focus of the hard-hitting ad, which highlights the health risks such as paranoia and chest pains as wells as increased chance of heart attack or stroke, is ‘you don’t know what you’re getting with cocaine’.

The campaign, which is aimed at 16 to 22 year olds, will run in cinemas from Friday and online later this month. For the first time the Scottish Government has produced adverts specifically for Spotify the music streaming website popular with the target age group.Launching the campaign at a parkour workshop, the activity made famous in the opening sequence of Casino Royale, in Glasgow, Community Safety Minster Fergus Ewing said:“Many people think that occasional cocaine use is harmless, but the fact is it’s highly addictive and extremely dangerous.“You don’t know what you’re getting with cocaine and it’s not the safe glamorous party drug that many of Scotland’s young people think it is.“It carries numerous health risks such as paranoia and chest pains as well as increased chances of having a heart attack or stroke.“That’s why this Know the Score awareness campaign is so important. As well as being an illegal drug, the health consequences of using cocaine are not worth the risk.”Mr Ewing continued:“It is important that we make young people aware of the dangers of cocaine so they can make the right choices in life. It’s fantastic to see young Scots enjoying themselves here at the Glasgow Parkour Coaching workshop. Parkour is just one of many activities that young people can enjoy. It’s new and exciting and has none of the health risks associated with cocaine.”Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said:“Any campaign which seeks to support young people to make informed decisions and choices is to be welcomed. At Young Scot we believe that providing young people with accurate information is crucially important, but it is also vital to support and connect young people to accessible and positive activities, which strengthens those positive decisions. Young Scot is committed to providing young people with information and details of opportunities through a variety of sources, including our ‘What’s On Where’ website at www.youngscotwow.org”
Research has shown that many young people believe cocaine to be safe and the campaign will help make them aware that this is not the case. Knowing the risks allows young people to make the right choices with their lives.It is an integrated social marketing campaign which runs in cinemas across Scotland from Friday January 22 to March 31. As the campaign is aimed at 16 to 22 year olds it will have a strong online element including social media sites such as Spotify and Facebook. Outdoor media will also be used with advertising in buses and in cinema foyers.
All the activity signposts people to the new and improved Know the Score website www.knowthescore.info where they can get more information or phone the helpline 0800 587 587 9 0800 587 587 9 to speak to an advisor.

Gun crime increased dramatically in London last year even though the total number of offences fell, new figures revealed today. Violent attacks were also up. Senior officers said there were “grave concerns” over the rises.The number of offences involving guns — which also includes cases where criminals claimed to be armed — soared by 49 per cent to 3,306 cases, up from 2,224 in 2008.While many involved air guns or even fake or imitation weapons, senior detectives have told the Standard there was a worrying rise in the number of gangland shootings.Overall crime in the capital in 2009 was at its lowest level for 10 years, with significant falls in youth violence and knife attacks. But gangsters engaged in drug and turf wars are increasingly using firearms to settle scores, and often only the skill of paramedics prevented shootings becoming murders. Commander Maxine de Brunner said: “Overall, crime continues to fall, which is great news for London.“In particular, falls in homicide, youth violence and knife crime represent continuing success in tackling these offences. However, the Met is not complacent. We continue to tackle those challenges head-on.”The number of youth violence cases fell by 3.5 per cent to a total of 20,272, meaning there were 725 fewer victims last year. Knife crime, which claimed the lives of 10 teenagers, fell 7.9 per cent — a drop of 1,037 offences.
London's murder rate also fell to its lowest rate in recent history — with 130 homicides, compared with 155 in 2008. The number of teenage murders was halved from a record total of 30 in 2008 to 15 last year.
Senior detectives say the success in tackling knife and youth violence is mainly due to tougher intervention on the streets, with massive rises in the number of stop and searches.
However, there were increases in several other categories of crime. Residential burglaries rose by nearly six per cent to 62,081. Violent crime also rose, though only slightly, to a total of 175,000 offences. There was a 24 per cent increase in the number of rapes, up from 2,131 to 2,646.
Cases of homophobic crime rose by 27 per cent and race crime was up by seven per cent.
The total number of crimes in London fell by more than two per cent to 832,439 offences, down from 851,721 offences in 2008.The Met said there were 20,000 fewer victims of crime last year than 2008.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of £100,000 was recovered from the side of a busy Cumbrian road by police who had been pursuing a suspect car.Cumbria Police said the vehicle failed to stop for a marked patrol car on Friday evening as it travelled on the A595 in Workington. Officers later recovered the drug after a search of the roadside. A force spokeswoman said two men were arrested at the scene and were being questioned by detectives in Carlisle.

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Paul McIntyre, 26, and Karim M'Salek, 25, were jailed for 49 and 44 months respectively after officers seized heroin with a street value of £53,000. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that McIntyre would travel to Dundee to collect cash from heroin deals. The court was also told that M'Salek's DNA was found on heroin packaging bound for the city. The case followed Operation Trojan by Tayside Police, which resulted in seven members of a drug gang associated with the scheme jailed for a total of 19 years. McIntryre, a former carpet fitter from West Derby, was arrested after undercover police tailed a number of people known to be involved in the Dundee drug scene. The same operation later caught up with courier M'Salek, from Anfield, who also admitted his part in the supply of the drug. Det Insp Stuart Holmes, head of Tayside's drugs unit, said: "These drugs had been trafficked to the Dundee area on behalf of a Liverpool-based organised crime group." He added: "Five individuals, four from the Dundee area and one from the Liverpool area, have already received custodial sentences amounting to 11 years and 3 months as a result of their involvement in the supply of diamorphine (heroin) identified throughout Operation Trojan. "The sentencing handed out today is the icing on the cake for us with all seven individuals involved now behind bars with a total of 19 years imprisonment between them."

Trainee PC James Parkes was attacked by up to 20 youths in Stanley Street at around 10pm on Sunday as he left gay bar, Superstar Boudoir, with three friends.He is in a stable condition in hospital but doctors have said the next 24 hours are crucial

Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson made the announcement just days after officers from Scotland Yard's specialist CO19 firearms unit revealed they had joined neighbourhood officers on the beat in London.
Sir Paul and his deputy Tim Godwin were not informed about the move and members of watchdog the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) were also unaware it was taking place.The MPA is due to discuss the plans tomorrow and is expected to criticise them. Chairman, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, was also not consulted about the move.The plans would have seen police marksman on motorbikes and on foot carrying Heckler & Koch MP5 single-fire carbine guns and Glock semi-automatic pistols and joining other officers on regular patrols in three crime hotspots in Brixton, Haringey and Tottenham.They would have carried out 'weapon sweeps' on the capital's most dangerous streets and housing estates to prevent shootings, stabbings and gang-related crime.British police officers are routinely unarmed, with officers only carrying weapons in public in special circumstances.Sir Paul said: 'This tactic was put together by officers for the best of reasons, to support and protect the local community and local unarmed officers.

GUN crime in Lancashire has increased by 600per cent in 10 years, according to figures obtained by the Conservative Party. The increase is the biggest rise in the country. But police chiefs have said while the figures are ‘at first glance... alarming’, many referred to incidents involving replicas, or ball bearing weapons.
According to the figures, there were 50 incidents in the county in the financial year 1998-9, comp-ared to 349 in 2007-8, a rise of 598per cent. Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Yorkshire also saw large rises, but Lancashire was by far and away the biggest increase. However, Lancashire’s total of 349 incidents is far fewer than many areas. London saw more than 3,000 gun crimes, Greater Manchester 1,160, and West Midlands 974.

Ian Maynard, Kevin Anthony Campbell and Mark Anthony Holmes made well over £750,000 through a life of crime.




Appearing at Teesside Crown Court yesterday to hear the Proceeds of Crime applications against them, they were told they must pay back £59,500 - less than a 10th of their total ill-gotten gains.A fourth man, Paul Burke, was also convicted but was not involved in yesterday’s case.After raiding Campbell’s flat in Admiral Chaloner House in Guisborough and three shipping containers in Middlesbrough a year ago, detectives unraveled the big-money plot to distribute Class A, B and C drugs across Britain. They seized:Amphetamine worth £266,000 and weighing more than three stone. £50,000 of cocaine, which would have been worth close to £1m when prepared for sale on the streets.£1,000 of cannabis.More than five stone - 34kg - of mixing agent, used to dilute pure drugs.£9,000 in cash.A 12-bore sawn-off shotgun, described by Campbell as his “new toy”. Jewellery including a Rolex watch worth more than £8,500 and a £1,000 gold chain.

