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Crime Articles
Joint enterprise murder conviction to be reviewed (31 December 2014)
A 16-year-old jailed for the murder of a man in 2008 may win his freedom as a result of concerns over his conviction under joint enterprise. Read more...
NHS England to crack down on prescription fraud (30 December 2014)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has criticised plans to make checks on free prescriptions tougher at the pharmacy counter. Read more...
13-year-old charged with murder of builder (17 December 2014)
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a 53-year-old builder inside a block of flats at Edmonton in north London on Sunday evening (14/12/14). Read more...
European Court of Human Rights upholds convictions of failed London bombers (17 December 2014)
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that four men convicted of a failed plot to bomb London Transport on 21 July, 2005 should serve their sentences. Read more...
World Wide Web inventor calls for end of online abuse towards women (15 December 2014)
The British inventor who developed the World Wide Web has called for an end to women being abused online as a result of so-called “trolls” who threaten violence and sexual violence online.
Read more...
MoJ launches £1m fund to encourage male rape victims to report crimes (15 December 2014)
The government’s Minister of Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims has announced the launch of a £1 million fund to encourage more male victims of rape to report incidents to the police. Read more...
More transparency in Family Division “may push children into suicide” (15 December 2014)
The government’s Deputy Children’s Commissioner Sue Berelowitz has said that if family courts become more transparent, children may be pushed into committing suicide if they have to face public scrutiny. Read more...
80-year-old jailed for £69,000 benefit fraud (15 December 2014)
An 80-year-old man who fraudulently claimed £69,000 in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit over an eight-year period has been sentenced to 40 weeks in jail at Oxford Crown Court. Read more...
Suspended sentence for ex-estate agent who accepted £20k in deposits on parents’ home to fund gambling addiction (15 December 2014)
A former estate agent who rented out his parents’ home and fraudulently accepted deposits from potential tenants has been given a two-year suspended sentence. Read more...
Cosmetic surgeons who perform aesthetic procedures may be committing criminal offence, says Home Secretary (12 December 2014)
Home Secretary Theresa May has warned that surgeons who carry out procedures to give women a “designer vagina” may be as guilty of a crime as those who carry out female genital mutilation (FGM) procedures. Read more...
Council house tenant who abandoned home pleads guilty to benefit fraud charges (12 December 2014)
A 53-year-old London woman who abandoned her own council home to move in with her husband, continued to claim £9,000 in housing benefit and council tax, Tottenham Magistrates’ Court has heard. Read more...
NCA and GCHQ to track paedophiles on the dark web (12 December 2014)
Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK’s intelligence agency GCHQ are to work together to track paedophiles who use the so-called “dark web” to carry out their activities. Read more...
“Dangerous” paedophile out on licence, after Appeal Court quashes open-ended sentence (11 December 2014)
A leading Appeal Court judge has released a dangerous paedophile from prison, despite acknowledging that he remains a danger to the public. Read more...
London councils to vote on fixed penalties for anti-social spitting (10 December 2014)
Local authorities across London are expected to agree to introduce on-the-spot fines for spitting at a meeting on Thursday (11/12/14). Read more...
High Court overturns government ban on sending books to jails (9 December 2014)
The High Court has overturned a ban on sending books to criminals in prison.
Read more...
Police failed to answer more than 1m 101 calls in 2103 (8 December 2014)
A Freedom of Information request has revealed that more than one-quarter of police forces across England and Wales are failing to hit their targets for answering the non-emergency police number 101. Read more...
Scrap metal dealer fined £1,200 for advertising his services over truck’s PA system (8 December 2014)
A scrap metal dealer who used a PA system on his truck to advertise to potential customers has been prosecuted by his local council. Read more...
AA predicts “blackout backlash” from motorists, as councils switch off road lights at night (8 December 2014)
A new report by the Automobile Association (AA) has revealed that the rate of road traffic accidents increases on roads which are unlit or poorly lit. Read more...
Motorist denies causing death by dangerous driving, after “confusing brake and accelerator” (5 December 2014)
Blackfriars Crown Court has heard how a 33-year-old mother died in front of her husband and son – and an American student lost an eye and suffered brain damage – after an elderly motorist allegedly confused the brake with the accelerator while out driving. Read more...
New regulations come into force to protect minors from pornography (3 December 2014)
The government has introduced new laws to restrict pornographic material in the UK from this week. Read more...
Suspended sentence for possessing imitation firearm with intent (1 December 2014)
Burnley Crown Court has spared a woman jail, after she was convicted of waving a pistol at the landlady of a local pub at Haslingden, in Rossendale, Lancashire. Read more...
Sleeping drug prescribed by NHS linked to risk of committing crime (1 December 2014)
A sleeping pill prescribed by the NHS to around 750,000 patients could result in patients committing crimes. Read more...
“Car race” may have caused death of cyclist, as police appeal for witnesses (28 November 2014)
Police are calling for witnesses to a hit-and-run incident, in which a cyclist was knocked from his bike in London’s East End and killed. Read more...
Police target 20 addresses in insurance fraud operation (27 November 2014)
The City of London Police fraud squad has arrested an investment banker in a police operation which targeted 20 people suspected of making bogus insurance claims worth thousands of pounds. Read more...
Calls for a Royal Commission to look into sentencing policy (25 November 2014)
A leading judge has called for the next government to set up a Royal Commission on the penal system to look into sentencing policy – including the relationship between crime rates and sentencing policy and how the budget for the penal system should be spent. Read more...
London trials “ride-along” scheme allowing public out on frontline police patrols (24 November 2014)
The incoming head of Territorial Policing, Assistant Commissioner Helen King, has said that Londoners may in the future be able to accompany police patrols in a scheme similar to the US “ride-along” scheme.
Read more...
Murder investigation launched after police find body in car boot (24 November 2014)
Police officers in London have arrested a man caught trying to dump a body in the River Thames. Read more...
High Court bans seven men from associating with girls under 18 (20 November 2014)
A court has banned seven men from Birmingham from going near girls under the age of 18 unless they are personally associated with them, after Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police staged a joint child protection initiative over concerns a 17-year-old girl in care was at risk of child sexual exploitation. Read more...
Security Guard pleads guilty to benefit fraud, after falsely claiming £52,000 in disability benefits (20 November 2014)
A 45-year-old security guard who worked at a shopping centre in Hull has been convicted of benefit fraud, after he told claims officials he was unable to walk and claimed disability benefits. Read more...
Nearly one million crimes unrecorded by police, says watchdog (18 November 2014)
Police watchdog Her Majesty^s Inspectorate of Constabulary has said that 800,000 crimes every year go unrecorded because of police “obsession” with hitting crime targets. Read more...
First revenge porn jail sentence handed out (17 November 2014)
A man who posted intimate images of his former girlfriend online as an act of revenge porn has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. Read more...
Liverpool family sentenced for £212k benefit fraud (17 November 2014)
A 30-year-old woman from Liverpool has been jailed for a £212,000 benefit fraud, which also involved her 64-year-old parents. Read more...
£1,000 fine for benefit fraud mother whose Facebook page revealed relationship status (17 November 2014)
A 29-year-old mother has been convicted of benefit fraud, after her Facebook relationship status revealed that she was not a “single mum” – but was in a relationship with her landlord. Read more...
Backlash over release of police killer continues, as Roberts is freed (12 November 2014)
Convicted police killer Harry Roberts was released from jail on Monday (10/11/14), after serving 45 years of a life sentence for three murders. Read more...
MPs vote in favour of EU Arrest Warrant (11 November 2014)
The government has succeeded in signing Britain up to the EU Arrest Warrant again – which is a component of 35 EU justice measures common to member states. Read more...
WWII bomb handed in during Met Police gun amnesty (11 November 2014)
A gun amnesty in London by the Metropolitan Police resulted in a full-scale alert after a WWII bomb was handed in at Sutton Police Station. Read more...
Serious Further Offence Review ordered for hostel murder in Wales (10 November 2014)
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that a serious further offence review will take place into the case of a man who is suspected of murdering a woman in an act of cannibalism. Read more...
