Category: United Kingdom

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who are investigating the disappearance of Justin Henry, have charged a man with his murder.

[B] Louis Benjamin, 29 (29.03.94) of Waddon New Road, Croydon was charged on Wednesday, 25 October with one count of murder.

Mr Henry’s family have been informed of the charge.

Benjamin appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 October. Benjamin will next appear at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, 39 October.

Benjamin was arrested late on Tuesday, 24 October at an address in Croydon.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “As a result of our inquiries a man has been charged with Justin Henry’s murder. We have spoken to Mr Henry’s family and we fully understand the deep distress this development will cause. I have assured his family that the search to find Mr Henry continues and I know they will be hoping that all may yet be well. However, based on all the available evidence, we have approached the CPS who have authorised a charge of murder.

“I want the public to understand that this charge does not mean the end of our appeal. We still need all the help the public can give and we still need anyone who has any information, no matter how small they think it is, to make contact and tell us what they know. This is not just a plea to help police. Mr Henry’s family are enduring a dreadful ordeal and they are desperate for news and are also seeking your help.”

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.

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

Police are actively trying 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.

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

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

However detectives 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 man has been charged with two incidents of violent disorder after he was arrested in Norfolk by the Met.

Callum Gibson, 27 (14.11.95) of Wisbech, was held in King’s Lynn on Wednesday, 25 October after enquiries were carried out by our officers.

He appeared in custody at Norwich Magistrates’ Court and has been remanded to appear at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 23 November.

One charge relates to violent disorder alleged to have been carried out in Piccadilly Circus on 14 October 2023 relating to a protest in central London.

The other relates to an incident alleged to have taken place outside the Honor Oak public house on a date earlier this year during a protest.

There is no place for violent crime of any kind in London.

Anyone who sees an incident of concern, experiences threatening behaviour – including online, or is worried about their safety in any way, is urged to contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A 21-year-old man was charged last night (Wednesday, 25 October) with a racially aggravated public order offence.

The suspect is accused of shouting insults at a man in Orthodox Jewish clothing in an aggressive manner by Stamford Hill railway station at 17:50hrs on Tuesday, 24 October.

The alleged victim went to the railway station and reported the incident to British Transport Police officers, who arrested the suspect.

The case was then passed to the Met. The suspect was identified and it was discovered he was also wanted on suspicion of a second racially aggravated public order allegation.

He is accused of being verbally abusive and threatening to kill a man for being in a mixed relationship in Walthamstow in May 2023.

Detective Constable Steve Jones, based in Bethnal Green, said: “There is no place for hate in our communities and it will not be tolerated by the Met.

“Every Londoner should be able to go about their life without suffering abusive behaviour.

”There has been a 14-fold increase in anti-Semitic hate crime incidents across London since the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“The Met has hundreds of officers undertaking patrols, particularly in areas where communities feel vulnerable.

“They have made over 4,800 visits to mosques, synagogues and faith schools to talk with members and reassure them about the work they are doing.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

This unique conviction is the first-of-its-kind in the UK after she was found guilty of facilitating an act of female genital mutilation (FGM) overseas.

This is the first time in the Met’s history where officers have secured a conviction for FGM occurring abroad.

Amina Noor, 39 (1.1.84) of London was found guilty of assisting a non-UK person to mutilate the genitals of a UK female citizen overseas, contrary to Section 3 of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act 2003, on Thursday 26 October at the Old Bailey following a two-week trial.

The conviction was secured after a long, complex and sensitive investigation by detectives due to the historical nature of the offence which was reported to police in November 2018.

During the trial, the court heard how the investigation commenced after the victim informed a teacher that she had been abused years before.

Detectives established Noor had travelled with the child to Kenya in 2006, where she was subjected to the abuse.

Noor denied having knowledge the child had suffered severe mutilation of her genitals, claiming she believed she was pricked or injected, a procedure she referred to as being called “Sunnah” and “Gudniin”. Detectives established these were Arabic words meaning “the practice of Prophet Mohamed” and “circumcision” respectively.

