#crownprosecutionservice — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1231599/ Grenfell Tower fire: Tenant management firm faces corporate manslaughter charge – London Evening Standard #Britain #CrownProsecutionService #England #GreatBritain #GrenfellTower #justice4grenfell #LondonFireBrigade #manslaughter #MetPolice #News #NorthernIreland #Scotland #ScotlandYard #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

Grenfell Tower fire: Tenant management firm faces corporate manslaughter charge – London Evening Standard

Grenfell Tower fire: Tenant management firm faces corporate manslaughter charge  London Evening StandardMet Police submits Grenfell Tower fire investigation…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #CrownProsecutionService #GrenfellTower #justice4grenfell #LondonFireBrigade #Manslaughter #MetPolice #ScotlandYard #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/754285/

Grenfell Tower fire: Tenant management company faces corporate manslaughter charge

The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation is facing a corporate manslaughter charge over the Grenfel…
#London #Britain #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #England #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #KensingtonandChelsea #corporatemanslaughter #CrownProsecutionService #firesafety #grenfellfire #GrenfellTower #GrenfellTowerInquiry #LondonFireBrigade #MetPolice #TheStandard
https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/33631/

https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/33631/ Grenfell Tower fire: Tenant management company faces corporate manslaughter charge #CorporateManslaughter #CrownProsecutionService #FireSafety #GrenfellFire #GrenfellTower #GrenfellTowerInquiry #KensingtonAndChelsea #LondonFireBrigade #MetPolice #TheStandard

The Guardian view on Grenfell prosecutions: at last, survivors have a date | Editorial
By Editorial

Prosecutors will decide who to charge within eight months. But ministers should also re-examine the law

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/01/the-guardian-view-on-grenfell-prosecutions-at-last-survivors-have-a-date

#GrenfellTowerinquiry #GrenfellTowerfire #Metropolitanpolice #London #Localgovernment #CrownProsecutionService #Socialhousing #Constructionindustry #TheGuardian #Editorial

Grenfell Tower fire: Kensington and Chelsea Council faces corporate manslaughter charge – London Evening Standard

Grenfell Tower fire: Kensington and Chelsea Council faces corporate manslaughter charge  London Evening StandardMet hands Grenfell fire investigation file…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #CrownProsecutionService #GrenfellTower #MetPolice #ScotlandYard #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/752947/

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1229269/ Grenfell fire: Kensington and Chelsea Council faces corporate manslaughter charge – London Evening Standard #CrownProsecutionService #GrenfellTower #MetPolice #News #ScotlandYard #UK #UnitedKingdom

Revealed: First organisations to face charges over Grenfell Tower fire nine years after fire

Scotland Yard has passed 20 files of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service over the Grenfell Tower fire.…
#London #Britain #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #England #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #KensingtonandChelsea #AngelaRayner #CrownProsecutionService #GrenfellTower #GrenfellTowerInquiry #KensingtonandChelseaCouncil
https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/33191/

https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/33191/ Revealed: First organisations to face charges over Grenfell Tower fire nine years after fire #AngelaRayner #CrownProsecutionService #GrenfellTower #GrenfellTowerInquiry #KensingtonAndChelsea #KensingtonAndChelseaCouncil

Grenfell fire police investigators hand files on 20 firms and 54 people to CPS https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/30/grenfell-fire-police-investigators-files-prosecutors #GrenfellTowerFire #GrenfellTowerInquiry #London #UkNews #MetropolitanPolice #Police #CrownProsecutionService #Law

Grenfell fire police investigators hand files on 20 firms and 54 people to CPS
By Ben Quinn

Met calls move ‘milestone’ moment that paves way for ‘very best possible evidence for charging decisions’

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/30/grenfell-fire-police-investigators-files-prosecutors

#GrenfellTowerfire #GrenfellTowerinquiry #London #UKnews #Metropolitanpolice #Police #CrownProsecutionService #Law #TheGuardian #BenQuinn

