Police chief condemns ‘lenient’ sentence given to ex-officer for indecent images
A chief constable has criticised the “too lenient” suspended sentence handed to a former police inspector who admitted making hundreds of indecent images of children.
Crime
Police hunt Italian Job-style raiders who used car to smash into shopping centre
Police have likened CCTV of shop thieves driving through a shopping centre to a scene out of the 1960s caper The Italian Job.
Woman denies murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail and ‘planting’ evidence
A woman blamed by a murder accused for killing a six-year-old girl and “planting” his DNA on the child’s body has told a court she had nothing to do with the crime.
Woman denies killing six-year-old Alesha MacPhail
A woman who a murder accused blames for killing a six-year-old girl has told a court she had nothing to do with the crime.
Alesha MacPhail murder trial hears of frantic search for the six-year-old
The family of murdered Alesha MacPhail told a trial of the frantic search for the six-year-old when they realised she was missing from her bed.
Murdered schoolgirl’s father says he sold drugs to her alleged killer
The father of murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail sold cannabis to the teenager accused of killing her, a court has heard.
Alesha MacPhail murder trial jury shown pictures of schoolgirl’s body
Images of a murdered schoolgirl’s body lying in woods have been shown to a jury as the trial’s first witness gave evidence.
Manhunt after two stores robbed at gunpoint in two hours
An armed robber who raided two shops in two hours is being hunted by police after stealing hundreds of pounds at gunpoint.
Boy, 16, accused of raping and murdering six-year-old girl blames woman
A teenage boy accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl on the Isle of Bute blames a woman for the crime.
Boy, 16, goes on trial accused of murdering six-year-old girl on Bute
A teenager has gone on trial accused of the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl on the Isle of Bute.
Security Minister condemns ‘unjustifiable’ objections to data-sharing crime law
Security Minister Ben Wallace has condemned “unjustifiable” objections to a new law aimed at helping police catch paedophiles.
Family in new plea for help to catch 17-year-old’s killer
The family of a 17-year-old youth worker murdered in a drive-by shooting have released new childhood pictures of her campaigning against gun and knife crime as police renewed appeals to catch her killer.
Community payback orders down 7% in year
There was a 7% drop in the number of community payback orders (CPOs) issued to offenders last year, the latest figures show.
TV show question for jurors in trial of man accused of killing actor’s daughter
Jurors who will try a man accused of killing Holby City actor John Michie’s daughter have been asked if they watch the programme.
Man flees on bike after armed robbery bid
A man who pulled a knife on a shop worker in an attempted robbery fled the scene on a bike, police have said.
Men stopped attempted rape of teenager and held suspect until police arrived
Detectives have praised a group of men who stopped the attempted rape of a terrified teenager and held the suspect until police arrived.
Views sought on plans to increase prison terms for animal cruelty
Plans to strengthen animal welfare laws could see offenders jailed for up to five years.
Woman hunted after row between drivers leaves one injured
A woman suffered a head injury in a row with another driver following a road crash.
Woman held at knifepoint and raped on wasteland
A woman has been raped at knifepoint on wasteland in Fife.
Number of community sentences drop 10% in a year, figures show
Community sentences handed out to criminals have fallen by 10% in a year, official figures indicate.
‘Street Valium’ linked to sharp rise in Glasgow drug deaths
Street drugs being sold as Valium have been linked to an “unprecedented” number of fatal overdoses in Glasgow.
Whisky worth £10,000 stolen as shop targeted again
The owners of a family-run whisky shop have been left shocked after thieves stole rare bottles worth at least £10,000 in the second break-in this month.
Cyber crime victims lose £34.6m in six months
People falling prey to cyber crime have reported losing £34.6 million, the latest numbers from Action Fraud show.
Calls for ‘more boots on the ground’ as homicides rise 14%
Rank-and-file police officers are calling for “more boots on the ground” as figures reveal a 14% rise in homicides – the highest number since 2008.
Homicides up 14% to highest number since 2008
The number of homicides in England and Wales has increased by 14% in a year to the highest level since 2008, new figures show.
Homicides increase by 14% as knife crime rises
Homicides have increased by 14% in a year while offences involving a knife are up by 8%, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Masked robber armed with shotgun targets shop
Police are hunting a robber who targeted a shop armed with a shotgun.
Police bid to trace women who helped assault victim
Police are trying to trace two women who helped the victim of an assault in Dundee.
Lauren Wade neglected by ‘deviant and devious’ couple
Lauren Wade should have been setting off for another day of school on Friday morning, but instead her parents Margaret Wade and Marie Sweeney were being jailed for neglect which led to her death.
Parents jailed for neglect of malnourished toddler which led to her death
The parents of a malnourished toddler who died have been jailed for more than six years after admitting neglect.