London is the place that the highest number of malicious damage claims are made by drivers, a survey by insurance company elephant.co.uk has revealed. Based on more than 25,000 malicious damage claims over the last five years, the survey revealed that the BMW Z3 is the most-vandalised car, followed by the Chrysler Crossfire and the Porsche Cayenne. When data was looked at for manufacturers rather than individual models, the survey showed that Porsche cars were vandalised more than any other make. The worst area, by postcode, for malicious damage to cars was west central London, followed by east central London, west London and south west London. Edinburgh and Glasgow were also in the top ten worst-affected areas. Brian Martin, managing director at elephant.co.uk, said: "It would appear that certain models are more likely to be vandalised than others. Our research shows the top ten is made up entirely of either expensive luxury cars or soft tops. "It could be that luxury cars are targeted because of old-fashioned envy.
"Sadly some people are jealous of those who drive expensive cars, while in the case of convertibles, they are an easy target. It's relatively simple to slash a fabric roof or PVC window. "But we don't want to worry car owners with these types of cars. Thankfully this sort of car crime is still relatively rare."

A stolen car being chased by police knocked down an old woman in the street this morning. The woman was hit in Copthorne, near Crawley, at 11.30am. She was taken by helicopter to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London. Police said they have no update on her condition. A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "The stolen car had been sighted minutes earlier in Crawley and was subject to a short pursuit before entering Copthorne. "Subsequently the car collided with the elderly woman and the driver failed to stop.
"Police found the car abandoned in the Gatwick area and are making every effort to locate the driver."
Superintendent Steve Barry said: "We are anxious to trace the driver and are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision in Copthorne or the abandoning of the car at Gatwick to contact us."
Police are this afternoon understood to be assessing whether the Independent Police Complaints Commission should be involved in the inquiry into the circumstances of the crash, because of the police chase.

James Yates, 21, from Croxteth, Liverpool, increased his jail term to 12 years after the Solicitor General, Vera Baird QC, appealed on the basis it was "unduly lenient". Lord Judge hit out at the "modern pestilence" of gun crime and said criminals supplying guns had to face severe custodial terms. Rhys, 11, was shot dead in August 2007 in a Liverpool pub car park. His parents Stephen and Melanie Jones - who called the original sentence "disgusting" - were at today's hearing.Croxteth Crew gang member Yates was sentenced in January for possession of a firearm and assisting Rhys's killer, Sean Mercer, 18, by helping dump the gun and his clothing.was jailed for seven years at Liverpool Crown Court in January after being found guilty of two counts of assisting an offender and possessing a prohibited firearm. But today, after the case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, the sentence was increased to 12 years. Rhys, 11, died in his mother’s arms after he was caught in the line of fire in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth Park, as he made his way home from football practice on 22 August 2007.

London's police department said Friday that a new armed unit is carrying out sweeps of districts riven by gun battles between drug gangs.Wielding submachine guns and pistols, British police are making armed patrols in crime-blighted London neighborhoods -- a change in tactics that may prompt calls for the wider use of weapons by the country's traditionally unarmed Bobbies.Unlike typical police procedure, the team of about 20 officers is actively seeking out criminals carrying or storing guns -- rather than waiting to respond to emergency calls. Chief Inspector Neil Sharman said the unit began work in June to tackle rising gun crime and soon will double in size.In contrast to the United States and many European nations, British police have never routinely carried firearms on patrol, with only a limited number of officers trained to use guns. "In the past, the police were authority figures dealing primarily with people who respected the police. However, as terrorism and crime increases in the U.K., the traditional icon of the Bobby on the beat is becoming incapable of dealing with terrorists and violent crime," said Bob Ayers, a London-based former U.S. intelligence officer.

21-year-old man was in critical condition in hospital on the weekend after a fight as Richmond Row bars were closing early Saturday. London police said they were called to a disturbance on Mill St. just west of Richmond St. about 1:20 a.m. When officers arrived, they found the injured man out on the street.
"It had just happened," said London Police Const. Andrea McGrath. The man suffered head injuries in a fight, she said. "There were no weapons involved that we know of," said McGrath. The man was taken to hospital and was listed in critical condition yesterday morning. Police later arrested another man. The two men weren't known to each other, said McGrath. It's unclear what caused the fight.

Up to five men forced their way into a house at Virginia Court in Gobnascale estate at about 2200 BST on Saturday. Two of them confronted the 17-year-old boy in an upstairs bedroom and shot him twice before making their escape in a waiting car. Dissident republicans have been blamed for more than a dozen similar attacks in the city over the past year. An attack on a 27-year-old man in the Brandywell area earlier this month was claimed by a group calling itself Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD). One of the police officers who went to the scene of the shooting was knocked unconscious after he was hit on the head with a lump of concrete.

Homicide rate is now statistically worse in Lambeth, where there have been 12 homicides so far this year, than it is in the Bronx's notorious 52nd precinct, where there have been 6. And gun crime continues to rise sharply in the capital

Gangland slaying? victim  gunned down on Ickburgh Road, Clapton, at about 10.50pm on Monday.

Police say that he was suffering from a single gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two men, both in their mid-twenties, have been arrested in connection with the murder and are being held in custody at separate east London police stations. Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command are investigating and next of kin have been informed. A Scotland Yard spokesman said on Tuesday: "It's very early on so we're keeping an open mind about gangs and that kind of thing.
"We're also not ruling out the possibility that the killing is related to a murder that happened over the weekend - the shooting of Oktay Erbasli - who was shot in front of his child by an armed biker.
"The man was shot on the street at about 10.50pm last night. "Officers, including armed ones, and London Ambulance Service attended and the man, aged 21, was found suffering a gunshot wound. "He was pronounced dead at the scene. "Next of kin have been informed and whilst officers believe they know who the victim is, a formal identification has not taken place. "Two men, both aged mid twenties, have been arrested in connection with the incident and have been taken into custody at separate east London police stations.

Curtis Warren has been convicted of trying to smuggle £1 million worth of cannabis into Jersey. who was once the most wanted man in Europe, had denied leading a plot to flood the Channel Island's streets with the illegal drug.But a jury at the Royal Court in St Helier found him guilty of conspiracy to import a controlled drug after a two week trial.Warren, 46, from Liverpool, showed no emotion as the jury's unanimous verdict was delivered.His co-accused Jonathan Welsh, 43, James O'Brien, 45, Jason Woodward, 22, Paul Hunt, 27, and Oliver Lucas, 23, were also unanimously found guilty of conspiracy to import a controlled drug.
The gang aimed to buy 180kg of the drug in Amsterdam and transport the consignment by car to the coast of Normandy, France, where it was to be placed on a boat to Jersey.

South Africa's new serious and organised crimes unit, the Hawks, seized $70m (£42m) worth of cannabis and heroin in Durban. The drugs, which police believe were destined for the UK, were confiscated after a tip off from British police. The Britons and two South Africans have been charged with trafficking. Two brothers - Paul and Jon Beazley - Paul Bromley and the two, as yet unnamed, South Africans will appear in court on 21 September. Last week, more than 150kg of heroin was intercepted at London's Heathrow International Airport after arriving on a flight from South Africa. An investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) led officers to an address in Dartford, Kent, where a further 80kg of the Class A drug was discovered. One man was subsequently arrested - and the trail lead back to South Africa and to the coastal city of Durban where 8,000kg of cannabis and 115kg of heroin were found in a warehouse. The newly formed Hawks said the London and Durban drugs consignments are believed to belong to the same syndicate. According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the drug run began in Afghanistan - consignments were then shipped to Mozambique for repackaging. Durban harbour was the next destination, where the drugs were concealed and repackaged to be sent to OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. After the arrests, South Africa's police said international co-operation was crucial in the fight against drugs and drug trafficking. "Clearly in this case the value of the information that we received from our British counterparts enabled us to move quickly and decisively," Deputy National Police Commissioner Anwa Dramat said in a statement.