This version of events was later discredited by medical professionals who assessed the girl’s injuries and determined she had not been injected, but instead she suffered severe mutilation of her genitals. This is likely to have caused significant bleeding and extreme pain.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, the Met’s Modern Slavery and Child Exploitation lead, said: “Female genital mutilation is a barbaric and violent crime inflicted on young and vulnerable girls, often with lifelong consequences, and it has no place in today’s society.

“I hope this landmark case sends out a strong message that we will not tolerate this type of offending and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

“We will continue to work closely with partners across social care and the health service to identify and safeguard those at risk of this heinous abuse.”

In a statement read outside court today, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy encouraged anyone who has suffered, to come forward and get the justice they so rightly deserve. He also reiterated that anonymity commences as soon as an allegation of FGM is made to police, which ensures victims and survivors are protected whatever the outcome of the investigation or prosecution.

If you know someone who you believe to be at immediate risk of FGM, call 999 immediately.

If you have concerns about the welfare of any young person, or you have information about FGM-related offending, you can call police or the NSPCC FGM Helpline on 0800 028 3550.

Background

An image of Noor and her address will not be released due to the risk of jigsaw identification, where the Serious Crime Act 2015 applies to the lifelong anonymity for the victim.

One of the reasons why victims of FGM may be reluctant to come forward and report the crime is because of the risk of being identified as a victim of such a personal and sensitive crime. Giving victims the protection that lifelong anonymity affords is intended to encourage more victims to come forward to report this crime. Anonymity commences as soon as an allegation of FGM is made by the victim. This ensures that the victim is protected whatever the outcome of the investigation or prosecution.

For more information go to: Section 4A and Schedule 1 of the FGM Act 2003 to see provisions for the anonymity of victims of FGM. The effect is to prohibit the publication of any matter that would be likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as the alleged victim of any offence under the FGM Act 2003. The prohibition lasts for the lifetime of the alleged victim. The prohibition covers not just immediate identifying information such as the name and address or a photograph of the alleged victim, but any other information which, whether on its own or pieced together with other information, would be likely to lead members of the public to identify the alleged victim.

A restriction on the reporting of the defendants’ identities may be appropriate where it is proposed that it is to be reported that they are the parents of the victim and other information, such as the location of the incident or people who have subsequently become responsible for the care of the victim, may also be subject to reporting restrictions. “Publication” is given a broad meaning and would include traditional print media, broadcasting and social media such as X or Facebook.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Victims of crime across London will be better supported as the Metropolitan Police Service launches three new ways for the public to speak to officers and get information, as well as an independent forum to continuously drive improvements and hold the Met to account.

The services will significantly improve the way the Met delivers for victims, putting them at the heart of every response and investigation: 

• My Met Service is an instant service where victims can use a QR code, email or SMS to give us instant feedback after they’ve spoken to an officer.  
• The Victim Focus Desk phone line has been extended so officers and staff can provide victims with more regular updates, support and advice through every step of the criminal justice process.
• New victim information leaflets will give victims a QR code to go to My Met Service and make sure victims know their rights under the ‘Victim’s Code of Practice’ (VCOP). 

A new Victim Voice Forum has also been set up in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime. It brings together people who have been victims of crime who have volunteered their time to share their personal experiences to help the Met deliver a better service.

The forum allows victims to provide feedback and shape reforms by challenging and informing the way the Met supports and treats victims.

Commander Nick John, lead for victim care at the Met, said: “We know we have let victims down in the past, but we are absolutely committed to improving our service.

“We’ve heard from many victims, already acting on their feedback, and I want to thank those who have worked with us as we strive to deliver better support and care. We value their honest feedback and know that without them we cannot make meaningful and long-lasting change.  

“Our reforms are part of our mission to create A New Met for London to provide a more consistent and compassionate service, utilise technology and make sure victims have a voice.”

