ESN | Stories & News

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/iopc-directs-met-to-hold-gross-misconduct-hearing-over-bianca-williams-stop-search/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/four-people-stabbed-to-death-in-south-east-london-home/

Today, the government has set out what it calls ‘bold new plans' to tackle the illegal migration crisis that has seen tens of thousands of people crossing the dangerous English Channel in inflatable boats in a bid to get into the UK. It is estimated that international criminal gangs have netted hundreds of millions of pounds after charging people up to £10,000 each to get them onto UK shores. According to official statistics, nine in ten of the 28,526 migrants who crossed the Channel in small boats last year (2021) were male. Seven in ten were single. Many lives have been lost after the small inflatable boats being used to get illegal migrants into the UK have sunk in what is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/inhumane-business-model-of-criminal-gangs-broken-following-new-partnership-with-rwanda-migration-crisis/

A medical doctor and leading Union have spoken out after comments made by Michael Fabricant MP. Mr Fabricant said that teachers and nurses 'had a drink' after work during the Covid pandemic in an apparent bid to defend Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister has paid a Fixed Penalty Notice issued by the Metropolitan Police following an investigation into many parties held at Number 10 as the country was in lockdown. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/doctor-union-speak-out-following-michael-fabricant-mp-comments-about-nurses-teachers-having-a-drink-after-work-during-lockdown/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/breaking-attempted-murder-investigation-launched-after-lit-petrol-bomb-is-thrown-at-police-officer/

A man found using fake police warrant cards and breaching a court order for previous sexual offences has been jailed following an extensive British Transport Police investigation. Bradley Baker, 28, of Kenilworth Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to possession of police articles and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was handed to him after committing three sexual offences involving children in 2018. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, 25 March, after pleading guilty to one count of theft by an employee and two counts of possession of Class B cannabis. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/former-journalist-jailed-after-breaching-sexual-harm-prevention-order-and-posing-as-a-police-officer-on-dating-apps/

A quick-thinking North Yorkshire Police staff member was able to secure immediate support for a vulnerable woman after she secretly called for help. On the evening of 5th April, North Yorkshire Police received a 999 call – but when Force Control Room staff answered it, the woman on the line said she would like to order a pizza. The police call handler immediately asked the woman if she was in trouble, to which she confirmed “yes”. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-reveal-how-a-999-call-to-order-pizza-turned-out-to-be-an-urgent-plea-for-help/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/paramedic-appears-in-court-charged-with-causing-death-by-dangerous-driving/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-officer-speaks-out-after-nurse-who-drove-over-her-before-fleeing-the-scene-is-sentenced/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/sexual-violent-offender-manager-jailed-after-forming-intimate-relationship-with-convict-she-was-tasked-with-managing/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/serving-met-police-officer-sentenced-after-headbutting-bar-manager-whilst-off-duty/

Douglas, Isle of Man - A 30-year-old man who assaulted a paramedic and kicked a police van has been sentenced to community service and probation. Christopher Denis De Vos initially pleaded not guilty to common assault and property damage but then changed his pleas to guilty at the pre-trial review stage. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/man-sentenced-after-assaulting-a-paramedic/

Officers from Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit have shared a harrowing account of how two of their officers nearly lost their lives whilst responding to an emergency call. The officers, a PC and a PS who had been on the unit only two days were responding to an emergency call in their unmarked with their blue lights and sirens activated. As the highly-trained response and pursuit drivers overtook a lorry, the 'drugged up' driver of the lorry pulled out in front of their path, causing their vehicle to slide down the road for over 100 metres. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/roads-policing-officers-share-harrowing-account-of-how-drugged-up-lorry-driver-nearly-ended-their-lives/

Details have emerged of how a National Police Air Service (NPAS) crew from Hawarden helped locate a stricken tractor driver who had spent more than 10 hours stranded in floodwater in North Wales. Dyfed-Powys Police have shared the story of how David Jones, aged 64, from Acton Burnell, near Shrewsbury, became trapped in the water on his way to a quarry near Llandrinio to collect stone at around 07:30 hours on Tuesday 22 February. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-use-social-media-to-help-pinpoint-a-tractor-driver-who-had-been-stranded-in-flood-water-for-ten-hours/

