UK is becoming a WAR ZONE as BLACK deaths increase

[Anthea]

Would this happen in
YOUR country???

Man who beat and raped pensioner to be released from prison



A man who beat and raped a pensioner is to be released from prison, the Parole Board has ruled.

Wendell Baker, 63, was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 for the attack on Hazel Backwell, 66, in 1997.

Baker broke into Ms Backwell's flat in Stratford, east London, as she slept. He then tied her hands behind her back with flex, beat and raped her.

He left Ms Backwell tied up in a cupboard while he ransacked her belongings.

She was only discovered the next evening by a neighbour and thought she had been left for dead.

Ms Backwell was afraid to continue living alone or go out by herself after the attack and died five years later "with a very sad and broken heart”, her family said.

Baker was found not guilty of the attack in 1999, but a law change in 2005 meant that people could be retried for the same serious offence under certain circumstances.

The case was reopened in 2009. Baker was arrested again in 2011 and convicted in 2013, after swabs were taken from him that matched DNA found at Ms Backwell's flat with a probability "in the order of one in a billion".

He denied the charges and said police had been hounding him and framed him for this offence. Baker had previously spent time in prison for crimes including burglary, theft and actual bodily harm.

His minimum sentence was cut by two years after an appeal, making it eight years and six months before he could be considered for parole.

A report on the decision granting his release said at the time of the offence Baker had a “tendency to resort to violence and the use of weapons, being violent to a partner, alcohol misuse and using illegal drugs, not being able to control extreme emotions, being influenced by anti-social friends, not having anywhere suitable to live and not thinking about what will happen as a result of his actions.

“Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Mr Baker’s progress and custodial conduct during this sentence.

“He had completed training courses which addressed drugs misuse and better ways of thinking as well as a range of vocational courses.

“The panel heard how Mr Baker had demonstrated some application of relevant skills and learning while in custody. Witnesses recommended release.”

A Parole Board spokesman said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Wendell Baker following an oral hearing.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public after release and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

“The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original case, and any evidence of behaviour change.

“We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/m ... 45376.html

The man is a SAVAGE and in most countries would remain locked up for most of his life. In some countries he would even be executed

Criminals in the UK have little fear of actually being caught. And if they are actually sent to prison, most serve ridiculously short sentences

Most people who live in black neighbourhoods, live in fear

[Anthea]

Drive-by shooting death

Law student killed in drive-by shooting died from single gunshot wound



A post-mortem examination into the death of a 19-year-old law student killed in a drive-by shooting has revealed she died from a single wound to the chest.

Innocent university student Aya Hachem was hit by one of several shots fired from a vehicle as she walked to a supermarket near her home in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Sunday.

Police on Monday arrested three men aged 39, 33 and 36, all from Blackburn, in connection with the incident.

The three are now being held in police custody and continue to be questioned on suspicion of the teen's murder.

Officers have revealed they do not believe Ms Hachem was the intended target of the broad daylight attack, which took place on a busy main road in Blackburn's town centre.

The Lebanese-born teenager, a second year student at the University of Salford, died in hospital a short time after emergency services were called to the scene in King Street at around 3pm.

On Tuesday, Lancashire Police said in a statement that a post-mortem showed she died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The force also said they were aware of several videos of Sunday’s incident circulating on social media, and urged people to formally report them to police.

It asked people to refrain from speculating online about the cause of the incident, which has shocked Britain's Muslim community during the holy month of Ramadan and prompted discussion on social media over whether it was racially-motivated.



Officers are aware that before Ms Hachem was fatally shot, a light silvery green Toyota Avensis, pictured above, drove past her (PA)

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Andy Cribben said: “We know that a lot of people have expressed their support for the police investigation and I would like to thank them for that.

“However, we know of a number of videos of the incident are on social media and it is important that people formally report these to us as they are potential evidence.

“We would also ask people, even if they are well intentioned, not to share these videos out of respect for Aya and her family.

“Similarly, I would urge people not to speculate online about the cause of the incident and to instead share what they know with us as their information could prove vital.”

Officers are aware that before Ms Hachem was fatally shot, a light silvery green Toyota Avensis drove past her. Shots were fired from the vehicle.

The vehicle, with the registration number SV53 UBP, was abandoned a short time later before being seized for forensic examination by the police.