British and South African authorities have made a record heroin seizure following on operation at London's Heathrow Airport and raids in both countries, officials said Thursday.Immigration officials discovered some of the drugs hidden in souvenirs from South Africa at Heathrow, sparking an investigation that netted 360 kilogrammes of heroin in total, the UK Border Agency said.Seven people have been arrested in both countries over the total seizure, worth 27 million euros, the agency said.Thousands of kilogrammes of cannabis were also discovered, the agency said."This latest detection of heroin at Heathrow, believed to be our biggest ever, highlights our success in preventing class A drugs entering the UK," said Philip Astle, the UK Border Agency's Heathrow director.About 165 kilogrammes were discovered at Heathrow, a record seizure for the world's busiest airport, on September 9 in the consignment of souvenirs.After an investigation, police seized another 80 kilogrammes and arrested two people in Kent, southeast England, charging one with conspiracy to import drugs and possession, the agency said.Acting on information from Britain, South African police arrested five people, including three British nationals, and seized 115 kilogrammes of heroin and 6,500 kilogrammes of cannabis in a warehouse outside Durban."These seizures are a great example of what can happen when partners work together, said Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency deputy director Andy Sellers."Both ends of this international chain have been attacked, and a significant amount of heroin and cannabis has been kept off the UK's streets."

Police say a ninth suspect in one of Britain’s largest robberies ever has been detained.The 22-year-old is suspected of helping to plot the Aug. 6 theft of $65 million worth of rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches from Graff Diamonds’ flagship store in London.Police say two men walked into the store, pulled out guns, briefly took an employee hostage and escaped with the jewels in a series of getaway cars.The newest suspect detained Monday has not been identified pending formal charges. Seven others are charged with conspiracy to rob the Bond Street jeweler, and 24-year-old suspect Aman Kassaye is also accused of attempted murder and false imprisonment.The eighth has been released on bail and has not been charged.

Flat 2/1, 274 Glasgow Road.Police have now revealed that the initial estimated £1.8m value of the haul of amphetamine discovered there was a conservative guess, and the final figure will be well in excess of £2m.
Neighbours of the flat have this week spoken of their shock.It was a Clydebank fire crew which stumbled upon the factory after a fire broke out inside the flat - caused by a faulty combi boiler.
The dodgy boiler bursting into flames that led to the uncovering of a multi-million pound drug factory - one of the most significant finds in the town's history.Firefighters rushed to deal with a top floor blaze in the tenement on Glasgow Road, yards from the former St Andrew's High School, on Wednesday.Neighbours had raised the alarm but had no clue to what was to follow.After fire crews put out the flames they discovered it was no ordinary home.Specialist cops were soon swarming the area and it was confirmed they had found 180 kilos of amphetamine - used to make the drug 'speed'.Conservative estimates put a street value of £1.8m on the find in the one bedroom property - though that could rise well beyond the £2m mark once the purity of the drug is confirmed.The 180 kilo haul was the largest recent drug bust by the police, who also seized 100 kilos of amphetamine from a car on the M8 motorway and 20 kilos of cocaine from an address in Glasgow in the last fortnight.The seizure eclipses the £80,000 of cocaine found in a car travelling through Clydebank on the Boulevard in May last year.One neighbour told the Post: "To think that was going on there the whole time is amazing."I wonder if they would ever have found it if it weren't for the fire?"This week the charred remains of the boiler unit still lay outside as a reminder of the drama which unfolded days earlier.Resident James Higgins, who lives below the drug factory flat, and was at home at the time of the fire, described the fact he avoided serious harm as "miraculous".Mr Higgins told the Post: "I can tackle fire but I wouldn't get involved with what was up there."I wouldn't say it was a lucky escape - it was miraculous."I was only told the next day what they had found up there - we had no idea."Fire chief Kenny Ferry said: "A while after extinguishing the fire and during inspecting the flat it became apparent there were a number of white packages sitting around.
"I do not know the processes which went into the manufacture of this drug but it could potentially have increased the fire hazard."Because of the nature of our job, entering flats can produce circumstances where we do discover things which require police investigation."Detective Chief Inspector Norrie Conway believes the find will be huge blow to drug-pedalling gangsters.DCI Conway said: "This was a significant seizure, which will no doubt hit major criminals in the pocket, disrupting their activities and further protecting our communities from harm."I am delighted that we have been able to remove such a significant amount of drugs from circulation."

Six men plotted to flood the island of Jersey with £1m worth of cannabis, a court heard today.Curtis Warren, from Liverpool, was the man with the "clout and influence" to lead the conspiracy, the Royal Court in St Helier was told. The prosecution claims Warren, 46, was the link between drug sellers in Holland and the Jersey-based gang, which is accused of planning to buy and import 180kg of cannabis in June and July 2007.
The gang allegedly aimed to buy the drugs in Amsterdam and transport the consignment by car to the coast of Normandy, France, where it would be placed on a boat to Jersey. Crown Advocate Howard Sharp told the jury: "Warren was the senior figure, he was the man at the top who pulled the strings. "He had considerable clout and influence and we say he orchestrated this conspiracy. "He was the crucial link between the sale in Holland and the purchasers in Jersey." Mr Sharp said much of the evidence before the jury was obtained through covert surveillance of Warren and others by the States of Jersey Police. Officers followed the gang and made covert tape recordings of their conversations and phone calls. Mr Sharp told the jury they will hear one conversation where Warren allegedly described the plot as "just a little starter". Warren is accused along with Jonathan Welsh, 43, who is originally from Liverpool but has lived in St Helier for some years. Mr Sharp said Welsh, an "old friend and right hand man" of Warren, was the "willing purchaser" of the cannabis and the "hub of the conspiracy". Welsh, Mr Sharp told the jury, travelled from Jersey to Amsterdam to meet Warren's Dutch associates and negotiate the purchase and transfer of the cannabis. Prosecutors said it was Welsh who recruited the remaining members of the gang, including Glasgow-born James O'Brien, who will be 45 tomorrow, and who has a previous conviction for importing cannabis into Jersey by boat. Mr Sharp said: "O'Brien was invited by Welsh to commit the exact same crime again and we say he willingly did so." He added that it was Welsh who was planning to fund much of the purchase of the drugs with cash provided by co-defendants Jason Woodward, 22, of Dartford, Kent, Paul Hunt, 27, of Jersey, and Oliver Lucas, 23, also from Jersey. Mr Sharp said: "It was intended they would provide some 18,000 euros (£16,000) to Warren's Dutch associates as part payment for the cannabis. "They were also to be involved in transporting the drugs back to Jersey." He told the jury of seven men and five women: "When you hear the evidence you will see that Warren has a light touch. "You won't see him handling the drugs or shipping bags of cash around. He leaves such chores, the truly risky part of the drugs business, to others lower down the food chain. "Warren was cautious. He often remained in the shadows, rarely stepping into the light. "He no doubt thought that he had kept a safe distance from the events but, you will see, he was there and pulling the strings." All six deny conspiracy to import a controlled drug. The month-long trial, before Sir Richard Tucker, is taking place amid unprecedented security on the Channel Island.
Armed police are guarding the Royal Court and visitors are being thoroughly searched when entering the building. Mr Sharp told the jury the street value of drugs in Jersey was much higher than in the UK and Holland. He said: "A kg of cannabis can be bought in Holland for a few hundred pounds. In Jersey, a kg of the same drug sells for several thousand pounds. "Had those drugs arrived in Jersey they would have been sold for a spectacular profit." He said Warren used public phone boxes to avoid detection but surveillance showed he was in contact with his Dutch associates. Mr Sharp said when Welsh arrived in Amsterdam in July 2007, he met Mohammed Liazid, described as Warren's "right hand man in Holland" and Welsh's "principal point of contact in Holland". He said the meeting took place in a hire car late at night in a street in central Amsterdam. The conversation they had was recorded by police, Mr Sharp said, and established that Welsh was planning to import the cannabis by boat into Jersey. He said: "Put simply, we have Welsh on tape discussing importing a commercial quantity of cannabis into Jersey. "As a matter of common sense, this cannot be a theoretical or fanciful discussion. "Welsh had just crossed Europe to hold this conversation in a dark street late at night in downtown Amsterdam. "It is plain it was a serious conversation with a very serious intent."

