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Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued
BIN IT Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued COUNCIL chiefs installed a knife bin near Wimbledon just days before this year's Championships kicked off. The amnesty box - where people can surrender their weapons - was instated at a church last week. Advertisement 3 Wimbledon is taking place between June 30 and July 13 Credit: Reuters All blades, including soon-to-be-banned ninja swords, can be handed in at the secure bin on Pollards Hill. It will be emptied by specialist organisation Words4Weapons. Councillor Edith Macauely MBE, the London Borough of Merton's Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said she welcomed the move as "a meaningful step towards reducing violence and promoting safety" in the area. She added: 'Knife crime has devastating effects for everyone involved – the victims, the perpetrators and the community as a whole. Advertisement READ MORE WIMBLEDON WIMBLEDON WOES Wimbledon star funded by Djokovic collapses in agony and forced to retire "Our message must go out loud and clear: you never make yourself safer by carrying a knife. 'This new amnesty bin gives anyone who has made the error of acquiring a dangerous weapon the chance to correct their mistake and make themselves safer with no questions asked.' The amnesty box is part of a Home Office-funded scheme to tackle knife crime in the UK. Thirty seven other knife surrender bins have been installed across London and other violence hotspots. Advertisement 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 It comes after Wimbledon star Yulia Putintseva paused her first-round match on Monday over fears a 'crazy' fan had a knife courtside. The world No33 - who lost in 45 minutes without winning a game - reported the spectator to the umpire. Advertisement Distraught Wimbledon star feared 'dangerous' fan had knife and demanded they were kicked out Fans said the man had been attempting to talk to the Russian-born ace, who plays for Kazakhstan, at the start of her clash with American Amanda Anisimova on Court 15. Putintseva was heard saying: 'Can you take him out because maybe he has a knife? I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy.' The chair umpire consulted security and the game was resumed. It is unclear if any action was taken against the spectator, but it is understood he was not carrying a knife and would have been subject to a search for weapons when he entered the grounds. Advertisement When asked about the incident on Tuesday, Wimbledon head of operations Michelle Dite told SunSport: 'We've been very upfront about this, that if the players have got any concerns, if they feel that there's something that doesn't feel quite right, they absolutely should bring it to light. We would rather know about these things." She added: "One of the players had some concerns, they went and spoke to the umpire, we checked it all out with security.' Wimbledon bosses played down the incident, including Putintseva's 'knife' remark. A spokesman insisted: 'Security was in the area. The issue was dealt with.' Advertisement
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued
COUNCIL chiefs installed a knife bin near Wimbledon just days before this year's Championships kicked off. The amnesty box - where people can surrender their weapons - was instated at a church last week. 3 Wimbledon is taking place between June 30 and July 13 Credit: Reuters All blades, including soon-to-be-banned ninja swords, can be handed in at the secure bin on Pollards Hill. It will be emptied by specialist organisation Words4Weapons. Councillor Edith Macauely MBE, the London Borough of Merton's Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said she welcomed the move as "a meaningful step towards reducing violence and promoting safety" in the area. She added: 'Knife crime has devastating effects for everyone involved – the victims, the perpetrators and the community as a whole. READ MORE WIMBLEDON "Our message must go out loud and clear: you never make yourself safer by carrying a knife. 'This new amnesty bin gives anyone who has made the error of acquiring a dangerous weapon the chance to correct their mistake and make themselves safer with no questions asked.' The amnesty box is part of a Home Office-funded scheme to tackle knife crime in the UK. Thirty seven other knife surrender bins have been installed across London and other violence hotspots. Most read in Sport 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - It comes after Wimbledon star Yulia Putintseva The world No33 - who Distraught Wimbledon star feared 'dangerous' fan had knife and demanded they were kicked out Fans said the man had been attempting to talk to the Russian-born ace, who plays for Kazakhstan, at the start of her clash with American Amanda Anisimova on Court 15. Putintseva was heard saying: 'Can you take him out because maybe he has a knife? I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy.' The chair umpire consulted security and the game was resumed. It is unclear if any action was taken