Enfield sex offender used AI to create sexualised images of women and children

An Enfield sex offender who secretly photographed women an…
#London #Britain #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #England #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #Enfield #artificialintelligence #BrianKelleher #children #children’splayground #CrownProsecutionService #explicitimages #indecentimages #MetropolitanPolice #sexualisedimages #womenandchildren #WoodGreenCrownCourt #ZaferDogan #ZagerDogan
https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/31782/

https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/31782/ Enfield sex offender used AI to create sexualised images of women and children #ArtificialIntelligence #BrianKelleher #children #Children’sPlayground #CrownProsecutionService #Enfield #ExplicitImages #IndecentImages #MetropolitanPolice #SexualisedImages #WomenAndChildren #WoodGreenCrownCourt #ZaferDogan #ZagerDogan

https://www.europesays.com/3272555/ Tommy Robinson at court to see tearful anti-migrant activist Danny Tommo deny criminal damage #Basingstoke #CriminalDamage #CROWNCOURT #CrownProsecutionService #DanielThomas #DannyTommo #EmergencyResponder #EnglishChannel #HampshireConstabulary #migrant #PortsmouthCrownCourt #TOMMYROBINSON

First charges brought in UK for 1994 Rwanda genocide

Prosecutors said on Monday they had brought the first-ever charges in the UK against a man for his…
#UnitedKingdom #UK #Europe #EU #1994Rwandagenocide #AgenceFrance-Presse #Britishcitizen #CrownProsecutionService #GreatBritain #Hutu #Islington #JuvenalHabyarimana #kigali #London #rwanda #Rwandangovernment #Tutsi #VincentBrown #WestminsterMagistrates’Court
https://www.europesays.com/3264774/

https://www.europesays.com/3264774/ First charges brought in UK for 1994 Rwanda genocide #1994RwandaGenocide #AgenceFrancePresse #BritishCitizen #CrownProsecutionService #GreatBritain #Hutu #Islington #JuvenalHabyarimana #kigali #London #rwanda #RwandanGovernment #Tutsi #UK #UnitedKingdom #VincentBrown #WestminsterMagistrates’Court

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1216178/ First charges brought in UK for 1994 Rwanda genocide #1994RwandaGenocide #AgenceFrancePresse #Britain #BritishCitizen #CrownProsecutionService #England #GreatBritain #Hutu #islington #JuvenalHabyarimana #Kigali #london #NorthernIreland #Rwanda #RwandanGovernment #Scotland #Tutsi #UK #UnitedKingdom #VincentBrown #Wales #WestminsterMagistratesCourt

First charges brought in UK for 1994 Rwanda genocide https://www.byteseu.com/2386255/ #1994RwandaGenocide #AgenceFrancePresse #BritishCitizen #CrownProsecutionService #GreatBritain #Hutu #islington #JuvenalHabyarimana #Kigali #london #Rwanda #RwandanGovernment #Tutsi #UK #UnitedKingdom #VincentBrown #WestminsterMagistrates'Court

The Guardian view on rape courts: ministers know that victims deserve better | Editorial
By Editorial

New facilities for witnesses who have been sexually assaulted are a step towards halving violence against girls and women

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/21/the-guardian-view-on-courts-ministers-know-that-victims-deserve-better

#Rapeandsexualassault #Violenceagainstwomenandgirls #CrownProsecutionService #UKcriminaljustice #Crime #Law #UKnews #TheGuardian #Editorial

Dentist who stole £92,500 from NHS gets jail sentence

A dentist who defrauded the NHS of more than £92,500 has been given a three-year jail sentence. Dr…
#Canada #BenHarrison #CrownProsecutionService #FaribaShameli #LewesCrownCourt #WestSussex #Worthing
https://www.europesays.com/canada/218954/

https://www.europesays.com/africa/423275/ Poco Lee to appear in court Sept 15, UK prosecutors confirm #CrownProsecutionService #IwehOdinaka #Nigeria #NigerianDancer #PocoLee #SexualOffenceCase #SnaresbrookCrownCourt

Poco Lee to appear in court Sept 15, UK prosecutors confirm

The sexual offence case involving Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, remains active…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #UK #CrownProsecutionService #IwehOdinaka #NigerianDancer #Pocolee #sexualoffencecase #SnaresbrookCrownCourt #UnitedKingdom
https://www.europesays.com/britain/122890/

https://www.europesays.com/britain/122890/ Poco Lee to appear in court Sept 15, UK prosecutors confirm #CrownProsecutionService #IwehOdinaka #NigerianDancer #PocoLee #SexualOffenceCase #SnaresbrookCrownCourt #UK #UnitedKingdom

Rapist who kept trophy box of women’s belongings ‘may have had more victims’

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/07/rapist-kept-trophy-box-womens-items-may-victims-29551721/

Cambridge University asks former chief crown prosecutor to open Arday review
By Richard Adams Education editor