Meanwhile, a large team of detectives continue to work on the inquiry with additional police patrols in the local area.

Detective Superintendent Cribben said: “We appreciate that there will still be a lot of concern in the local community and so I would like to reassure people that there will still be additional patrols out and about. If you have any concerns or information about the incident, feel free to approach those officers.

“I would also like to stress again that we are not treating the shooting as terrorism-related or a racially-motivated.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting log number 0412 of May 18th. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.​

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/a ... 44891.html

[Anthea]

Wrong man murdered

Man shot dead on London doorstep was case of 'mistaken identity'

A man was shot dead on his doorstep in north London in a suspected case of "mistaken identity", police have said.

The victim, 27, was shot in Haringey on Monday night and pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene at around 8.20pm. Officers said they believe the victim was shot after opening the door to his home in Wiltshire Gardens to two attackers wearing dark clothing and motorcycle helmets.

No arrests had been made by Tuesday evening but a police cordon remained in place. Police have been given special temporary powers to search people in Haringey due to the high risk of violence.

Officers appealed for anyone with information or people who may have dash-cam footage of the killing to help with their investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge, said: “This was a cowardly attack on an innocent man who was shot dead on his own doorstep. Although at an early stage of the investigation, I strongly suspect that he was not the intended target of this attack; making this case all the more tragic.

“It would have still been light when the shooting took place and I’m hoping there are people out there who saw something who we’ve not yet spoken to. Did you see a moped arrive or leaving the scene?

Did you see it travelling along Finsbury Park Avenue or any of the streets nearby? Are you a driver with dashcam footage of the moped leading up to or after the incident? Any information passed to us will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

Officers said the man's next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem is scheduled for Thursday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Treena Fleming, Commander of the Met’s North Area Command Unit, said: “This is a harrowing incident and our immediate thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends at this devastating time. An experienced and dedicated team of detectives are doing all they can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“I know that members of the community will naturally be very concerned and shocked. Whilst incidents of this nature are rare, that doesn’t detract from the impact this will have had; and I want to reassure local residents that we will continue to work closely with community leaders, key stakeholders and the local authority to update them and provide reassurance.

"It is at times like this that communities need to come together and support each other. In the meantime residents will see an increased number of officers patrolling in the area to offer reassurance.

"Please approach these officers and relay any concerns you have or pass on any information which could assist us in helping to keep you safe.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/m ... 45281.html

[Anthea]

Chances missed to protect
boy groomed by dealers

Jaden Moodie moved from Nottingham to London with his mum for a "new start"



A boy who was "butchered" in a drugs turf war after being groomed by drug dealers had been arrested in a crack den months earlier but police did not contact child exploitation staff, a report has found.

Jaden Moodie was 14 when he was knocked off his moped and stabbed to death in east London in January 2019.

A serious case review found chances to protect him were missed by agencies.

Ayoub Majdouline was jailed for his murder.

Three months before his death, Jaden was found with an older boy in a county lines flat in Bournemouth with 39 wraps of crack cocaine, two packets of cocaine, a mobile phone and £325 in cash.

According to the review, the appropriate adult who sat in on his police interview said he appeared to be "a vulnerable young person frightened by what he was being groomed and coerced into by others".

He gave the impression that "he definitely wanted to find a way out of the mess he was getting into," they said.

Following his release, two Dorset Police officers drove him home to London but did not involve specialist child exploitation workers.

In the 12 months to August 2019, Dorset Police found 36 children from London in Bournemouth in similar circumstances to Jaden.

Jaden's school in Waltham Forest was not told about the arrest but excluded him for a separate incident.

At the time of his death Jaden was living with his grandmother in Leyton.

His mother, Jada Bailey, had been sleeping on friends' sofas while she waited to be rehoused.

She had told housing officers she was trying to keep her son out of trouble and was keen to find somewhere for them to live in Waltham Forest, the report said.

She was allocated a flat two weeks before Jaden was stabbed to death.

The review found Ms Bailey and Jaden's housing needs "could have been handled in a timelier manner", especially as his vulnerability to exploitation became clear.

Jaden's father Julian Moodie was convicted of drug dealing in 2009 and deported to Jamaica a year later, when Jaden was a young boy.