Scottish police are launching a new crackdown on criminals operating in the Edinburgh and Lothian taxi trades.Police will be working together with the government and local councils to monitor the activities of taxi drivers in these areas amid concerns that organised crime is infiltrating the sector.Among the measures being taken is the introduction of a dedicated cab inspector, as well as more thorough investigations of private hire premises, records and booking offices.Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill stated that the initiative is indicative of the government's commitment to preventing gangsters from jeopardising the livelihood of legitimate taxi firms.He said: "There is no room in this industry for those who want to use taxi and private hire car firms as a front for their illegal activities."

This comes after the Herald last month reported that Glasgow City Council plans to introduce CCTV cameras to taxis to help protect cabbies from crime and violence.

Five people have been arrested in early morning raids in Glasgow as part of an investigation into the potential theft of millions of pounds of tax credits.Police and customs officers swooped on seven addresses in the Govanhill area of the city. The operation was targeting those believed to be involved in an organised crime group. HM Revenue and Customs said tax claims may have been made using false addresses and fictitious children.
The raids involved officers from Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Task Force (SOCTF), customs investigators and Strathclyde Police. It was estimated that about 200 fictitious children may have been claimed for.
Another 30 addresses in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Derbyshire were also searched to verify details of claims. These individuals have been detained on suspicion of attacking the tax credits system "These individuals have been detained on suspicion of attacking the tax credits system; a system which exists to help the most vulnerable in society."
He added: "As organised crime evolves it brings with it new threats and different challenges for us to tackle. "By working in partnership, to combine effective enforcement with ongoing public support, the agencies within Scotland's SOCTF are tackling criminality to rid our society of the economic and human costs of organised crime." Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police John Neilson said: "All organised crime groups use violence and intimidation to protect their criminal assets, and this brings misery to our communities. "Serious and organised crime is a very high priority for Strathclyde Police and we are working tirelessly with our partner agencies to crack down on these groups and protect communities."

Commonwealth Games athletes’ village in Glasgow.The £300m development was targeted a day after an approved security firm started guarding the area.
A digger was destroyed in the attack.Milne Management security, which won the contract, is approved by the Security Industry Authority. It had previously reported Gard, a rival firm, to the police over an alleged approach to provide services.Gard, which has denied any involvement in the attack, was banned from bidding for the new contract by Glasgow City Council because it is not a member of the SIA’s approved contractor scheme. Gard already protects the National Indoor Arena and National Velodrome in the city, contracts won before the rules changed. However, they are expected to conclude next year.The news follows the story in The Herald last week that revealed Strathclyde Police has written to Scotland’s largest health board warning it against going ahead with a £2m taxi contract to a firm previously linked to organised crime.Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary, is keen to prevent any organised criminals muscling in on public contracts.To become an approved contractor, firms must now meet a list of strict criteria, including that those who run companies are “fit and proper”. Last year, Glasgow City Council launched a crackdown on firms with gangland links from cashing in on the Games and the rules are expected to be made even tighter.
At least one petrol bomb was thrown at machinery on the site of the village in Dalmarnock on September 7, the day Milne Management security staff began its contract. The following night, the digger was wrecked on the land, which will be home to 8000 athletes in 2014.A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: “We received a report of a wilful fireraising of plant equipment. Inquiries are continuing. No one has been arrested at this time.”A city council spokesman said: “The National Indoor Arena and National Velodrome security contract was awarded before the introduction of the requirement that 2014 security companies should be SIA approved contractors. We have since introduced a new process which makes it far less likely that firms who are not run by the appropriate type of people would be able to get work.”

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Heroin addicts’ ‘shooting galleries’ move one step closer as government told ‘they work’ Social problem: Britain has an estimated 280,000 Class-A drug addicts Legalised heroin ‘shooting galleries’ where hardcore addicts are given drugs for free on prescription have won the backing of Government advisers, bringing a UK-wide network a step closer. A controversial four-year trial has seen heroin worth millions of pounds handed out to users to inject themselves at special NHS clinics - in a bid to stop them funding their habits through crime. Findings to be published tomorrow are expected to claim success in diverting addicts away from street dealers and cutting offending, and the Government’s National Treatment Agency is now likely to push for an expansion of the scheme, potentially leading to similar heroin clinic opening in every town. Opponents claim handing out heroin is a ‘ludicrous’ approach to the war on drugs and a policy of defeatism, effectively paying for heroin users to stay addicted at taxpayers’ expense, instead of making any attempt to cure them. Critics have likened the scheme to giving alcoholics whisky on prescription, and called for a renewed focus on effective detox and rehabilitation treatment to get people off hard drugs. The three clinics running the trial have been operating since 2005 in south London, Brighton and Darlington, overseen by clinicians and researchers from the Maudsley Hospital.

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Platinum-selling singer Whitney Houston went on the Oprah Winfrey Show to speak candidly — very candidly — about her dark days of drug and alcohol abuse with then-husband Bobby Brown. Here is the first part of Oprah Winfrey exclusive interview with Whitney. It’s the first time the singer has given such a major interview since her infamous 2002 sit-down with ABC’s Diane Sawyer.

CLICK ON THE HEADLINE TO READ MORE Six people have been arrested and about R600-million worth of hashish and heroin was seized at two locations in Durban yesterday.Three British citizens and two South Africans were arrested in Durban and a fourth British citizen was arrested in London.
The South Africans, Gopal Ganesh, 48, and Moganathan Nadasen, 52, were arrested on Sunday and appeared in the Verulam Magistrate's Court yesterday.

'This is an international case'
The three Britons arrested in Durban were apprehended yesterday. One was nabbed at La Lucia Mall while planning to leave the country.

Police found cash, a quantity of drugs and plane tickets in his car.The other two, who are brothers, were arrested at their La Lucia home yesterday.The three tons of drugs, which had been compacted into blocks and sealed in brown wrapping, had been hidden in truck battery casings at Storage City depots at Mount Edgecombe and Glen Anil.Superintendent Deven Naicker, head of narcotics in the police organised crime unit, said their investigations had started on Wednesday.
He said the men's operation had transported the drugs between Durban and Britain. "The drugs were being shipped as cargo for a false truck battery company and were transported to a UK company ostensibly selling truck batteries," he said.The men used empty battery casings and prisms to store the drugs. The casings had metal covers on to make the drugs difficult to detect. Naicker said the street value of a 5kg block of hashish was R40 000 and that one gram of the drug sold for about R80.He said this was probably the biggest drug bust in the country. "This is an international case and we will carry out more investigations into the matter," he said.Naicker praised the national and Durban organised crime units for their participation in the sting.The Britons are expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Hawks spokesperson Musa Zondi said about R500m worth of drugs had initially been found at the two depots.

However, an additional amount of heroin worth about R100m had been recovered after a further search of the Mount Edgecombe warehouse. "Another 115kg of heroin was recovered later yesterday as police were still searching the premises," he said.

Zondi said this bust far outstripped a major bust at Joburg's OR Tambo International Airport in March when a quantity of drugs worth about R170m were found during a check of a flight from Pakistan.

In January, a Croatian national was arrested and about R300m worth of cocaine was seized from a Liberian-registered ship, the Senator, which was docked at the Durban harbour.

Police Director Phindile Radebe said that yesterday's bust was probably the biggest in Africa and commended all the officers involved in the operation.

