Latest news with #Bedford
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Two men charged after Bedford town centre stabbing
Two men have been charged following a town centre stabbing.A man was injured in Iddesleigh Road, Bedford at about 21:40 BST on 20 men in their 20s have now been charged with grievous bodily harm and one was also charged with possession of a knife or bladed other men, also in their 20s, were arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Bedford drug dealer who killed customer gets 12-year jail term
A drug dealer convicted of killing a customer after an early-hours cocaine sale went wrong has been given a 12-year jail Che, 26, died in hospital after being stabbed in the abdomen with a kitchen knife at a house in Brereton Road in Bedford in November Kamau, 25, of Rutland Road, Bedford, claimed he was under threat and acted in found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Luton Crown Court. Kamau had previous convictions for drug dealing offences and possessing offensive weapons."You do present a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public," said the judge, Mr Justice Mr Justice Swift said he was starting to take "responsibility for your actions". Kamau must serve at least eight years in prison before parole is considered. Jurors heard that Mr Che, who was born in Cameroon and lived in Bedford, met Kamau in the early hours of 5 November in a street and wanted barrister Neil Moore, who led the prosecution team, said Kamau had feared a "set up" and "got aggressive".He said evidence showed that Kamau attacked Mr Che with a knife and scissors. Mr Che died after suffering a 13cm (5in) wound. The prosecution said Kamau behaved with "jaw-dropping calmness" after the posed with the blood-stained knife and took a "trophy" photograph of himself, they Kamau said he took the photograph with the intention of showing it to were told officers found the knife, which was 4cm-wide (1.6in) and 18cm-long (7.1in), after Kamau threw it down a rubbish chute. 'Swinging' Kamau told jurors that two other men were with Mr Che and that he decided to leave the property because the situation became "dodgy".He said Mr Che was holding scissors and stood in his said he was "terrified" and picked up a knife from the kitchen."I am just trying not to get stabbed, not get injured," he told jurors. "In that process, I have lunged."He said Mr Che "started coming at me swinging" and told jurors: "I swung once with the kitchen knife. I didn't want to stab him." In a victim impact statement read at the sentencing hearing, Mr Che's family explained how he moved to the UK to study computer science at the University of Westminster."There is nothing to fill the void," said their statement."Not even the harshest sentence will bring Patrice back." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Verge
a day ago
- Business
- The Verge
This smart smoke alarm could be a worthy Nest Protect replacement
A new line of smoke and CO alarms from Gentex called Place is packed with smart features, including phone notifications, a nightlight, motion detection, and temperature and humidity sensing. There's also optional air quality monitoring and a camera/intercom. The four Place models start at $139, and are available now at The Home Depot. With the excellent Nest Protect now discontinued, many homeowners have been seeking an alternative smart alarm that can similarly alert them to a smoke or carbon monoxide emergency in their home, even when they're not there. On paper, this new line from Place might be just that. The base model, called Any Space, costs $139 and has photoelectric smoke detection, carbon monoxide detection, Wi-Fi connectivity, ambient temperature and humidity sensing, localized voice alerts, and a nightlight. It also features a motion sensor that can send alerts to the Place app, a useful security feature. It has most of the same features as the Nest Protect, along with some additional ones. However, disappointingly, there isn't currently alarm integration with smart home platforms, and the models are only available as hardwired devices. The more expensive models do bring some very interesting upgrades. A unit designed for the kitchen costs $249.95 and includes natural gas and VOC detection, in addition to the base model's features. A nursery unit, priced at $349.95, features both VOC detection and PM2.5 air quality monitoring, a white noise generator, and a camera with a two-way intercom — potentially replacing four different products you might put in your baby's room. A garage unit, priced at $299.95, provides heat detection (instead of smoke) and includes a camera and intercom. All the models have what Gentex claims is the first built-in low-frequency sounder alarm. Studies from the NFPA have shown that a low-frequency tone can be more effective at waking deep sleepers, children, and those with hearing impairments. The Place line interconnects via your home's wiring to sound all the alarms when one is triggered, and communicate over Wi-Fi to the Place app for smart features. These include getting notifications for smoke, CO, motion, air quality, and temperature changes. You can also silence compatible alarms from the app. The intercom and camera features are accessed through the app, where you can also control the white noise and nightlight functions. The nightlight uses adjustable and dimmable color and white LEDS. It can be set to always on, activate based on ambient light, or triggered with ambient light and motion, Steven Bedford, a product manager at Gentex, told The Verge in an interview. Currently, the Place app only integrates with Amazon Alexa, specifically for controlling the light. Bedford says they are working on a Google Home integration as well as exploring Matter integration. 'Our goal is to be the first smart smoke detector on Matter in the U.S.,' he said. Matter integration could allow the alarms to work with any Matter-compatible platforms, such as Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon Alexa. While receiving an alert on your phone and silencing a nuisance alarm are great features of connected smoke alarms, smart home integration can offer a lot more functionality. For example, turning off the HVAC system, unlocking the doors, and triggering security cameras to record when an alarm sounds. The Place alarms are UL-listed, and while you may not have heard of Gentex – which is best known for developing automotive technology, including the HomeLink system that controls your garage door from your car – the Michigan-based company has plenty of experience in fire safety. Gentex developed the first dual-cell photoelectric smoke alarm in 1974 and has been selling commercial grade alarms for decades. A couple of new smart smoke alarms have launched in the wake of the end of Nest Protect. Kidde released two models in partnership