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History > 2013 > UK > Police (I)
Murder inquiry launched
after
'star pupil' stabbed to death
in east
London
Ajmol Alom, 16, killed in knife attack
believed to be case of mistaken identity
was expected to get outstanding GCSE grades
Tuesday 13
August 2013
20.12 BST
The Guardian
Shiv Malik and Zahra Damji
This article was published on guardian.co.uk
at 20.12 BST on Tuesday 13 August 2013.
A version appeared on p12 of the Main section section
of the Guardian on Wednesday 14 August 2013.
It was last modified at 00.00 BST
on Wednesday 14 August 2013.
Police have
opened a murder investigation after a star pupil who was expected to receive
outstanding exam grades in just over a week's time, was stabbed to death just
metres from his home.
Ajmol Alom, 16 who had been selected as a youth peace ambassador in Northern
Ireland was knifed in the thigh late on Monday evening along with a second
teenager after fighting broke out in an east London street in what is believed
to have been a case of mistaken identity.
Chris Dunne, headteacher at Langdon Park School, said Ajmol was a "hardworking,
industrious, but also a very caring and thoughtful young man."
"The exam results will come out next Thursday and he will have very good
results," Dunne said.
Metropolitan police said they had arrested a 19-year-old man on Tuesday morning
on suspicion of murder. There are believed to have been a number of witnesses to
the lethal incident.
A second teenager, named locally as 16-year-old Azim Rob, was knifed across the
face during the attack at 10pm.
Rob's mother, Alaya Begum, said that her son had received nine stitches on the
right side of his cheek but had been released from hospital to give a statement
to authorities in Limehouse police station on Tuesday afternoon. She said that
Rob had told her he did not know his attacker.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers said Ajmol was with friends when he was
attacked.
Speaking at the scene, he said: "Initial indications are that Ajmol was with
four friends. They were peaceful, they were conducting conversations at the
location [in] Spey Street."
"They were then confronted by five to six other males who were wearing bandanas
and were hooded.
"There appears to have been an unprovoked attack when the victim received his
facial injuries and then Ajmol was stabbed."
Both were taken to an east London hospital where Amol died.
Police said they were keeping an open mind as to whether the incident was gang
related but said that "initial indications" were that Amol was not linked to any
gangs and had not provoked the incident.
A male relation of Alom who declined to be named, described the dead boy as a
"very good kid".
"He was into sports, played football all the time and he was very good at his
studies, he did his maths GCSE two years early and got an A*."
"I know he would have gone on to do big things when he did his A levels," the
relation said.
"Most of the kids that live around here are good, but a few of his friends that
were with him are the kind that attract trouble."
Headmaster Dunne explained that Amol had recently taken part in an exchange
project with the St Ethelburga centre for reconcilation and peace and helped
take "young Muslim pupils from Tower Hamlets over to Northern Ireland to meet
with young people over there of Christian and Catholic faith."
Former Tower Hamlets mayor, Doros Ullah, said: "I have children of my own and I
know how difficult it is to bring up children in this area where there are
limited resources.
"However, this young man stood out like a beacon and would have been a role
model for all the young people who live around here.
"He was a straight A student. He prayed five times a day. And now his life has
been cruelly taken. It is a very sad day for the community of Tower Hamlets."
Ullah also criticised the government for not recoursing youth services well
enough. "It's time the government started putting money into areas like these
where there has been a lot of problems with anti-social behaviour.
"These kids hang around on their estates because they have nothing else to do.
We need more youth clubs, more open spaces, places for them to play sport."
Rukon Hassan a gang mediation project manager at Aasha confirmed that there had
been "severe cuts" to youth services in the borough during the last couple of
years.
Hassan who has who has helped police facilitate their murder investigaion said,
"because of the cuts [to services] young people are getting involved in gang
related incidents."
Hassan said that the mediation project would normally have a full programme of
summer projects but currently they were extremely limited by what they could do
adding that the project was "running on fumes at the moment."
Witnesses to
the murder can contact the police incident room on 020 8358 0100 or
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Murder inquiry launched after 'star pupil' stabbed to death in east London,
G, 13.8.2013,
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/13/
murder-star-pupil-stabbed-ajmol-alom
School mourns 16-year-old student
stabbed
to death on Birmingham bus
Man, 22, arrested in connection with killing of 'much-loved' Christina Edkins in
attack during rush hour
Thursday 7
March 2013
16.17 GMT
The Guardian
Haroon Siddique
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 16.17 GMT
on Thursday 7 March 2013.