The Victim Focus Desk, backed by £3 million in funding from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, has been expanded and enhanced since March 2023 as a direct result of feedback from victims. Victims said too often there was a lack of communication as investigations progressed through the sometimes-complex criminal justice system. The phone line now provides victims with updates on their case and offers them support and advice – such as how to preserve evidence following a burglary – and signposts them to other helpful services too.

The desk receives an average of 26,000 calls a month and has handled 180,000 calls since March 2023. The operating hours of the phone line have now extended so that victims can get more regular and consistent updates. The service has extended its hours and now operates 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 4pm on weekends. The Met is also increasing the number of staff responsible for victim care, with a recruitment campaign underway to help boost staff answering calls.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s vital that victims of crime receive the support they need during what can be a stressful and traumatising journey to securing justice. That is why I’ve committed to investing £3million a year to improve and enhance the Met’s Victim Focus Desk.

“This funding has already helped the Met in setting up a new, free phoneline and increasing the number of dedicated staff to support victims of crime.

“I’m encouraged by the progress made in the first six months, but we know there is more to do and I’ll work with the Met Commissioner and London’s Victims Commissioner to improve the service provided to victims of crime as we build a fairer, safer London for all.”

London’s Victims Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, added: “Victims should always feel supported and empowered to come forward, and be given the help they need to stay engaged in the justice process once they do, and so I’m pleased that the Met has followed my recommendations by undertaking this crucial work to improve its support offer to victims. Hearing first-hand from victims has been invaluable to my work as Victims’ Commissioner, and I welcome the establishment of a Victims Voice Forum, allowing victims to directly support the Met’s change programme.

“Unfortunately, victims often experience a number of issues with updates and communication from the police, which is why I have long advocated for a ‘troubleshooting’ mechanism in the justice system, through which victims can have questions and issues quickly addressed. I’m confident that this significant investment from the Mayor will support victims to stay engaged in the justice system and rebuild trust and confidence in the police.”

The new Met Service tool also will make it easier for victims of crime to give feedback on the service the Met offers. As officers respond to crimes across their local areas, they will share a QR code with victims who can provide instant feedback on officers – rating their experience from 1 to 5. The ratings aim to help bridge the gap between officers, who can offer honest and helpful feedback, which will help to inform training, processes and policy across the frontline. It will also identify excellent work and opportunities for reward and recognition for outstanding service.

It’s currently in pilot stage and is being rolled out across boroughs of London, including Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Since it was rolled out in September 2023 the Met has seen an increase in feedback from typically hard to reach communities, including younger people.

The My Met Service QR Code will also link to victim information leaflets which will ensure victims understand their rights. The leaflet will also contain helpful information about support services where victims can seek help and support.

The new services for victims are all part of the delivery of A New Met for London. The Met are driving culture change and working to embed the values of policing by consent and build a strong culture focused on delivering for Londoners, maintaining high standards and learning from others.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynne Owens has visited the London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park as part of the Met’s ongoing efforts to engage with and reassure those communities most impacted by the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Writing to Dr Ahmad Al-Dubayan, Director General of the mosque, Dame Lynne reflected on her visit, the impact of recent events on Muslim and Jewish Londoners and how policing can respond.

We are grateful to Dr Al-Dubayan for agreeing that the letter can be published online.

Dear Dr Al-Dubayan,

It was my pleasure to join you earlier today at the London Central Mosque. I was grateful for the warm welcome and for the informative discussion we had on how these times are impacting your congregation and the wider Muslim community.

I heard about the grief and anxiety being felt by many as we see civilians killed, injured or displaced during the conflict in Gaza. My heart goes out to anyone personally affected. The reflections you shared with me echo those I have heard from my own colleagues who are either personally impacted or who feel the wider effect on their respective communities.

We were all horrified to learn of the appalling terrorist attacks in southern Israel on October 7. Of course, in the weeks since those attacks we have all seen the sustained campaign of military action that has taken place in Gaza. I have found it deeply upsetting to watch the images of innocent civilians caught up in the conflict.

