Category: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

There will be an increased police presence in Westminster on Saturday when a number of protests are due to take place.

A march organised by the Palestine Coalition will go from Victoria Embankment to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand. Speeches will take place in Whitehall following the march.

A static protest organised by Stop the Hate, in opposition to the Palestine Coalition march, will take place at the junction of the Strand and Waterloo Bridge.

Discussions are ongoing with the organisers of both protests and details of any conditions in place will be published on Friday.

We are also expecting further protest activity in support of Palestine Action which is a group now proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Similar protests have taken place in Parliament Square for the past two weekends, with 70 arrests made.

The location of any such protest has not yet been confirmed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is charge of the Met’s policing operation this weekend, said: “Our policing plans for the sort of protest activity we expect on Saturday are tried and tested, with officers working hard to achieve the balance of allowing people to exercise their right to peaceful protest while avoiding serious disruption to the community and ensuring incidents and offences can be swiftly dealt with.

“This Saturday’s Palestine Coalition protest is the first large scale eventof its kind since the proscription of Palestine Action and I want to make sure the implications of that change in the law are fully understood.

“Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences.

“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.

“I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.

“This is also the first large scale protest on this issue since Glastonbury Festival where offensive chanting led by an artist on one of the stages prompted a police investigation. Investigations are also underway, led by Met officers, following similar uses of the same chant in London.

“Those investigations are ongoing and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcomes, but I can say a bit more about our approach to similar chanting at this weekend’s protest.

“We have said before that whether chants cross the line from free speech to a potential criminal offence depends on the specific circumstances.

“For example, there will be words that when chanted in the middle of the Palestine Coalition march, and not directed at individuals who might be caused harassment, alarm or distress as a result, might not lead an officer to reasonably suspect an offence has been committed.

“But directing the same words at a group of people for whom the words would very likely cause harassment, alarm or distress, could well give rise to grounds for arrest.

“At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter protest has seen the most heated exchanges. Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point.

“Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality they will intervene and take appropriate action.

“All participants are responsible for their own behaviour. Avoiding the use of threatening, abusive and insulting language, or language that is supportive of proscribed organisations, is the surest way to stay on the right side of this line.”

Further details of these protests, including any conditions in place, will be published at news.met.police.uk and on the Met’s X account.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A landmark agreement with a housing developer and a London local authority will bring frontline offices closer to communities as part of the Met’s focus on neighbourhood policing.

The opening of the Kidbrooke Village Community Police Hub provides local officers with a dedicated base to enhance their response to issues that matter most in the area.

The space was jointly funded by Berkeley Homes, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Met, demonstrating how businesses and other agencies can work together to improve community safety at a time when budgets are stretched.

Up to 24 officers covering six wards will be stationed at the hub which puts them closer to the areas they serve and will help the Met build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, anti-social behaviour and retail crime across London.

Six neighbourhood teams will now be within a 20-minute walk of their wards. A further two will be based nearer to the areas they serve. They were previously spread between bases in Mottingham, Sidcup and Woolwich – which are both at least 20 minutes away by car.

The hub was formally opened by Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes on Tuesday, 15 July.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said:

“Across the Met we are focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to Londoners and we have made significant progress in reducing neighbourhood crime – with a 19 per cent reduction in offences since April.

“House building is important for London – but as the city grows it inevitably puts extra pressure on local policing teams at a time when we’re having to make tough choices.

“Working closely with councils and developers will be key to ensuring more officers can be based near to the areas they serve – and I’d like to thank Berkeley Homes and the Royal Borough of Greenwich for their support in ensuring our teams remain at the heart of their communities.”

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:

“We’ve invested, alongside Berkeley Homes and the police, to bring a new police base to Kidbrooke. This means more police on our streets, supporting the community and understanding the patch. They’ll be able to respond quicker and be more of a presence, which we know residents really care about. This investment is part of our wider work to make sure Greenwich is kept safe.”

Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, said:

“We know how much residents care about having local police in their communities, available to respond to calls and get on the scene quickly. That’s why, along with our partners, we’ve put funding into making this a reality in Kidbrooke, a growing area that more and more people are calling home. This is part of our wider work to target area specific crime like anti-social behaviour and theft, and we’re so pleased to see it open.”

Paul Pritchard, Berkeley’s Development Director, said:

“Berkeley would like to thank those involved in the opening of the new Community Policing Hub at Kidbrooke Village, from the Met Police, our local MP, the Mayor of Greenwich, councillors, officers, representatives from our local schools, and other key residents and stakeholders from the community.

“After the closure of many facilities, it is a tribute to all who have helped ensure we have been able to open this new facility. We look forward to the Met’s presence once again, helping to reinforce a safer neighbourhood for Kidbrooke and the wider area and further strengthening this already resilient and sustainable community.”

Police buildings are an important part of the fabric of London underpinning all Met activity and offering reassurance, functionality and a constant presence for communities in an ever-changing city.

Our estate also needs to adapt to the changing nature of policing. To meet the needs of Londoners, it is imperative to have good quality buildings, where there are not leaking roofs and crumbling walls, in the right locations close to communities, and ones which are as reasonably accessible for victims as possible.

The Met’s relentless focus on driving down crimes that matter most to the public in first six weeks of this financial year has seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year across London:

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

An investigation by the Met Police has led to the conviction of six people in connection with a fatal shooting in west London.

Five men and a boy were found guilty at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 15 July of murdering 21-year-old Janayo Lucima.

In April 2024, Janayo was killed by a single bullet when he opened the front door of his house in Comeragh Road, West Kensington, in what has been described in court as a ‘planned and organised execution’ linked to a dispute over drugs.

Despite several of the defendants trying to flee the country to avoid arrest, they have now been brought to justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, senior investigating officer from the Specialist Crime Command said:
“Our thoughts are with Janayo’s family, who have all been deeply affected by the senseless violence that night. His family attended each day of the trial and listened to every harrowing detail of the traumatic events of the night he was killed.

“None of the defendants provided a truthful explanation as to why he was killed. Janayo’s family will never be able to understand why their loved one was lured to his death and into the sights of the waiting gunman as soon as he emerged, with no opportunity to defend himself.

“This was not a random killing. The defendants came with murderous intent, armed not only with a handgun but also with knives.

“Each of the defendants had their role to play and all of them were participants in the murder of Janayo. With joint participation comes joint responsibility.

“We worked tirelessly over many months, painstakingly gathering evidence to ensure those involved were brought to justice. Violence and the use of weapons will never be tolerated, and we strive to ensure a safer London.”

Officers were called shortly after 22:15hrs on Monday,1 April 2024 to reports of the shooting.

On arrival, they discovered Janayo shot on his doorstep. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he sadly died at the scene.

A murder investigation was launched, and over the months that followed detectives worked diligently to gather evidence to identify and arrest the six convicted.

The shooting had been strategically planned by the defendants, who all had set roles to play in the incident.

CCTV showed five of the defendants meeting at Fabian Road, Fulham on the evening of the murder.

During this time, they were in contact with Khuder Al-Kurdi via phone calls, who was at home as the incident unfolded. Phone records showed he was also in contact with Janayo pretending to set up a drug deal, and passed on the information of the victim’s whereabouts to the other defendants.

Mohammed Mansaray was seen flashing the gun, that would later fire the fatal shot, as they waited. After a signal from Khuder Al-Kurdi, they made their way to Comeragh Road, with some changing their clothes en route.

Video footage showed the defendants concealing themselves along Comeragh Road, with Mansaray positioning himself opposite Janayo’s house.

A call was made to Al-Kurdi, who phoned Janayo and lured him outside on the false pretences of collecting drugs. Less than a minute later, Janayo stepped outside and was fatally shot by Mansaray.

The offenders fled the scene, with some discarding the weapons they had been carrying, including knives. These were forensically linked back to a number of the defendants.