A version appeared on p4 of the Main section section
of the Guardian
on Friday 8 March 2013.
It was last modified at 00.07 GMT on Friday 8 March 2013.
It was first published at 13.57 GMT
on Thursday 7 March 2013.
Teachers
and friends have paid tribute to a "bright and popular" schoolgirl who was
stabbed to death on a crowded bus in Birmingham during the morning rush hour.
Christina Edkins, 16, was on her way to school in Halesowen on Thursday morning
when she was attacked. A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of her
murder.
"This is a tragic case and the victim's family are devastated," said Det Supt
Richard Baker, from West Midlands police. "We are still anxious to hear from
anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident this morning.
"There will be a high police presence across the city following this morning's
tragedy, particularly on buses and in schools in the area to provide reassurance
to local people."
Birmingham bus stabbing Photograph: Phil Barnett/PA
Police officers responded to a call from a member of the public reporting that a
passenger had been attacked on Hagley Road, in Birmingham city centre, shortly
after 7.30am. An emergency doctor and paramedics from West Midlands ambulance
service also arrived but Christina was pronounced dead at the scene. She was on
her way to Leasowes high school when the attack took place.
Headteacher Neil Shaw said: "Christina was a bright and popular student much
loved by staff and students alike. We are deeply saddened to hear this tragic
news and our thoughts and hearts go out to her family and everyone who knew
her."
Police officers stood guard at the Edkins' semi-detached house near Birmingham
city centre for much of the day while family liaison officers sought to comfort
relatives.
The Most Rev Bernard Longley, archbishop of Birmingham, sent his condolences in
a message from Rome. "I am shocked to hear of the terrible attack on young
Christina Edkins as she was making her way to school on a bus today," he said.
"The loss of a young life in these tragic circumstances raises many questions
about our respect for life and about safeguarding children in public places."
A tribute page was set up in her memory on Facebook. Dannie Leigh wrote: "Spent
all weekend with the most sweetest girl, and it was only two days ago that we
were arranging another catch up r.i.p christina, I love you beautiful." Police
said family liaison officers were supporting Christina's family. Counsellors
were available to pupils and staff at her school.
Last night flowers were also left near the scene of the stabbing.
On one bunch of roses, a card read: "Christina a truly lovely young girl. We'll
miss you. Rest in peace angel. Cass and Ben"
On a bunch of mixed flowers the message on the card read: "To Christina. We will
miss you loads. You were a beautiful girl and a bundle of joy. Rest in peace
cutey. Lots of love Ryan and Dale xxx".
Another message simply read: "Christina. Gone but never forgotten. Love you
loads. Broddersz xxx"
West Midlands police issued a description of the attacker based on witness
accounts after the incident and called in firearms officers and police dogs to
assist with the search. A man was later arrested following a chase. He was
reported to have been detained after being seen acting suspiciously near a
Morrison's supermarket.
Earlier, police briefly detained another man in connection with the stabbing but
he was released without arrest.
Baker said police were investigating the possibility that the killing was a
random attack, adding: "We're looking at a number of motives at the moment."
Police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the killing.
It emerged that Christina had tweeted a month ago about a man "worrying" her on
the bus. She wrote: "This man is worrying me on the bus keeps getting up and
walking up and down stairs, and sitting in different place."
Less than 24 hours before she was killed, she tweeted: "Why can't something go
right for once?" Police said they were looking at Christina's social media
footprint but added: "At this stage there's nothing to suggest she was
targeted."
They said the suspect was already on the bus when she boarded and there was
"nothing immediately" to suggest the two knew each other.
Police tape sealed off the scene of the stabbing and detectives were working
alongside specialist forensic investigators to identify CCTV systems that might
have captured the incident on camera.
A National Express West Midlands spokesman said: "We can confirm that a tragic
incident took place on a No 9 service on the Hagley Road this morning.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of the person involved and we
will offer all possible support to the police in their investigation into the
matter."
School mourns 16-year-old student stabbed to death on Birmingham bus, NYT,
7.3.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/07/schoolgirl-stabbed-death-birmingham-bus
Teenager dies in London street shooting
Police hunt two suspects after 19-year-old dies
and another man injured after being gunned down in Clapton, east London
Sunday 17
February 2013
09.19 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Press Association
This article was published on guardian.co.uk
at 09.19 GMT on Sunday 17 February 2013.