Nazir Afzal to focus in review’s first stage on support given to professor in immediate period before his death

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/04/cambridge-university-nazir-afzal-to-lead-first-part-jason-arday-review

#JasonArday #UniversityofCambridge #Highereducation #Education #Raceineducation #Race #CrownProsecutionService #UKnews #TheGuardian #RichardAdamsEducationeditor

Cambridge University asks former chief crown prosecutor to open Arday review https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/04/cambridge-university-nazir-afzal-to-lead-first-part-jason-arday-review #JasonArday #UniversityOfCambridge #HigherEducation #Education #RaceInEducation #Race #CrownProsecutionService #UkNews

Benefit fraudster claimed more than £24,000 from Ealing Council – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing’s 7 towns

A fraudster used stolen identities and fake documents to claim more than £24,000 in housing benefit from Ealing…
#London #Britain #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #England #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #Ealing #CPS #CrownProsecutionService #Fraud #JavedShaikh
https://www.europesays.com/gbr/london/17566/

Three years after his death, the Met goes after Mohamed Al Fayed. As for his enablers – well, you can’t rush things, can you? | Marina Hyde
By Marina Hyde

The crimes he stands accused of required whole armies of facilitators. Don’t the victims deserve to see them face justice too?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/25/mohamed-al-fayed-police-met-crimes-victims-justice

#MohamedAlFayed #Crime #UKnews #Metropolitanpolice #London #Police #CrownProsecutionService #TheGuardian #MarinaHyde

Three years after his death, the Met goes after Mohamed Al Fayed. As for his enablers – well, you can’t rush things, can you? | Marina Hyde https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/25/mohamed-al-fayed-police-met-crimes-victims-justice #MohamedAlFayed #Crime #UkNews #MetropolitanPolice #London #Police #CrownProsecutionService

CPS director apologises for failings in case of rapist-murderer Simon Levy https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/aug/14/cps-director-apologises-for-failings-in-case-of-rapist-murderer-simon-levy #CrownProsecutionService #UkNews #Crime #Law #RapeAndSexualAssault #Society

Four men guilty of killing dad who was kidnapped, tortured and set on fire

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2026/08/12/four-men-guilty-killing-dad-kidnapped-tortured-set-fire-29360313/

Why was Simon Levy free to kill? How blunders meant Tube sex attacker could murder twice

Mr Southworth told the Press Association: “Tragically, Levy came to notice on a number of occasions, both to…
#London #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #England #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #Britain #BritishTransportPolice #CrownProsecutionService #GreatBritain #london #MetropolitanPolice #OldBailey #OysterCard #Police #Policeofficers #Rape #Transport
https://www.europesays.com/uk/1136370/

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1136370/ Why was Simon Levy free to kill? How blunders meant Tube sex attacker could murder twice #Britain #BritishTransportPolice #CrownProsecutionService #England #GreatBritain #london #MetropolitanPolice #OldBailey #OysterCard #Police #PoliceOfficers #Rape #Transport #UK #UnitedKingdom

Simon Levy murders: has anything changed in policing since Sarah Everard’s killing?
By Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent

Experts say the attackers’ behaviour, and the handling of their cases, have striking similarities

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/07/simon-levy-murders-has-anything-changed-in-policing-since-sarah-everard-killing

#Crime #Metropolitanpolice #Rapeandsexualassault #Women #UKnews #Sexwork #London #Police #Violenceagainstwomenandgirls #Law #England #CrownProsecutionService #TheGuardian #VikramDoddPolice #crimecorrespondent

Simon Levy murders: has anything changed in policing since Sarah Everard’s killing? https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/07/simon-levy-murders-has-anything-changed-in-policing-since-sarah-everard-killing #Crime #MetropolitanPolice #RapeAndSexualAssault #Women #UkNews #SexWork #London #Police #ViolenceAgainstWomenAndGirls #Law #England #CrownProsecutionService

Police and prosecution errors left proven sex offender free to murder two women in London https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/07/simon-levy-murder-trial-women-london-police-prosecution-errors #Crime #RapeAndSexualAssault #ViolenceAgainstWomenAndGirls #London #England #MetropolitanPolice #CrownProsecutionService #Police #Law #Society #UkNews

Police and prosecution errors left proven sex offender free to murder two women in London
By Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent

Delays to sexual assault charges and failures to report past convictions in court hearings gave Simon Levy chance to attack more women