A spokesperson for the National Police organized crime and drugs unit (Udyco) in Málaga stated: “It is an organization of world level dedicated principally to the trafficking of drugs, to selective killings and it has a hierarchy structure amongst its integrated members, all of whom originate from Liverpool and Manchester.”Organised crime on the Costa del Sol is again under the spotlight with mafias from six countries said to operate here. Of those groups the British are said to be the most violent. The activities of ‘Pancake the Scouser’, a gang made up of Liverpudlians and Mancunians, has been identified with a number of assassinations related to drug trafficking.The Irish are also an important group. One of these gangs was implicated in a shooting at the start of this year. Experts say that they are also dedicated to laundering the proceeds from their activities on the coast.The Russians have been hit hardest by judicial investigations with major arrests in the Avispa and Troika cases, the latter seeing 24people detained. Their crimes are said to include weapon and drug trafficking with links to the USA, Germany, France and Russia. Their presence on the Costa del Sol is explained by their activities in the property business.With talk of mafias it is no surprise that the Italians feature heavily – indeed a leader of the Camorra was arrested on Sunday. So too do the Dutch who are accused of being experts in money laundering – seemingly offering this service to other criminal groups. Finally the French are in the top six with gangs from the traditional criminal stronghold of Marseilles being active here.
So why the Costa del Sol? The National Police have identified a number of reasons – the closeness of Gibraltar with its off-shore banking system, the complex nature of the urbanizations which provide good hiding places plus the excellent communications of Málaga to other locations in Europe and the wider world.However it is not only the police who have been speaking out but also the far left Izquierda Unida party. Two of its leading lights in Málaga province, Antonio Romero and Miguel Díaz, have edited a book on organized crime on the coast – ‘Costa Nostra’.They have identified 120 mafia gangs spread over 100 nationalities who communicate in some 80 different languages. They have based their report on data supplied by the Spanish Prosecutor General. To the reasons given by the police for the gangs’ location here they have added the closeness of the Morocco hashish market. They say they are also drawn by the idyllic climate, the large tourist market and add they operate in silence using the most advanced technologies.The IU is convinced that only government action can fight this high level of crime that has found its way in to the town halls of Spain. “The water that maintains these fat fish is in the fiscal paradises and town planning.”

Two interesting facts highlighted in the book are that 76 per cent of the overseas investments in Andalucía come from off-shore financial locations. Also 27 per cent of all the 500 euros notes in the European Union are to be found in Andalucía – these large notes are the preferred means of money laundering.

Whilst the Spanish police and politicians are speaking out on these matters what of the British police – given that some of the major players are from the UK? Scotland Yard told me that there are over 40 police forces in the UK all of whom would operate independently. The Serious Organised Crime Agency - SOCA – which has responsibility for tackling major crime was tight lipped on operational matters but said: “Serious UK criminals who are believed to be hiding out in Spain are the targets of a joint project run by SOCA, Crimestoppers, the British Embassy, and the Spanish Authorities. Since its launch less than three years ago, Operation Captura has arrested half of Britain’s most wanted criminals living in the Costas, some within days of a public appeal. Later this year we’ll be publishing our latest most-wanted list through the British and Spanish media, and we expect more success to follow.”

It has long been presumed that British officers operate undercover on the Costa del Sol with their Spanish colleagues. It is understandable that SOCA would wish to keep their activities under warps. Given that the British gangs operating here do so at a sophisticated level it is safe to assume that whilst our police are watching them – they too are attempting to monitor the movements of the boys and girls in blue.CLICK ON THE HEADLINE TO READ MORE

Nicolas Anthony Chappell, 47, of New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, Kent, was sentenced to 18 years, after admitting conspiring to supply controlled drugs, and five years for money laundering to run concurrently.Chappell was also given a travel restriction order banning him from leaving the UK for five years after his release from prison.Neil Hackett, 33, of Midhurst Hill, Bexleyheath, received 11 years and was also given a three-year travel restriction order.Jamie Hackett, 25, of Glynde Road, Bexleyheath was sentenced to nine years.Giedrius Kavaliauskas, 28, of South Farm Road, Worthing, West Sussex and David Michael Manser, 26, of Lunsford Lane, Larkfield were each sentenced to eight years after being found guilty.Another man, Paul Andrew Proud, 47, of Russett Way, London was acquitted.Jamie Hackett (nine years), Giedrius Kavaliauskas and David Michael Manser (both eight years) were imprisoned for their role in the drug ring The investigation began after a member of the public saw a high speed inflatable boat land on a beach at Hythe at around 6.30am on September 5, 2007.The witness reported seeing the vessel and its occupants being met by four men on the beach.Several black holdalls were loaded from the boat to a waiting vehicle that was then driven away at speed.
The witness alerted police who found four men loading the boat onto a van.The men claimed to have been fishing despite having no seawater fishing equipment, adequate clothing, provisions or safety gear.A similar incident occurred on the same beach at around 5.30am on March 27, last year.The witness gave police crucial evidence describing what, in his opinion, was a drug smuggling operation being executed like a military operation.Officers traced the gang and found high grade cocaine with a street value of more than £70,000 during a search of the home of ringleader Chappell.
They also recovered a large amount of cash, the inflatable boat and various items of sea equipment.Chappell was convicted of a similar drug smuggling offence in 2000.Marine equipment and other inflatable boats were also recovered from the home and business premises of Neil Hackett.Sentencing the five, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC described the drug smuggling conspiracy as 'a well-planned and drilled operation'.He added: 'Those involved in this enterprise sought to make huge profits from human misery.Det Sgt John McDermott, of Kent Police's serious and organised crime unit, said: 'The five men sentenced today were part of a significant organised crime group that was probably one of the most prolific gangs involved in this type of criminality
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Residents said members of two rival gangs clashed on the Lansdowne Estate in Lambeth, south London, on Monday night.Detectives are questioning four men over a suspected gang fight in which one teenager was stabbed to death and another was seriously injured.
They described a running battle on the sprawling estate which ended with the fatal attack in an alleyway linking it with Larkhall Park.
One neighbour said the victim's sister ran to the scene and was held back by the emergency services.The teenager, who asked not to be named, said: "There was a boy injured. His sister was there, screaming. She said, 'He's my brother. I want to hug him and I want to kiss him. He cannot be gone'."Several witnesses said a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog was also stabbed during the fight.One man, who works as a youth football coach in the park, said it was sparked when teenagers who live on the rival Heman Estate strayed into the area.Many residents said they heard shouting and screaming shortly before 8.30pm on Monday evening.
Metropolitan Police officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics were called as a police helicopter hovered overhead.
One boy, aged in his mid to late teens, died at the scene while a second was taken to hospital with stab wounds. His condition was described as stable.
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hitman jailed for life for a cold-blooded honour killing has been hauled before the courts again for kneecapping a city takeaway worker.Call centre worker and part-time pub doorman Naveed Mahmood, along with his accomplice John Reeves, lured Nasir Iqbal to a false address in Heeley and pumped five shots into his legs just two weeks after they were responsible for the murder of a man who had married in secret. Mahmood, aged 24, was the "fixer" in the murder of Mian Mehmood while Reeves, 55, pulled the trigger which killed the 29-year-old near Halifax after they were recruited as "guns for hire" following Mr Mehmood's secret marriage. They were both jailed for life, with a minimum term of 32 years, in June last year at Leeds Crown Court. Just a fortnight after the execution-style murder the pair struck again, luring Mr Iqbal to a house in Heeley on February 25, 2007, after calling the takeaway on London Road where he worked. The pair had previously made two bogus calls to the takeaway probably as a rehearsal for the attack – for which police have been unable to uncover a motive. When the delivery driver arrived at the house in Heeley and knocked at the door a male voice from a darkened passageway asked him to go to the back door. When he refused he was shot five times in the legs and buttocks. Prosecutor Peter Kelson QC described the shooting as a carefully-planned attack. Police later recovered the gun from Reeves who had been given it by Mahmood. Reeves was seen by his girlfriend carrying a gun in a white carrier bag and putting on a pair of gloves. He said he "had a job for £10,000". Mahmood pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to grievous bodily harm with intent and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. Mukhtar Hussain QC, defending, said the evidence showed the shooter was "more likely" to be Reeves. He said it was an "absolute mystery" why Mahmood, a hard-worker who came from a respectable family,, should get involved in violent crime. Judge Michael Murphy told Mahmood gangsters would not be allowed to rule the streets of Sheffield.
Sentencing him to 14 years, to run alongside his life term, the judge said: "There are those who carry guns around and seem determined to turn our cities into something resembling 1930s Chicago. "It will not be tolerated." The judge said Mahmood, formerly of Granville Road, Norfolk Park, was a "very dangerous man" who would not be released at the earliest until he was in his late fifties. Reeves was also jailed for 14 years at an earlier hearing for the attack on the takeaway delivery worker.
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400 prisoners were involved in the wrecking spree at HMP Ashwell in Rutland, setting fire to buildings in a protest over privileges.
Three-quarters of the jail was rendered uninhabitable before prison officers could bring it under control with the help of riot police.
Jonathan Aitken interview with prisoner tipped for a 'radio Oscar'The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a "full investigation" by the Prisons Service into what went wrong at the facility, which is Category C and is supposed to house low-risk offenders.The Prison Officers Association (POA) said the inmates had barricaded themselves into buildings and were defending themselves with makeshift weapons. The union warned the riot would be "the first of many" because of a shortage of suitable cells in the penal system. It said three staff had barricaded themselves in an office for about 12 hours, waiting to be rescued by colleagues.
Three prisoners were injured during the rampage, in which damage running into hundreds of thousands of pounds was caused to cell blocks and other facilities. Four hundred and twenty inmates are now being housed elsewhere. The riot began at 1am on Saturday after several prisoners lost their special privileges, such as better pay for work or access to sports facilities. One inmate began a violent protest that spread quickly through the A, B, C and D wings of the prison, which is about a mile and a half from Oakham. Amid the chaos, prisoners ran from one wing to another, spreading the protest and looting kitchens and storage rooms for ladders, tools, and petrol that could be used to make weapons. They also stole food and drugs and started a string of fires. Nearby residents, woken by police helicopters with infrared search cameras, described the scene as "like a war". It was not until Saturday afternoon – more than twelve hours after the violence began – that the first of at least 150 prisoners were taken away from the facility in Reliance vans. The prison was not brought back under control until 10.30pm on Saturday, 21 hours after the violence began. Neighbour and former prison worker Lewis Carlin, 78, who lives nearby, said: "I have been sat on my bed watching riot squads and police. The riot police have been going in and out but they have been here for so long that they are changing their shift. "It looks like it started in the B or C wing and spread. Every now and again we have seen some smoke as a new fire is started. This is the worst I have seen it here, and these are supposed to be low-risk prisoners." Another local resident, Beverly Cardell, said she was woken up about 1am by her son. "We could hear lots of noise, shouting, banging and general noise from the prison. It was like a war." The MoJ at first released no details and described the riot as an "an incident of concerted indiscipline" but a later statement confirmed parts of the prison were being treated as a crime scene. The statement said: "The incident at HMP Ashwell will be the subject of a full Prison Service investigation that will report to Ministers as soon as possible. It will look at events leading up to the incident, how the incident was managed and what lessons can be learnt.
"At around 1am around 420 prisoners on A, B, C and D wings started a number of fires in a workshop and on several wings after we understand a prisoner became involved in a dispute with a member of staff. "100 prisoners surrendered and staff were able to secure E and F wings. Specially trained officers from other prisons were immediately deployed and over 100 police officers secured the perimeter. A police helicopter was also activated.