It was last modified at 15.09 GMT on Sunday 17 February 2013.
A teenager
has been killed and another man left injured by two men wearing bandanas who
shot them on a London street.
Terrified witnesses described how three gunshots were fired on Hindrey Road in
Clapton, east London, at 8.20pm on Saturday.
A 19-year-old man was rushed to hospital where he later died, and a 22-year-old
man was understood to be in a stable condition, Scotland Yard said.
The pair had been sitting in a car at the time of the shooting, witnesses said.
Zach Carpenter, 18, saw two men wearing bandanas across their faces enter
Hindrey Road before he heard three loud bangs.
One of the men was black with a red-and-white chequered bandana, while the other
man was white and wearing a black bandana, he said.
Carpenter said: "I was walking home from the shop when I saw a black man and a
white man walking down the main road and turn into Hindrey Road. After about 30
seconds I heard three loud bangs.
"It's unnerved me a bit because my family live nearby."
The Aberystwyth University student, whose family has lived in the area since he
was 10 months old, said there were known feuds between gangs on rival estates.
"It's not so much a war, more of a feud between the Pembury and Nightingale
estates and another one," he said.
Detectives from Operation Trident, which investigates gang-related crime, are
searching for the two suspects, who were seen running from the scene towards the
nearby Pembury estate.
One is black and the other light-skinned, possibly of Asian or Turkish
appearance, police said, adding that there was as yet no clear motive for the
shootings, and no one had been arrested.
"At this very early stage we must retain an open mind regarding the
circumstances of the incident and any motive," a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
"Detectives from Trident are leading the inquiry and an incident room will open
in the morning." A postmortem will also be carried out.
Hindrey Road remained cordoned off on Sunday as police officers patrolled the
area.
A 70-year-old resident, who did not wish to be named, said she heard three
gunshots.
"I heard the shots – one, two, three. I was on the phone to my son and he told
me not to dare look out the house. It's been a lot better around here recently.
There hasn't been anything like this for many years."
Another resident, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, said: "With
this happening now, I don't think people will feel safe. There have been
shootings here before but this is the first murder."
Witnesses or
anyone with information about the incident
are asked to
call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Teenager dies in London street shooting, G, 17.2.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/17/teenager-dies-london-shooting
Teenager stabbed to death in Pimlico
Police launch murder inquiry after attack on boy
by 'gang carrying swords' in central London
Monday 28
January 2013
09.50 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Press AssociationThis article was published
on guardian.co.uk at 09.50 GMT
on Monday 28 January 2013.
It was last modified at 10.04 GMTon Monday 28 January 2013.
A teenager,
believed to be 16, has died after he was stabbed in Pimlico, central London,
shortly before 7pm on Sunday night.
Mohammed Alzubaidi, 49, from nearby Peabody Close, said his friend witnessed a
gang of teenagers carrying out the attack. "He said they were carrying knives,
some of them with wide swords. He said the victim was screaming and trying to
get away," Alzubaidi said. He said his friend told him the gang had scattered
and run off in different directions.
The fatally injured teenager was found by ambulance staff after emergency
services were called to the Lupus Street area following reports that a young
person had been stabbed. He was taken to a south London hospital, where he died
a few hours later.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said a murder inquiry has been launched
but there have been no arrests.
The murder scene remained cordoned off on Monday with a number of police
present. The street, close to Pimlico underground station, is bordered by
extensive council estates on one side and is home to Pimlico academy.
A 58-year-old local resident, who did not want to be named, said there had been
two murders in a nearby street in recent years and a stabbing of a boy outside a
row of shops in Lupus Street before Christmas.
"The violence that has started to occur around here is something else. It is
frightening for all the residents," she said. "You used to be able to walk
around at night but I am starting to be very wary, especially at night-time."
Nickie Aiken, Westminster city council's portfolio holder for community
protection, said the murder would be "top of the agenda" at a meeting with the
Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, on Monday afternoon.
She said: "Our thoughts are with the family of this teenager and we will offer
whatever help we can.
"Westminster city council is committed to keeping the streets safe – including
tackling gang culture – and we will work over the coming days and weeks to
reassure the community of that."