He began getting into trouble after starting secondary school in Nottingham in 2015, the report said.

He ran away from home, was accused of bullying and Ms Bailey was threatened at knifepoint when someone came looking for Jaden.

The report said Jaden had only spent three of his last 22 months in school.

In November 2018, he was excluded from school in Waltham Forest after he was seen in a Snapchat video in his school uniform holding what appeared to be a gun.

Jaden pleaded guilty in court to possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.

By the end of December Jaden had been offered a place at a pupil referral unit and had committed social workers and youth offending workers trying to help him.

But "tragically none of these people were provided with that opportunity", the report concluded.

The review was led by John Drew, the former chief executive of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

Mr Drew highlighted poor communication between Waltham Forest Council's social services, Dorset Police and the Met Police.

He called for a national system for responding to exploitation of children by county lines gangs, saying that every area needs a "rescue and response" system to protect young people.

Mr Drew concluded that "no-one knew how little time" there was to change Jaden's thinking.

Jaden's death "could not have been anticipated on the basis of what was known about [his] life at that time," Mr Drew said.

"So while it is clear that [Jaden] was not protected either by the council, or its partners, or by any other person, from the ultimate danger that engulfed him, I do not find any major fault in the response to his circumstances."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52804334

[Anthea]

Southwark Stadding

A teenager has been rushed to hospital after a stabbing in south London

An air ambulance landed in Burgess Park, in Southwark, at around 6.40pm after police received reports of a teenager suffering stab injuries.

The victim, thought to be in his mid-teens, was rushed to hospital for treatment.

His condition is not thought to be life-threatening, a Met Police spokesman said.

There have been no arrests and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing, a spokesman said.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b ... 51241.html

[Anthea]

Islington stabbing

Boy, 14, not life-threatening after attack in Hullbridge Mews

A teenager is in a non-life-threatening condition after he was stabbed in Islington on Saturday night.

Metropolitan Police was called by paramedics to Hullbridge Mews about 8.15pm where a male, believed to be 14, was found with stab wounds.

He was taken to hospital in what was deemed to be a critical condition but his injuries.

They have since been assessed as non-life-threatening, police said.

No arrests have been made.

A Section 60 order has been authorised for Islington and surrounding areas, granting police additional stop and search powers.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/i ... 49516.html

[Anthea]

Click on image to enlarge:



The Black Fist emblem was used by the Black Panther Party and is a symbol of Black Nationalism and NON assimilation/integration

As the vast majority of the so called black people in the UK are actually of mixed race, it is totally inappropriate to stir up Black Nationalism

Black Nationalism will only make the many fatherless mixed race children feel more confused and isolated

What is this: wear non-identifiable clothing

If someone believes in something they should have the courage of their convictions and be seen to be heard

Besides which, when the looting starts, the looters need to be easily identifiable to protect the genuine protesters

I have absolutely NO IDEA why people in the UK are protesting

If people here want something to protest about, they should protest against UK laws and prison sentences being far too lenient and considered a joke by many drug dealers and gang members

Protest against black children attacking and killing each other

Protest against the lack of police support and fear that thousands of innocent people live in in gang controlled areas. People of all ethnic backgrounds who live a life of fear and almost total lockdown in such areas

Areas that have become synonymous with black crime have often become no-go areas for the police and emergency services

Remember all the people who have lost family members and friends to black gang violence

[Anthea]

This war won't end

London gang murders on the rise

Yong black men in London are being murdered at a rate unlike anywhere else in the UK, as gang wars rage on in the capital.

Sky News has spent months speaking with London's fiercest gangs as part of an investigation into this year's increase in gang-related violence.

Our freedom of information requests reveal almost half of murder victims and murder suspects in the capital are young black men - way out of proportion to London's population, in which 13% are black.

This is a stark contrast to everywhere else in the UK, where the racial and age profile of murder victims and suspects reflects the demographic in those areas.

K, 19, says he joined a gang for easy money

The Woolwich Boys are a notoriously violent gang from southeast London

In our Line 18 special report, gang members from 410 in Brixton and the Woolwich Boys in southeast London warn Sky News they will continue their street war - and they don't see an end to violence in the capital.