Bodybuilding champion jailed for six months for benefit fraud (10 November 2014)
A man who claimed disability benefits while competing in bodybuilding contests has been jailed for six months by a court in South Wales. Read more...
NCA and Scotland Yard in joint operation to prevent £40m-worth of cocaine from reaching London (10 November 2014)
A joint operation between Scotland Yard, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and French customs has prevented cocaine worth £40 million reaching the streets of London. Read more...
HMP Pentonville report rise in violent incidents as young offender population rises (6 November 2014)
A report by the independent monitoring board for HMP Pentonville in north London has blamed funding cuts for a rise in violence among prison inmates at the jail. Read more...
Court names 16-year-old killer sentenced to life for stabbing teacher (4 November 2014)
Leeds Crown Court has named the teenager who stabbed teacher Ann Maguire to death in 2013 as 16-year-old Will Cornick. Read more...
Police cautions to be scrapped, as “formal warning” pilot is launched in three areas (3 November 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced that police cautions are to be scrapped in England and Wales, to make sure criminals are not made to feel they are getting away “scot free”. Read more...
Community Order for benefit fraud conviction, after claimant failed to declare second job (3 November 2014)
A benefit claimant who failed to report a change in circumstances when she started a second job has been sentenced to a 12-month Community Order and 100 hours of unpaid work by Derby Magistrates’ Court. Read more...
Government has no plans to decriminalise drug possession, after Home Office report prompts heated debate (31 October 2014)
The government has said it has no plans to change drugs laws, after a report published by the Home Office suggested there was no link between stringent laws on drugs offences and a decline in illegal drug use. Read more...
Gene link to violent crime (29 October 2014)
A study of 794 prisoners in Finland has identified two genes which may be partly responsible for violent crimes. Read more...
Home Secretary orders review into use of Tasers (27 October 2014)
Home Secretary Theresa May has ordered an official review into the use of Tasers by police forces across England and Wales, over concerns that the weapons are being used too often against the black community and people who are potentially vulnerable. Read more...
Four years jail for man who defrauded brother of inheritance (27 October 2014)
A court has jailed a man for four years and three months, after he cheated his brother out of his £1.5 million inheritance. Read more...
Met Police launch special unit to tackle cyber crime and online fraud (27 October 2014)
The Metropolitan Police in London are launching a new initiative to tackle cyber crime, which costs the UK an estimated £56 billion every year. Read more...
Nine-month jail term for law student who slapped sleeping woman round the face at a party (23 October 2014)
A student who assaulted a woman at a party by slapping her in the face with his penis while she was asleep has been jailed for nine months at Nottingham Crown Court. Read more...
69% increase in prison suicides in 2013-14 (22 October 2014)
The Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick has said that safety outcomes for prisoners have “significantly declined” in the last ten years, as prisons experience overcrowding, “unprecedented levels of violence” – and the highest level of suicide among inmates in a decade. Read more...
Government considers changing law to ensure white collar crime is prosecuted (21 October 2014)
The government is reported to be considering making changes to the evidence required for prosecuting white collar crime, over concerns that too many company directors are avoiding prosecution even when their firms have broken the law. Read more...
Six-month driving ban for HGV driver who “miscalculated” low bridge (21 October 2014)
An HGV driver whose lorry became stuck under a low bridge has been banned from driving for six months by a court in Manchester. Read more...
Government acts on Internet trolls by quadrupling sentence to two years (20 October 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced that prison sentences for online trolls are to be increased from six months to two years. Read more...
Career criminal avoids repaying £26,000 under Proceeds of Crime Act (20 October 2014)
A convicted criminal who as a teenager was described as a “one-boy crime wave” has avoided having to repay £26,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, after he told Nottingham Crown Court the money had been stolen. Read more...
Rise in benefit fraud attributed to split responsibility for fraud detection (17 October 2014)
The National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed that overpayments of Housing Benefit as a result of fraud rose from £980 million in the year 2010-2011 to nearly £1.4 billion in the year 2013-2014.
Read more...
DPP clarifies guidance on assisted suicide and healthcare professionals (17 October 2014)
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alison Saunders has clarified the position of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding healthcare professionals and cases of assisted suicide, which is illegal in the UK. Read more...
12-month community order for student convicted of “reckless handling” of five-week-old baby (14 October 2014)
A final year student at Sunderland University has pleaded guilty to assaulting a baby, after lifting the five-week-old infant into the air without supporting the child’s head. Read more...
“Revenge porn” criminal charge to be introduced (13 October 2014)
The government is to introduce a law which would make publishing pornographic photos of a sexual partner or former partner without their permission a criminal offence. Read more...
Human rights barrister calls for those on bail for sex offences to be charged within three months (13 October 2014)
Leading human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC has called for police to drop cases against those accused of historic sex crimes if charges cannot be brought within three months. Read more...
Prison inquiry into why elderly and frail convicted killer was restrained during medical treatment (13 October 2014)
A prison watchdog has launched an inquiry into why a convicted paedophile in his eighties remained chained to a bed while undergoing chemotherapy and kidney dialysis. Read more...
Kent man jailed for three years for assisting dating fraud gang (13 October 2014)
The UK-based aide to a gang which used dating websites to defraud victims of thousands of pounds has been jailed by Southwark Crown Court in southeast London. Read more...
Jail for mother who stole £400,000 from boss who was son’s godfather (13 October 2014)
A mother who stole £400,000 from her employer has been jailed for three years and nine months at Exeter Crown Court. Read more...
Met Police figures show gun crime is falling across London (8 October 2014)
New figures from the Metropolitan Police have revealed that gun crime in the capital peaked in 2011, the same year as the London riots erupted across the capital. Read more...
More youth workers heading for A&E units to help gang members quit (8 October 2014)
Home Office Minister Norman Baker has announced that youth workers and A&E staff are to work together more to offer immediate help to gang members who attend A&E with knife injuries. Read more...
Suspended sentences for benefit fraud in which one partner was passed off as landlord (6 October 2014)
A woman who passed her partner off as her landlord to benefits officers has been found guilty of benefit fraud and given a suspended sentence and community service. Read more...
“Good neighbour” in imported toxin case hauled off for police questioning while still wearing pyjamas (6 October 2014)
A teenager trying to be a good neighbour by signing for a parcel when his neighbour was out has described how police arrested him and took him to a police station for questioning while he was still wearing his pyjamas. Read more...
Justice Secretary to consider “very carefully” anonymity for sex offence defendants (3 October 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has suggested that defendants proved innocent in sexual offence cases should remain anonymous in the same way victims do.
Read more...
Criminal gangs paying “cyber-crime-as-a-service” experts to help with crimes (1 October 2014)
A report published by Europol’s European Cyber-crime Centre has warned that organised gangs of criminals are hiring the services of computer hackers and cyber-crime experts to help them plan and carry out serious and organised crime. Read more...
Paper car tax discs scrapped as from tomorrow (30 September 2014)
From Wednesday, 1 October motorists will no longer have to display paper tax discs in their car windscreens, after the electronic system of vehicle licensing registration is rolled out. Read more...
Operation Trident arrest for firearms and drug offences due in court (29 September 2014)
A man charged with firearms and drug offences is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates^ Court today (29/09/14). Read more...
DWP investigators uncover £250,000 housing benefit fraud linked to sublet luxury properties (29 September 2014)
Benefit fraud investigators have uncovered a benefit scam involving small numbers of former asylum seekers housed in luxury flats in London paid for with housing benefit – who go on to sublet the properties to wealthy tourists. Read more...
27 weeks in jail for failing to advise DWP of change in circumstances – and claiming £41,000 in benefits (29 September 2014)
A woman who claimed more than £41,000 in benefits by claiming she had to walk using a walking stick and wear a neck brace has been convicted of benefit fraud by Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Read more...
Local magistrates’ courts “may go full circle” and be reinstated, says think tank (25 September 2014)
A think tank is calling for the return of local justice, following the closure of one in five magistrates’ courts across England and Wales. Read more...
