for the Met and is corrupt, or abusing their position and power, can call the Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline, run by independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 085 0000 or complete the online form at www.crimestoppers-org.uk.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A 28-year-old man has been jailed for rape and sexual offences following a lengthy investigation by the Met Police.

Gabriel Hay (02.01.1997) of Gauden Road, SW4 was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Tuesday, 13 May at Inner London Crown Court.

Hay was found guilty of rape, attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault on Monday, 10 March at the same court. The charges relate to multiple incidents which took place between 2016 and 2023.

In April 2023, Hay met a woman while working at a bar in Clapham. It was here that Hay recommended she and a friend go on drinking at another location – he would join them there. When Hay arrived at the end of his shift, he plied her with alcohol. As a result of this she became unsteady on her feet and he led her out of the bar to his address – a house he shared with his mother – where he raped her.

It was this report of rape that enabled detectives to re-open previously reported incidents that did not initially hold sufficient evidence and bring charges against Hay.

These incidents were a sexual assault in April 2014 in which Hay groped a woman in her 20s at a party in Clapham. He later attempted to rape her at his house in July 2016. Hay also touched another woman without consent in the back of a taxi in south London in 2018.

Detective Sergeant Damian Jones, who let the Met’s investigation, said:

“While nothing can remedy Hay’s horrific crimes, I hope this sentence brings closure to the three women – who have shown such resilience over the last few years – especially during the trial. It is because of them that we secured a conviction.

“This investigation has taken a dangerous individual off our streets. Our officers will continue to tackle violence against women and girls and put victim-survivors at the centre of our work. If you would like to come forward and make a report relating to Hay, you can contact police via 101 quoting 2532/21APR23.”

If you live in England or Wales and have been affected by this case and would like to seek independent support from specialist agencies, please contact the charity Rape Crisis via their 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line or call them on 0808 500 2222. Specially trained staff are there to listen, answer questions and offer support.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man following an investigation by detectives.

The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Patrick Spencer, 36 (08.05.1988) from Suffolk, in connection with an investigation into two sexual assaults, which reportedly occurred at Groucho Club in August 2023.

The charges relate to two separate women.

On 13 March 2025, a man attended a voluntary interview at a London police station.

Patrick Spencer has since been charged with two counts of sexual assault and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 16 June.

We urge responsible reporting in line with guidance from the Attorney General’s Office. Editors, publishers, and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under the common law and Contempt of Court Act 1981.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been arrested in connection with a series of arson attacks.

The 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 May on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

He remains in custody.

The arrest relates to three incidents.

On Monday, 12 May at 01:35hrs, police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address in NW5.

Officers attended the scene. Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, nobody was hurt.

As a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into this fire. Enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it.

The investigation team are also considering two other incidents – a vehicle fire in NW5 on Thursday, 8 May and a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on Sunday, 11 May – and are investigating whether they may be linked to the fire in NW5 on 12 May.

All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A group of six Bulgarians living in the UK have been jailed for a combined total of more than 50 years for being part of a spying operation across Europe on behalf of Russia.

Following a three-month trial at the Old Bailey, two women and a man were found guilty of conspiring to obtain information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to Russia.

Three other men pleaded guilty to Official Secrets Act charges before the trial started.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “The strength of the investigation into the group’s surveillance operations left the ringleaders – Orlin Roussev and Bizer Dzhambazov – with no option but to plead guilty to the charges they faced.

“As shown in footage from his initial interviews, Roussev firmly denied carrying out any espionage activity for Russia. However, before he was due to stand trial, he admitted that he had been part of the conspiracy to spy.

“This was in large part due to the detailed analysis of more than 200,000 digital messages and hundreds of items seized from Roussev’s home address.

“The investigation team worked incredibly hard to piece together a complex and wide-ranging conspiracy that I would describe as espionage on an industrial scale.

“The significant jail sentences handed to the group reflect the serious threat they posed to the safety and interests of the UK, as well as targets across Europe.

“This case is a clear example of the increasing amount of state threat casework we are dealing with in the UK. It also highlights a relatively new phenomenon whereby espionage is being ‘outsourced’ by certain states.

“Regardless of the form the threat takes, this investigation shows that we will take action to identify and disrupt any such activity that puts UK national security and the safety of the public at risk.”

The court heard that detectives from the Met’s Counter terrorism Command seized hundreds of items after a co-ordinated series of raids and arrests were carried out on 8 February 2023.

In particular, a 33-room former hotel belonging to Roussev was found to contain items including sophisticated spying equipment such as listening devices, concealed cameras and a fake ID card printer.

Through their investigation, detectives identified that Roussev, who was leading the group, was in direct contact with Jan Marsalek – an Austrian national who, in turn, was identified as working with the Russian intelligence services.

The investigation team identified six core spying ‘plots’ the group were involved in. This included activity that targeted two investigative journalists who were seen as reporting stories contrary to the interests of the Russian state.

A former senior Kazakh politician who lived in the UK was also targeted, and the group planned to stage protests at the Kazakhstan embassy in London. Both operations were part of an elaborate plan to help the Russia state gain favour with Kazakhstan.

The group also carried out surveillance at a US military site in Germany, where they believed Ukrainian soldiers were being trained.

Another man who was designated as a ‘foreign agent’ by Russia was also targeted by the group during surveillance operations in Montenegro.