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Cold-blooded slaughter of Roy Collins, the Limerick gangsters have signalled their contempt not only for human life, but for the State and its servants and institutions. Mr Collins was murdered because his family stood up to the gangs. His cousin had the courage to testify against a criminal.This latest outrage marks a descent to deeper levels of barbarity. While many gang members have been murdered in tit-for-tat killings, and Shane Geoghegan died last November because he was mistaken for someone else, Mr Collins' death is intended as a signal that nobody is beyond the reach of the gangs. The Collins family were under the protection of the gardai, and Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said yesterday that he had been informed several times of threats against them. Yet a gunman was able to walk into a busy lunchtime shopping centre, shoot his innocent victim and drive away. The killers don't care. They swagger and bully and threaten as though they are invulnerable, with no fear of the law. They place no value on life.
Gardai have put many of the top Limerick feud figures behind bars and have seized hundreds of guns over the years, but there is no shortage of young replacements and there appears to be an unstoppable flow of weapons. What is to be done? Mr O'Dea says that the people behind the scenes giving the orders for the killings will have to be targeted, which suggests that, so far, they have not been. He said the Cabinet had only this week approved the covert surveillance legislation that was promised by the Government following the murder of Mr Geoghegan last November. There have been many suggestions, one being that gang membership, in itself, should be made an offence. This has failed in the past, due to the difficulty in defining what constitutes "a gang", rather than some paramilitary
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Plainclothed police carrying concealed guns are being deployed on streets for the first time in decades in direct response to the increased terror threat, Scotland on Sunday can reveal.
Police marksmen have also been given the green light to use unmarked cars for firearms operations in another move aimed at better protecting the public from the threat of suicide bombers.
Security experts last night welcomed the development, saying it could help avoid potentially fatal confusion and delay in anti-terror operations where plain-clothes surveillance teams track suspects while uniformed firearms officers wait out of sight.It is believed that under the Scottish plan – dubbed "covert physical detention" – firearms officers in civilian clothing will be able to keep in very close, constant contact with suspects and, in extreme cases, open fire at a time and place that reduces the risk to innocent civilians.But critics of the new policy complained that it had been introduced without public consultation and warned it could increase the risk to the public and even result in separate firearms units opening fire on each other.The revelation follows anti-terror raids across the north-west of England last week, in which a dozen men were rounded up. Tactical firearms and armed response units have been in uniform since their creation in the 1980s and, until now, have always travelled in marked police vehicles. Insiders confirmed the new tactic would allow armed officers, disguised as members of the public, to trail dangerous individuals.
Previously unarmed surveillance officers, should they have needed armed support, would have had to wait for uniformed colleagues to arrive. A former senior firearms officer said: "Basically, we are talking about the boys going into civvies."One source close to UK special forces said: "This is a considerable departure. Plain-clothes armed officers have previously only been used in extreme circumstances where there is a major threat, such as Northern Ireland or the Middle East. Scotland, until two years ago – at Glasgow Airport – had never really had a terrorist incident and this is a sign that things have changed."
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Policeman was last night in hospital with life-threatening head injuries after an incident in east London yesterday morning. It is believed that the officer, a member of the CO19 firearms unit, sustained his injuries after attempting to arrest members of an armed gang carrying out a burglary in Dagenham.A Chrysler car believed to have been used in the raid was spotted and as those inside attempted to escape, it rammed a marked police vehicle. Two other police officers sustained minor injuries. The three occupants of the Chrysler were arrested. Detective Chief Inspector Mick Broster said: "We're investigating a serious incident that has left a police officer with life-threatening injuries."
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More than 80 Cleveland Police officers took part in the strikes on Stockton properties, from where the dealers were believed to operating.The convoy of eight police vans left Stockton Police Station at about 7am to give a rude awakening to targets living in the Tilery and Newtown estates. officers had arrested three of their five targets on charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs - both heroin and crack cocaine.A 37-year-old man was removed from his Norton Road address wearing only his underwear.
The raids were part of Operation Stockholm - an intelligence-led investigation carried out by Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Stockton and Stockton Drugs Unit based on information gathered from the community.Acting Chief Inspector Steve Young, who headed the raids, praised the community.He said: “Residents had the confidence in their local officers to pass on information about drugs activity in the area, which we have used to gather intelligence.“As part of the Policing Pledge, we have been consulting with communities on a regular basis, and it is this excellent community engagement that has enabled us to gather the information needed to carry out this operation.

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Owen Alfred and Oswin Moore, both 40,both from Trinidad and Tobago, were jailed for 18 years and 15 years respectively for their part in the conspiracy.
The conspiracy saw drug mules putting their lives on the line by swallowing cocaine pellets wrapped in cellophane and condoms.
The mules were paid between £2,000 and £3,000 each for swallowing up to 70 pellets per trip and then passing them through their bodies in the UK. Alfred and Moore, both from Trinidad and Tobago, were jailed for 18 years and 15 years respectively for their part in the conspiracy. The pair were arrested in Trinidad and Tobago and extradited to the UK in June last year. They were convicted of conspiracy to import controlled drugs following a six-week trial and sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday. Trevor Pearce, Soca executive director, said: “Drug trafficking causes misery to local communities and funds other criminal activity. “Alfred and Moore have paid a heavy price for importing cocaine into the UK and are now in jail thousands of miles away from their family and friends.” Soca arrested 21 drugs mules during its investigation after working with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the UK Border Agency to bust the ring. Some have since been jailed in the Caribbean. Evidence recovered during the investigation included money transaction details, false letters and telephone bills.
The evidence led investigators to conclude around 140 kilos of cocaine had been sent to the UK between June 2002 and July 2005.