PET challenge to education restrictions on prisoners (24 September 2014)
The Prisoners^ Education Trust (PET) is warning that restricting the number of books prisoners can have in their cells is harming the potential for prisoners to gain an education while serving their sentences. Read more...
Fraud hotspots revealed across Britain (23 September 2014)
Consumer champion Which? has published details of fraud hotspots across the UK, based on police figures for fraud in those areas. Read more...
Law Society committee claims victims’ rights proposals smack of “party conference electioneering” (23 September 2014)
The Law Society’s criminal law committee has criticised an announcement by the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to introduce new laws to protect the rights of victims of crime. Read more...
Norfolk man given suspended sentence for producing and supplying cannabis (23 September 2014)
A Norfolk man found to be growing cannabis plants in his garden shed and home has told Norwich Crown Court that he only supplied friends with the drug and grew it for his own personal use. Read more...
Anti-terror photo ID now needed to buy commonly used chemicals (22 September 2014)
The Home Office is refusing to say how any people have so far applied for or been refused permission to buy high-strength chemicals under new European anti-terror laws. Read more...
Met Police investigate contaminated feed baby deaths (15 September 2014)
The Metropolitan Police are investigating the deaths of two babies at St Thomas’ Hospital in London in June – and are liasing with Cambridgeshire police over the death of a third baby in similar circumstances.
Read more...
A Cornwall man has pleaded guilty to a £20,000 benefit fraud at Truro Magistrates’ Court. (12 September 2014)
ThisIsThe West Country.co.uk reports that 65-year-old Roy Rickards from Carnsmerry in Bugle admitted nine counts of benefit fraud spanning 10 years and two local councils. Read more...
Police make further arrests over £1m courier fraud (11 September 2014)
Following raids in east London on Monday (08/09/14), police have arrested two men aged 31 and 24 in connection with a £1 million courier fraud operating in the southwest of England. Read more...
Police arrest gang suspected of trafficking children to supply Class A drugs (11 September 2014)
Police officers from Operation Trident – the Metropolitan Police’s anti-gang crime unit – have arrested eight members of a south London gang believed to have trafficked children to supply drugs to the southeast of England. Read more...
Former senior policeman and convicted armed robber warn kids of the dangers of crime (10 September 2014)
A former armed robber has teamed up with a former police officer from the Metropolitan Police to warn young people of the dangers of becoming involved in crime. Read more...
LibDems float decriminalising drugs in draft election manifesto (9 September 2014)
The Liberal Democrats are reported to be considering decriminalising all drugs for personal use – as well as allowing the Class B drug cannabis to be sold on the open market, according to a report in The Guardian. Read more...
London Councils warn that car cloning could cause chaos once vehicle tax discs are abolished (9 September 2014)
The corporate director of London Councils is warning that the abolition of vehicle tax discs at the end of September could result in “chaos” for some motorists – especially if their vehicle has been cloned.
Read more...
Family of motorcyclist killed last year releases footage of last few minutes before the crash (8 September 2014)
Video footage of the last moments of a motor cyclist killed in a road traffic accident has been released online to warn others of the risks of not looking out for motorbikes on the road. Read more...
Cannabis factory discovered at address in Writtle (8 September 2014)
A man found growing cannabis plants in the loft of his Chelmsford home has been bailed by local magistrates until later in September. Read more...
eBay trader jailed for two years for tax fraud and VAT avoidance (8 September 2014)
A man who committed tax fraud while trading on eBay has been sentenced to years in prison, after being found guilty of two charges of cheating the public revenue and one charge of concealing or transferring criminal property.
Read more...
HMIC reprimand police over attendance records, as public is told to turn detective (4 September 2014)
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has warned 19 police forces to improve recording of the number of incidents police attend. Read more...
Doctors jailed for employment fraud (4 September 2014)
A court has jailed for fraud four members of an elite group of doctors employed by Basildon Hospital to provide NHS heart and lung services. Read more...
Wormwood Scrubs “filthy and unsafe” says HMIP report (3 September 2014)
A new report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has branded Wormwood Scrubs in northwest London as “filthy and unsafe”. Read more...
Chef avoids jail for £17,000 benefit fraud by repaying the money (3 September 2014)
A married chef who claimed to be single and unable to work because of depression has narrowly escaped jail for a £17,000 benefit fraud. Read more...
150 years for gangs planning to flood UK with cocaine (2 September 2014)
The members of two gangs which planned to smuggle cocaine into the UK in shipments of pineapples and bananas have been jailed for a total of 150 years at Winchester Crown Court. Read more...
Physicist facing jail for attack on taxi driver (1 September 2014)
A 69-year-old scientist is facing a possible jail term after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, following an attack on a taxi driver. Read more...
Disabled pensioner given suspended sentence for £20,000 benefit fraud (29 August 2014)
Teesside Crown Court has heard how a disabled man fraudulently claimed pension credits worth nearly £20,000 – and spent the money on repaying his mortgage and home improvements. Read more...
Retired judge links low rates of rape convictions to “women getting too drunk to remember the facts” (27 August 2014)
A woman judge who has recently retired has caused controversy by saying convictions for rape will not improve until women stop getting too drunk to remember the details of what happened. Read more...
Half of all motorists “break the law by speeding” (26 August 2014)
Motorists are ignoring speed limits on roads in town centres and on motorways and are gradually pushing up existing speed limits, according to new data from the Department for Transport (DfT). Read more...
ID theft fuelling card fraud in UK and EU (26 August 2014)
The UK – together with France – has been targeted for most of the credit card fraud which happened in Europe during 2013. Read more...
300 rapes reported in UK schools since 2011 (26 August 2014)
Figures obtained by The Independent under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request have revealed that in the last three years, a total of 2,865 sex crimes were reported by schools between 2011 and 2013. Read more...
Shropshire residents asked to help compile list of “retributions” for criminals (22 August 2014)
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Mercia, Bill Longmore, has announced that a public consultation will take place into the sort of punishments the public would like to see handed down to offenders.
Read more...
Northumbria Police to investigate “no crime” rape cases (22 August 2014)
Police in Northumbria are to re-open investigations into 11 out of 33 cases of rape which were recorded as “no crime” on police records so far this year. Read more...
More prisoners with mental health conditions “absconding” (20 August 2014)
A record number of convicted criminals detained in secure mental health units have absconded over the last three years – representing a 35% increase.
Read more...
Britain’s career criminals “failing to repay proceeds of crime” (19 August 2014)
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that major crime bosses are failing to repay their proceeds of crime as demanded under Confiscation Orders imposed by the court. Read more...
Selfridges smash-and-grab gang handed 58 years in jail (19 August 2014)
A gang who dressed in burkas to carry out a smash-and-grab raid on Selfridges jewellery department in the West End have been jailed for a total of 58 years at Kingston Crown Court. Read more...
Police and CPS lawyers work together on “super-Asbos” for convicted smash- and-grab thieves (18 August 2014)
Scotland Yard is to introduce “super Asbos” for convicted smash-and-grab thieves, to curb the number of raids on shops in London.
Read more...
Anti-bullying charity calls for cyberbullying legislation (18 August 2014)
The charity Beat Bullying has said that the law has failed to keep pace with the Internet – and is calling for a law to beat cyberbullying. Read more...
Restaurants and diners warned to be alert to debit card scam (15 August 2014)
Campaign group Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK) is warning diners to be aware of a new scam which is mainly hitting diners at expensive restaurants in London. Read more...
16-month jail term for £140,000 benefit fraud (14 August 2014)
A Bedfordshire man who wrongly claimed £137,572 in benefit payments from Bedford Borough Council has been jailed for 16 months by Luton Crown Court. Read more...
HMP Doncaster “rife with violence”, says HM Inspectorate report (13 August 2014)
Prison inspectors have found that levels of violence at a private run prison in South Yorkshire are four times the levels of other jails. Read more...
Londoners back anti-knife crime Bill, new poll shows (11 August 2014)
Research by YouGov has revealed that eight out of 10 Londoners agree with government proposals to introduce tougher sentences for knife crime.
Read more...