The attacks on Israel had an enormous personal impact on Jewish communities here in London and I know that the plight of civilians in Gaza is very distressing for Muslim communities and on non-Muslim Arab communities here too. I welcome your rejection of anyone who would seek to use this moment to incite hatred or to fuel extremism.

London’s diversity is one of its strengths, but sadly we know that having so many nationalities, ethnicities and faiths represented in our city means when tensions rise and conflicts erupt elsewhere in the world, we will see bonds between communities and individuals strained here at home too.

The ability of community and faith leaders to reach across those boundaries, to maintain relationships and to call for calm in these difficult days is much needed. You and your counterparts across London have an important role to play in championing compassion and cooperation at times like this and I was heartened to hear that vital work is taking place.

I know that some of your congregation will have participated in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrations that have taken place over the past two weekends. My colleagues who policed those demonstrations found the majority of participants to be well natured, responsible and focused on expressing their feelings in a lawful and respectful way. We will continue to work with the organisers, policing events without fear of favour, respecting the right of everyone to protest providing it is done in a lawful way.

That includes working ahead of events with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities, inviting them to join us in our operations room on the day to see how decisions are being made. I would be happy to facilitate such a visit should it be something that you wished to take up.

Regrettably, despite this cooperation and careful planning, we have seen some examples in recent weeks of behaviour during protests that was reprehensible, either because it was racially or religiously discriminative or disorderly. Just as we will continue to protect the right to free speech and protest, we will also continue to crack down decisively and without delay on anyone who uses hate speech, who is verbally or physically abusive or who uses this moment to endorse or support a proscribed organisation such as Hamas or Hezbollah.

Beyond protest, you will know that since the start of this conflict, we have seen a significant increase in offences targeted at Muslims in London. We are determined to do all we can to bring those responsible to justice and to be present in a visible way to act as an effective deterrent.

In the last two weeks we have stepped up our deployment of officers and PCSOs in the heart of communities, particularly in those places where we know the risk of hate crime is higher and where we know there is a need for greater reassurance. I was pleased to hear your positive feedback about the efforts of local officers who help to make sure your congregation can be safe and secure at the mosque. I will make sure it is passed on to them.

I would urge anyone who has concerns to speak to those officers or to call the police on 101. Of course, they should call 999 in an emergency. Where anyone has been the victim of a hate crime, we want to help. That starts with knowing something has happened at the earliest opportunity. Sadly we know hate crime reporting is often lower than we would all like. If, for whatever reason, a victim doesn’t want to speak to us I would urge them to contact Crimestoppers or one of the many great independent organisations, such as Tell Mama, who are set up to help.

I wish you, the London Central Mosque team and the wider Muslim community all the very best in the coming days and weeks. You have my absolute commitment that the Met will be here to protect you and to keep you safe.

I am grateful for your agreement that this letter can be shared on our website so that it can be read by the wider Muslim community among others.

Dame Lynne Owens QPM

Deputy Commissioner

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been found guilty of murdering a woman in her home after subjecting her to weeks of violence.

Xyaire Howard, 23 (13.11.99) of Press Road, NW10, was found guilty of the murder of 71-year old Susan Hawkey, after facing trial in the Old Bailey.

Chelsea Grant, 28 (26.06.95) of Press Road, NW10, who also faced trial for murder, pleaded guilty to robbing Susan on multiple occasions before the trial. She was found not guilty of murder.

Following an investigation by detectives from the Specialist Crime Command, the jury heard how Hawkey was subjected to weeks of violence with Grant and Howard, who lived a few roads away from her and were a couple at the time, identifying her as an ideal victim and preying on her.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal murder that followed a sustained campaign of abuse and violence. The victim was a vulnerable adult who was ruthlessly pursued and subjected to unthinkable violence. Grant and Howard are both dangerous individuals, who have thankfully been brought to justice.”