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/07/simon-levy-murder-trial-women-london-police-prosecution-errors

#Crime #Rapeandsexualassault #Violenceagainstwomenandgirls #London #England #Metropolitanpolice #CrownProsecutionService #Police #Law #Society #UKnews #TheGuardian #VikramDoddPolice #crimecorrespondent

Stephen Bear jailed for harassing ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison

Disgraced former reality TV star Stephen Bear has been jailed for harassing his ex-girlfriend Georgia Harrison. Bear, 36,…
#Canada #ChelmsfordCrownCourt #CrownProsecutionService #EssexPolice #GeorgiaHarrison #restrainingorder #SnaresbrookCrownCourt #StephenBear
https://www.europesays.com/canada/158154/

Latvian man extradited to the UK and charged over death of 12-year-old in crash

A man has been extradited to the UK and charged over the death of a boy killed in…
#Latvia #LV #Europe #Europa #EU #CrownProsecutionService #deathbydangerousdriving #DolarsAleksanders #gatwickairport #Jaunumi #KeatonSlater #latvia #Latvianauthorities #Latvija #WestMidlandspolice
https://www.europesays.com/3177485/

US singer Chris Brown pleads guilty to affray over London nightclub incident

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://interaksyon.philstar.com/celebrities/2026/07/28/316883/us-singer-chris-brown-pleads-guilty-to-affray-over-london-nightclub-incident/

https://www.europesays.com/people/162748/ Disturbing Details Revealed in Charges Against Barron Trump’s Buddy #AndrewTate #BarronTrump #CrownProsecutionService #IndecentImages #JosephMcBride #SexTrafficking #SexualExploitation #TristanTate #Trump

Tate Brothers UK Extradition Fight Begins After Miami Court Appearance

https://thedemocracyadvocate.com/us-news/tate-brothers-uk-extradition/

OPERATION OAK: Swansea man among eight charged with child sexual exploitation offences spanning decades

A Swansea man is among eight charged with child sexual exploitation offences following a decades-spanning police investigation that includes the city.

Murad Ali, 57, of Swansea, is charged with two counts of rape of a female under 16. He and the seven other men are bailed to appear before Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday July 24.

Gwent Police detectives carried out a targeted arrest operation on Tuesday July 14 — with activity in Swansea and Newport, and as far afield as London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute.

Operation Oak is the force’s investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in Swansea, Newport and Abergavenny, prompted by reports from a number of women of sexual abuse committed against them as children between 1985 and 1996.

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised 34 charges in total, including 17 counts of rape — some relating to multiple incidents. The charges relate to eight victims who were children at the time.

The men charged

57-year-old Murad Ali from Swansea, who describes himself as Asian-Pakistani, is charged with two counts of rape of a female under 16.

Birmingham man Shafaq Mohammed, 58, who also describes himself as Asian Pakistani, faces the most charges of the eight — 11 in total. He is charged with four counts of rape of a female under 16, three counts of rape of a female aged 16 or over, and two counts of aiding and abetting the rape of a female under 16, along with causing the prostitution of a girl under 16 and causing the prostitution of a woman.

Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, a 54-year-old from Edinburgh who gave his ethnicity as British Bangladeshi, faces eight charges: two counts of rape of a female aged 16 or over, indecent assault on a woman over 16, three counts of aiding and abetting rape, and two counts of conspiring to rape a woman aged 16 or over.

From Newport, 65-year-old Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi, who self-defines as Asian Pakistani, is charged with three counts of rape of a female under 16.

Kevin Lawrence, 54, of Dunoon in Scotland, who describes himself as White European, is charged with two counts of conspiring to rape a woman aged 16 or over, and with causing the prostitution of a woman.

Also from Newport is Sheikh Mohammed Tahir Ullah, 73, who gave his ethnicity as Asian Bangladeshi. He is charged with one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over and one count of rape of a female under 16.

Aminur Rahman Chowdhury, a 58-year-old from Tottenham in London who describes himself as Asian Bangladeshi, is charged with one count of rape of a female aged 16 or over.

And in Lancashire, 58-year-old Shakeel Babur, who self-defines as British Pakistani, is charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16.

Police said some of the rape and indecent assault charges relate to multiple incidents.

“Supporting victims” at the heart of the investigation

Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck said Operation Oak is a complex and long-running investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in South Wales.