A 22-year-old resident of a block of flats overlooking the murder scene, who
asked not to be named, said: "I came outside just seconds after it happened
because I heard a lot of commotion and the victim was shouting.
"I came outside and saw the victim standing and holding his stomach and about
three or four young blokes running down the street opposite.
"He was reeling and swaying for about 20 seconds and then fell and then people
started gathering and calling the ambulance."
The resident said emergency teams had worked for a "long time" at the scene in
an effort to save his life.
"It was a pretty serious wound – you could see it from a long way off. It was
horrible."
Teenager stabbed to death in Pimlico, G, 28.1.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/28/teenager-stabbed-death-pimlico-police
Murdered police officer Gareth Francis
was 'a
gorgeous son'
Family of
officer who died
after he was attacked in Edgeley, Stockport, on Sunday
pays tribute as three men are questioned
Monday 21
January 2013
09.27 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Press Association
Gareth Francis
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 09.27 GMT
on Monday 21 January 2013. It was last modified at 09.27 GMT
on Monday 21 January 2013. It was first published at 09.04 GMT
on Monday 21 January 2013.
The family
of an off-duty policeman who died after he was attacked on his way home from a
night out with friends has been described a "gorgeous son" who brought "love and
laughter" into their lives.
A murder investigation is under way after PC Gareth Francis was assaulted in
Edgeley, Stockport, on Sunday. Three men are being questioned in connection with
his death.
Two men, aged 20 and 21, from the Stockport area, were arrested on Sunday. A
third man, aged 20, handed himself into a police station on Sunday night and was
arrested on suspicion of murder, Greater Manchester police (GMP) said.
On Monday morning officers were granted further time to question the first two
men and have until 5pm to charge them or request more time for questioning.
Francis's family said: "Our gorgeous son brought love and laughter into not only
our lives, but he was an amazing brother, boyfriend, grandson and nephew. We
cannot imagine how we can face each day knowing that he is gone from our lives."
Police and emergency services were called to a report of an assault in Castle
Street, Edgeley at 1.20am on Sunday, where Francis was found with a serious head
injury. He had been walking home after being dropped off by taxi from a night
out in Manchester with friends when he was attacked, police said.
Paramedics treated him at the scene and he was taken by ambulance to Stepping
Hill hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the attack, and a postmortem
examination will take place to establish the cause of death.
The motive for the attack is unclear but police confirmed they were not treating
it as a robbery and did not believe a weapon was used.
His colleagues paid tribute to a "dedicated officer" who had been serving with
GMP for six years and was stationed at West Didsbury police station, in the
south Manchester division.
Stockport's divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes, said: "First
and foremost, I would like to pass on my condolences to both Gareth's family and
his colleagues in south Manchester. Gareth was a dedicated police officer with
six years' experience and he will be greatly missed by his colleagues.
"However, the loss will be even greater for Gareth's family and I would like to
reassure them that we have a team of detectives working round the clock now to
establish exactly what happened this morning."
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said on Twitter: "My thoughts very much with
the family and colleagues of @gmpolice PC Gareth Francis after the shocking news
of his death."
Ian Hanson, chairman of Greater Manchester police federation, said: "Gareth was
a much-loved and well-respected member of the GMP family. We are all distraught
at this news. Understandably, his team are devastated. Our immediate thoughts at
this time are with his family, friends, colleagues and his partner."
Sykes added: "We now have high-visibility patrols in Edgeley town centre, and I
would urge anyone with concerns to approach officers there."
Anyone with information is asked to call GMP's major incident team on 0161 856
9283, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Murdered police officer Gareth Francis was 'a gorgeous son', G, 21.1.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/21/murdered-police-officer-gareth-francis
Big Issue vendor murders: man charged
DI Buck Rogers says inquiries suggest
attacks on two magazine sellers in Birmingham city centre were not random
Sunday 13
January 2013
17.33 GMT
The Guardian
Alexandra Topping
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 17.33 GMT
on Sunday 13 January 2013.
A version appeared on p12 of the Main section section of the Guardian
on Monday 14 January 2013.
It was last modified at 17.33 GMT on Sunday 13 January 2013.
It was first published at 17.03 GMT on Sunday 13 January 2013.
A man has
been charged with the murders of two Big Issue sellers stabbed to death in front
of shoppers in Birmingham city centre. The man, who was arrested shortly after
the attacks on Friday, will appear before magistrates in Birmingham on Monday.