against the spectator, but it is understood he was not carrying a knife and would have been subject to a search for weapons when he entered the grounds. When asked about the incident on Tuesday, Wimbledon head of operations Michelle Dite told SunSport: 'We've been very upfront about this, that if the players have got any concerns, if they feel that there's something that doesn't feel quite right, they absolutely should bring it to light. We would rather know about these things." She added: "One of the players had some concerns, they went and spoke to the umpire, we checked it all out with security.' Wimbledon bosses played down the incident, including Putintseva's 'knife' remark. A spokesman insisted: 'Security was in the area. The issue was dealt with.' 3 Yulia Putintseva was distressed during her first round match
The Irish Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Rape charge against asylum seeker in taxpayer-funded hotel kept quiet to avoid inflaming ‘community tension in cover up'
A RAPE charge against a man staying in an asylum hotel was kept quiet — as officials feared inflaming 'community tension'. There were also two other rape cases where it was not disclosed that the suspects were in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels. Advertisement 4 Council officials recommended rape charges against an asylum seeker living at a taxpayer-funded hotel be kept quiet Credit: Darren Fletcher Shadow Justice Secretary He went on: 'The illegal small-boat crossings are a national security emergency. "We've seen terrorism, murders and rapes from those who've come here illegally. It's outrageous. 'Women in towns with asylum hotels shouldn't have to live in fear. Advertisement READ MORE ON ASYLUM SEEKERS The authorities must trust the public with the truth and act to protect them.' The rape suspects were all housed in Home Office-funded accommodation in Portsmouth , London and Manchester. At Portsmouth, the alleged rape was followed by a concerted effort to keep secret the suspect's link to an asylum hotel. He was charged with rape and voyeurism after the alleged attack on a woman on June 11. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Police confirmed to The Sun he had been at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, used to house asylum seekers. The man appeared at Portsmouth magistrates' court on June 16. He was remanded in custody and is no longer at the hotel. Migrants dodge tear gas in sprint across beach to reach boats bound for Britain No statement was issued about the case but Portsmouth City Council officials were briefed privately. The Sun understands councillors were warned not to speak about the suspect's housing, with one council officer raising fears about 'community tension' if it was known. Advertisement Another senior official privately urged Portsmouth Independents Party leader Cllr George Madgwick not to share 'privileged confidential information' after he took to social media to express his frustration. 4 Reform leader Nigel Farage has called for dismissals of the council officials involved Credit: Getty 4 Robert Jenrick MP has warned the 'perception of a migrant cover-up' was growing Credit: Getty Cllr Madgwick said: 'This is precisely why the public don't trust politicians and public bodies: things are hidden that should be disclosed. Advertisement Anyone involved in any form of cover-up from disclosure to the public should question their role in a publicly funded position.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said last night: 'The council officials who hid the truth about these serious allegations should immediately face the sack. "Decent people are getting angrier every day.' Portsmouth City Council effectively admitted it chose not to go public, saying it was informed of the charge ahead of the court hearing but left public statements to police. Advertisement A spokesman said: 'We knew the Home Office accommodation link would become public knowledge through the court proceedings and, based on events elsewhere in the country, were conscious there may be community tensions related to it.' Girl 'sex ordeal' EXCLUSIVE By Alex Diaz A MIGRANT living at an asylum seeker hotel raped a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, a court heard. Mohammed Akbari, 23, allegedly attacked her in bushes after they arranged to go to a park, having first met at a hospital. The teen felt dizzy after Akbari, from Iran, gave her an alcoholic drink, Uxbridge magistrates' court heard. She allegedly told him to stop the assault, in Harmondsworth, West London, on June 9. He claims she consented to sex. Akbari arrived in the UK last year, claiming he is Christian and at risk in Iran. He is in custody and will return to court on July 18. Two similar cases also saw no public statements issued about the suspects' links to asylum housing. One involved a 27-year-old man staying at a hotel in Kensington, West London. He faces multiple charges over a serious sex attack, including rape and attempted rape. Advertisement He pleaded not guilty on June 2 and was remanded in custody before a trial in October. In Manchester , a Jordanian with an asylum claim under way was charged with rape while living at a Home Office-contracted hotel. He appeared at Tameside magistrates' court last month and was remanded in custody until a crown court hearing next week. The man, 34, has yet to enter a plea. Meanwhile, an asylum seeker in a hotel in Yorkshire was charged with raping a girl aged 13 to 15 last Boxing Day. 4 There have been multiple assaults involving asylum seekers across the UK Credit: Alamy Advertisement Last night the Government said: 'We have taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum.' Our revelations come after an illegal migrant was jailed for raping a girl of 15, amid claims he did not understand 'cultural differences'. Afghan national Sadeq Nikzad, 29, pounced on the teen in Falkirk in October 2023. Defence counsel Janice Green told the High Court in Livingston there was a 'cultural barrier' with Nikzad's home nation where There is no suggestion any of the accused in the three latest rape cases are linked to Advertisement But the issue of alleged criminality by illegal arrivals was raised in an official report this week. A damning review by Dame Louise Casey found they are involved in a 'significant proportion' of live police investigations into child sex grooming gangs. The report found police and council leaders covered up the scale of Asian grooming gangs since concerns were first raised in 2009 as they feared being called racist or raising community tensions. Additional reporting: RICHARD MORIARTY 'Axe hate team' By Martina Bet LABOUR'S work on a definition of Islamophobia threatens to shut down efforts to tackle grooming gangs, a report has warned. The party's working group on anti-Muslim hate should be suspended immediately until after the new inquiry into the scandal, think tank Policy Exchange says. Report co-author Sir John Jenkins said a definition would be an 'undeniable act of two-tier policy'. The group says even a non-binding definition risks silencing victims. It comes days after Baroness Casey's report said officials failed to mention that perpetrators were Asian for fear of appearing racist.
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Rape charge against asylum seeker in taxpayer-funded hotel kept quiet to avoid inflaming ‘community tension in cover up'
Nigel Farage has demanded the council officials who hid the truth face the sack 'RAPE COVER-UP' Rape charge against asylum seeker in taxpayer-funded hotel kept quiet to avoid inflaming 'community tension in cover up' A RAPE charge against a man staying in an asylum hotel was kept quiet — as officials feared inflaming 'community tension'. There were also two other rape cases where it was not disclosed that the suspects were in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels. Advertisement 4 Council officials recommended rape charges against an asylum seeker living at a taxpayer-funded hotel be kept quiet Credit: Darren Fletcher Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the 'perception of a migrant cover-up' was growing. He went on: 'The illegal small-boat crossings are a national security emergency. "We've seen terrorism, murders and rapes from those who've come here illegally. It's outrageous. 'Women in towns with asylum hotels shouldn't have to live in fear. Advertisement READ MORE ON ASYLUM SEEKERS BOUND FOR BRITAIN Speaking French & German… migrants booted out of EU heading to Britain The authorities must trust the public with the truth and act to protect them.' The rape suspects were all housed in Home Office-funded accommodation in Portsmouth, London and Manchester. At Portsmouth, the alleged rape was followed by a concerted effort to keep secret the suspect's link to an asylum hotel. He was charged with rape and voyeurism after the alleged attack on a woman on June 11. Advertisement Police confirmed to The Sun he had been at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, used to house asylum seekers. The man appeared at Portsmouth magistrates' court on June 16. He was remanded in custody and is no longer at the hotel. Migrants dodge tear gas in sprint across beach to reach boats bound for Britain No statement was issued about the case but Portsmouth City Council officials were briefed privately. The Sun understands councillors were warned not to speak about the suspect's housing, with one council officer raising fears about 'community tension' if it was known. Advertisement Another senior official privately urged Portsmouth Independents Party leader Cllr George Madgwick not to share 'privileged confidential information' after he took to social media to express his frustration. 4 Reform leader Nigel Farage has called for dismissals of the council officials involved Credit: Getty 4 Robert Jenrick MP has warned the 'perception of a migrant cover-up' was growing Credit: Getty Cllr Madgwick said: 'This is precisely why the public don't trust politicians and public bodies: things are hidden that should be disclosed. Advertisement Anyone involved in any form of cover-up from disclosure to the public should question their role in a publicly funded position.