One gang member told Sky News: "This is the only life we know, we just have to keep doing it - there's nothing else for us to do.

Gangs are wearing stab-proof vests on the streets

"I don't even know what this war is about anymore. All I know is if I step out of my area people want to kill me, and if people come into mine, I want to kill them. It's as simple as that.

"This war isn't going to end. How can it? It's too deep now."

London's gang war has had a drastic effect on the capital's murder statistics.

'If I don't like him, I could go stab him'

There were 80 London murders in the first half of 2018, with more than 1,300 stabbings. The overwhelming majority of these are gang-related.

One of the many gang-related murders in London this year was the shooting of Rhyhiem Barton in May. The 17-year-old was gunned down in Kennington in south London.

The teenager was the lead rapper for drill group Moscow17 and he starred in music videos with hundreds of thousands of views on social media - making him a target for rival gangs.

Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton who has been named as the the 17-year-old boy shot dead near his home in south London

On the day he was murdered, Rhyhiem was coaching football with family friend and mentor Sayce Holmes-Lewis.

Mr Holmes-Lewis, who runs sports youth project Mentivity, which steers teenagers away from joining a gang, said: "Rhyhiem was a good kid but made some bad decisions and got mixed in with the wrong crowd.

"Music was an expression for him, but the wrong expression, and it made him a target for rival gangs.

"The tragic thing is he had just started to talk to me about leaving that life, but it was too late. I felt like I had lost my own son."

Metropolitan Police figures released at the time showed there has been a 16% rise in knife crime in London and at least 51 people have been stabbed to death.

London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, said more needs to be done to steer young men away from a life of violence.

Mr Khan told Sky News: "I have met lots of young people who want to get rich quick.

"They see someone on their estate, someone they know with a nice watch, nice trainers, nice car - and they want a bit of that.

Young people need more opportunities

"We need to make sure young people know that if you work hard there is a helping hand and that you can fulfil your potential. Too many people haven't got that helping hand even though they are working hard.

"We need to explain to young people that there is a consequence if you get rich quick unlawfully - you can be a victim of crime, you can end up in prison. There needs to be an alternative to a career in crime."

:: Line 18 is a journey through modern Britain in 2018. It runs the length of the UK from Northern Ireland to Scotland, passing through Lancashire, Manchester, the West Midlands, London and Essex.

It will examine the divides and fractures in society through the voices of those affected and backed up by data which shines a new light on how Britain is changing.

https://news.sky.com/story/line-18-gang ... n-11447089

[Anthea]

Thousands join UK protests
over George Floyd death

Thousands marched from Trafalgar Square to the US embassy in South London

Thousands of people have gathered across central London to protest against the killing of an unarmed black man by police in the US.

They held up signs saying "Justice for George Floyd", who died in police custody while an officer kneeled on his neck to pin him down.

Derek Chauvin has been charged with his murder in Minneapolis. The white police officer has been sacked from his job.

During the protests Met Police officers arrested five people.

The protests have been held at Trafalgar Square and outside the US Embassy in Battersea.

Elsewhere in the UK, hundreds marched through Manchester city centre chanting "Black Lives Matter".

And a similar protest also took place in Cardiff.

London protesters held up placards saying "racism has no place", and "I can't breathe" - a reference to Mr Floyd's words during his arrest.

The Met Police said officers were present and were engaging with those in attendance, adding an "appropriate policing plan is in place".

Police arrested five people aged between 17 and 25 outside the US Embassy.

Three of the arrests were for breaching Covid-19 legislation and two were for assaulting police.

Those arrested remain in police custody for questioning.

Reverend Sally Hitchiner, associate vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square, said she could see hundreds gathered for the protest from her workplace.

"I'm very sympathetic to the issue but also surprised to see the strength of emotion that has gathered people together," she said.

"Clearly they're not following lockdown and social distancing, but I think there's a huge amount of passion there and that's overriding their concerns.

"It's an issue that requires passion but at the same time there's a huge amount of risk in what they're doing."

She said police appeared to be moving the crowd on from the square by early afternoon.

Protesters made their way to the embassy by marching along roads near the River Thames.

Traffic was stopped in several places and protesters were applauded by onlookers.

A large portion of the crowd stopped under a railway bridge outside Battersea Park Station.