Sunday Essiet died from nine stab wounds in his back as the horror unfolded in broad daylight. His attackers were intent on killing Sunday and showed him no mercy as they hounded him to death, the Old Bailey was told. Myles Maddy, 19, of Thamesmead, Ademola Docherty, 20, of Plumstead, Adeniyi Oloyede, 19, of Abbey Wood, and Ifedotun Gbadebo-Araoye, 20, of Charlton, all in South East London, were found guilty of murder.

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Colin Joyce, 29, and Lee Amos, 33, were convicted of murdering a mourner at the funeral of a man Joyce had "executed". Tyrone Gilbert, 23, was shot dead six weeks after his friend Ucal Chin was gunned down in Longsight, Manchester. Eleven men were on trial at Liverpool Crown Court for a catalogue of gang-related crimes, including murder. Joyce led the Gooch Gang in dealing drugs, torturing street dealers who crossed them and targeting rivals, culminating in the murders of Mr Chin, 24, and Mr Gilbert, 23.
Make no mistake, the men who led this gang - in particular Joyce and Amos - are among the most dangerous men in Manchester The court heard gang warfare erupted in the city in 2007 after Joyce and Amos were released on licence for firearms offences. They were recalled to prison for breaking their licences towards the end of that year, which coincided with a dramatic reduction in violent crime in the city. Since 2007 there has been a 92% reduction in gang-related shootings in the city and no gang-related murder for 12 months, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Tyrone Gilbert was shot at the wake of his friend, Ucal Chin
The eleven gangsters on trial were all members of either Gooch or the Old Trafford Cripz, a gang affiliated to them. Both murder victims had links to Longsight Crew, rivals of Moss Side-based Gooch Gang, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Speaking on Monday, senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Stephen Eckersley said he was "absolutely delighted" the gang were off the streets. The detective said officers had scratched the surface of the two murders to uncover a "much wider and well-organised conspiracy to possess guns and sell drugs". "This is by far the biggest trial of gang members Greater Manchester Police has ever run and the implications of today's conviction for the city are immense," he added. "Make no mistake, the men who led this gang - in particular Joyce and Amos - are among the most dangerous men in Manchester."
Police said Mr Chin and Mr Gilbert were killed in "military style" operations that were "executed with precision". Mr Chin was driving along Anson Road in Longsight on 15 June 2007 when a silver Audi pulled up alongside and seven shots were fired. Three of them struck his upper arm, upper back and chest, injuring his liver, heart and lungs and causing massive internal bleeding. He died later in hospital. A few weeks later on 27 July, his friends and family, including Tyrone Gilbert, were attending an impromptu wake on Frobisher Close when a number of shots were fired into the crowd from a passing car.Aeeron Campbell, Narada Williams and Ricardo Williams were also convicted Mr Gilbert was hit by a single bullet to the chest and he died in hospital. One of his friends, Michael Gordon, sustained two gunshot wounds to his left leg but survived.
One gang member, Aeeron Campbell, 25, was traced by DNA after he left a balaclava and pair of gloves at the scene. He was arrested in August 2007 followed by Joyce, Amos and the rest of the gang.
Their subsequent prosecutions were secured with the help of six witnesses who were former associates of the gang. All were given immunity from prosecution and are now in witness protection programmes. Joyce was found guilty of murdering Mr Chin and Mr Gilbert, as well as the attempted murder of Mr Gordon. Amos was found guilty of Mr Gilbert's murder and the attempted murder of the other man, alongside senior gang members Campbell, Narada Williams, 28, and his brother, Ricardo Williams, 26.
Five other men were convicted of a range of gang-related offences including gun possession and drug dealing. A sixth man pleaded guilty to the charges. The men will be sentenced by judge Brian Langstaff on Tuesday.

Firearms were discharged 23 times in the Bradford district in the past year, seven times resulting in injuries and twice in deaths.Shootings in Bradford have been occurring almost on a weekly basis since last May,There have been two shootings this month. On March 14, a masked gunman fired several shots into the office of Jenny’s Private Hire taxi firm, in Halifax Road, Buttershaw, in broad daylight. Three members of staff had to dive for cover. Five days later a 21-year-old man was shot in the chest at a car sales plot in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke.He has now been released from hospital and two men in their 20s have been bailed in connection with the incident. but police chiefs are anxious to assure the public that these are targeted attacks between rival factions and pose no threat to innocent people. But police are confident that tough new tactics will stop gunmen in their tracks. Specially-trained firearms officers, working alongside local Neighbourhood Policing Teams, are using stop and search powers to swoop on suspects and seize their guns before they are able to use them. Superintendent Dickie Whitehead is not complacent about the public perception of gun crime but wants to keep it in perspective. “One shooting is one too many,” he said. “I recognise and understand the concern the public have, which is clear – what if the gunmen miss their intended target and hit a member of the public? “It is with that in mind that I would urge each and every member of the community to give us the opportunity to prevent such offences by enabling our officers to disrupt and deter anyone in possession of a firearm before any offence occurs. “It is important that we work with local communities to target anyone who is involved in any kind of crime with guns. “We want the public to feel safe within Bradford and getting guns off the streets will contribute to this.” Since the turn of the year there have been nine shooting incidents in the city, and a further four in the final week of 2008. They included an incident at a house in Leeds Road, Thornbury, in January, when bullets were sent ricocheting round the kitchen while a family slept upstairs.
In the same month a man was shot in the buttock outside a shop in North Parade in the city centre’s Rawson Quarter. The street was busy with shoppers and workers on their way home at the time of the 5.30pm incident. Five men were arrested and bailed on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Supt Whitehead said: “The firearms incidents across the Bradford district in recent weeks are still few and far between. “While they were targeted attacks, it is clearly unacceptable for people to be using guns on the streets of Bradford. “These are not random or indiscriminate attacks. The picture that is emerging is one of disputes between various elements of the Bradford criminal fraternity. “Our information suggests a variety of reasons for the disputes, some of which are connected with criminal activity, including drugs, and there are other suggestions of more minor disputes about property and relationships. “We are pursuing some very specific inquiries to bring those involved to justice. “My message to anyone who is carrying, or planning to use, a firearm across the Bradford district is that we will be stop searching those suspected of these types of offences and they can expect a prison sentence when found in possession of a firearm. “Specially-trained firearms officers will be utilised to stop-search those suspects who are a clearly posed threat to their intended victim, the public, and, indeed, the police. “We will act on any information with regard to the location of firearms to recover them prior to their transportation or use.” Police are also urging young gunmen to say no when asked to carry out shootings for other people. Supt Whitehead said: “It is important we don’t sensationalise the use of firearms as this creates further fear within our communities and serves to glamorise negative role models in the eyes of the young and impressionable.
“In reality, those who resort to firearms commit the most cowardly act and are often those who seek status and favour that is lacking due to their own inadequacies.
“Such people are easily persuaded and used to do other people’s dirty work. I would urge those people to say ‘no’ and to contact the police.” Supt Whitehead said there had been one shooting death in the past year, that of Damian Gordon, at Club Icon in Westgate, Bradford city centre, last August. Six Manchester men were arrested in connection with the murder and are due to go on trial later this year.
The other death linked to firearms was that of Shoaib Khan, 32, who was stabbed to death after firing shots from a car in Manningham last May. Supt Whitehead said it was a prime example that carrying or using a firearm can lead to the gunman losing his life.
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shot outside the Euro Wine & Food Store in Hornsey Road, Holloway, at about 2240 GMT on Sunday. Two suspects on a motorcycle pulled up outside the store and fired shots that struck the victims. They then rode off, heading north in Hornsey Road. The father was pronounced dead at the scene and his son was later taken to hospital. There have been no arrests. It is understood one of the victims worked at the shop. "We retain an open mind regarding any motive at present," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses. A post-mortem examination of the 50-year-old man is due to take place later.