Out of the six, five left the country days after the killing in a bid to try and evade capture. Officers worked quickly to track down the defendants and arrest them, travelling to Scotland to apprehend two of the ringleaders – Mansaray and Said – and arranging an extradition for one who fled to Spain. Two others travelled to Morrocco, later arrested when they returned to the UK.

All six are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey later this year.

Those convicted of murder are:

Khuder Al-Kurdi – 22 (28.08.02) of Fulham Palace Road, W6, arrested in London on 6 April, 2024

Muktar Said, 23 (18.7.01) of Franklin Square, W14, travelled to Scotland days after and was arrested in Glasgow on 6 April, 2024

Mohammed Mansaray, 18 (06.01.07) of Neasden Lane, NW10, also travelled to Scotland days after and was arrested in Glasgow on 6 April, 2024

A 17-year-old boy from SW6, extradited from Spain, arrived back in the UK and arrested on 7 June 2024.

Issa Siteri, 19 (16/09/05) of Elm Park Gardens, SW10, arrived back in the UK from Morocco on 8 June, 2024 and was arrested.

Yusuf Muhudin Abdi, 19 (15/09/05) of Bourne Terrace, W2, also arrived back in the UK from Morocco on 8 June,2024 and was arrested.

+ The jury could not reach a verdict on another man and boy charged with murder and a retrial will be held in 2026.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing in Wembley in 2023

Dontae Smicle, 29 (01.03.1996) of Monks Park, Wembley was charged on Tuesday, 15 July with the murder of 25-year-old Hamza Iqbal.

He was arrested abroad and extradited back to the UK on Tuesday, 15 July. He has been remanded into custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 16 July.

An investigation was launched after police were called shortly after 23:00hrs on Sunday, 24 September 2023 to reports of a stabbing in Olympic Way, Wembley.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found Hamza Iqbal with serious injuries. He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

A post-mortem examination took place on Wednesday, 27 September 2023 and gave a preliminary cause of death as sharp force trauma to the chest.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives have arrested three men in their 20s in connection with the murder of Blue Stevens, who was stabbed to death in Knightsbridge.

Two were arrested at an address in Hounslow on Saturday, 12 July.

One man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He remains in police custody.

Another man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Following their arrests, Met officers obtained a warrant to search two properties in Chiswick where significant evidence was recovered.

The third man was arrested on Monday, 14 July on suspicion of assisting an offender. He remains in police custody.

Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who leads policing in Central West London, said: “These arrests mark a significant milestone in this complex and unfolding murder investigation.

“We continue to progress at pace. While we retain an open mind around motive, one line of enquiry is now that this may have been a targeted attack.

“Increased police patrols remain active in and around the Knightsbridge area. Please do speak with an officer if you have any questions or concerns.”

A murder investigation was launched after officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Seville Street at 21:24hrs on Wednesday, 9 July.

Met officers responded with paramedics from London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. Blue Stevens, 24, was found with stab wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he sadly died at the scene.

His next-of-kin continue to be supported by specialist officers.

Please call police on 0208 721 4961 referencing CAD 8521/09JUL if you were a witness or have any information which might help.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A couple who were arrested following a police search across the UK have been found guilty of killing their newborn baby.

Mark Gordon, 51 (08.06.74) and Constance Marten, 38 (16.05.87), both of no fixed address, lived outside in a tent in freezing conditions with their baby Victoria.

The court heard they went on the run with Victoria to evade the authorities after their previous four children were taken into care.

After a 53-day search, they were arrested in Brighton on 27 February 2023 and officers later found the body of their child in a shopping bag at an allotment where they had been living.

Today, Monday, 14 July following a trial at the Old Bailey, they were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation into Victoria’s death, said: “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby who would have recently had her second birthday and should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.

“This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers across the UK who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we were devastated by the outcome.

“We know today’s verdict won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”

Investigation launched

Concerns were first raised on 5 January 2023 when the couple’s car broke down and caught fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester. Firefighters found the pair had abandoned their car and left the motorway before help had arrived.