Four men climbed on top of a bus stop before getting down on one knee and with their right arms in salute in silence, leading the gathered crowd to do the same.

It is a stance made famous by Tommie Smith, the US sprinter who famously raised his fist in protest against racial discrimination during his gold medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics.

American football player Colin Kaepernick caused outrage when he held the pose during the US anthem as a protest against racial injustice.

Demonstrators encouraged the crowd into a moment of silence, while holding their right arms in the air

Tens of thousands of people have joined nightly protests across the US since the death, with at least 1,600 people arrested in 22 cities as some demonstrations descended into violence.

Hundreds of people marched through Peckham in south London on Saturday in protest against police brutality.

It comes as the US has been rocked by protests over the past five days, many of which turned into violence with cars and buildings set alight and riot police using tear gas and rubber bullets.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52868465

[Anthea]

Forget Black Lives Matter, what about Innocent Lives Matter

If we started a group called White Lives Matter we would be called racist

In the UK many black youths get away with crimes because people (both black and white) are far too afraid to come forward as witness

The solution would be to install more CCTV in areas of risk and on estates. Also concierge services on blocks of flats to check who is coming or leaving the building and preventing flats being misused and protecting people in their homes

Many people who live on London estates live in fear of black gangs, they have metal grills on their windows and metal sheets covering their doors in an attempt to protect themselves from the war on their streets

I recommend:

Green Access as a concierge service

https://www.greenaccessltd.co.uk/concierge/

And

Green Access for all other security requirements

https://www.greenaccessltd.co.uk/

Yes it costs money but it would save lives and give innocent people a better quality of life in and around their homes

What is the government prepared to pay to save the lives of innocent black children?

[Anthea]

During recent UK protests one female stated the she and her friends wore military boots to the London protest and were impressed to see lots of other women dressed like members of the Black Panther movement

Was a time in America when the Black Panthers ran soup kitchens; gave many children their only meal of the day and helped many destitute black people

Black power groups were not just anti white, they were also anti mixed race. They wanted a pure black race; at their meetings they raised spears and wanted to kill white people

Reminded me of the 1981 Brixton riots where many black only meetings took place and there was a cry to kill white people

The UK does still have one black power group that most authorities hate. Those are the Black Muslims, not ordinary Muslims but members of the Nation of Islam

Often ignored by the press and general public, they do a lot of good working with black youths in the inner cities. They teach the young pride in themselves and get them off drugs; alcohol; gambling, smoking and away from gangs

Only downfall is they HATE white people

Rastafarians are better because they help other people and believe in peace, harmony and a natural life

[Anthea]

Met Police smash 87
county lines routes

Police officers waging a war against violent London drug gangs who are peddling illegal substances to smaller towns and cities across Britain have smashed more than 80 supply lines as part of a major crime crackdown

Met Police chiefs say 87 'county lines' drug distribution routes have been cut off and 18 dealers controlling some of those lines have been jailed for a total of more than 50 years as part of its £1million Operation Orochi.

A further 1,300 county lines suspects have also been charged for violent offences, including 24 murders, by the force since the crackdown was launched last year.

And galvanised by their success for far, Met Police chiefs, who will now be handed a £5million war chest by the Home Office to aid in their battle against the violent drug gangs, have promised to destroy another 210 supply lines over the next 12 months.

In a statement issued today, the force's Commissioner, Cressida Dick, said: 'Over the last year we have made significant progress in our fight against violent drug dealers.

Police officers waging a war against violent London drug gangs who are peddling illegal substances to smaller towns and cities across Britain have smashed more than 80 supply lines as part of a major crime crackdown.

Met Police chiefs say 87 'county lines' drug distribution routes have been cut off and 18 dealers jailed for a total of more than 50 years as part of its £1million Operation Orochi.

Met Police chiefs will now be handed a £5million war chest by the Home Office to aid in their battle against the violent drug gangs.

'The close partnerships formed with colleagues nationally have been crucial to this success, and I am grateful to them all for the part they have played – even throughout the last 10 challenging weeks.

County lines: The centralised drug distribution system which minimises risks for dealers while exploiting the vulnerable

County lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries.

The drugs are usually transported by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs.

It involves a centralised mobile phone, often in a major city, such as London, which is used to take the orders of drugs, as well as send out mass texts offering drugs for sale, in an area outside the city - such as the home counties.