Wayne Lee Busst, 32, and Ian Watson Gladwish, 31, both from Birmingham, were
stabbed outside a supermarket on Friday just before 6pm in front of hundreds of
people. Police said the two men were likely to have known their attacker.
West Midlands police arrested the 23-year-old man shortly after the attacks on
Friday evening, after a large response from shoppers and bystanders.
One of the victims was found outside a Sainsbury's store in Martineau Place
while the second was found slumped yards away near a pharmacy in Union Street.
Despite attempts to save their lives from bystanders and police both men were
pronounced dead by emergency services at the scene.
West Midlands police have released pictures of the two men, who were described
as well-liked vendors of the magazine.
Detective Inspector Buck Rogers, who is leading the investigation, He urged
anyone with more information to come forward. "Our inquiries continue and if
there is anyone who saw something on Friday evening and hasn't yet come forward
we urge them to call us now on 101."
The man was arrested shortly after the attack, near an Odeon cinema a few
streets away.
The founder of the Big Issue magazine, John Bird, described the double killing
as "utterly senseless". In a statement, Bird said he and colleagues were
struggling to come to terms with the attack.
He said: "Myself and everyone at the Big Issue have been deeply saddened to hear
the tragic news that two of our well-liked Birmingham-based vendors were stabbed
to death in the city centre. We are struggling to make any sense of this utterly
senseless attack, and our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the
victims. This awful crime, perpetrated against two hardworking, mild-mannered
men, only serves to illustrate the extreme vulnerability of people who live and
work on the streets, which is why we at the Big Issue are constantly striving to
create opportunities which will help our vendors to get off the streets and out
of harm's way. We are truly devastated that these two individuals have been
deprived of just such a future."
Big Issue vendor murders: man charged, G, 13.1.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/13/murder-big-issue-killer-police
Two men stabbed to death in Birmingham city centre
Police arrest a man and call for witnesses to fatal attack
that took place during Friday night rush hour
Friday 11
January 2013
20.33 GMT
The Guardian
Ben Quinn
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 20.33 GMT
on Friday 11 January 2013.
A version appeared on p14 of the Main section section of the Guardian
on Saturday 12 January 2013.
It was last modified at 00.08 GMT on Saturday 12 January 2013.
A man has
been arrested after two men were stabbed to death in Birmingham city centre
during Friday evening rush hour last.
There are "potentially hundreds of witnesses" who either saw the stabbings or
the offender leaving the scene, according to West Midlands police.
A large number of officers went to the scene after receiving reports of the
stabbings just before 6pm.
One victim is understood to have been stabbed outside Sainsbury's in Martineau
Place while the other was found slumped near Boots in Union Street also having
suffered fatal injuries, the force said.
First aid was given to the men – believed to be in their 40s – but both were
pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was arrested in New Street, near the Odeon Cinema, minutes after the
stabbings, but the police say they are keen to hear from anyone who was in the
area at the time.
Inspector David Keen of West Midlands police said: "Two men have suffered fatal
injuries – these have been inflicted in the heart of the city at a busy time
when workers and shoppers would be heading home.
"There are potentially hundreds of witnesses, either people who saw the
stabbings or the offender leaving the scene, and I'd urge people to get in touch
immediately – they could have vital information.
"A large police presence was quickly on the scene and a man was arrested
swiftly."
Forensics and search experts cordoned off a number of areas in and around Union
Street to preserve evidence.
Two men stabbed to death in Birmingham city centre, G, 11.1.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/11/men-stabbed-death-birmingham-centre
Jimmy Savile abused children
at 14
hospitals across six decades - report
Savile's offending footprint was vast, predatory and opportunistic
as he 'groomed the nation', say Met police
Friday 11
January 2013
13.05 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Sandra Laville and Josh Halliday
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 13.05 GMT
on Friday 11 January 2013. It was last modified at 14.53 GMT
on Friday 11 January 2013.
It was first published at 10.23 GMT on Friday 11 January 2013.
Jimmy
Savile abused children across six decades at 14 hospitals including Great Ormond
Street and a children's hospice, according to a police report. He also carried
out 14 alleged assaults at schools.
Commander
Peter Spindler of the Metropolitan police said Savile used his fame and
celebrity status to "hide in plain sight", adding that he had "groomed the
nation".