The car was full of items, including nappies and clothing. A placenta was also found and there was concern that whoever had been in the car had recently given birth and could be in need of urgent medical care.

Officers were called and a missing person’s investigation was launched. Marten’s passport was found in the wreckage of the fire.

Through speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV it later became clear that the couple had travelled to Bolton and then to Liverpool that evening.

Moving across the country

From Liverpool the couple paid a taxi driver £350 to take them 270 miles away to Harwich in Essex.

The reason for them choosing this location is unclear, however it is thought they may have been trying to leave the country by boat.

They arrived in the town in the early hours of 6 January 2023 and checked into a hotel. Marten gave staff a fake surname and CCTV showed she had a baby underneath her coat.

Concerned about the welfare of the couple and their newborn child, officers shared a public appeal for information.

This was being widely reported in the media and on 7 January 2023 they were stopped by a member of the public who asked if they were the people who were on the news.

Avoiding authorities

From Harwich the couple took a taxi to Colchester and then on to east London. They arrived in East Ham at around midday on the same day and went to buy a buggy from a branch of Argos.

The buggy they bought was too big for a newborn baby. They dumped it in an alleyway and transferred their child into a supermarket bag for life.

CCTV also showed them sitting in a restaurant in Whitechapel. This footage was the first time baby Victoria had been seen alive on camera since her birth.

The couple’s erratic and unpredictable movements across the country made it difficult for officers to trace them.

Travelling to Newhaven

Shortly after midnight on 8 January 2023 they couple paid £475 for a taxi to Newhaven in East Sussex.

Soon after arriving in the town they were seen on CCTV entering the South Downs Way.

This is a huge area of open land in the south of England. Officers carried out searches, but could not locate the pair.

On 16 January 2023 a member of the public spotted them in a tent at the Stanmer Park Nature Reserve near Brighton. It was winter and temperatures regularly dropped below freezing.

There were further sightings over the following weeks. These were not reported to police at the time.

Arrests

After more than a month living in a tent, the couple visited a shop in Hollingbury Place in Brighton on 27 February 2023.

A member of the public, who recognised them from the media appeals, called police and officers from Sussex Police responded quickly.

They were arrested nearby in Golf Drive, however there was no sign of baby Victoria.

Officers carried out emergency interviews and asked them both where their child was. Both refused to share any information and Gordon instead continually asked for food.

Finding baby Victoria

Over the following days, hundreds of officers from the Met travelled to Sussex to search the area near to where the couple were arrested.

On 1 March 2023, following an extensive search, officers found the body of a baby inside a carrier bag at a shed on an allotment where they had been staying.

Pathologists were unable to confirm how Victoria had died. Marten told officers she had died while the couple was sleeping but did not share any further information.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the search for the couple, said: “Victoria’s death was completely avoidable. The couple had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing and come forward to ask for help. They knew that officers were looking for them.

“We have waited more than two years to secure justice for baby Victoria and I am pleased we have now been able to get that for her – despite her parents trying to disrupt and derail not one, but two trials.

“I would like to thank the media for the support they showed throughout the search, as well as the many members of the public who reported sightings. I’d also like to thank the jury for their patience and resilience in having to sit through a long trial where they had to listen to Marten and Gordon’s horrific actions.

“This information was incredibly important, and officers travelled across the country to track down CCTV and speak to witnesses.

“Speaking personally as a father, I find it hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, Mark Gordon and Constance Marten chose to live outside during freezing conditions to avoid the authorities.”

Chief Superintendent James Collis, from Sussex Police, said: “The search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon ended in the most tragic circumstances and had a profound effect on the local community in Sussex.

“Our thoughts remain with baby Victoria and extend to her wider family after what must have been an extremely difficult time.

“I hope the conclusion of these criminal proceedings will everyone the space to begin to come to terms with the traumatic events of the last 28 months.

“I would once again like to thank the public for their compassion and support throughout this process, and of course the police officers, staff and volunteers who took part in the extremely challenging search as well as those who have supported the investigation.”