with Ring earlier this year. The hardwired Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm with Ring ($54.97) and the Kidde Smart Smoke and CO Alarm with Ring ($74.97), which work with the Ring app to send you alerts. First Alert (now owned by Resideo) partnered with Google on the $129 First Alert Smart Smoke & CO detector. With a hardwired alarm and battery-powered option, these smart alarms work with Google Home and can integrate with existing Google Nest Protect alarms, interconnecting over Google's Thread and Weave protocols. However, neither the First Alert nor the Kidde models have motion sensing or the popular pathlight feature of the Nest Protect, both of which the Place alarms have. Unfortunately, none of the new models match the Nest Protect in terms of industrial design. It's good to finally see more options for smart smoke alarms arriving, but it's frustrating that none of them have broad smart home compatibility. It means you still have to pick a platform or use a proprietary app for a device that will be in your home for a decade.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Police's Bedford park drinking Facebook post 'appalling'
A tongue-in-cheek police Facebook post that suggested people should bring "extra strength alcohol" to a park was branded "appalling" by a magistrate, a meeting message informed people that a community officer would be at St Peter's Green in Bedford looking out for anti-social the post was written like an invitation to a circus parade and jokingly invited people to commit extraordinary meeting of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel was told a magistrate had criticised it for appearing to make light of vulnerable people and alcoholism. The police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire said he did not know the specifics of the post, but added "it would appear not to be something that was appropriate".Bedfordshire Police was contacted for comment. 'Enjoy your beverage' The post, from the Bedford Community Policing Team, was published in May and began with the words, "Roll up Roll Up it's PC Pete's Pop-Up 'Party-Pooping' Parade at St Peter's Green!"It went on to say that PC Pete was "bringing his ASB (anti-social behaviour) disrupting engagement to St Peter's Green again this Saturday".It said people could "bring your extra strength alcohol" and "illegally enjoy your beverage from one of the many benches provided".The message pointed out there were no toilet facilities at the park, but if anyone was caught defecating "you may find yourself winning an all expenses paid trip to our custody suite".Towards the end of the post, it said: "All 'banter' aside, consuming alcoholic drinks, urinating and defecating in public spaces, and any other ASB will be dealt with accordingly."You have been warned!" During the meeting this week, Bedford borough councillor Tim Caswell, Liberal Democrat, read out a question to Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard from someone he described as a "very experienced magistrate".The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that after quoting the Facebook post, Caswell added: "The magistrate's description of that was 'appalling' because it refers to some very vulnerable people and to alcoholism. "I just wondered what you thought of that and if you would ask the chief constable if he thinks that's an appropriate way for the force to message the public."Tizard, Labour, told the meeting that "prima facie, [the post] would appear not to be something that was appropriate".He said the source of the post would have to be verified but he would pass the complaint on. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Family mourns death of three-year-old N.S. boy
The family of three-year-old Maverick Brown is mourning after Maverick was struck and killed by a vehicle in their small Bedford, N.S., community around 8 p.m. last Friday. Joel Brown, Maverick's father, says it was a normal day, and Maverick had been playing soccer outside with new friends. 'I told him it was time to come in for bedtime and that it was bath time. And he ran up to me and hugged me and he said, 'Daddy, I made new friends. Can I just have two more minutes, please?'' says Brown. 'So, I gave him two more minutes because he was having such a good time with his friends…and I said, 'I'm just going to go inside and clean up from supper. And it was a matter of two minutes to put a couple dishes in the sink.' Brown says in that two-minute time span, Maverick went after a soccer ball that had rolled onto the street. 'He had tried to go get it and the truck took his life,' Brown says. Brown says Maverick's older brother Mason witnessed the incident. 'His big brother is probably one of the strongest kids I have ever met. For him to witness what happened and to carry his little brother to me…he has been so strong. He has been strong for me,' Brown says. Police say 'no criminal wrongdoing' 'The investigation has determined that speed and alcohol were not factors in the collision,' Const. Martin Cromwell, public information officer for Halifax Regional Police, said in an email. 'This was a tragic incident and there was no criminal wrongdoing by the driver. No summary offence tickets will be issued, nor will the driver be facing any charges.' Joel says he received an email from the owner of the townhouses. 'He said he was going to put rails over on the side, as well as new signage and speed boats,' says Brown. 'I am thankful that they're doing it. I just really wish it didn't have to take my sweet little boy's life to happen.' Memorial Maverick Brown, three, was killed in Bedford, N.S., on June 20, 2025. (Source: Vanessa Wright/CTV News Atlantic) Brown says their family, including Maverick's mother, who lives in Cape Breton, is heartbroken by their loss. 'We're not together anymore. But I just want everybody to know how amazing a mother she was and is,' says Brown. 'She loved that little boy to death. And he loved her so much.' Two GoFundMe pages have been created to support the family. 'The amount of people sharing the GoFundMe and donating… it's overwhelming and I can't thank everybody enough,' says Brown. His family clings to videos and pictures of Maverick, relishing those memories. 'He was always smiling, always laughing. And you can tell how loved he was by his brother, by his mom, by her daughters, her family, by Joell and just everybody around,' says Felicia Newell, Maverick's aunt. 'You think you have more time. But I just want people to know that sometimes you don't have more time. So book the flight, take the trip, see your family, get to know them.' 'He was so full of life,' says Brown. 'This little boy deserves the world and he's gone way too soon.' Maverick Brown Three-year-old Maverick Brown is pictured. (Source: Vanessa Wright/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