2021 was the deadliest year for U.S law enforcement personnel, with 458 police officers being killed in the line of duty, as reported by LawEnforcementToday.com. Before 2021, the highest number was 312 officers being killed in the line of duty, a grim number from 1930. The 2021 figure represents a 47% increase over the previous highest number of 312 officers being killed in 1930. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/in-2021-458-u-s-police-officers-died-in-the-line-of-duty-the-highest-figure-in-92-years-international-news/

Prosecutors in Kankakee County have shared details of Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic's brutal death on Monday, while noting they would be seeking the death penalty for the two suspects in the shooting. State's Attorney Jim Rowe said he would be asking federal prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for the suspects, Darius Sullivan, 25 and Xandria Harris, 26. They have been charged with first-degree murder and first degree attempted murder after shooting two police officers. The shooting happened at about 9:56 p.m. on 29th December after Sgt. Rittmanic, 49, and her partner, Off. Tyler Bailey, 27, responded to a call at a Comfort Inn in Bradley, which is located about 60 miles south of Chicago. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-sargeant-who-was-murdered-in-cold-blood-begged-for-her-life-international-news/

Cocaine worth an estimated street value of up to £78 million has been seized by officers from Northamptonshire Police. Officers discovered the Class A drugs after police received reports of a theft from a lorry making a delivery at a depot in Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton, on Friday, November 26. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/northants-police-announce-biggest-seizure-of-class-a-drugs-in-record-78-million-haul/

A man who put a Cambridgeshire Police officer in a headlock after he smashed the windscreen of a police car has been sent to prison. Officers were called to Saiful Islam's address in South Street, Huntingdon, on 27th July, after reports of a neighbour dispute. Officers spoke to both parties, and the neighbour described how Islam had shouted at him the previous evening and falsely accused him of stealing his headphones before throwing a pair of headphones at his face. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/man-smashed-police-car-before-strangling-police-officer/

The male who died following an explosion outside the main entrance to the Liverpool Women's Hospital has been named as failed asylum seeker Emad Al-Swealmeen. Al-Swealmeen is reported to have had both Syrian and Iraqi heritage. He changed his name by deed poll to Enzo Almeni and was 32-year-old. It is not clear how or exactly when he entered the country. It has been reported that his application for asylum in the UK was rejected in 2014, and shortly after, he was arrested after walking down a high street whilst brandishing a knife. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/liverpool-womens-hospital-explosion-what-we-know-so-far/

The Independent Press Standards Organisation has upheld a complaint made against the MailOnline by the Metropolitan police after the former published an article entitled: “Sarah Everard murder suspect was tracked by plain clothes detectives for several days before they swooped in to arrest him”. The article - published on 11th March 2021 - reported on the Metropolitan Police's search for the suspect in the Sarah Everard murder case. It reported that “Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens ha[d] been arrested on suspicion of her kidnap and murder” after being “tracked by plain clothes detectives for several days”. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/ipso-upholds-complaint-made-by-met-police-about-mailonline-article-regarding-the-arrest-of-wayne-couzens/

Three teenagers have been jailed after being found guilty of killing a man they lured to a Birmingham park and stabbed to death. Danish Mansha, Rimsha Tariq and Daiyaan Arif, all aged 18, used the internet to find someone they believed wanted to have violent sex with women and enticed him to his death. Their victim, 29-year-old Sohail Ali, was lured to Summerfield Park by the promise of meeting a girl on 4 December last year. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/three-teenagers-sentenced-after-luring-male-who-wanted-to-have-violent-sex-with-a-woman-to-his-death/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-insp-was-dealing-with-16-misper-reports-with-50-reduction-in-staff-when-nicole-smallman-bibaa-henry-were-reported-missing/

A male who murdered a teenager in a drive-by shooting can now be named, thanks to an appeal that was made by West Midlands Police (WMP). Carren Monga was jailed for life almost a year ago for shooting dead a teenager in a Coventry street after a judge lifted reporting restrictions. Monga opened fire at Abdul Xasan from the back seats of a stolen VW Golf in March 2020 and, when sentenced in January, was told he'd spend a minimum of 27 years behind bars. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/cowardly-drive-by-shooter-who-shot-teenager-in-the-back-can-now-be-named-thanks-to-police-appeal/