The mobile phone is called the 'county line'.

Local dealers who are part of the gang then distribute the drugs in that area.

A common feature in county lines drug supply is the exploitation of young and vulnerable people.

The dealers will frequently target children and adults - often with mental health or addiction problems - to act as drug runners or move cash so they can stay under the radar of law enforcement.

When county lines are set up in an area there are often increases in violence and weapons-related crimes.

Source: The National Crime Agency

'Across policing the commitment to driving down violence has never wavered.'

The latest figures come after officers reviewed data showing those involved in County Lines criminality collected by the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC).

The data was analysed against the Met's crime recording systems.

It showed that more than 1,300 individuals linked to County Lines have been charged with charged with approximately 2,000 violent offences in the capital in the financial year from 2019 to 2020.

Among the offences were 24 murders, 270 robberies, over 200 weapons offences, including 23 of possessing a firearm with intent, and nearly 200 drug trafficking offences.

And today the Met Police scored another jail term as part of its Operation Orochi.

Wayne Mann, 35, from London, was today jailed for four years and two months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He was caught after Met Police officers raided his address in London in January and found he was controlling the so-called 'Tommy Line' - which was being used to distribute drugs in Norfolk.

As part of 'county lines' dealing, a central mobile phone, usually based in London, is used to send and receive drug orders from users in counties outside the capital - hence the name 'county lines'.

Locally-based dealers, often vulnerable teenagers, or sometimes younger, are then instructed by those in control of the central line to distribute the drugs.

Police say the 'Tommy Line' had created a user base of 300 people based in or near Norwich - bringing with it a rise in violence.

When police raised Mann's address heroin with a street value of £12,000 was seized and man, who had previous convictions for violence and weapons carriage and is linked to gangs was charged with concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and later jailed.

A further 17 other dealers in control of lines in 11 different police force areas across Britain have also been jailed.

A total of 18 dealers in control of lines in 11 different police force areas across Britain have also been jailed. Pictured: A map of the police force areas where county lines gangs have been hit by the Met Police's Operation Orochi

Police say the 'Tommy Line' (pictured: a map of the network) had created a user base of 300 people based in or near Norwich - bringing with it a rise in violence.

These include the 'Alfie Line' based in Medway, Kent, the 'Freddie Line' based in Swansea, South Wales, and the 'Hefner Line', based in Didcot, Thames Valley.

More than 20 county lines shut down in Norfolk alone

Norfolk Police have closed down 20 county lines permanently in its biggest operation to tackle Class A drug dealing in Norfolk to date.

The force is one of those to team up with the Met Police to tackle the scourge of county lines drug dealing in the region.

A total of 25 people have been charged and remanded for drug supply offences – eight of which have already been sentenced before the courts. They are:

Matthew Mills, aged 33 and from London – Six years and nine months imprisonment.

Zoe Gloyn, aged 28 and from Kent – Two years and eight months imprisonment

Ashley Davies, aged 29 and from Kent – Two years imprisonment

Calum Ascione, aged 25 and from London – Two years and two months imprisonment

Sean Lutkin, aged 29 and from London – Two years imprisonment.

Bradley Chambers, aged 26 and from London – Three years imprisonment

Wayne Mann, aged 35 and from London – Four years and two months imprisonmen

Kieron Hunter, aged 23 and from Norwich – Five years and six months imprisonment.

The 17 dealers were jailed for a total of more than 50 years.

Cressida Dick said: 'Over the last year we have developed a significant evidence base which shows how criminals use telecommunications to run their operations.

'We will work with whoever necessary to restrict the ability of these individuals to carry out this activity and destroy the business model of County Lines entirely.'

The police chief also praised the work of the Met Police's partners and called on local agencies, charities, schools and parents to help them 'protect the most vulnerable in our communities from being exploited by gangs into running drugs across the UK'.

Operation Orochi was launched at the end of last year after the forced received £1.1million of funding from the Home Office to tackle County Lines.

Under Orochi officers have closed 87 County Lines and achieved 183 charges for drug trafficking.

Police say of those arrested 61 per cent had previous convictions for violence and 64 per cent had previous convictions for weapons.