Sifting through thousands of messages, and then matching these up with physical travel, financial statements and surveillance reports and footage, meant detectives were able to build up a compelling picture of the group’s activity, as well as identify those involved and their roles within the group.

The six members of the group, who were all sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, 12 May, were:

– Orlin Roussev, 46 (06.02.1978) of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, sentenced to 10 years’ and eight months imprisonment.
– Bizer Maksimov Dzhambazov, 43 (21.04.1981), of Harrow, north London, sentenced to 10 years and two months’ imprisonment.
– Katrin Nikolayeva Ivanova, 33 (01.07.1991) of Harrow, north London, sentenced to nine years and eight months’ imprisonment.
– Ivan Iliev Stoyanov, 33 (22.12.1991) of Greenford, west London, sentenced to five years and three weeks’ imprisonment
– Vanya Nikolaveva Gaberova, 30 (10.08.1994) of Euston, north London, sentenced to six years, eight months and three weeks’ imprisonment.
– Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39 (31.07.85) of Acton, west London, sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment.

Officers found that Roussev was directing the group’s activity, and was receiving tasks through his contact with Marsalak. Dzhambazov was effectively the second in command.

The other four were involved in the execution of various espionage and surveillance activities across the UK and Europe in relation to the six plots identified by detectives.

Ivanova, Gaberova and Ivanchev were all found guilty on 7 March of conspiracy to spy, contrary to Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Roussev and Dzhambazov pleaded guilty before the trial started to the same offence.

Stoyanov pleaded guilty before the trial to spying, contrary to section 1(1)(c) of the Official Secrets Act 1911.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Met detectives have charged both Higgins Homes PLC and four men in connection with the death of a woman in Bethnal Green in 2018.

Michaela Boor, 28, was struck by a pallet containing more than two tonnes of bricks that fell from a tower crane on a Higgins Homes building development in St Pauls Way in Bethnal Green at approximately 09:00hrs on Tuesday, 27 March 2018.

She died in hospital the following day.

The charges following an investigation by the Met and the Health and Safety Executive.

Higgins Homes PLC, a construction company that develops and builds properties across London and the south east, was charged by postal requisition on Wednesday, 7 May with corporate manslaughter and offences under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Four men have also been charged by postal requisition with gross negligence manslaughter and offences under section 7 the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They are:

• Alexander McInnes, 32 (26.07.1992) of Islington, a crane operator on the day of Michaela’s death, was charged on Thursday, 8 May.
• Dawood Maan, 59 (30.07.1965) of Ashford Kent, a crane supervisor, was charged on Wednesday, 30 April.
• Stephen Coulson, 68 (31.10.1956) of Hemel Hempstead, responsible for compiling the lifting plan for the site was charged on Wednesday, 30 April.
• Thomas Anstis, 68, (13.04.1957) of Banstead, the Site Manager and Temporary Works Coordinator, was charged on Thursday, 8 May.

All are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 16 June.

Specialist officers continue to support Michaela’s family.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Hackney yesterday evening.

Officers were called at 18:16hrs on Saturday, 10 May, to reports of a collision involving a motorcycle on the westbound elevated section of the A12 at the Lea Interchange.

The London Ambulance Service and the London Air Ambulance were also in attendance, and the motorcyclist – a 30-year-old man from Camden – was treated at the scene.

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he sadly died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Rob Groombridge, who is leading the Met investigation, said:

“Sadly a 30-year-old man died yesterday following a road traffic collision in Hackney. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

“We are working at pace to identify what happened on the A12 yesterday evening, and would encourage anyone who witnesses the incident, or who was in the surrounding area, to please come forward and speak to us. I’m particularly interested in any dashcam footage from drivers who were in the area between 18:00hrs and 18:30hrsyesterday.

“Any piece of information could be vital in helping us understand exactly what happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 5852/10MAY

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with murder over the death of an 87-year-old man in Manor House.

Peter Augustine, 58 (25.10.1996), of Green Lanes, Hornsey, was charged on Friday, 9 May, with the murder of an 87-year-old man in Manor House. He has also been charged with robbery.

Around 17:53hrs on Tuesday, 6 May, officers attended Goodchild Road, Manor House, alongside the London Ambulance Service following reports of a robbery.

An 87-year-old man was taken to hospital, where sadly died on Thursday, 8 May. His next-of-kin are being supported by specialist officers.

Augustine was arrested in Green Lanes, Hornsey, on Thursday, 8 May. He has been remanded in custody, and will appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 10 May.

If you witnessed this incident or have any information, please contact the investigation team on 0208 345 3715 quoting Operation Cedarbirch. If you wish to remain anonymous please contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A fourth man has been arrested in London as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

A 31-year-old man [D] was arrested at an address in north-west London this morning (Friday, 9 May) as part of the investigation, which is being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

The man, who is an Iranian national, was arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.

Three men, aged 39 [A], 44 [B] and 55 [C], were arrested on Saturday, 3 May as part of the investigation. Warrants of further detention have been sought and obtained for them today, meaning the three men [A – C] can be detained until Saturday, 17 May.

As part of this investigation, searches were also carried out at two addresses in north-west London, on Friday, 9 May. The searches are now complete.

This investigation is not connected to the arrest of five people on Saturday, 3 May as part of a separate Met Counter Terrorism operation.

Enquiries remain ongoing.