Glen Parva YOI slammed by HM Inspectorate as “unsafe and violent” (7 August 2014)
Glen Parva Young Offenders Institute (YOI) in Leicestershire has been severely criticised in a report, after HM Inspectorate made an unannounced visit to the YOI in April. Read more...
Arrests made in suspected £18m housing fraud at Brighton and Hove City Council (7 August 2014)
Police have arrested and bailed four men on suspicion of being involved in an £18 million housing fraud. Read more...
Festival-goers may face criminal charges over “legal highs” (7 August 2014)
Police and local councils are warning festival-goers that they may face criminal charges if caught using “hippy crack” laughing gas or legal highs at music events.
Read more...
Family fraud increasing as elderly parents live longer (5 August 2014)
Analysis by accountancy firm KPMG has shown that fraud among families now comprises 80% of Crown Court cases, as children become impatient about receiving their inheritance from elderly parents. Read more...
Appeal Court rules suspects should be named (4 August 2014)
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the names of suspects arrested by police should be made public before they are formally charged. Read more...
Sobriety tag scheme launches to tackle alcohol-related crime (4 August 2014)
A former White House drugs adviser who helped devise a pilot involving tagging “bad drunks” has said he is delighted that the scheme is being tested in the UK.
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Suspended sentence handed down for benefit fraud (4 August 2014)
Burnley Magistrates’ Court has handed down a suspended prison sentence to a man convicted of benefit fraud, after he claimed housing benefit and failed to declare to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that he was the joint owner of the house he lived in. Read more...
One in eight prison inmates is now a convicted sex offender (1 August 2014)
Historic sex abuse cases are being blamed for a steep increase in the number of sex offenders in prison in the UK. Read more...
Lee Rigby killer renews conviction and sentencing appeals, after first stage of appeal fails (31 July 2014)
A panel of Appeal Court judges is to hear renewed applications from Michael Adebolajo, who is trying to get his conviction and sentence for the killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby quashed by the court. Read more...
Training to help police spot mental disorders in gang members and victims (31 July 2014)
The Home Office has awarded £460,000 to the Metropolitan Police to help train police officers, doctors and teachers in how to recognise the symptoms of mental health conditions in gang members and gang victims. Read more...
Ringleaders of Royal Marsden accounts fraud jailed (30 July 2014)
An accounts administrator who embezzled more than £600,000 from the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital has been jailed for four years. Read more...
Help for Heroes charity fraudster “can expect prison sentence” (29 July 2014)
A bogus charity collector has been convicted of profiting by £300,000 from collecting money which he told the public was for the Help for Heroes fund to help wounded and disabled soldiers.
Read more...
Weekend riot at failing prison “resulted from staff shortages” (28 July 2014)
A riot at a failing prison occurred over the weekend when 120 prisoners refused to return to their cells. Read more...
Mobile phones to be removed from drivers involved in RTAs (28 July 2014)
Police officers have been ordered to remove mobile phones from drivers who are involved in a car crash, in a bid to cut the number of road traffic accidents (RTAs) which are caused by motorists using their handheld mobile phones or texting while behind the wheel.
Read more...
Former local mayor convicted of failing to advise DWP of change in circumstances (25 July 2014)
A former mayor of Eastwood in Nottinghamshire has been convicted of disability benefit fraud.
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Serious Fraud Office to investigate FX rate rigging allegations (23 July 2014)
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has announced a criminal investigation into the alleged “rigging” of the UK currency market.
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Nano fingerprint powder can reveal the finer details of a criminal suspect – including sex, diet and drug use (21 July 2014)
Researchers at the University of Newcastle have developed a nano powder, which will enable fingerprints to disclose the sex of a suspect, as well as what they have eaten and drunk – and whether they may have fired a gun recently or handled explosives. Read more...
Fraud “lord” must repay £14m – or return to jail (18 July 2014)
A self-styled “lord” who was jailed for running a “ponzi” investment scheme, which duped the rich and famous out of their savings, has been ordered to repay nearly £14 million under the Proceeds of Crime Act – or return to jail. Read more...
Parole Board hearing expected to triple (14 July 2014)
Following a ruling by the Supreme Court in October last year, the Parole Board has said that it will need to hear around 11,500 more parole Board applications every year to comply with the court’s call for “more fairness and equality” for prisoners.
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12-fold increase in private land parking ticket appeals (11 July 2014)
The Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) Service has revealed that there has been a 12-fold increase in the number of appeals against parking tickets issued to drivers for parking on private land. Read more...
Suspended sentence for mum who claimed benefits as single parent while living with partner (10 July 2014)
A benefit claimant who defrauded Bolton Council and the Department for Work and Pensions of £30,000 by pretending her partner and the father of her two children was her landlord, has been given a suspended jail sentence by a court.
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Tougher sentences for fly tippers introduced (2 July 2014)
From Tuesday (01/07/14) courts in England and Wales adopted new guidelines on fly tipping, which could mean larger fines and prison sentences for those convicted of dumping rubbish. Read more...
Violent public order offences in Manchester City Centre escalate as a result of 24/7 licensing (1 July 2014)
Police in Manchester say that they can no longer guarantee the public’s safety in Manchester City Centre after midnight – and are blaming New Labour’s policy on relaxed licensing and its promotion of a 24/7 society.
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Ministers to review corporate criminal liability, in bid to reduce fraud (1 July 2014)
Government ministers are considering fining companies which fail to prevent rogue employees from carrying out financial fraud. Read more...
Ex-prison officers receive MoJ “call up” to form reserve force (30 June 2014)
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has started to recruit a reserve force of prison officers for England and Wales. Read more...
Hot tub “ponzi” trio jailed for fraudulent trading (30 June 2014)
Stafford Crown Court has jailed three men who used a hot-tub company to defraud customers of more than £2 million. Read more...
Young offenders to be in bed by 10.30pm, says Justice Secretary (30 June 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced that from August, those held in Young Offender Institutions (YOI) will face strict bedtimes. Read more...
Court jails law student who cried rape to provide excuse for failing bar exams (27 June 2014)
A 30-year-old law graduate has been jailed by a court, after lying about her partner having raped her so she could provide mitigation for failing her bar exams.
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Ticket fraud millionaire jailed for a further six years after failing to repay proceeds of crime (26 June 2014)
A ticket fraudster had has his prison sentence extended, after failing to repay £1.25 million under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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160 knife crime suspects targeted by police in dawn raids across London (26 June 2014)
Nearly 6,000 police officers staged dawn raids across London on Wednesday (25/06/14), in a further crackdown on knife crime in the capital. Read more...
Market trader resorted to £15,000 benefit fraud after falling into financial difficulties, court hears (24 June 2014)
A market trader who claimed he was unemployed has been convicted of a £15,000 benefit fraud.
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Police detain travel insurance fraud suspects in dawn raids (19 June 2014)
City of London police have arrested 11 people in dawn raids across London, in connection with fraudulent travel insurance claims. Read more...
Jail for benefit fraudster who invented fictitious children to claim tax credits (17 June 2014)
A 42-year-old woman has been jailed for 12 months by Liverpool Crown Court, after she was found guilty of benefit fraud involving concocting lies about the number of children she had, to claim £43,000 in child tax credits. Read more...
As MPs vote on knife crime Amendment, council tells MPs that CPS is “too soft” on gang culture (17 June 2014)
Hackney Council in east London has warned MPs that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is being “too cautious” about charging gang members with knife crimes – and is also failing to make sure knife crime cases are dealt with by CPS staff who understand the “complexities” of gang violence. Read more...
Man from Newquay has appeared in court at Bodmin in Cornwall, charged with a catalogue of crimes, including rape, sexual assault, kidnap, robbery and criminal damage. (16 June 2014)
Nicholas Peppiatt, 30, was arrested following an incident last Tuesday (10/06/14) and appeared in court on Thursday. Read more...
Penalties for speeding and motoring offences quadruple (10 June 2014)
Justice Minister Jeremy Wright has announced that motorway speeding fines will increase to £10,000 – with the penalty for speeding on dual carriageways and other roads quadrupling to £4,000.
