Latest news with #seriouscrime
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- RNZ News
NSW Police gangs boss sends message to wannabe teenage assassins
Superintendent Box says juveniles are willing to take part in serious crime for financial gain. Photo: ABC / Jack Ailwood By Lia Harris , ABC In more than 30 years on the NSW Police force, Detective Superintendent Jason Box has never seen a Sydney gangland war like this one. "I've never seen the willingness of juveniles to participate in such serious crime ... They're actively looking for opportunities to partake in this serious crime for financial gain, so that is concerning," Box said. As the head of Taskforce Falcon, which was formed earlier this year to combat the escalating underworld conflict across Sydney, Box told ABC News his team was working around the clock to end the violence. "This can't continue, people in the community being hurt for no reason, innocent persons being injured or killed, and young juveniles being utilised as pawns in this whole internal conflict," he said. "I hope this ceases sooner than later, and I hope we have an impact and an influence on that." There have been at least 14 suspected gangland shootings and stabbings across Sydney in the past four months, with several innocent people caught in the crossfire. Last month, two masked gunmen stormed an Auburn kebab shop in broad daylight and fired a hail of bullets in an attempt to kill a Sydney underworld figure, hitting and injuring an innocent employee. Taskforce Falcon is also investigating a series of gangland attacks dating back to December last year, including the shooting murder of 31-year-old David Khau at Canley Heights. "It's of great concern ... We've arrested a 15-year-old male who (allegedly) fired over 40 shots into two homes, and in one of those it just missed a sleeping five-year-old by centimetres," Box said. Shootings and a stabbing investigated by NSW Police under Taskforce Falcon. Photo: ABC / NSW police Since the taskforce's inception, more than 80 people have been arrested and more than 200 charges laid. To disrupt the violence, investigators have now carried out more than 2000 "taskings", including intelligence gathering, bail checks, patrolling hotspot areas, searching for suspicious cars and firearms prohibition enforcement checks. They have seized 15 guns and 50 vehicles they believe were staged and ready to be used in violent crimes. "We've recovered firearms, jerry cans, face coverings, locations, maps where offences were going to occur," Superintendent Box said. At least six underage teenagers have so far been charged by the taskforce for their alleged involvement in violent crimes, and police fear more youths are being recruited via encrypted apps and word of mouth. Box said organised crime groups were contracting young, inexperienced street gang members to carry out the attacks to ensure it can't be traced back to them. "They're expendable, these juveniles; the amount that they pay them is minimal compared to what they'd normally pay for these types of acts to be done. In reality, the task for a lot of them is to kill somebody," he said. "You're giving firearms to 14, 15-year-old kids ... so there's always the risk that they're going to panic, they're going to do things wrong. There's always a great concern that there will be error in their judgement." As his detectives work to prevent more attacks, Box had a message for any youths who may be in over their heads. "If they've been involved and have been captured in some type of organised criminal activity and they've realised that it's beyond them, that this is a lot bigger than they thought, the repercussions are enormous, their personal safety and that of their family is at risk, they can come forward and see us ... we'll do what we can to protect them," he said. "Going into custody is one thing, but being held accountable for their actions is something else, and it might not only be the courts, it might be the people that they've tried to harm. "There's a long reach of these people, these organised crime networks in jails and areas of custody, so there's nowhere that they're going to be protected if they're committing offences against these serious criminals; they really need to consider what they're doing." - ABC
BBC News
18-07-2025
- BBC News
Illegal cigarettes and vapes worth £100k seized in Preston
More than £100,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes have been seized as part of an operation to tackle serious and organised Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs officers raided five storage units around the Ribbleton and Deepdale areas of Preston, one of the units, illegal vapes worth about £5,000 were seized, in another, 171,000 packs of illegal cigarettes were found, which, if sold as genuine, would be worth about £100,000, Lancashire Police force said the cigarettes and vapes could "contain harmful chemicals" which could lead to people becoming "very unwell". Insp Dave Byrne said it was a "successful operation" which had meant the items were "taken off the streets and are no longer at risk of getting into the hands of children"."We have unfortunately seen cases where people have become very unwell, sometimes even hospitalised, due to the use of illegal vapes so we will continue to work with our partners to ensure they are not able to cause harm," he Roberts of Lancashire County Council, said: "It is very important that we take the strongest possible action against firms who put the health of Lancashire's residents at risk." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