Only one lineholder was female and the other 17 were male, the Met Police say.

Only one phone being used to run a line was registered, albeit in a false name, and every other phone was an unregistered Pay-as-you-Go 'burner' device.

The Met Police say that when they have reviewed phone data there has been a consistent pattern of large bulk text messages being sent by the lineholder, advertising the sale of drugs.

Police forces across the county have been doing there bit to tackle county lines gangs. West Midlands Police made more than 650 arrests and seized cash and drugs worth more than £3million during a crackdown on county lines gangs last month

Sometimes tens of thousands of messages were sent in short periods of time.

On Friday, Operation Orochi was given a major boost when the Home Office announced an additional £5million of funding to enable the Met to continue its work tackling County Lines.

With the money, the force has pledged to arrest, charge and convict a further 210 lineholders peddling drugs across the UK over the next 12 months.

Commissioner Dick added: 'I am pleased at the additional funding announced by the Home Office which will go towards our work in this area.

'With this we will continue the success of Op Orochi and bring hundreds more individuals to justice.'

Link to Article - Photos:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... years.html

[Anthea]

Child four shot in Brent

A young child was among four people hurt in a shooting in north London, police have said

The child and three adults were taken to hospital with gunshot injuries, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

The force said it could not provide details of their conditions. No arrests have been made and police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A Section 60 order is in place for the borough of Brent until 07:00 on Thursday, and a dispersal zone has been authorised for the Harlesden area, the force added.

There will be additional police patrols in the area overnight.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52915785

[Anthea]

Protesters attack No 10 gates

Anti-racism protesters hurled temporary barriers and glass bottles at the gates of Downing Street and riot police were deployed as skirmishes continued into Wednesday night

Crowds had flocked to Hyde Park at 1pm on Wednesday before marching towards Parliament in protest against discrimination in the UK.

But after a peaceful start to the day, physical altercations broke out as tensions rose outside the Prime Minister's residence later in the day.

As chaos escalated, two men were arrested outside Downing Street on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder, Scotland Yard said.

The crowds were not deterred and just before 10pm some protesters pulled down a line of temporary barriers outside Downing Street.

Plastic and glass bottles were then thrown at the metal gates outside No 10.

Riot police officers have been deployed along Whitehall

Officers stationed in No 10 tried to return the temporary barriers to their original position but had to quickly retreat back inside when more bottles were thrown.

Protesters then picked up the temporary barriers and threw them at the gates, with more objects thrown in the direction of police.

Some of the temporary barriers were also used by protesters to block off Whitehall.

Later a number of police vans descended on the area with social media footage showing officers using batons to try and ward off advancing demonstrators.

Meanwhile, a protestor was seen kneeling in front of riot police in the middle of the fray as he appealed for calm from his fellow protesters.

Earlier in the evening, a group of protesters climbed up onto the window sills on the outside of the Treasury building, where they chanted and held placards.

A protestor was seen kneeling in front of riot police in the middle of the fray as he appealed for calm from his fellow protesters.

Crowds also descended on police – who were wearing helmets and holding batons – outside of the Cabinet Office, which has been daubed with “BLM” in black paint

Both plastic and glass bottles were thrown in the direction of officers, with some objects striking the back of the police van.

Officers then formed a line outside Downing Street as protesters, some on bikes, chanted, before more police vans arrived.

More than 10 Metropolitan Police territorial support group vans gathered at Parliament Square at around 9pm.

A group of protesters knelt in front of the vans, chanting “let us live” and holding up their placards.

The demonstrations were organised in response to the death of African-American man George Floyd in Minneapolis.

While London's demonstration was, for the most part, peaceful, skirmishes started breaking out by Downing Street at around 5pm.

Witnesses said a protester fell over the police barricades by Downing Street, sparking mayhem.

But freelance journalist Mattha Busby, who filmed the choas and said it was “unclear exactly what started things”.

"Police appeared to attempt to take a man from the crowd and pandemonium ensued,” he tweeted.

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What I see in the photos are crowds of people who are not socially isolating, putting themselves and each other at risk of spreading the virus

[Anthea]

UK public told to avoid protests

Ministers have urged the public not to join George Floyd protests over the weekend, warning that "coronavirus remains a real threat", with thousands expected to take to the streets of the capital

The warnings came after large crowds marched in London and Birmingham this week to protest about the treatment of Mr Floyd

Peaceful protests in London have been scheduled for Saturday in Parliament Square at 1pm and on Sunday outside the US embassy at 2pm.