The report into his activities reveals his offending spans from 1955-2009. Most
of his victims were children – 73% – and he committed most of the offences when
he was aged between 40 and 50.
Spindler said the report "paints a stark picture emphasising the tragic
consequences of when vulnerability and power collide. His offending footprint
was vast, predatory and opportunistic".
Some of the hospitals where the TV and radio presenter abused children are:
Leeds general infirmary, Great Ormond Street, Exeter hospital, Saxondale mental
health hospital in Nottinghamshire, and Wheatfield hospice in Leeds, a Sue Ryder
hospice for dying children.
According to the report, called Giving Victims a Voice, 450 victims have come
forward to allege incidents, and Savile committed 214 criminal offences in 28
areas of England and Wales.
Savile offended while working at the BBC between 1965 and 2006, the year he
sexually assaulted a teenage girl at the final recording of Top of the Pops.
Most of the victims were aged between 13 and 16.
Savile raped 34 people, including 28 children. He used every opportunity and
every institution to which he had access because of his fame to target young
people.
Fifty-seven of the allegations took place in 14 hospitals and a hospice in the
UK. He assaulted 16 victims at Leeds general infirmary, one at Great Ormond
Street hospital and he assaulted someone who was visiting a dying child at the
Sue Ryder Wheatfield hospice in Leeds. At Great Ormond Street the child Savile
abused died, but someone who witnessed what happened came forward.
He also assaulted children and young girls 33 times in TV and radio studios and
there were 14 assaults in schools. Savile was invited into the schools – which
have not been named – by children who wanted to appear on Jim'll Fix It, police
said.
The youngest of Savile's victims was an eight-year-old boy who he touched
sexually, and his last victim was a 46-year-old woman who was assaulted in 2009.
DS David Gray, who led the inquiry, said: "He has spent every minute of every
working day thinking about this. Whenever an opportunity came along he took it.
He picked on vulnerable victims and he was clever enough to choose people who he
knew would not speak out."
Gray said he expected the number of crimes recorded to rise above 214.
The Crown Prosecution Service said in a separate report released on Friday that
had police and prosecutors taken a different view to allegations from four women
as recently as 2007 Savile may have been brought to justice.
The director of public prosecutions, Kier Starmer QC, issued a statement on
Savile's offending. He said the report by Alison Levitt QC on the CPS's handling
of cases brought before it had concluded the investigations into four complaints
from women by Surrey and Sussex police could have been dealt with differently.
"Whilst most of the complainants continue to speak warmly of the individual
officers with whom they had contact, most of those spoken to by Ms Levitt QC
have said that, had they been given more information by the police at the time
of the investigation, and in particular had each been told that she was not the
only woman to have complained, they would probably have been prepared to give
evidence.
"Having spoken to the complainants, Ms Levitt QC has concluded that, although
there are a number of imponderables, had the police and prosecutors taken a
different approach a prosecution might have been possible in relation to three
of the four allegations."
The CPS review revealed how Savile had batted away the allegations made by four
women in 2007-08 of past abuse. He told Surrey police in 2009 that the sexual
assault complaints against him were "invented" and an "occupational hazard" for
a famous entertainer.
Savile made the comments when he was interviewed under caution. He told police
he had a "policy" for dealing with sexual assault complaints made against him
and that he had sued five newspapers in the past. A police log of the interview
records Savile as saying: "If this [these allegations] does not disappear then
my policy will swing into action."
His offending took place predominantly in Leeds and London, his home town and
his main work location respectively.
Gray said Savile was not part of a paedophile ring but detectives were
investigating whether he was part of a loose network of paedophiles who knew
each other and took advantage of their position to sexually abuse children.
The report said the institutions and agencies that missed past opportunities to
stop Savile must do all they can to ensure their procedures for safeguarding
children are as robust as possible.
"Only then can the victims who have come forward be reassured that it is
unlikely to happen again."
Gray said: "The offences started before he was a BBC celebrity but it seems
clear that his peak offending coincided with his peak status."
He said Savile did not order victims to be silent, he just abused them then
discarded them. "His force of personality was powerful. He dismissed his victims
afterwards; he did what he wanted to do then just discarded them and they were
too frightened to speak out."
The prime minister's spokesman said: "These are further appalling allegations.