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said last night: 'The council officials who hid the truth about these serious allegations should immediately face the sack. "Decent people are getting angrier every day.' Portsmouth City Council effectively admitted it chose not to go public, saying it was informed of the charge ahead of the court hearing but left public statements to police. Advertisement A spokesman said: 'We knew the Home Office accommodation link would become public knowledge through the court proceedings and, based on events elsewhere in the country, were conscious there may be community tensions related to it.' Girl 'sex ordeal' EXCLUSIVE By Alex Diaz A MIGRANT living at an asylum seeker hotel raped a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, a court heard. Mohammed Akbari, 23, allegedly attacked her in bushes after they arranged to go to a park, having first met at a hospital. The teen felt dizzy after Akbari, from Iran, gave her an alcoholic drink, Uxbridge magistrates' court heard. She allegedly told him to stop the assault, in Harmondsworth, West London, on June 9. He claims she consented to sex. Akbari arrived in the UK last year, claiming he is Christian and at risk in Iran. He is in custody and will return to court on July 18. Two similar cases also saw no public statements issued about the suspects' links to asylum housing. One involved a 27-year-old man staying at a hotel in Kensington, West London. He faces multiple charges over a serious sex attack, including rape and attempted rape. Advertisement He pleaded not guilty on June 2 and was remanded in custody before a trial in October. In Manchester, a Jordanian with an asylum claim under way was charged with rape while living at a Home Office-contracted hotel. He appeared at Tameside magistrates' court last month and was remanded in custody until a crown court hearing next week. The man, 34, has yet to enter a plea. Meanwhile, an asylum seeker in a hotel in Yorkshire was charged with raping a girl aged 13 to 15 last Boxing Day. 4 There have been multiple assaults involving asylum seekers across the UK Credit: Alamy Advertisement Last night the Government said: 'We have taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum.' Our revelations come after an illegal migrant was jailed for raping a girl of 15, amid claims he did not understand 'cultural differences'. Afghan national Sadeq Nikzad, 29, pounced on the teen in Falkirk in October 2023. Defence counsel Janice Green told the High Court in Livingston there was a 'cultural barrier' with Nikzad's home nation where child marriage is common. There is no suggestion any of the accused in the three latest rape cases are linked to grooming gangs. Advertisement But the issue of alleged criminality by illegal arrivals was raised in an official report this week. A damning review by Dame Louise Casey found they are involved in a 'significant proportion' of live police investigations into child sex grooming gangs. The report found police and council leaders covered up the scale of Asian grooming gangs since concerns were first raised in 2009 as they feared being called racist or raising community tensions. Additional reporting: RICHARD MORIARTY
Glasgow Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Labour to end hotels for asylum seekers says Rachel Reeves
The chancellor announced the plan today in the Spending Review, She said putting asylum seekers up in hotels was a costly policy and her plan would save £1billion. Reeves told the House of Commons the government would 'End the use of hotels for asylum seekers by the end of this parliament". She said that to achieve it, more money will be invested in cutting the asylum backlog and ensuring more hearings took place. She did not state where asylum seekers would be housed instead. Glasgow has been home to thousands of asylum seekers, under the UK dispersal programme and many have been housed in hotels in the city. The city takes in more than nine out of ten asylum seekers in Scotland. The city council has asked the government to pause sending more asylum seekers to the city as it places unbearable pressure on public services. The pressure comes as more people are pushed through the process, leading to a rise in homelessness, as hundreds become homeless when they are given leave to remain. People are moved out of their Home Office-funded asylum seeker accommodation, and then they need to find their own housing. Many end up homeless and have to be put up by the council in temporary accommodation. More than half of the people in temporary accommodation in Glasgow are refugees. There are currently 4887 people with refugee status in Glasgow in temporary accommodation out of a total 8279 people. In hotels, the picture is similar. Of the 1972 people in 40 hotels and B&Bs for homeless people, 1417 are refugees. The chancellor's statement only applies to asylum seekers in hotels and not refugees. Glasgow City Council has said the policy of the previous, Conservative, UK Government to speed up hearings and get more people through the asylum process led to the housing emergency in the city.