The pair will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be set.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Ian Blair sadly passed away on Wednesday, 9 July following an illness.

An Oxford graduate, Lord Ian joined the Met in 1974 where he started his policing career on the beat in Soho and as a DCI later played a key role in identifying victims of the Kings Cross Station fire in 1987.

He went on to serve in high-profile leadership roles across the country including Assistant Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police and Chief Constable of Surrey Police, and returned to the Met as Deputy Commissioner in 2000. He was appointed Commissioner in 2005.

Lord Ian was given a life peerage in 2010 and made an enormous contribution to modern policing. This included overhauling the approach to rape investigations, the implementation of the neighbourhood policing model and the introduction of community support officers.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said:

“Lord Ian’s passing is a huge loss to the police family. He dedicated his life to policing and will be remembered as one of the most influential police leaders of recent decades.

“He oversaw some of the most challenging moments in our history – not least the response to the horrific terror attacks on 7 July 2005 which we commemorated earlier this week.

“Lord Ian will also be remembered for the vast contribution he made to improving our overall approach to policing and the service we provide to victims. What is now seen as best practice in rape cases is in large part a result of his empathy and foresight. He was passionate about the British Policing model based around communities and introduced neighbourhood policing and PCSOs as Commissioner.

“Even after leaving the Met, he continued to be friend of policing and police officers, contributing thoughtfully from his position in the House of Lords.

“My thoughts and the thoughts of everyone at the Met are with Lord Ian’s family and friends during this difficult time, and particularly his wife, Felicity and their children Amelia and Josh.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been jailed for raping a woman in Croydon, as Metropolitan Police investigating officers appeal for more potential victims to come forward.

John Iwuh, 54 (21.06.1971) of Albert Road, South Norwood appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, 11 July where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He will also be put on the sex offenders register for life, a restraining order was issued to prevent him from contacting the victim and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was enforced.

He was previously found guilty of rape and voyeurism on Wednesday, 14 May at Croydon Crown Court.

The court heard how he used his job as a nurse to gain the trust of the victim on a dating app, before luring her to his home and raping her.

He was arrested and charged by Met officers, who found that he had also videoed the rape. He was then further charged with voyeurism.

Detective Inspector Sharad Verma, from the South Area Command Unit, said: “I would like to commend the strength of the victim-survivor who bravely reported this awful attack and for her strength throughout this investigation.

“Officers were dedicated in bringing this predator to justice and during the investigation, found that Iwuh had videoed the rape which was then used as evidence against him.

“They also discovered almost 11,000 contacts saved on his phone. Around 60 per cent of those were saved as a woman’s name alongside the name of a dating app.

“We believe there may be more victims out there, targeted by Iwuh under the same circumstances, and urge them to contact us or their local police force.

“I hope the victim-survivor can find reassurance in our actions to put this predator behind bars and that it may give more women the strength to come forward and report crimes. You will be listened to and supported.”

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “This has had a devastating impact on every part of my life.

“Not only was I physically injured but it left me feeling emotionally numb and living in fear. The trauma from this affected my ability to work, relationships, and my health.

“Now he’s in prison, I do feel there has been some justice. I’ve been supported by officers throughout the investigation, and I would encourage others who have been harmed to come forward, report what has happened and get help and support.”

The offending

The court heard that Iwuh met the victim, who is in her 40s, through the dating app ‘Hinge’ on Tuesday, 7 June 2022 and quickly moved their conversation to WhatsApp.

They arranged a date and met in person the following day, Wednesday, 8 June 2022, at Norwood Junction station.

Iwuh was working as a nurse and used his job to lure the victim back to his home in Albert Road, South Norwood, by saying that he was limited on time as had to get ready for work at a hospital.

Once inside the property, Iwuh repeatedly kept trying to kiss the victim to which she refused. As she tried to leave the property, Iwuh forced her into his bedroom and raped her.

The victim reported Iwuh the same evening to The Met using the online form and received support from specialist officers throughout the investigation.

If you would like to come forward and make a report relating to Iwuh, you can contact police via 101 or online.