A 36-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting a charge of riot relating to the violence in Bristol city centre on Sunday 21 March. Ryan Dwyer, who was arrested on a warrant at Belfast Harbour by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), last month, was jailed at a hearing in Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 13th October. In addition to the sentence for the riot charge, Dwyer, of no fixed address, was also sentenced to an additional seven days behind bars for failing to appear at court, to run concurrently with the four-and-a-half-year sentence. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/cowardly-thug-jailed-for-four-years-after-attacking-police-in-bristol-during-riot/

The London Fire Brigade has said that it believes that the fire in a tower block in south London on Tuesday night involved a candle. One woman and one child were injured in the incident that started at around 20:00 hours in a flat on the 20th floor on Tuesday evening. The woman was treated at the scene, and the child was taken to a nearby hospital. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/watch-firefighters-believe-fire-in-battersea-flats-may-have-been-caused-by-a-candle/

A man has been arrested following the cowardly shooting of a Georgia police officer who was just starting his first shift. SWAT officers took 43-year-old Damien Ferguson into custody following an intense manhunt for the shooter. Intelligence provided by the U.S. Marshals & Georgia Bureau of Investigation led to Ferguson's arrest. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/man-arrested-after-police-officer-is-killed-in-cowardly-ambush-on-his-first-shift-international-news/

'Those lambasting the police in general and the Met, in particular, create the impression that policing has no redeeming features: no acts of bravery or kindness; no life-saving first aid, no compassionate dealings with those suffering a mental health crisis (the Met alone dealt with 40,000 calls linked to mental health incidents last year)'. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/a-caution-to-police-critics-guest-blog/

A man who was on a suspended sentence and who falsely identified himself as a police officer as he approached a lone female in a Barrow car park on Tuesday evening (5 Oct), saying “I'm arresting you”, has been jailed for more than five months. Gary Shepherd, 44, of Abbey Road in Barrow, appeared before Barrow Magistrates' Court yesterday (8th Oct), where he admitted charges of impersonating a police officer and common assault. He was jailed for a total of 22 weeks. The court heard how Shepherd approached the victim as she walked to her car in Greengate car park in Barrow, shortly after 6.30pm on Tuesday evening. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/man-jailed-for-impersonating-a-police-officer-after-trying-to-arrest-a-lone-female/

Cumbria Police have launched a 'lone working verification process' for members of the public who want to 'verify' police officers who they come into contact with who are single-crewed or who are working alone. The force announced that, from today, a new officer verification process would be introduced for members of the public who would like to confirm the identity of a lone working Cumbria Constabulary officer they come into contact with. A spokesperson for the force said that the introduction of this process is to reassure people who may have concerns about lone officers and the reason for their interaction with them. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/cumbria-police-launch-lone-working-officer-verification-process-for-the-public/

A South Wales Police officer has been found not guilty of assault, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). 30-year-old PC Rowan Knight was accused of assaulting Christian Summers by using 'excessive force' when he tried to arrest him for being drunk and disorderly during an incident on Northern Avenue, Whitchurch, at around 2 am on Saturday 9 January this year During the trial, the court heard how PC Knight reacted when Summers “lunged” towards him and said: “Who the f*** are you?” whilst grabbing his neck and pushing him against a police car. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-officer-found-not-guilty-of-assault-after-defending-himself-from-eye-gouging-attacker/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/off-duty-police-officers-praised-for-tackling-man-who-had-allegedly-stabbed-another-man-to-death-injured-two-others/

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-hunt-for-thug-who-kicked-guide-dog/

A new criminal offence for pet abduction is set to be introduced under government plans to crack down on pet theft following a sharp rise in beloved family pets being stolen during the pandemic. The new law will recognise the welfare of animals and that pets are valued as more than just property. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/pet-abduction-to-be-made-new-criminal-offence-in-crackdown-on-pet-thieves/

Two people from the UK have been winched to safety from their broken-down catamaran in stormy conditions 240 nautical miles southwest of Brittany in a long-range rescue coordinated by HM Coastguard. At around 19:00 hours yesterday evening (5th July), HM Coastguard received a distress alert from a UK-registered personal locator beacon (PLB). Thanks to the emergency details registered with the PLB, coastguard personnel established that the signal had come from a 45 ft catamaran with two people on board, travelling from Cape St Vincent in Spain back to the UK. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/hm-coastguard-operations-centre-erupts-in-cheers-after-coordinating-200nm-long-range-rescue-of-british-yacht-crew/