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Prisons having to adapt to rise in over-60s being jailed (9 June 2014)
Britain’s prisons are having to adapt to an increase in older inmates, with the prison population now including more pensioners found guilty of crimes involving drugs and historic sex abuse charges. Read more...
Clairvoyants in court over £80k benefit fraud (9 June 2014)
A couple who claimed they could “barely walk” have been prosecuted for benefit fraud, after investigators filmed the husband working out in a local gym. Read more...
Reforms of gang injunctions expected to triple number imposed (9 June 2014)
Changes to gang injunctions will make it easier for the police and courts to prove that an individual’s conduct is “characteristic” of gang behaviour. Read more...
Income from drugs and prostitution to be included in UK GDP (2 June 2014)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced that income from crimes such as prostitution and drug dealing must be included in official estimates of the UK economy from autumn this year. Read more...
Builder sentenced to two years for benefit fraud (30 May 2014)
A builder from Penryn in Cornwall has been found guilty of two benefit fraud charges, after the court heard that he claimed £40,000 in welfare benefits while working. Read more...
Call for tougher penalties for motorists caught speeding (29 May 2014)
A Freedom of Information Request to 39 police authorities across the country has revealed that the highest recorded incidence of speeding between April 2013 and May 2014 involved a motorist on the M25 at Swanley in Kent travelling at 149mph, according to the speed camera. Read more...
Drug gang members arrested in Westminster police dawn raid (29 May 2014)
A police crackdown on Class A drugs has resulted in the arrest of two brothers aged 14 and 15. Read more...
Jail and suspended sentence for benefit fraud couple who claimed to be estranged (27 May 2014)
A single mother who fraudulently claimed more than £108,000 in welfare benefits has avoided a prison sentence because of her children, the South Wales Evening Post reports. Read more...
Children as young as four being questioned over sex offence allegations (27 May 2014)
New statistics show that boys as young as four and five are being questioned by police over sexual crimes, including rape. Read more...
Some criminal courts may not receive Wifi until 2017 (21 May 2014)
The digitalisation of courtrooms across England and Wales is being delayed as the timetable for rolling out Wifi in courtrooms falls behind schedule. Read more...
Backlash over taxpayer-funded driving lessons for prisoners (19 May 2014)
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is defending criticism from MPs over prisoners who have been signed up for driving lessons funded by the taxpayers and charities. Read more...
JSA and Income Support benefit fraud and overpayments fall by £130m (19 May 2014)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that benefit fraud and overpayments for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income Support have fallen by £130 million since last year. Read more...
“Under-qualified police officers” drafted in to Brighton CID to lead serious crime investigations (19 May 2014)
A whistleblower at Sussex Police has revealed that the force is so understaffed that some police officers not qualified as detectives are having to take over investigations normally carried out by officers at Brighton CID. Read more...
One in 10 inmates in open prisons “is a convicted murderer” (16 May 2014)
Government figures show that one in 10 prisoners being held in open prisons is a convicted murderer, The Sun reports.
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MPs call for benefit fraud and benefit overpayment figures to be published separately (15 May 2014)
An all-party committee of MPs is calling on the government to publish more accurate figures showing the true extent of benefit fraud. Read more...
Dogs attacks on private property now a criminal offence (13 May 2014)
From Tuesday (13/05/14), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is introducing tougher penalties for dog owners who fail to control their pets – including changes in the law which allow prosecution of an owner if a dog attacks someone in its own home. Read more...
Jail term mooted for those found carrying a knife twice (9 May 2014)
The Liberal Democrats have opposed plans by two Conservative MPs – and backed by Labour leader Ed Miliband – which would see the introduction of a six-month prison sentence for those found carrying a knife twice. Read more...
Herpes conviction stands after man “recklessly” infects woman (9 May 2014)
A man sentenced to 14 months in jail for infecting a woman with the herpes virus has lost his appeal against the conviction, but received a shorter sentence at the Appeal Court because he had already been held in custody before launching the appeal. Read more...
Life for rapist who blamed wife for his crimes (7 May 2014)
The wife of a convicted rapist jailed for a minimum of 11 years has vowed to stand by him, after saying her husband was a “kind and sensitive” person. Read more...
Care home fraud “almost doubles in a year” (6 May 2014)
The Audit Commission’s head of counter-fraud Alan Bryce has revealed that in the last year, care home fraud has increased by 82%. Read more...
Immigration fraud couple must repay £400,000 after Proceeds of Crime ruling (6 May 2014)
A Birmingham couple who ran a visa fraud operation and claimed benefits which netted them more than £400,000 have been ordered to repay the money. Read more...
Luck runs out for motorist who clocked up 54 points before being banned (1 May 2014)
A court has banned a motorist who was allowed to continue driving, despite acquiring 54 points on his licence for previous motoring offences. Read more...
Reading Council investigators uncover £500m-worth of benefit fraud (30 April 2014)
Reading Borough Council’s benefit fraud investigators have uncovered £500 million of welfare overpayments resulting from benefit fraud. Read more...
School security under spotlight as Leeds teacher is murdered in school (29 April 2014)
The murder of a Leeds schoolteacher has opened up the debate over whether schools should routinely screen pupils for weapons. Read more...
Children removed from foster carers after “being held too tightly by the wrist” as they crossed the road (28 April 2014)
Social workers have removed two children from the care of foster parents, after social workers claimed they had “manhandled” them by holding onto their wrists “too tightly” as they crossed the road. Read more...
Deport foreign criminals to save money, say MPs (25 April 2014)
The Commons Public Accounts Committee is calling for action on sending home foreign criminals rather than keeping them in British jails at the taxpayers’ expense. Read more...
Two-year sentence for young offender who called police to check on drug charges (24 April 2014)
A prisoner in a young offender’s institution has landed a two-year jail term after phoning police and asking what they were planning to do about crack cocaine he had been found with when arrested for driving a stolen car. Read more...
New crime statistics survey reports reduction in violent crime (23 April 2014)
A new survey of crime statistics has found that nearly 33,000 fewer people were treated for violent crime-related injuries in 2013. Read more...
Fraud concerns as HMRC announces plans to share tax details with third parties (22 April 2014)
Proposals by HMRC to share the data of British taxpayers has provoked a backlash among some MPs and civil rights campaigners, who claim sharing personal tax details could make individuals vulnerable to fraud. Read more...
Couple escape jail for benefit fraud because of son’s ill health (22 April 2014)
A couple who fraudulently claimed nearly £40,000 in benefits by setting up a false claim have escaped a jail term because their nine-year-old son has a heart condition and needs care. Read more...
Boiler room fraudster jailed for £4m scam (16 April 2014)
The last of five conspirators convicted of defrauding investors in boiler room scams based in Ireland and Spain was jailed for three years on Monday (14/04/14) at Southwark Crown Court. Read more...
MP cleared of sex offence allegations calls for review of victim’s right to anonymity (14 April 2014)
MP Nigel Evans ? who has been cleared of sex offence charges ? has said that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) should pay his £130,000 legal costs, and has called for a review of an alleged victim‘s right to anonymity. Read more...
Tax avoidance to become criminal offence (14 April 2014)
The Chancellor has announced that tax avoidance using overseas tax havens is to become a criminal offence, the Daily Mail reports. Read more...
Royal Marine to appeal murder conviction (8 April 2014)
A Royal Marine convicted of killing an injured Afghan insurgent is to appeal his conviction.
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Milly Dowler murderer wins £4,500 compensation for prison attack (7 April 2014)
The killer of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler has been awarded £4,500 in compensation after he was attacked in prison. Read more...
UN investigator to research domestic violence in UK (7 April 2014)
The United Nations (UN) has announced that it is to launch an investigation into domestic violence against women in the UK. Read more...
Prisoner’s fraudulent personal injury claim results in extra jail term (4 April 2014)
A 22-year-old prisoner serving a sentence for dealing heroin in Manchester has been convicted of fraud, after he tried to claim he had sustained head injuries after rolling off his bunk bed while in Strangeways Prison. Read more...