Anti-racism protests have also been organised in other cities across the UK this weekend, in solidarity with US campaigners for Black Lives Matter.

Demonstrations are planned in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Ipswich, Leicester and Sheffield.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "appalled" by Mr Floyd's death and understood people are "deeply upset" but warned: "Please, for the safety of your loved ones do not attend large gatherings including demonstrations of more than six people.”

"We are still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat," he added.

Home Secretary Priti Patel reiterated the Health Secretary's comments, writing on Twitter: “Please for the safety of all of us, do not attend large gatherings – including protests – of more than six people this weekend.

“As Matt Hancock said, coronavirus remains a real threat and people must protect themselves and their families from this horrific disease.”

Echoing the warnings from Government ministers, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor from the Met Police said that the protests should not take place under current coronavirus restrictions.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The health protection regulations are really clear that it is unlawful.

“The Government said that for health reasons people should not be meeting in groups of six, so we would strongly encourage people not to come out and gather in these large numbers because they are putting themselves and others at risk.

“And if they do come out, then we would ask them to observe that social distancing, think about those around them.”

The Lord Mayor of Dublin has also urged people not to join anti-racism protests in the city on Saturday.

A socially-distanced protest is due to go ahead outside the US Embassy in Ballsbridge in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

Gardai have warned protest organisers that mass demonstrations are in breach of Covid-19 regulations and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Tom Brabazon, urged people to show their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement by signing an online book of condolence.

He told Newstalk FM: “I understand why people were angry and I understand the need to protest but we are in the middle of a pandemic and I would urge people to look at alternatives in terms of getting their message across.

“One of those ways is the online book of condolence that was opened up by Dublin City Council.

“And while a lot of the individuals will be responsible and try to socially distance, it is not always going to be possible with those numbers involved.

“They really need to take a second look at having this protest and look at other alternatives. I would plead with them to do so.”

Protesters kneel in Trafalgar Square during a demonstration (Getty Images)

But Chic frontman Nile Rodgers has said he is “bewildered and perplexed” that some people don’t understand the pain felt by members of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Rodgers, 67, spoke during an online festival hosted by London’s Brit School on Instagram on Friday, with label, management and publishing company The Other Songs.

He said: “I am a very optimistic person and I would really like to believe in my heart that this is the beginning of change, because young people are really the people who have the power to affect change.

“If they stay on the path, we could be in an amazing time right now.”

Rodgers added: “What has changed for me now that I am older is that I feel a huge amount that young people today have a sense of optimism, that they really have the power to change the world and change society.

“I am bewildered and perplexed that people don’t understand the pain that we feel, that when a person says ‘Black Lives Matter’ they are not saying to the exclusion of other people’s live matter. How do you not understand?

“But I can also listen to people and see why they tell me they don’t understand.”

In an open letter to the British people on Friday, US ambassador to the UK Robert Wood Johnson said it was through peaceful protest that injustice was most successfully addressed.

The protestors in Hyde Park initially stuck to social distancing (PA)

He said: “The US Embassy in London is united with the British public in grief over the tragic death of Mr George Floyd, which deserves universal condemnation.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the Floyd family.

“His death is a reminder that as a nation we must do more to fight racism and injustice.”

During a demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Friday, protester Dee Ndlovu said: “I kneel because of the names and the voices that have been lost to the wind.

“I kneel for the ones who are not heard and the ones who do not get a hashtag, the ones who do not get pictures or a social media campaign, the ones who have been forgotten in history and time. I kneel because of them.”

John Boyega gave an impassioned speech in Hyde Park on Wednesday (PA)

Taking a knee is a peaceful gesture to protest against police brutality which was first carried out by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem at an American Football game in 2016.

The protest came after pockets of protesters clashed with police as thousands of people flooded into central London and abandoned social distancing for a demonstration on Wednesday.

After a largely peaceful demonstration in Hyde Park, during which Star Wars actor John Boyega gave an impassioned speech, tensions later escalated outside Downing Street, where there were 13 arrests.

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