Outrage And Disgust After FOUR Emergency Ambulances Deliberately Targetted By Mindless Morons Four emergency ambulance crews from the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust had lucky escapes after being subjected to what is believed to have been deliberate attacks in the Sunderland area over the last week. Each crew travelled on blue lights on their way to life-threatening incidents when objects struck their vehicles. On Friday, 25 June, an emergency ambulance crew travelled along Chester Road in Sunderland at 1.48 pm when an object flew across the vehicle's front, narrowly missing the windscreen on the driver's side, obliterating the wing mirror. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/outrage-and-disgust-after-four-emergency-ambulances-deliberately-targetted-by-mindless-morons/

A former staff member of West Midlands Police has been convicted of conspiring to supply Class B drugs while she was off duty. 35-year-old Cherelle Ying, from Birmingham, was found guilty on 25th June 2021 at Birmingham Crown Court. Ying was sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for 21 months. Ying had been employed by West Midlands Police since March 2008 and was based at Nechells police station. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/west-midlands-police-former-staff-member-convicted-of-conspiring-to-supply-class-b-drugs/

Police in Swindon have paid tribute to three-year-old Phoenix Curtis, who sadly passed away on 27th May and will be laid to rest today, 23rd June. Phoenix was a big fan of the emergency services - the police in particular - and he would always gaze in awe whenever a police vehicle drove by on 'blue-and-twos'. The three-year-old was born with a heart defect and, despite undergoing three rounds of open-heart surgery, tragically died on 27th May. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-in-swindon-pay-tribute-to-three-year-old-superfan-who-will-be-getting-a-police-escort-for-his-funeral-cortege-today/

Following an extensive investigation, the IOPC has found that officers from Greater Manchester Police who deployed a taser whilst dealing with a male on a petrol station forecourt was justified. On 6th May 2020, officers suspected that 34-year-old Desmond 'Ziggy' Mombeyarara, who was driving a car with a five-year-old boy in the passenger seat, was intoxicated. Police had clocked Mombeyarara speeding at 72 mph in a 30 mph zone. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/iopc-finds-that-taser-deployment-was-justified-after-partial-clip-of-forecourt-incident-went-viral/

A fly-tipper has been sentenced after his accomplice fell out of the back of a van as they tried to leave the scene of where they had just illegally dumped some rubbish. Paminder Singh, 38, of Arthur Street, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and was given a two-year disqualification with a requirement to pass an extended retest. He was also given 20 days of community rehabilitation and a tagged curfew for three months from 7 am to 7 am at Stafford Crown Court yesterday, Thursday 17th June. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/fly-tipper-sentenced-after-his-accomplice-died-during-getaway/

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after shooting a police sergeant three times in the face. On November 20, 2020, PS Dave Cayton responded to an incident in Neuville Way, Desborough, after a 999 call was made reporting a male at the address who was armed with various weapons. Upon arrival at the scene, PS Cayton made his way into the address and quickly found the suspect. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/male-who-shot-police-officer-in-the-face-three-times-sentenced-to-11-years-in-jail/

Several police officers were injured during an illegal street party, and missiles were thrown at them as they gave first aid to a man who was stabbed over the weekend. One officer was bitten after hundreds of people "swarmed" the streets of Basford in Nottingham, with some seen defecating in public. Neighbours reported that the party had been going on for 'seven hours' before violence erupted. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-come-under-attack-whilst-treating-stabbing-victim/

ITV News has come under heavy criticism after referring to the brave officers who shot and killed a knife-wielding terrorist as a 'firing squad'. An inquest into Khan's death found that he was lawfully killed by armed officers who responded to Fishmongers' Hall after the convicted terrorist went on an indiscriminate murderous rampage whilst armed with two knives on 29th November 2019. Khan killed 25-year-old Jack Merritt and 23-year-old Saskia Jones. Two other women were seriously injured, and a Chef working at the building was also stabbed. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-community-outraged-after-itv-news-refers-to-officers-who-lawfully-killed-usman-khan-as-firing-squad/