Mum-of-five escapes jail for £76,000 benefit fraud (3 April 2014)
Snaresbrook Crown Court has heard how a mother-of-five committed benefit fraud amounting to more than £76,000, after continuing to claim benefits after she got married without advising the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of her change in circumstances. Read more...
Man shot in Islington days after knife attack on Upper Street (1 April 2014)
Police say that a 23-year-old man has suffered life changing injuries after being shot on a busy street in Islington, north London at around 1pm on Monday (31/03/14) afternoon. Read more...
Police raid courtesy car companies in insurance scam operation (31 March 2014)
Police officers from the insurance fraud department have arrested nine people in London as part of Operation Bugle – a nationwide investigation into courtesy car insurance fraud Read more...
Investigation launched after prison riot at HMP Northumberland (31 March 2014)
An investigation has been launched into prisoner unrest at HMP Northumberland, after inmates took over a wing of the prison at the weekend. Read more...
Axe attack in London could signal gangland violence in Islington (31 March 2014)
Police have arrested two men after a teenager was attacked with on a busy street in north London on Thursday (27/03/14) and another was stabbed. Read more...
Suspect loses latest round of fight against extradition (28 March 2014)
Shrien Dewani, suspected of arranging the murder of his wife while on honeymoon in South Africa, has lost the latest round of his fight against extradition. Read more...
Police need to improve services for victims of domestic violence (28 March 2014)
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has said that the Metropolitan Police is failing to protect victims of domestic violence. Read more...
Lincolnshire teen given ASBO for intimidating behaviour (27 March 2014)
A teenager from Lincolnshire that abused and harassed local community members during a 15-month reign of terror has been handed a two-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) and warned about his future behaviour.
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Nottingham burglar handed four-year jail term (25 March 2014)
A man from Nottinghamshire who carried out a series of burglaries in the East Midlands has been given a four-year jail term for his crimes following a one-day trial. Read more...
Cyclist killed by motorist on Mind’s mental health charity bike ride (24 March 2014)
Mental health charity cyclist Christian Smith has been killed in a road accident on a 24-hour charity bike ride. Read more...
“Brutal underworld” for girls involved in gangs (24 March 2014)
The Centre for Social Justice (CJS) has said that girls who operate within gang culture lead "desperate" lives in which "rape is seen as a weapon and carrying drugs and guns is seen as normal". Deputy policy director Edward Boyd said a CJS report had uncovered a “brutal underworld” for girls in gangs.
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MPs to vote on decriminalising non-payment of TV licence (24 March 2014)
All three political parties will vote on Tuesday (25/03/14) on the decriminalisation of non-payment of a TV licence. Read more...
Paedophile loses appeal against conviction (24 March 2014)
A former security guard from the West Midlands convicted of raping and sexually abusing girls as young as seven had lost his Appeal Court bid to clear his name.
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Neglect of patients to be a criminal offence (21 March 2014)
It has been revealed that there could be as many as 240 prosecutions each year of people accused of wilful neglect or cruel treatment of patients. This is the result of a new criminal offence that is to be put in place after the scandal in the Mid Staffordshire health service. Read more...
Couple evicted from home for cultivating illegal drugs (21 March 2014)
A married couple from Peterborough have been evicted from their home by a local housing association for growing cannabis and consistent anti-social behaviour. Read more...
Islington is now London’s hotspot for mobile phone theft (20 March 2014)
New figures from London’s Metropolitan Police Force have shown that despite a rise in the number of mobile phone thefts in some London Boroughs in 2012, only 56 people were prosecuted for mobile phone theft. Read more...
Hit-and-run accidents rise in London (20 March 2014)
Figures on hit-and-run accidents in London show that more people are dying or are being injured in hit-and-run accidents in the capital, despite a high-profile campaign targeting motorists driving uninsured. Read more...
Benefit fraudster given 12-month jail term (20 March 2014)
A benefit fraudster from Liverpool has been jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay back a substantial five-figure sum after illegitimately claiming £74,000 of state handouts. Read more...
UK will not comply with EU Directive which could let motorists off speeding charges (19 March 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling is warning that under proposed changes in EU law, motorists caught for speeding could escape fines. Read more...
Legal Aid Lives for Prisoners (18 March 2014)
Duncan Lewis Public Law Solicitor explores the topic Legal Aid Lives for Prisoners in her new Duncan Lewis Public Law article. Read more...
Ex-maths teacher given suspended sentence for drugs-related charge (18 March 2014)
A former maths teacher has been handed down an 18-month suspended sentence after criminal charges for dealing in drugs were dropped against her. Read more...
Britain on verge of prison overcrowding crisis say experts (18 March 2014)
Prison overcrowding is reaching dangerous levels and it is at its worst since 2008 according to new figures published Monday, which have put added pressure on Justice Secretary Chris Grayling ahead of planned emergency measures. Read more...
Young adults call for tougher sentences for young offenders, BBC poll finds (14 March 2014)
A survey for BBC Radio’s Newsbeat has found that young adults support tougher sentences for young offenders who commit violent crimes. Read more...
Bailiffs may be used to beat benefit fraud (14 March 2014)
Downing Street has announced proposals to tackle benefit fraud by removing luxury items like cars and computers or televisions from the homes of those found to be fraudulently claiming benefits. Read more...
Young adults call for tougher sentences for young offenders, BBC poll finds (14 March 2014)
A survey for BBC Radio’s Newsbeat has found that young adults support tougher sentences for young offenders who commit violent crimes. Read more...
Bailiffs may be used to beat benefit fraud (14 March 2014)
Downing Street has announced proposals to tackle benefit fraud by removing luxury items like cars and computers or televisions from the homes of those found to be fraudulently claiming benefits. Read more...
Rental and housing benefit tenants suffering at the hands of landlords (13 March 2014)
The chair of the Chartered Institute for Housing (CIH) in Scotland has told a CIH Scotland conference that housing benefits have made landlords in the social housing sector “complacent”. Read more...
Security firm G4S has agreed to repay the money it overcharged the Ministry of Justice for the electronic tagging of some convicted criminals allowed out on licence. (13 March 2014)
Security firm G4S has agreed to repay the money it overcharged the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for the electronic tagging of some convicted criminals allowed out on licence. Read more...
G4S to repay £130m to MoJ for electronic tagging overpayments (13 March 2014)
Security firm G4S has agreed to repay the money it overcharged the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for the electronic tagging of some convicted criminals allowed out on licence. Read more...
Liverpool man jailed for drug growing and grenade possession offences (12 March 2014)
A man from Liverpool has been jailed for 18 months for setting up a small-scale cannabis farm at his home as well as possessing a military-grade explosive device. Read more...
Women arrested in Worcester and Banbury over suspicions of managing a brothel (11 March 2014)
Police in Worcestershire have raided a property in the St Peter’s area of Worcester and arrested two women aged 26 and 34 in connection with the management of a brothel. Read more...
Armed robber pleads guilty after failed hold up (10 March 2014)
A bungling armed robber that failed to hold up a shop in London despite carrying a sawn-off shotgun and wearing a balaclava was caught by police just hours after the incident late last year. Read more...
Non-payment of TV licence may become civil offence (10 March 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling is working on plans to make failing to buy a TV Licence a non-criminal offence. Read more...
Undercover police scandal may lead to conviction appeals (10 March 2014)
Details of how undercover policemen infiltrated groups of political activists – even to the point of forming intimate relationships without revealing their true identities – may mean hundreds of convictions could be appealed. Read more...
Lee Rigby murderer given whole life term (7 March 2014)
The two murderers of soldier Lee Rigby have been sentenced following their guilty verdict, with Michael Adebolajo being given a whole life term. It is unlikely he will ever be free again. Read more...
DPP defends failed sexual abuse prosecutions (7 March 2014)
The Director of Public Prosecutions has spoken out to defend the recent failed prosecutions of celebrities for historic sex offences. Read more...
Oxfam counter-fraud expert pleads guilty to £65,000 fraud (7 March 2014)
A fraud expert pleaded guilty to defrauding the charity he worked for of £65,000 at the Old Bailey on Thursday (06/03/14). Read more...