“At the heart of our investigation has been supporting victims. Together with specialist agencies, we are continuing to provide support to them,” he said.

“I know investigations of this nature are likely to cause concern in our communities but it’s vital to the victims in this case and the integrity of the investigation that nothing is posted on social media which could impact the court proceedings.”

He urged anyone who has suffered abuse, or has concerns about someone who may be, to come forward: “We will listen to you and investigate all offences, and also ensure you have access to any help or support you need.”

Jenny Hopkins, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, said prosecutors had established there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that prosecution is in the public interest.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have the right to a fair trial,” she said. “It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Abuse can be reported to Gwent Police online or on 101 — or 999 if someone is in immediate danger. Support for those affected by child sexual abuse is available through the force’s website and the When You Are Ready service.

Criminal proceedings against all eight defendants are active, and each has the right to a fair trial. Comments have been closed on this article for that reason.

If you have been affected by this story: Childline can be contacted free on 0800 1111, and Samaritans are available day and night on 116 123.

‘My childhood stopped’: woman sues CPS after taking stepfather to abuse trial https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/jul/04/my-childhood-stopped-woman-sues-cps-after-taking-stepfather-to-abuse-trial #CrownProsecutionService #UkCriminalJustice #UkNews #Society #Law

‘Truly international’ network of drug-facilitated rape uncovered by UK crime agency https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/02/international-network-drug-facilitated-rape-uncovered-by-uk-crime-agency #RapeAndSexualAssault #Crime #DomesticViolence #ViolenceAgainstWomenAndGirls #Society #GislePelicot #Drugs #UkNews #WorldNews #CrownProsecutionService #France #Europe

Criminal Cases Review Commission told to urgently improve after Malkinson failings https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/jul/02/criminal-cases-review-commission-told-to-urgently-improve-after-malkinson-failings #CriminalCasesReviewCommission #CrownProsecutionService #UkCriminalJustice #UkNews #Law

I’ve worked closely with both Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer. A single quality separates them | Nazir Afzal https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/30/andy-burnham-keir-starmer-voters-no-10 #AndyBurnham #Politics #KeirStarmer #UkNews #RochdaleChildSexAbuseRing #Law #CrownProsecutionService

Prosecutors in England and Wales expect rise in domestic abuse during World Cup https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/27/prosecutors-cps-expect-rise-domestic-abuse-football-world-cup #DomesticViolence #Women #Men #WorldCup2026 #Football #WorldCup #CrownProsecutionService #Society #UkCriminalJustice #UkNews #Sport

How the US bypasses British courts to try its military over crimes in the UK https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/25/how-us-bypass-british-courts-military-crimes-uk #UsMilitary #CrownProsecutionService #UkCriminalJustice #UkNews #Law #Politics #UsNews

The UK #FOIA lioness, @estelledehon,
who has represented me in my #FOIA battle on #JA and #WikiLeaks against the #CrownProsecutionService since 2017, was just awarded an #OBE for her services to #EnvironmentalLaw!

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/65091/supplement/B11

La leonessa inglese del #FOIA, l'avvocata #EstelleDehon,mi rappresenta dal 2017 xmia battaglia legale contro #CrownProsecutionService sul caso #JA e #WikiLeaks.
Ha appena ricevuto l'onorificienza #OBE per il suo servizio alle leggi in materia di ambiente
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/65091/supplement/B11

Police officer under criminal investigation over alleged use of AI https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/12/police-officer-under-criminal-investigation-over-alleged-use-of-ai #AiArtificialIntelligence #Police #MetropolitanPolice #UkNews #CrownProsecutionService #Derbyshire

