Man, 20, arrested over fatal roundabout crash near Bathgate
The lorry driver was charged in connection with road traffic offences last week.The circumstances surrounding the crash have been referred to the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner.
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Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Driver who crashed into primary school killing two eight-year-old girls could face criminal charges two years on - after new witnesses come forward
A woman driver who crashed into a school killing two eight-year-old girls could face criminal charges, two years on – as significant new witnesses have come forward. Police are preparing a file of evidence for prosecutors to consider charges against Claire Freemantle, 48, who had avoided prosecution after saying she had suffered her first ever epileptic seizure at the wheel. The development comes on the second anniversary of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau dying after the Land Rover Defender veered off the road and smashed through a fence into The Study Prep School in Wimbledon, south-west London, as children and staff were enjoying an end-of-term tea party. Nine children and three adults were also seriously injured in the crash on the morning of July 6, 2023. Today, the grieving families and community are holding a memorial event to commemorate the girls. In a poignant reminder, Nuria and Selena's classmates marked the end of their time at the prep school on Friday before moving on to secondary education. Ms Freemantle was arrested at the scene and investigated by police. But prosecutors decided not to bring any criminal charges in June 2024 after Ms Freemantle said she had suffered an epileptic seizure. In October, the Mail revealed Met Police had decided to reopen the probe after a serious case review uncovered significant flaws in the way officers conducted the initial inquiry, including consideration of medical evidence which led to the case being dropped. One of the key issues in the original investigation was the diagnosis of epilepsy, which is notoriously difficult to detect without brain scans shortly after a seizure, and a detailed consideration of a patient's medical history. The review is also understood to have been critical of missed opportunities by the original investigation team in the Road Traffic Collisions Unit who failed to interview key witnesses at the scene about the driver's behaviour in the immediate aftermath. The case was subsequently reopened and handed to a top detective superintendent from Specialist Crime Command. Police then made a successful appeal for people who witnessed the crash to come forward to help officers understand whether the driver's behaviour was consistent with her diagnosis. In January, Ms Freemantle was rearrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. She remains on bail. The bereaved families welcomed the case being reopened 'into the death of our beautiful girls and the harm caused to those injured and who witnessed the tragedy'. Ms Freemantle has said she had no recollection of what happened after losing consciousness. She said last year: 'Since I became aware of the terrible event that took place on July 6, the devastating consequences for all those affected have not left my thoughts and will be with me for the rest of my life. 'I have since been diagnosed as having suffered an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness. 'This was not a pre-existing condition,' she added. 'As a result of losing consciousness, I have no recollection of what took place.' Met Police said: 'Our thoughts are with Nuria and Selena's loved ones at this time.
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Will the French keep slashing boats of people smugglers? Non! Starmer left ‘humiliated' after continental cops revealed that they will not routinely use tactic to stop people smugglers
SIr Keir Starmer was left 'humiliated' after French police revealed that they will not routinely slash the boats of people smugglers as they set off to cross Channel. Only two days ago, No 10 hailed footage showing French officers ripping open a dinghy in shallow waters as a 'significant moment' in the bid to smash the people-smuggling gangs. But last night a senior source working for the Gendarme unit responsible – the Compagnie de Marche – made clear it would 'by no means' be a regular tactic. The source told The Mail on Sunday: 'The slashing of boats will not become routine.' He added: 'It was a pragmatic move ultimately aimed at saving lives. We saw the boat was dangerously overcrowded and liable to sink, and so took the decision to rescue everybody on board. 'This is exactly what happened – nobody was hurt, and the very dangerous boat was confiscated. 'This was by no means a change in tactics.' Embarrassingly for the Prime Minister, it comes just days before French president Emmanuel Macron arrives in the UK for a state visit. Cops were shown slashing the dinghy with knives in their latest attempt to foil migrants and refugees from making the perilous crossing Only yesterday the PM spoke to Mr Macron and raised hopes of making 'good progress' on migration and other priorities. Last night the Tories seized on what they saw as Downing Street's discomfort. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Only two days ago, No 10 was claiming this as a huge victory. But now they have been humiliated as the new tactic turned out to be a one-off.' He added: 'The French appear to have no intention of routinely stopping these boats despite being paid nearly half a billion pounds of British taxpayers' money. 