If you live in England or Wales and have been affected by this case and would like to seek support from specialist agencies, please contact the independent 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 emotional support.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Four members of an organised crime network, which stole more than one million pounds worth of jewellery from London’s South Asian community, have been jailed for a total of 17 years and one month.

Three of the four men were caught red-handed by the Met as a result of a one-year, intelligence-led operation that spanned London and the Home Counties.

Jerry O’Donnell, 33, Barney Maloney, Quey Adger, 23 and Patrick Ward, 43, were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 11 July. They previously pleaded guilty to burglary.

In July 2024, O’Donnell, Maloney, Adger were detained while carrying stolen jewellery.

CCTV enquiries identified their car as being involved in multiple burglaries. Specialist officers acted quickly and pursued the vehicle while on the move, leading to a forced stop. The trio were arrested after officers found hundreds of items inside, including a gold wedding ring, gold necklaces and a solid gold hair pin.

Ward was arrested separately at his home address shortly after. Intelligence obtained during the investigation identified him as a member of the organised crime network with close links to the three men previously arrested.

Detective Sergeant Lee Davison, who led the Met’s proactive investigation, said: “This comprehensive operation enabled us to disrupt a key part of an organised crime network. As a result of the work conducted by specialist officers, a handful of serial criminals will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars.

“While the monetary value of this crime is staggering, its sentimental worth is priceless. I hope these men spend a lot of time reflecting on the impact their actions have had on the community.”

Over the course of the investigation, Met officers also carried out a warrant at a jewellery shop in Hatton Garden where they believed stolen gold was being melted down and sold. There they recovered £50,000 in cash and eight kilos of jewellery.

The jewellery included items such as a World War One officer’s Rolex, a gold locket containing old pictures, an engraved gold ring, and a gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

While the most identifiable items were reunited with their rightful owners, after dozens of people came forward following a media appeal in March, detectives are still looking to identify the owners of the remaining jewellery and urge anyone who may have been a victim to contact police.

The items were stolen between December 2023 and July 2024 from properties across south London, including Croydon, Sutton and Wandsworth – as well as counties including Surrey, Sussex and Essex. These burglaries largely targeted the South Asian community throughout the capital.

Anyone who may have been a victim can contact the Met on 101, quoting 01/1113701/24.

Jerry O’Donnell, 33 (01.11.1991) of Old Maidstone Road, Sidcup was jailed for five years and three months.

Barney Maloney, 19 (13.10.2005) of Hovefields Avenue, Wickford was imprisoned for five years and three months.

Quey Adger, 23 (01.03.2001) of Hovefields Avenue, Wickford was jailed for five years and seven months.

Patrick Ward, 43 (10.06.1981) of Balham Grove, Balham was imprisoned for two years and five months.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A victim has been named following a fatal stabbing in Knightsbridge.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the fatal stabbing of a man in Knightsbridge on Thursday, 9 July.

Police were called to Seville Street at 21:24hrs following reports of a stabbing. Sadly, a man was declared dead at the scene by paramedics after sustaining stab wounds.

The victim has been named as 24-year-old (27.07.2000) Blue Stevens from Yateley, Hampshire. His next-of-kin are aware and will continue to receive support from specialist officers.

Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command, supported by local officers, are pursuing several lines of enquiry and you can expect to see more officers – both uniformed and plain-clothed – on patrol in the area. At this early stage no arrests have been made.

BCU Commander Christina Jessah, who leads policing in Central West London and the Royal Parks, said: “Our thoughts remain with Blue’s loved ones following this tragic incident and they continue to be supported by specialist officers. They have asked for their privacy as they come to terms with Blue’s death.

“We are working at pace to establish the exact circumstances and advise people avoid speculating while we continue our enquiries.

“We understand the impact this incident has had on the local community and local businesses. That is why we have increased the number of police on patrol in the area and I encourage the public to speak to them if they have any questions or concerns.”

Please call police on 0208 721 4961 referencing CAD 8521/09JUL if you were a witness or have any information which might help.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.