Book Reviews

Anthology #67

Deadly Remains, by Kate Ellis

Here, we are in south Devon, the stamping ground of DI Humphrey Goodman, from the popular BBC TV series Beyond Paradise [and before that, Death in Paradise, set on the fictional island of St Marie, aka Guadaloupe]; however, he is not the subject of this book: instead, it is DI Wesley Peterson, and this is the latest in a very full series of books set in this beautiful location. Wesley’s son, Michael, is now 13, and in his summer school holiday is helping Wesley’s old friend from university, Dr Neil Watson, in an archaeological dig on Dartmoor which is aiming to recover physical evidence of an aeroplane which crashed there in world war two, when it was returning from a secret mission to France. The pilot escaped, but died very soon afterwards, so he was not able to provide any reason for the inexplicable crash. When three skeletons are discovered nearby, naturally enough, the police have to be involved. At the same time, an author who mostly ghost-wrote autobiographies for celebrities and is staying in the area, is found murdered; could there be a connection, or had he discovered some potentially damaging information about the subject of his latest book, so he had to be silenced? The author interweaves the contemporary diaries of the pilot of the doomed ’plane, and a young local woman with the current-day action, and as Wesley’s enquiries progress, it becomes increasingly clear that local people in a notoriously tight-knit country community, including the present-day Lord of the Manor, might have guilty secrets in their background. Michael develops a teenage crush on a young woman helping with the dig, but is her affection towards Michael just benign guidance, or something more sinister? Also, who is the odd gentleman in the bucket hat who hangs around on the periphery of the dig? Although there is one suspect Wesley’s boss considers obvious, Wesley isn’t so sure, and the tension builds nicely before the perpetrator is revealed. The hardback I read was published in 2025 by Constable, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, London, ISBN 978-0-3494-4932-8.

The Hawk is Dead, by Peter James

Roy Grace is facing his toughest test yet as a detective, and he is well out of his comfort zone here, because he is called in to investigate what looks like, initially, an attempt on the life of the new queen, Camilla; the reason he is Senior Investigating Officer for the case is that the crime occurred in Sussex, specifically close to the South Portal of the Clayton tunnel, from which the royal train was due to emerge, en route to Brighton, in advance of the queen’s scheduled engagements. This schedule was upset by the derailing of the train in the tunnel, forcing all of the passengers, none of whom was killed in the incident, to walk out of the tunnel, then up an embankment to higher ground, where Sir Peregrine Greaves [the eponymous Hawk], Private Secretary to “Their Majesties”, and one of the most senior members of the royal household, was comprehensively killed by a sniper’s bullet to the head, when he was standing a few feet away from the queen. Of course, nearly everyone assumes that the queen was the intended target; from the outset, however, Grace isn’t convinced. His seniority prevents criticism, but he is aware that his investigation will need to be more than usually thorough, especially given the concern for his wife of the king, who is prepared to give an audience to Grace in person. It doesn’t take long for Grace to realise that there is a conspiracy in operation, so he must be very circumspect about whom he takes into his confidence with his evidence, including his liaison at the palace, Major General Sir Tommy Magellan-Lacey, Master of The King’s Household. One has to assume that the author’s dispensation to put dialogue in the mouths of the monarchs has been cleared officially, and he obviously has respect for the institution, including information about the charities the queen supports at the end of the book. Despite not influencing my views on the monarchy, this is an effective thriller.  The hardback I read was published in 2025 by Macmillan, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, London, ISBN 978-1-5290-9006-2.

Murder on the Great Northern Railway, by Edward Marston

This is one of the latest entries in the Railway Detective series by this prolific author. The year is 1867, and a distinguished London silversmith who is nearing the end of a celebrated career has made a model in silver of the cathedral in the city of his birth, Lincoln, which he has designated as a gift to said institution; unfortunately, on the journey from King’s Cross Station, the crate containing the model is stolen at Peterborough station, and the private detective who was engaged to protect it in the guard’s van of the train is shot dead. The reason this was accomplished so easily is because there was an explosion in one of the station buildings while the train was stopped, so everybody’s attention was diverted. Normally, this would have been a matter for the local constabulary to investigate, but the Bishop of Lincoln and the Dean of the cathedral are sufficiently concerned to call in Scotland Yard, also because they know of Inspector Robert Colbeck by repute, from his previous achievements in successfully apprehending criminals who have broken the law on the English rail network. The perpetrators aren’t easy to identify initially, and the involvement in Lincoln of Colbeck’s superior, Superintendent Edward Tallis doesn’t make his job any easier; Tallis is beginning to feel that his efficiency is diminishing, so he thinks this supervision will be good for him. However, he soon realises that Colbeck is the man for the job, so he returns to London, but he does make a useful contribution there. When there are setbacks, the Bishop & Dean begin to lose confidence in Colbeck, and there is a danger that the criminals will succeed, but Colbeck pulls victory from the jaws of defeat. One minor negative aspect is that there is a concurrent plot device involving Colbeck’s wife and her somewhat entitled friend, which is drawn out unnecessarily long to fit the story’s timeline, but apart from that, this is a workmanlike thriller. The hardback I read was published in 2025 by Allison & Busby Limited, London,  ISBN 978-0-7490-3222-7. 