'Illegal migration continues to flood into the UK, but Labour has lost control of our borders and has no answers.' On Friday, No 10 welcomed video footage showing a French 'gendarme' destroying an inflatable dinghy off a beach south of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The flimsy craft was packed with migrants, who were forced to abandon their crossing as it collapsed into the water. Downing Street said that it was a 'significant moment' that could have 'a major impact on shutting down the tactics these gangs use'. However, unlike regular police in France, gendarmes are military personnel known for more robust tactics than their counterparts in other law and order units. And a National Police spokesman said that regular officers would 'continue to follow strict rules that bar them from going into the sea' in case they put lives at risk. It follows police trade unionists arguing that interfering with UK-bound migrants in the English Channel could 'lead to more deaths.' A senior source at Alliance – the largest police union in the country – said: 'If there are 80 people on an overcrowded boat, including women and children, then it is extremely dangerous to try to stop them. 'People can fall in the water, while others resist arrest – the potential for disaster, including further deaths, is immense. 'Turning us into sea police in this manner is not the way forward.' It comes as more than 500 people arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on Friday. Some 517 people came on eight boats, taking the annual total to 21,117, according to news agency PA. There have been 17 deaths in 2025 alone on the cross-Channel migration route, mainly because of flimsy dinghies overturning or deflating, often very close to the shore. Procedural changes now being considered in France will instead focus on the use of patrol boats at sea to intercept so-called 'taxi-boats'. These are the people-smuggling boats that enter the sea empty from inland waterways and attempt to pick up migrants from the beach. A French interior ministry source told The MoS: 'Preventing a taxi boat with one or two people smugglers on board from picking up scores of migrants will be much safer than approaching a boat that is already overcrowded.' Last night a Home Office source said: 'We obviously welcome any action French counterparts are able to do. We want to see an end to these dangerous channel crossing. 'These criminal gangs packing more people into boats are a total disgrace.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Wife of crime boss ‘Hotdog' to ‘live in tent' when illegal scrap yard is shut down as she's kicked out of 8-bed home
THE wife of a crime boss has claimed she may have to live in a tent when she is evicted by authorities next week. Mary Smith, 48, and her husband Tommy 'Hotdog' Smith will be imminently booted from their eight bedroom detached house in Great Harwood, Lancashire. 2 2 The couple's site is also stacked with static caravans and stables for dozens of horses. Those occupying the land will be evicted after a court order was issued by Judge Guy Mathieson following a spate of criminality, including illegal waste collection and fires. In May, firefighters spent several days putting out raging fires outside the illegal scrapyard after illegal waste was dumped in the area. And following reports of a disturbance at the site on Bonfire Night in November, cops were attacked with fireworks as they attempted to defuse the issue. Mrs Smith's lawyers accepted the justification for the order, but argued the welfare of the couple's children and animal should be highlighted and argued for partial closure. This was swiftly rejected by Judge Mathieson. Mrs Smith alleged that tenants she had previously evicted were responsible for the fires and that she had no affiliation with them after Mr Smith was jailed seven years ago. Mrs Smith replied: "Me and my daughter Indiana have bought a tent, a two man tent. That is all." The judge asked: "You have a £1.4 million turnover and you are going to live in a tent?" Mrs Smith replied: "I don't know what you are talking about. I don't own any business. Sir, I think you have got it wrong. "My husband has been in jail for the past seven years, I haven't had any business for at least six years. "At the moment sir, I have had to sign on benefits." Mark Chester, representing Lancashire Constabulary, said there was a 'staggering' list of previous enforcement action going back 'years' to tackle issues on the site. He said: "None of these measures have had the necessary effect and what is very clear is that as soon as these orders lapse, the lucrative business of waste management continues. "This has been years of misery being heaped on local residents." He added that neighbours were unable to open their windows due to "putrid smells" coming from the site, with some suffering breathing difficulties. Judge Mathieson granted a full closure order meaning more than 100 officials from the police, council, RSPCA and Environment Agency will move in to secure the site and prevent occupants from access. He said: "The fact is, the occupants of this site have done nothing to address the reasons behind the closure order. They have, either directly or indirectly by letting their tenants, continue to commit nuisance and continue to operate a highly profitable business. "The only way to ensure the cessation of this is to grant a full closure order."
