This England: Holy cosplaying cops!
Two Metropolitan Police officers have gone undercover in unconventional fashion by dressing as Batman and Robin to tackle illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge. They donned the unusual uniforms to target suspects familiar with their usual patrols, the Met said. Inspector Darren Watson (Batman) and sidekick PC Osman (Robin) carried out a 'superhero mission' that led to the conviction of two men. Watson said the unusual tactic had proved 'highly effective'.
BBC News (Amanda Welles)
A game of capture the flag
A box containing a stolen RNLI flag has arrived at Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station in Holyhead more than 50 years after it disappeared. A 73-year-old man from the Wirral admitted to stealing the flag during a camping trip on Holy Island, Anglesey, in 1969. The man included a £20 donation, a confession letter, and an apology. RNLI press officer Megan Dixon said the crew is 'happy to have their flag returned' and assured the man there were 'no hard feelings'.
Wales Online (Steve Morley)
Custard deemed rhubarb
Locals have admonished council bosses for transforming part of their town into 'custard corner' by painting it yellow. Warwickshire County Council spent £42,000 repainting the public space in Kenilworth to 'renew and refresh' the area. The pedestrian area on Station Road has been criticised by residents who have blamed the council for wasting taxpayers' money on painting a 'gigantic yellow line'.
Times (Philip Conford)
[See also: Inside the Chaotic Map of Doom]
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The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK government says it will ban pro-Palestinian group after activists broke into military base
Britain's government said Monday it will ban the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws after the group's members broke into a military base and vandalized two planes last week. The measure means it will be a criminal offense to belong to or support the group, with a maximum of 14 years in prison. It came as protesters in support of Palestine Action clashed with police during a demonstration in central London. Officials said two of the group's members entered the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton on Wednesday and damaged two planes with red paint. The group released video footage appearing to show one of the activists spraying the paint into a jet's turbine engines. The group alleged that Britain was continuing to 'send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel U.S./Israeli fighter jets,' and condemned the country as "an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.' The base incident was being investigated by counter-terror police. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley described Palestine Action as an 'organized extremist criminal group,' while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the protest at the airbase was the latest in the group's 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage.' She said the group's recent actions, including an attack against a defense factory in Glasgow in 2022, have resulted in damage that runs into millions of pounds. In March, Palestine Action targeted one of U.S. President Donald Trump 's golf resorts in Scotland, painting 'Gaza is Not For Sale' in giant letters on the lawn in response to his proposal to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian population. The government said a draft order will be laid in Parliament next week. Lawmakers still need to approve it. Britain's government has proscribed about 80 organizations, including Hamas and al-Qaida, and far-right groups such as National Action.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
‘Cinderella' phone snatcher caught by DNA left on lost shoe
A hapless phone snatcher caught by DNA on his lost shoe has admitted theft. Spencer Duarte, 28, of Saffron Walden, was tackled off his e-bike by members of the public after he stole a phone from a victim's hand in Ludgate Hill in the City of London at midday on August 7 last year. His trainer came off in the ensuing struggle and he was captured on CCTV wearing one shoe after he managed to get away. Police sent the shoe for DNA analysis and found his profile on the national database. He was spotted and arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on September 9. Duarte appeared at Inner London Crown on Monday where he admitted one count of theft. He will be sentenced on September 12. Physical forensics manager Andrew Walker, of the City of London Police, said: 'We were able to get sufficient levels of DNA from the shoe to obtain a single, major profile that was suitable for searching against the national DNA database. 'This search generated a 'hit' to a male whose profile had previously been uploaded. 'The slipper fitted our Cinderella and we were able to bring him before the courts.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Palestine Action to be banned under terror legislation as protesters and police clash
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the decision to proscribe Palestine Action, following the group's vandalism of two planes at an RAF base. An order will be laid before parliament next week, which, if passed, will make membership and support for Palestine Action illegal, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. A protest in support of Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square resulted in clashes with police, after the Metropolitan Police imposed an exclusion zone near the Houses of Parliament. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described Palestine Action as an "organised extremist criminal group," while a spokesperson for the group refuted claims of foreign backing and criticised the Met's actions. Palestine Action has previously engaged in acts of vandalism, including at the London offices of Allianz Insurance and a golf course owned by Donald Trump.