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Murder of 27-year-old Shay O'Byrne in Tallaght on Friday night, believed to be linked to a feud between rival drugs gangs, is the eighth gangland killing in Dublin so far this year.O'Byrne was shot in the back while running away from the gunman at Tymon Park North. A 26-year-old woman, who was with O'Byrne, was shot in the leg. She remains in hospital although her condition is not life-threatening. Last night, gardai were still questioning three people about the attack. One of the lines of inquiry officers are exploring is the possibility that O'Byrne was scheduled to meet members of a rival gang for peace talks.The murder was linked this weekend to a feud between two crime gangs in the Crumlin/Drimnagh areas, which has claimed 13 lives over the past few years.Flanagan said the gangland feuding in Dublin and other Irish cities was now out of control: "With gangland murders happening at a rate of one every nine days it is clear the government's impotence is allowing criminals to operate with a sense of impunity."Justice minister Dermot Ahern may talk the talk when it comes to ordering gardai to tackle organised crime but at the end of the day that's all it is - talk. In fact, by cutting back on garda overtime the minister is actively giving criminals a break from the law instead of ramping up the fight against gangland."There are some who say, 'Once it's gangland, let them at it,' but that runs contrary to the fundamentals of democracy and would represent a total breakdown of law and order."Flanagan also pointed to the low conviction rate for gangland killings in Ireland. "I commend the gardai for already making arrests in the case of the Tallaght shooting, which appears to be another incident in the Crumlin/Drimnagh feud. However, it is deeply frustrating that criminals have every chance of getting away with it. Just seven homicide convictions in relation to the 94 gangland murders since 1999 is grim evidence of that," he added.A garda spokesman said: "All three people arrested are male and they are being detained at Rathfarnham and Tallaght garda stations under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act." It is understood that one of the men in custody is in his late teens, while the other two are in their mid 20s. Gardai said yesterday that a man was seen running away from the murder scene before being driven out of the area in a Silver-coloured Nissan Primera. A garda spokesman said the vehicle's partial registration was "00D" and was later seen in the nearby Castlelawn Estate a short time after the shooting. Another car, a sky-blue Volkswagen Passat, with a partial registration number of 06WW, was also seen in Tymon North Gardens at the time of the shooting, the garda said.
The gunman is believed to be between 25 and 30 years of age, 172cm (5ft 8in) tall with dark hair. He was dressed in black and had a hood. The other man is believed to be in his mid to late 30s, 172cm tall, with dark, tight cut hair.
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fight broke out in Tooting Broadway last night between two rival gangs
Shoppers ran for their lives as 30 youths aged 14-20 attacked each other with wood, iron bars and bottles in Sainsbury’s car park at around 6pm. It began in Mitcham Road outside McDonald’s, where a group of what are believed to be Somali youths began taunting some Asians, according to one witness. The teenagers, some of whom had their faces covered with headscarves, chased each other down an alleyway and into the car park, witnesses said. Mark Shaw, 46, frontman of 80s band Then Jerico, was caught in the chaos while carrying his shopping to the car. He said: “They picked up sticks and anything they could find. There were people screaming and shouting. "It was like a war zone. We were absolutely terrified. “It makes me feel angry and disgusted with the Government because this country is being over-run by little scumbags.” Within minutes, three police cars arrived but the youths bolted and it is not yet known whether any were arrested. Rob Sanson, manager of A Bar 2 Far, witnessed part of the fight but said it was no different to normal. He said: “There’s always antisocial behaviour, throwing bottles, smoking weed, selling drugs and everything. “We are trying to run a clean business but we are being sidetracked by them. They are putting off our customers.” Several months ago McDonalds employed a security guard to stop troublesome teens congregating there, but locals say the gangs just moved onto the streets. In April, Mr Shaw, who has lived in Graveney for ten years, was badly beaten up by a gang further down the same road. Police were already conducting a stop and search operation at Tooting Broadway and officers were on the scene within minutes. One youth sustained minor injuries, and officers are studying CCTV footage to identify suspects. Inspector Dale Anderton from Tooting safer neighbourhoods team (SNT), said: “It was an isolated incident. "It seems that a group of up to 20 people attended the area intent on exacting some sort of revenge for a minor assault on a youth earlier in the week.
“They then met up with another group of about 20 and a fight broke out.” He added behaviour in the area had improved recently, but that officers were increasing their patrols to tackle the remaining problems.

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22-year-old man was attacked while sitting in his Volkswagen Golf in Southloch Gardens, Petershill, at about 1950 GMT on Tuesday. He is being treated in hospital where staff described his condition as "stable". Officers recovered a second Volkswagen Golf which had been set alight on the road between Auchinairn and Lenzie. Det Insp John Kennedy, of Strathclyde Police, said a man "whose face was partially-covered" carried out the shooting before making off along Petershill Drive, possibly in a Volkswagen Golf. "I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Southloch Gardens last night and witnessed this incident to come forward," he said. "I would particularly like to speak to anyone who saw the VW Golf in the Petershill area.
"It may have been parked at or near the scene sometime before the shooting and people may have noticed it. "I would like to reassure members of the public that everything is being done to trace the person or persons responsible for this crime."
Det Insp Kennedy said officers were carrying out door to door enquiries in the area and police would be carrying out extra patrols. A forensic examination is being conducted on the burnt-out Golf, which was recovered a short time after the shooting.



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Rennard Dubbari Russell was extradited back to Birmingham last Friday by detectives investigating the death of Owen Winston Wilson in 2006.Mr Wilson, aged 53, was found dead in the kitchen of his house in Onibury Road, Handsworth, when police were alerted on the evening of December 14.A post-mortem examination later revealed Mr Wilson, who was originally from Jamaica, had been shot once in the head.Russell, 35, of no fixed address, appeared before city magistrates on Saturday charged with murder and firearms offences and was remanded in custody to appear before Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.Detectives from Thornhill Road CID travelled to the Jamaican capital of Kingston last Monday following Russell’s detention on an international arrest warrant in February.The two forces had been liaising after information suggested the suspect was in the Caribbean.Det Sgt Graham Sproson, from Thornhill Road CID, said: “A 35-year-old man was brought back to the UK from Jamaica on Friday and taken to Thornhill Road police station where he was charged with murder and firearms offences.”Mr Wilson’s 25-year-old daughter has been informed of the extradition development, he addedMr Wilson was killed during a spate of shootings in the Lozells and Newtown areas in November and December 2006, although his death was not linked to other incidents.Two weeks earlier, Mohammed Basharat, 24, was blasted at close range with a shotgun while he worked at his Supermalt store in Villa Road, Lozells.The dad-of-two died just hours later in hospital.On November 13 2006, promising footballer Meshack Tesfa Bernard-Brown was shot and killed in Melbourne Avenue, Lozells, as he celebrated his 20th birthday.Last December, three members of a gang were jailed for life over the parts they played in his killing.

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Professional Albanian assassins are "touting" for business in the capital claiming to be able to "take out" targets for as little as £5,000.In an under cover investigation into criminal gangs operating in north London Albanians who fought in the KLA during the bloody Balkans conflict against Serbia, now have now established themselves as formidable figures in the London's underworld. Experienced users of guns and knives the Albanians are one of the most able assassins in London.The war in Kosovo fuelled the spread of the Albanian Mafia after numerous gangsters disguised as Kosovar ‘refugees’ found their way into European countries, especially the UK now over ten years since the troubles in the Balkans.One leading Albanian gangster who spoke to the London Daily News said:"We can use guns, we control the prostitutes in Soho and we are investing in London heavily. We fear no one and the law cannot do anything to stop us."Our reporter discovered that to have someone "taken out" according to the unwritten laws in London's criminal underworld, the going rate is around £5,000 with Albanian's using either guns or knives to eliminate the target.The Albanian mafia is not a pyramid with one leader, rather an organisation with several bosses. The ownership of the heroin European market, according to police sources from a dozen European countries is in the hands of 30 Albanian mafia families. Each of these families control a specific area of Kosovo which is the main transit point for all drugs. The Drenica area, which goes through Prizren, Klin and Istok connects Montenegro and FYROM is controlled by the Drenica group whose main profit is drugs, weapons, stolen automobiles, white slavery, cigarettes and alcohol. This mafia is connected with the Albanian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Czech mafia.
Most influential Albanian families at the moment are Naser Keljmendi, Ekrem Luka, and Redzep Selimi.Recent FBI report shows that Albanian mafia overtook the Russian and Italian mafia in New York. Same went for several European cities, including London, Berlin and Prague.The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson will have the added headache of dealing with ruthless well organised international criminal gangs.

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