The Long Shoe, by Bob Mortimer

This is at least the second novel from this popular comedian [no list at the front of the book], the first one being The Satsuma Complex: Mortimer’s trademark left-field humour is again present here, and Satsuma is clearly a word he enjoys using. As in the previous book, the protagonist, Matt Giles is a slightly inadequate character who just wants an easy life with his girlfriend Harriet, who has a responsible position at the Crown Prosecution Service, and his cat Goodmonson, with the latter of whom he also has conversations, again repeating a trope from the previous book. Unfortunately, he has just been made redundant from his bathroom equipment salesman position, and the upset is compounded by a notice to quit their shared flat in Hither Green, London; so, when out of the blue an offer is made to him to rent cheaply an upmarket flat, which they had previously viewed — Harriet loving it but Matt dismissing it as beyond their price-range — in return for minimal caretaking duties, Matt jumps at the chance, hoping that Harriet, who has mysteriously walked away from their relationship, will find their new accommodation impossible to resist, and thereby return to him. Things do get a bit strange though, courtesy of the author’s humour, as a result of his dealings with the enigmatic owner of the apartment block and two of the current residents; and this is where the eponymous long shoe comes into the narrative. Another element in the story is Matt & Harriet’s erstwhile near-neighbour, a flirty, possibly over-sexed but rich divorcée called Carol, who enjoys breaking up married couples, just because she can, but also to alleviate boredom. As the narrative progresses, we discover Harriet’s situation, but she is unable to contact Matt, to either reassure him or confirm the break: inevitably, her plight is connected to Matt’s current activities. Aside from a repeat of my previous concern about some grammar: he frequently uses a construction which is now becoming too common, to my regret — “was stood”, or “was sat”, and I’m not familiar with an adjective, “splashy”, which he uses [it could just be his joke, of course] — the tension is built quite nicely to a satisfactory dénouement. The paperback I read was published in 2026 [2025] by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, ISBN 978-1-3985-4808-4.

DVLA FRAUD: Swansea insider jailed after doctoring car records in £1.3m scam

A DVLA worker who used his job to doctor vehicle records in an organised fraud has been jailed.

Matthew Holloway, 32, abused his position at the agency’s Swansea office to falsify car paperwork, a court heard.

His changes inflated the value of the vehicles involved by almost £1.3m, and cost the DVLA itself £117,500.

Holloway, from the Birchgrove area of Swansea, was sentenced to five years and three months at Swansea Crown Court.

He had worked in the DVLA’s special registration team — described in court as a position of trust and responsibility.

Holloway conspired with two Swansea car dealers, Ashley Harris, 44, and Joshua Sawyer, 32, who paid him to manipulate records for their businesses.

Harris, from Llansamlet, was jailed for two years and eight months. Sawyer, from Morriston, was sentenced to two years and four months.

All three had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud between January 2021 and July 2022.

The court heard Holloway ran what the prosecution called a “systematic campaign” of vehicle document tampering.

He removed registered keepers from logbooks and inserted new names, altered vehicle identification numbers, and stripped out markers showing cars had been written off.

In one instance, his alterations allowed a Ferrari that had been written off in Australia to be sold in the UK under false documentation.

In another, he doctored the records of a Mercedes-AMG so many times that the prosecutor suggested it might point to use in criminal activity.

Holloway also worked for others not before the court, in one case issuing false identity documents for a stolen Range Rover that was then sold to an innocent buyer.

Harris and Sawyer paid Holloway around £23,400 between them for circumventing the agency’s usual controls.

Judge Huw Rees told the men that “greed is at the heart of each of you defendants and your offending”.

He described the case as “organised and sophisticated criminality which has been committed for selfish gain”.

Holloway, who was in tears in the dock, was told his actions represented “a substantial fall from grace”.

Lisa McCarthy, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Holloway had held a trusted position and exploited it for financial benefit, as had Harris and Sawyer.

She said their offending had “risked corrupting the UK’s vehicle registration system”, which the public, motor trade and law enforcement rely on for accurate information.

The DVLA said the case was a serious breach of trust by a former employee, who was dismissed once the fraud was identified.

A spokesperson said the agency had since strengthened its internal controls to help prevent similar activity.

A proceeds of crime hearing in relation to the case is due to be held in October.

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TATA STEEL THEFT: Three workers jailed over £1.2m tin plot at Llanelli’s Trostre works

Three Tata Steel workers who helped steal almost £1.2m of tin from the Trostre works in Llanelli have been jailed.