NCA says “secrecy” helps uphold right to a fair trial (6 March 2014)
The secrecy of the National Crime Agency (NCA) has prompted calls for the agency to follow national police guidelines and name suspects who have been arrested. Read more...
Crime baron given 'super ASBO' and ordered to settle tax debts (6 March 2014)
A tax cheat and criminal kingpin from Newcastle has been issued with a ‘super crime ASBO’ and ordered to pay back in excess of £250,000 of his ill-gotten gains following a High Court ruling. Read more...
Convicted murderer may win payout over lack of prison rehabilitation (4 March 2014)
A convicted killer may be awarded compensation after he took action against the Prison Service for not providing him with rehabilitation in jail. Read more...
ASBO for shoplifter with sweet tooth (4 March 2014)
A 33-year-old man who stole 20 bars of Galaxy chocolate from a shop in Bolton received an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) when he appeared before Bolton Magistrates’ Court. Read more...
Fraud victims urge others to contact FCA to prevent boiler room scams (3 March 2014)
People who have fallen victim to so called “boiler room” scams are urging others to check the website of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for advice before parting with any money to cold callers who offer investment opportunities. Read more...
Manslaughter sentence may be referred to Court of Appeal (28 February 2014)
An altercation about cycling on the pavement led to the death of a man as a result of being punched. His assailant was eventually given a jail sentence of four and a half years for manslaughter.
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Report criticises overcrowding at HMP Pentonville (27 February 2014)
HMP Pentonville in North London is at risk of closure following a damming report on conditions at the prison, which found unhygienic cells, overcrowding, widespread drug use and access to heroin.
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Lee Rigby killers get life, following Court of Appeal ruling on whole-life sentences (27 February 2014)
The killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby have been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey – but only one received a whole-life sentence. Read more...
Strict ASBOs for teenage gang members (26 February 2014)
A teenage gang from Liverpool that engaged in intimidating and threatening behaviour and committed numerous crimes in the city has each been given an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) in an attempt to curb its behaviour. Read more...
Daughter with power of attorney took £95k instead of paying elderly father’s care home (25 February 2014)
Southampton Crown Court has heard how a 65-year-old woman took £95,000 belonging to her elderly father which was intended to pay for his care. Read more...
Justice Secretary gets tough with re-offenders out on licence (25 February 2014)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling is to close a loophole to ensure that convicted criminals who carry on offending after being released early from their sentence will have to return to jail to complete the full term. Read more...
Chair of Criminal Bar attacks promotion of Britain’s legal sector despite Legal Aid cuts (24 February 2014)
Senior barrister Nigel Lithman QC has launched a scathing attack on a London conference which promoted Britain’s legal sector overseas, in the face of recent cuts to Legal Aid by the Ministry of Justice. Read more...
Gangland bosses to be charged under new criminal offence (24 February 2014)
The government is to introduce a new criminal offence of directing organised crime, in an attempt to bring to justice gang bosses who profit from crime.
Read more...
Dutch researchers identify “violence gene” (21 February 2014)
Researchers in the Netherlands say they have identified a “violence” gene which makes it more likely children will become addicted to playing violent computer games such as ‘Grand Theft Auto’. Read more...
Housing benefit claimant accused of fraud ordered to repay £5,900 (20 February 2014)
A housing benefit claimant found guilty of defrauding the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has been ordered to repay £5,900 in overpayments of housing benefit. Read more...
Landmark ASBO for extremist from London (20 February 2014)
A man from east London has been given a “landmark” anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) for his part in spreading extremist religious views in the capital, the Old Bailey ruled on Wednesday. Read more...
Improve HMP Pentonville or close it, says Chief Inspector of Prisons (19 February 2014)
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick has said that if standards at Pentonville prison in London cannot be improved, the jail should be closed.
Read more...
Court of Appeal backs whole-life sentences (19 February 2014)
The Court of Appeal has ruled whole-life sentences are legal and compatible with human rights legislation. Read more...
London couple jailed for benefit fraud and drug trafficking offences (19 February 2014)
A couple from London that made a living from huge sums of money gained from benefit fraud and drug trafficking have both been jailed after pleading guilty to multiple charges at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday. Read more...
Second life sentence for career robber who raided banks while out on licence (18 February 2014)
A prolific bank robber let out on licence from a life sentence is back behind bars after committing raids on banks between April and September 2012. Read more...
Labour calls for overhaul of stop and search (18 February 2014)
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called the impact of stop and search policies on young adults “shameful”.
Read more...
Court hears how VAT scam and benefit fraud funded couple’s designer lifestyle (18 February 2014)
A couple described as “professional fraudsters” used a VAT scam and benefit fraud to fund a designer lifestyle – including a £2 million Chelsea penthouse, private education for their children, designer goods and a casino gambling habit. Read more...
Woman jailed for benefit fraud – and banned from social housing (14 February 2014)
A woman who wrongly claimed to be single for the purpose of claiming benefits has been jailed for 22 months and banned from applying for social housing. Read more...
Shropshire uncovers nearly £1m in benefit overpayments and benefit fraud (14 February 2014)
Councillors in Shropshire have uncovered nearly £1 million-worth of overpayments and benefit fraud in the county, according to a report in local newspaper the Shropshire Star. Read more...
Care home manager given two-year jail sentence for fraud (13 February 2014)
A care home deputy manager that stole a five-figure sum from residents in “a calculated and sustained crime” has been given a two-year jail term after a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court last week. Read more...
SFO arrests two men in London in connection with Rolls Royce fraud investigation (13 February 2014)
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has arrested two men in connection with an investigation into Rolls Royce and the company’s business interests in Asia. Read more...
Focus on banned dog breeds, after baby dies following pit-bull attack (12 February 2014)
The mother of an 11-month-old baby girl and her boyfriend have been arrested, after a pit bull-type dog attacked her sleeping baby and inflicted fatal injuries. Read more...
Rogue trader jailed and handed ASBO (10 February 2014)
A rogue trader from Lowestoft has been jailed and given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) after he used his building and gardening company to con numerous victims out of thousands of pounds over a two-year period.
Read more...
Madame Tussauds predator guilty of child abduction and sexual assault (10 February 2014)
Police in London are appealing for potential victims to come forward after a man was convicted of abducting and sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl at London tourist attraction Madame Tussauds on 5 August last year. Read more...
Plebgate officers will not face criminal charges over mobile porn (10 February 2014)
The investigation into the “plebgate” row involving Downing Street police officers and MP Andrew Mitchell has revealed that some police officers exchanged pornographic images on their mobile phones – but will not face criminal charges over the images. Read more...
LibDems call for review of Britain’s drug laws (10 February 2014)
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is calling fro an overhaul of Britain’s drug laws – including the possible legalisation of cocaine – after he returned from a fact finding trip to Columbia. Read more...
Jurors who research cases online could face jail (7 February 2014)
Jurors who research cases they are involved in online could face up to two years in jail, according to new guidelines revealed by the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling this week. Read more...
Concern over privatisation of the Probation Service without initial pilot schemes (6 February 2014)
Shadow Justice Minister in the House of Lords Jeremy Beecham has raised concerns over the government’s plans to privatise 70% of the Probation Service without proper piloting of the changes. Read more...
Call for government review after youth deaths in custody double (5 February 2014)
The Prison Reform Trust and campaigners INQUEST are calling for an inquiry into the deaths of children and young adults held in custody. Read more...
Parents committing motor insurance fraud to cut driving costs for kids (5 February 2014)
New research for comparison website GoCompare.com has found that middle class parents are unwittingly committing fraud by offering to be named as the main driver on a car owned by their student son or daughter, in order to lower the cost of motor insurance for them. Read more...
Council fraud prevention officer pleads guilty to three counts of fraud (5 February 2014)
An employee of Bromley Council who embezzled £46,000 and paid it into his family’s bank accounts was only found out after his wife shopped him in revenge for him having an extra-marital affair. Read more...