The jury heard how Hawkey led a lonely and routine existence. She was elderly, of very small stature and lived alone, with little contact with friends and family.

She didn’t leave her home often but when she did, she often took the same route to the shops and the Post Office with her ATM card.

Grant and Howard pursued her, following her to her home and violently mugging her for her ATM card multiple times in July and August 2022.

Grant and Howard first mugged Hawkey on 27 July and were frustrated when she quickly cancelled her bank card. In a further mugging on Verney Road on 22 August, they obtained her bank card and her house keys. The following day they went to her house and again robbed her, but Hawkey fought back against them.

Hawkey did not notify the police about these incidents but did contact her bank to cancel her card and her Housing Association to change the locks on her doors. She also told her neighbours about what happened.

Hawkey was last seen alive on 6 September. Police attended her home on 26 September after a neighbour raised concerns about her welfare. She was found dead shortly before midday on 26 September. She was lying in the foetal position, with her knees drawn up to her chest. Her hands were tied behind her back with a black shoe-lace and brown parcel tape.

Grant and Howard had been seen walking to and from Hawkey’s home on the afternoon of 6 September. They had obtained her PIN number which they used to begin an extravagant shopping spree, spending thousands of pounds on her bank card, which only ended when they were arrested on 28 September outside McDonalds in Wembley.

As part of the investigation, detectives analysed activity on their mobile phones which contained photos of Hawkey’s ATM cards and search terms relating to transaction limits for ATM cards and the smell of dead bodies.

Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, local policing command in north-west London, said: “This is a heart-breaking case whereby a vulnerable lady was preyed upon in the most cruel and premeditated of circumstances.

“Today’s conviction deepens our determination to protect the public and bring offenders to justice at the earliest opportunity.

“I am grateful to the Specialist Crime investigators who have worked tirelessly to bring all evidence in to consideration”.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Two officers involved in the stop and search of athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos have been dismissed after an allegation of gross misconduct was found proven.

The panel determined that PC Jonathan Clapham and PC Sam Franks had lied about smelling cannabis in Mr Dos Santos’ vehicle and as such had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to honesty and integrity. Four other allegations against them were found not proven.

The panel found that all allegations against three other officers, PC Allan Casey, Sergeant Rachel Simpson and PC Michael Bond, were not proven.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said: “The misconduct hearing panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, has heard detailed evidence over five weeks to reach its conclusions today.

“While the panel accepted the officers’ version of events in most matters, including that their decisions were not motivated by ethnicity, it found that PC Clapham and PC Franks lied about smelling drugs on stopping the vehicle.

“Honesty and integrity are at the core of policing and, as the panel has concluded, there can be no place in the Met for officers who do not uphold these values.

“Mr Dos Santos and Ms Williams deserved better and I apologise to them for the distress they have suffered.

“It is essential that police officers are held to account for our actions and the Commissioner has been clear that we welcome scrutiny. However, it has taken over three years for these misconduct investigations to conclude. This length of time benefits nobody and has had a real and significant impact on the lives of everyone involved – the officers and their families as well as Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos.

“We are pleased that this issue will form a central part of the Home Office accountability review, the details of which were announced earlier this week.

“Today’s findings also highlight that we still have a long way to go to earn the trust of our communities, particularly our black communities, when it comes to our use of stop and search

“We are committed to pursuing new and bolder approaches including more training for officers, better guidance on the use of handcuffs, using stop and search more precisely in our highest violent crime neighbourhoods and more precise engagement with those most affected.

“I remain confident that the Met can and will learn from the experiences of Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos and work alongside communities to deliver fair and effective stop and search for all Londoners.”

The Met made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct shortly after the incident on 4 July 2020 in Lanhill Road, W9 due to a complaint recorded and public interest in the matter.

Officers from the Met’s Taskforce, on patrol in the area in response to an increase in violence, had stopped and searched a vehicle they said was being driven in a manner that raised suspicion.