What is required is that every organisation involved has to investigate what has
gone on and get to the bottom of it.
"There are a series of investigations that were already ongoing into a number of
hospitals. The Department of Health had already announced that Kate Lampard QC
was overseeing those and she will also report to the secretary of state on what
lessons can be learnt for the health system as a whole."
Jimmy Savile abused children at 14 hospitals across six decades - report, G,
11.1.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/11/jimmy-savile-abused-children-hospitals
Jimmy Savile 'abused dying patients in hospice'
Met police official report into scandal expected to name 13 institutions
where Savile preyed on victims, including at least one hospice
Monday 7
January 2013
09.57 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Lisa O'Carroll
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 09.57 GMT
on Monday 7 January 2013. It was last modified at 10.02 GMT
on Monday 7 January 2013.
Jimmy
Savile abused dying patients in a hospice, a report by the Metropolitan police
is expected to disclose.
Scotland Yard's official report into the Savile scandal will identify all the
institutions including hospitals, schools and prisons where it is alleged Savile
preyed on victims.
It is also expected to reveal for the first time that the former BBC TV
presenter, who died in October 2011, attacked patients at hospices he visited
under the guise of charity work.
According to reports in the Sun and Telegraph on Monday, the Met police report
is expected to name 13 hospitals, including at least one hospice, where Savile
attacked vulnerable patients.
Three of the hospitals, Stoke Mandeville, Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor
high-security psychiatric hospital, are already known.
The Savile scandal emerged in October following a TV documentary on ITV. Since
then the Met have launched their own investigation into abuse by Savile and
others.
So far, 589 people have come forward to the NSPCC and officers working on
Operation Yewtree with 450 complaints about Savile, 31 of them rape allegations.
Jimmy Savile 'abused dying patients in hospice', G, 7.1.2013,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/07/jimmy-savile-abused-dying-hospices
Dogan
Ismail murder: police release picture of wanted boy
In an
unusual step, police release CCTV image
of last sighting of Dawda Jallow, 15,
wanted for questioning over fatal stabbing
Thursday 3
January 2013
08.56 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Haroon Siddique and agencies
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 08.56 GMT
on Thursday 3 January 2013.
It was last modified at 09.02 GMT on Thursday 3 January 2013.
Police have
released a picture of a 15-year-old boy they want to question over the suspected
murder of a teenager, believed to have been killed during an altercation over a
stolen BlackBerry phone.
The CCTV image, filmed on a bus on Sunday, is believed to be the last sighting
of Dawda Jallow, from Peckham in south-east London. Detectives took the unusual
step – given his age – of naming Jallow after Dogan Ismail, 17, also from
Peckham, was fatally stabbed on Sunday.
Ismail was killed on the Aylesbury estate in nearby Walworth after going there
with his 15-year-old brother, Orhan. Officers said the brothers had gone to the
estate to recover a BlackBerry phone stolen from Orhan on Friday.
They encountered a group of four males and Ismail was fatally injured during an
"altercation".
In a statement released through the police, Ismail's family said: "Our beloved
son, friend, cousin, nephew and grandson has been cruelly taken away from us.
"Words cannot describe how much we will miss him. We want justice for Dogan and
his killer caught. Anyone with information, please tell the police."
The image of Jallow shows him travelling on the number 35 bus between Camberwell
Green and Newington Causeway just after 10.30pm on Sunday.
"If anyone knows him, if anyone knows where he has been staying, if anyone has
any ideas that they should put him up for the night, I would urge them not to
and call us instead," said Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner of the
Metropolitan police, who is leading the investigation.
"He must be staying somewhere and so I am urging the community for their help in
letting me know where that is."
Jallow is described as black, clean-shaven with cropped black afro hair, 5ft 5in
and stocky for his age. He is a Gambian national but speaks with a London
accent.
The incident happened just yards away from where 21-year-old Shaun Chambers,
from Greenwich, was killed on 26 September. Police said there was no link
between the two deaths.
They also said they did not believe Ismail's stabbing was gang-related and
stressed that neither Ismail nor his brother had any connection to gangs.
A postmortem examination found that Ismail died of a single stab wound.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 39-year-old woman on
suspicion of perverting the course of justice but they were later bailed.
Dogan Ismail murder: police release picture of wanted boy,
G,
3.1.2012,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/03/dogan-ismail-murder-wanted-boy
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