Tax consultants raided over allegations of fraud by false representation (4 February 2014)
A Bury tax consultancy has denied allegations of fraud by false representation, after charging £165 to help consumers have their property rebanded for Council Tax purposes, thisisLancashire.co.uk reports. Read more...
Youth leaders in Lancashire help PCC shape crime strategy (4 February 2014)
Young adults in Blackburn, Lancashire are being given a voice in deciding how crime in their local area should be tackled. Read more...
ASBO for nuisance caller (4 February 2014)
A woman from Cambridgeshire has been given an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) after bombarding police with a series of angry calls over a five-year period. Read more...
Benefit fraudster narrowly escapes jail sentence (3 February 2014)
A woman from Crawley, who illegitimately claimed in excess of £23,000 in housing benefits, has narrowly escaped a jail sentence after being given a community order and told to undertake unpaid work. Read more...
Whole-life sentences under the spotlight, as Lee Rigby killer appeals against conviction (31 January 2014)
The news that one of Fusilier Lee Rigby’s killers is to appeal against his conviction has highlighted the issue of whole life sentences once more.
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Lee Rigby killer to appeal conviction (30 January 2014)
Michael Adebolajo, 29, who was found guilty of the killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks last May, is to appeal against his conviction. Read more...
Crime reduced by 10 per cent in England and Wales, says survey (30 January 2014)
Official figures from the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that in the 12 months to September 2013 crime overall fell by 10 per cent – there were eight million crimes against adults and households during the year. Read more...
Supermarket scammer given suspended jail sentence (30 January 2014)
A woman from Pembroke has narrowly avoided a jail sentence after stealing in excess of £6,500 from supermarket giant Tesco after attempting to use a National Lottery winning payout scam, a court heard on Wednesday. Read more...
Crisis in UK prisons (29 January 2014)
Prisons are meant to provide a safe form of detention for criminals and also, when possible, to help rehabilitate. However, a recent report has revealed that suicides and murders in British prisons for men are becoming an increasingly common problem. Read more...
Suspended sentence for shoplifter driven to crime by the boredom of old age (29 January 2014)
A 76-year-old woman has told a court in North Staffordshire that she went on a shoplifting spree to ease the boredom of being old. Read more...
Nottinghamshire pair given ASBOs (28 January 2014)
Two people from Nottinghamshire have been issued with anti-social behaviour orders (ASBO) after they repeatedly verbally abused local members of the community, a court heard on Monday. Read more...
Crime Survey shows continuing trend of falling crime in England and Wales (24 January 2014)
Publication of the latest crime figures showing crimes in England and Wales are at an all-time low have prompted speculation that some police figures for recorded crime might not be accurate. Read more...
Persistent shoplifter handed ASBO (23 January 2014)
A prolific shoplifter from Derbyshire has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ABSO) and ordered to stay away from retail premises after being convicted of four separate thefts during a two-month period last year. Read more...
DWP anticipates record number of prosecutions for benefit fraud (23 January 2014)
Benefit fraud and benefit payment errors have risen by £300 million since 2010, according to figures from the National Audit Office (NAO).
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Recorded crime figures set to rise, after official data status is removed (22 January 2014)
Chairman of the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) Sir Andrew Dilnot has warned MPs that a rise in recorded crime could follow the authority’s decision to remove official data status from police crime figures. Read more...
DWP anticipates record number of prosecutions for benefit fraud (22 January 2014)
Benefit fraud and benefit payment errors have risen by £300 million since 2010, according to figures from the National Audit Office (NAO).
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Recorded crime figures set to rise, after official data status is removed (22 January 2014)
Chairman of the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) Sir Andrew Dilnot has warned MPs that a rise in recorded crime could follow the authority’s decision to remove official data status from police crime figures.
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Community justice systems “taking law enforcement out of police hands” (20 January 2014)
Police may be oblivious to some serious crime being committed in cities, as communities take the law into their own hands and enforce their own justice, according to the Mail online. Read more...
Police trust dented by perceived “cover ups”, new poll finds (17 January 2014)
A new poll by Sky News has found that many Britons feel that the police cover up any wrongdoing on the part of officers. Read more...
Liverpool solider jailed for hi-tech equipment theft (15 January 2014)
A Liverpool solider that stole expensive hi-tech army equipment and sold it through a friend on eBay has been dishonourably discharged from the army and handed a 20-month jail sentence. Read more...
Serial offender given suspended sentence to allow him to care for baby (14 January 2014)
A 58-year-old father of twenty-two children who has 32 convictions ranging from burglary to drug dealing has received a suspended sentence so he can stay at home and look after his baby son. Read more...
MPs face war crimes allegations over “systemic abuse” of Iraqi POWs (13 January 2014)
British MPs who served in the Cabinet between 2003 and 2008 have been implicated in war crimes allegations which claim that British troops in Iraq tortured Iraqi prisoners during the Iraq war. Read more...
Disabled carer prosecuted for benefit fraud after being filmed at the gym (13 January 2014)
A 60-year-old woman who claimed she could barely walk has pleaded guilty to benefit fraud charges, after being spotted exercising at her local gym – and despite saying her doctor and physiotherapist had told her to take as much exercise as possible. Read more...
Met Police to give officers cameras following Duggan verdict (13 January 2014)
The Metropolitan Police in London have announced a £1.6 million trial in which officers will be given cameras to wear as they carry out their daily duties. Read more...
Slavery charges for Birmingham woman after police swoop (13 January 2014)
A woman from Alum Rock in east Birmingham has been charged with keeping four men captive at her home and treating them as slaves. Read more...
Benefits cheat claimed housing support whilst building property portfolio (10 January 2014)
A benefits cheat from Cambridge has received a suspended jail sentence after illegitimately claiming council housing benefit despite building a substantial property portfolio in her hometown and Bulgaria. Read more...
Duggan lawfully killed by police, says inquest jury (9 January 2014)
An inquest into the shooting of Mark Duggan – whose death sparked the London riots in 2011 – has concluded that he was lawfully killed. Read more...
ICFR bankruptcy results in fraud charges for chief operations officer (9 January 2014)
The former chief operating officer of the International Centre for Financial Regulation (ICFR), Charles Taylor, has been charged with defrauding the regulatory trade body of nearly £600,000. Read more...
Taxi robber sentenced to 12 years in jail (8 January 2014)
A man from Liverpool has been jailed for 12 years after robbing a taxi driver at gunpoint and attempting to escape from police officers just moments after being arrested. Read more...
Spanish court summons princess to answer tax and money laundering allegations (8 January 2014)
Princess Cristina of Spain – the daughter of the ruling king of Spain, 76-year-old King Juan Carlos – has been summoned to appear in court to answer charges in a case involving alleged tax evasion and money laundering. Read more...
Confiscation order delays let criminals get away with millions (7 January 2014)
Labour Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan is calling for an overhaul of the system under which the profits of illegal activity are seized from major criminals. Read more...
Benefit Fraud pilot scheme welcomed by MPs (6 January 2014)
A new benefits pilot scheme in six areas across the country will tackle benefit fraud and benefit overpayments. Read more...
Criminal Bar Association’s Day of Action on Monday 6 January (6 January 2014)
Criminal barristers are staging a morning of strike action today (06/01/14) in protest at cuts to Legal Aid. Read more...
Prisoner unrest at HMP Oakwood (6 January 2014)
A spokesman for G4S has confirmed that a serious incident broke out and was contained at HMP Oakwood near Wolverhampton on Sunday (05/01/14).
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Teenage gang leader given ASBO (6 January 2014)
A teenager from Liverpool that terrorised local shoppers as the leader of a 30-strong gang has been given an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) and ordered to stay away from certain parts of Birkenhead or risk further punishment. Read more...
“100-year jail terms for murder” proposed in sentencing shake up (3 January 2014)
Murderers could receive prison sentences of 100 years or more if the government decides to introduce US-style prison sentences in which life means life. Read more...
Manchester woman convicted after fraudulently claiming housing benefits (2 January 2014)
A woman from Manchester has been convicted of benefit fraud after failing to disclose the correct details about her housing situation to local housing authorities. Read more...