Mr Dos Santos and Ms Williams were handcuffed while they and the vehicle were searched. Nothing was found, no arrests made and the occupants allowed on their way.

The IOPC investigation determined five officers should face a gross misconduct hearing to answer allegations they breached professional standards relating to duties and responsibilities, use of force, equality and diversity, order and instructions and authority, respect and courtesy and honesty and integrity.

The hearing panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, heard detailed evidence from all parties involved and examined dash cam footage from the police van and the officers’ body worn video, parts of which are in the public domain.

Further information

We know that we are most effective when we police with the support of the public, working together to tackle those causing the most harm.    

Used appropriately, stop and search save lives and is an important tactic to keep Londoners safe, helping us identify criminality and take dangerous weapons off our streets.   

However, we know from speaking to members of the community that stop and search can have a negative impact on individuals and communities, particularly when we get things wrong. When this happens we risk losing the trust, confidence and co-operation of Londoners. Those risks are higher in communities where stop and search powers are used most often, generally where violent crime, driven by a small minority, is highest.   

This is why we are trialling a new approach called ‘precision stop and search’. It’s precise in that we are trialling it in areas with high numbers of weapon enabled crime and precise in the way in which we engage at a hyper local level, with members of the community who will be most affected. Central to all of this will be training for the officers, to ensure that the quality of the stop and search encounter is positive and respectful. 

We want to work with our communities, with a collaborative approach, and to ensure that we have their consent in using tactics to keep them safe. 

Stop and search data for the Met is regularly published.

We want to give the public confidence in all the tactics we use and we recognise that there is a disproportionate impact on some communities. In 2019, before this incident, a review was commissioned by then Commissioner Cressida Dick of the Met’s handcuffing policy in response to significant community concern about the use of handcuffs before an arrest has been made.

The review consulted with young black men to understand their experiences and perceptions that handcuffs were used disproportionately against them, and with police officers, to consider their experiences of policing London in the context that violence against officers was becoming more frequent and serious.

This resulted in a new policy being launched in November 2021 to provide a clear framework for officers to ensure the tactic, for which there is a sound legal basis in some circumstances, is justified and recorded every time it is used. This has been coupled with additional training.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of terrorism and indecent image offences has been bailed to return to a central-London police station in mid-November.

Met Counter Terrorism detectives arrested the boy in east London under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act at approximately 07.00hrs on Tuesday, 24 October.

He was arrested on suspicion of collection of material of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

He was also arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent photographs of a child, contrary to Section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and possession of extreme pornographic images, contrary to Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.

The teenager was taken into custody at a central-London police station and subsequently released on conditional bail.

The investigation relates to Islamist extremism.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives have released images of a man they are keen to speak to in connection with a death in Hounslow .

Detectives from Specialist Crime are investigating the murder of 45-year-old David Ackerley, from Hounslow have released several images of Jack Hill, who they want to speak to in relation to this matter.

Jack Hill (sometimes known as Jimmy or Jimmy Brazil) is a white man believed to be around 22 years of age, approximately 6ft 2ins tall, of an athletic/medium build with hazel eyes. He has dark blond/light brown curtain style hair and a surgical scar on his right wrist.

David was reported missing at around 09:30hrs on Sunday, 8 October. A short time later officers attended his address on Cedar Court, Boston Manor Road, where he was found deceased.

David is believed to have been assaulted outside his home between 18:15hrs and 18:30hrs on Saturday, 30 September.

Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan said: “David’s grieving family have many questions about what happened to him, and we are now trying to provide them with answers.

“A man has lost his life and it’s important that we uncover what happened to get justice for David and his family.

“This is why it’s really important that anyone who knows the whereabouts of Jack Hill, or has any information that might help us with our investigations, should get in touch.

“Please look at these images carefully. Do you recognise this man? Do you have any information about his whereabouts?

“If so, please get in touch with us. You can do some by calling 101 or post @MetCC reference 0524683/23 or to remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”