A Detective Sergeant from the MPS East Area Command Unit has been found guilty of spying on a female officer who was having a shower. DS Benjamin McNish, 30, who was off-duty at the time, used his iPhone to take pictures of his naked victim in the shower at a residential flat in Swiss Cottage on 18th Feb 2019. McNish was staying at the property with several other officers whilst attending a course. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/off-duty-detective-sergeant-found-guilty-of-spying-on-woman-in-shower/

The colleagues of a Metropolitan Police officer who was struck by a car have set up a JustGiving page to help their colleague on his long road to recovery. At approximately 18:00hrs on Friday, 21 May, PC Stuart Worrell was on routine patrol when he attempted to stop a silver Vauxhall Cors As the officer moved towards the car to speak to the occupant, it accelerated into him and sped off. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/colleagues-rally-round-police-officer-who-sustained-life-changing-injuries-after-being-run-over/

A Met Police officer has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a pursuit in 2016 where tragically, a 10-year-old boy and his aunt were killed after being struck by a vehicle that failed to stop for officers. The incident happened five years ago, in August 2016, after 23-year-old Joshua Dobby failed to stop for officers in a marked police vehicle. They had indicated for Dobby to stop after receiving information that the car he was driving may have been stolen. In 2017, Dobby, 23, was jailed for 12 years after he admitted to manslaughter and knocking his victims over during the pursuit. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/met-officer-faces-charges-after-2016-pursuit-where-fleeing-driver-killed-woman-and-child/

A male has been jailed after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm to a mother and her baby boy in Tipton last year (2020). Aamer Araf repeatedly stabbed the 37-year-old woman with a kitchen knife until she lost consciousness in Mansion Drive in the early hours of 28 May. As neighbours rushed to her aid, he took her seven-month-old son upstairs, swinging him by his legs and banging his head on the walls. When police arrived, cowardly Araf used the baby to avoid arrest, but he was Tasered to allow officers to rescue the boy and get medical help. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/male-who-stabbed-mother-and-then-repeatedly-swung-her-7-month-old-baby-against-a-wall-is-sentenced-to-12-years-behind-bars/

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation found that a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer had no case to answer over his use of force on a male who was stopped and searched in London after making off from officers on a bike. The IOPC's investigation followed a complaint by a bystander who filmed part of the incident in Hackney on 22nd April 2020. The mainstream media publicised the 25-second clip of the incident at the time. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/iopc-finds-no-case-to-answer-after-bystander-shares-partial-clip-of-police-use-of-force-with-the-mainstream-media/

A male who unleashed a torrent of abuse towards emergency workers has been given a suspended sentence. 51-year-old Habib Rehman racially abused a nurse who was trying to help him at the Northern Area Custody Facility (NACF). Rehman also called one police officer a white 'b******' and another a 'black b******' after being arrested for possessing a knife in a public place. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/male-who-hurled-racist-abuse-at-emergency-workers-is-given-a-suspended-sentence/

The cousin of murdered PCSO Julia James has asked where the 'huge outrage' and 'pouring of despair' is after Julia's body was found next to Akholt Wood in the Aylesham Road area just before 16:00 hours on Tuesday 27th April 2021. In a post on Twitter, Sam Griffin said: 'Where is the uproar about my beautiful cousin? Where is the huge outrage and pouring of despair? Where are the vigils and protests about her murder? She was walking her dog, near her home, thats all and somebody must know something!'. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/where-is-the-uproar-about-my-beautiful-cousin-family-of-murdered-pcso-speaks-out/

Maryland, US - A 23-month-old girl who fell out of a car and into a bay following a multi-vehicle collision in Ocean City, Maryland, is expected to make a full recovery thanks to a "humble hero" who jumped into the water to save her life, as reported by CNN. In total, the emergency services took eight people to hospital following the pile-up on the Route 90 bridge at around 14:45 hours on Sunday 2nd May. The car in which the toddler was travelling in ending up dangling off the guardrail of the bridge. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/good-samaritan-jumps-from-bridge-into-water-to-save-toddler-who-fell-out-of-a-car-following-rtc-international-news/

A police officer has been slashed in the face with a glass bottle during violent protests at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon (2nd May). A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the officer sustained a ‘significant slash wound' to his face and was treated in hospital for his injuries. At least one other officer was injured during the violence. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://emergency-services.news/police-officer-slashed-in-the-face-as-manchester-utd-protesters-hurl-glass-bottles-at-police/