The men used their positions inside the plant to smuggle out nearly 49 tonnes of tin ingots over 15 months, melting them down and selling them to scrap merchants.

Thomas Ashford, Stewart Jones and Richard Jones each conspired with an outside man, Matthew Membury, in what a judge called “a very sophisticated operation.”

Sentencing the men at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Paul Thomas KC said they had involved themselves in the theft of tonnes of tin on a “most considerable scale.”

The court heard the plot ran between July 2023 and October 2024, with the tin sold on to metal dealers and the profits split between the gang.

Prosecutor Craig Jones said the case involved a “persistent and sophisticated conspiracy” and a gross abuse of trust by employees at the site.

The scheme was set up by Ashford, a supervisor in the casthouse, who had ready access to tonnes of valuable tin.

But the key to it was Stewart Jones, a site security supervisor who controlled who came onto the works.

At first, Jones simply opened the gates to let Membury drive his van in at agreed times, before waving him back out once it was loaded.

He later created a cloned Tata ID pass in the false name of David Davies, allowing Membury to come and go as if he were a legitimate employee.

Once inside, Membury would drive to the casthouse, where Ashford loaded the ingots into his Ford Transit using a forklift truck.

Ashford also brought in one of the men he supervised — forklift driver Richard Jones, a former soldier — to help load the van on some occasions.

Each theft took only minutes, the court heard, and was timed for shift changes when there were plenty of comings and goings.

The conspiracy unravelled after suspicions were raised about ingots going missing shortly after being delivered, and Dyfed-Powys Police were called in to monitor the site.

Officers stopped Membury’s van at the plant gates at 6am on 11 October 2024, finding a load of tin ingots inside — along with three swords.

Ashford was arrested in his car in the casthouse car park, with the two others detained separately.

A financial investigation found £743,826 had been paid into Membury’s bank account in 68 deposits from various firms between July 2023 and September 2024.

He kept £339,770, passing £256,500 to Ashford, £85,500 to Stewart Jones and £62,000 to Richard Jones.

In a statement to the court, Tata said the thefts had a “significant and damaging” effect on the firm and on the morale of its 600 staff at the Llanelli site.

The company said it had spent tens of thousands of pounds improving security, and that workers were no longer allowed to park on site.

The judge said Ashford had initiated the thefts in a “gross abuse of trust” given his position as supervisor at the casthouse.

Of Stewart Jones, the judge said he had been “pivotal” to the operation as security supervisor — paid by Tata to prevent the very thing he was doing, in what amounted to a “betrayal” of the firm.

Mitigating for Stewart Jones, Matt Murphy said his client was “wholeheartedly remorseful” and had been in significant debt at the time, when “the attractiveness of the enterprise was too much to resist.”

David Singh, for Ashford, said his client had been candid and admitted the scheme was his idea, while his “difficult background” provided context to his behaviour without excusing it.

Adam Roxborough, for Richard Jones, said his client had served seven years with the Royal Welch Fusiliers with an “exemplary” record, was involved only on an “ad hoc” basis, and had taken part “because it was easy money.”

Thomas Ashford, 35, of Tairgwaith, Brynamman, and Stewart Jones, 56, of Llanelli, were each jailed for three years and four months.

Richard Jones, 39, of Townhill, Swansea, was given a 20-month sentence suspended for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work and a three-month curfew.

The court heard Ashford and Stewart Jones will serve between 30 and 40 per cent of their sentences in custody before being released on licence.

Membury, 32, of Landore, Swansea, refused to attend the hearing and will be sentenced at a later date.

He is already serving a 32-month prison sentence imposed in January for his part in a separate revenge arson plot, in which a man’s car was set alight in Swansea Vale over a business grievance.

The judge said Membury’s sentence for the Tata conspiracy would not begin until he appears in court to receive it.

The stolen tin has never been recovered, and a proceeds of crime investigation will now examine the men’s finances.

After the case, a Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said it had been “a carefully orchestrated operation which included the use of a fake Tata ID pass,” and a gross breach of trust by employees, some in managerial or security positions, that cost the company more than £1m.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

PORT TALBOT: Tata Steel sets out demands for next Welsh Government
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Tata Steel to halt production at Port Talbot and Llanelli over Christmas amid weak demand
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Port Talbot steel gets new role in green energy future
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