NCA freezes £90m of London property linked to former Bangladesh regime
The UK's serious and organised crime agency has frozen almost £90m of luxury London property belonging to two men linked to the deposed ruler of Bangladesh. In a development that comes after mounting pressure on the UK to assist Bangladesh in tracing assets linked to the former regime, the National Crime Agency (NCA) obtained nine freezing orders, official records show. The orders prevent Ahmed Shayan Rahman and his cousin, Ahmed Shahryar Rahman, from selling property, including apartments in London's Grosvenor Square. The pair were named in a Guardian investigation into UK assets owned by allies of the Bangladesh's former autocratic ruler, Sheikh Hasina. All properties are owned via companies in the British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man or Jersey, according to Companies House records, and were acquired for prices ranging from £1.2m to £35.5m. The Rahmans are the son and nephew, respectively, of Salman F Rahman, a wealthy businessman who was arrested while allegedly attempting to flee during the student-led revolution that toppled Sheikh Hasina last year. Salman F Rahman, who is facing corruption charges in Bangladesh, was Hasina's adviser on private industry and investment and was seen by many in the country as the most influential figure in the regime. His son and nephew's properties featured in a joint investigation between the Guardian and the campaign group Transparency International last year, which revealed £400m worth of property owned by allies of Sheikh Hasina. The properties frozen by the NCA include one in Gresham Gardens, north London. Sheikh Rehana, who is Sheikh Hasina's sister and also the mother of the former UK City minister Tulip Siddiq, has lived at the property, according to the Financial Times, which first reported freezing orders on two of the properties, bought for £7.7m. Duncan Hames, the director of policy at Transparency International UK, said: 'We urge UK law enforcement to continue their inquiries and to freeze all suspect assets without delay.' An NCA spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that the NCA has secured freezing orders against a number of properties as part of an ongoing civil investigation.' Investigations by the interim government of Bangladesh into the former regime have also resulted in authorities there issuing an arrest warrant for Tulip Siddiq, who stepped back as City minister in the light of the allegations. She has denied any wrongdoing. The Guardian has approached lawyers for the Rahmans and Beximco, the family corporate empire founded by Salman Rahman, for comment. A spokesperson for Ahmed Shayan Rahman earlier told the FT: 'Our client denies any involvement in any alleged wrongdoing in the strongest possible terms. He will of course engage with any investigation which takes place in the UK.' They added: 'It is well known that there is political upheaval in Bangladesh, where numerous allegations are being made against many hundreds of individuals. We would expect the UK authorities to take this into consideration.'
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Irish Times
New investigation into killing of Clodagh Hawe and her children finds missed evidence
A new investigation into the killing of Clodagh Hawe and her three children by her husband in Co Cavan in 2016 has found the initial inquiry mishandled CCTV evidence and missed digital evidence in the case. A garda review has uncovered the new information not known at the time of the inquests into their deaths in 2017 . The serious crime review team - or Garda cold case - investigation was established in 2019 and the family of Ms Hawe have been briefed on its findings. It concluded the initial inquiry also conducted some interviews without the use of interviewers trained to the highest standard for an investigation into murders. READ MORE In addition a phone believed to be owned by Alan Hawe, that was not discovered during the first inquiry, was found. It was used to access pornography, including material considered under law as child abuse imagery. The details are set out in a new book titled Deadly Silence, by Ms Hawe's sister Jacqueline Connolly, which was published this week. Ms Connolly is very critical of the initial Garda investigation into the killings of Ms Hawe (39) and her sons Liam (13), Niall (11) and Ryan (6), with the subsequent serious crime review team examination finding a series of shortcomings with that first inquiry. [ Garda Commissioner job advertised, candidates from non-policing backgrounds eligible Opens in new window ] Ms Connolly believes the report drawn up by the serious crime review team, which the family was not given a copy of but were briefed on in 2024, should be published so society can learn more about such cases. In reply to queries, Garda Headquarters said that 'in general' those reports are not published 'for operational reasons'. However, it said the findings of reviews conducted by the Garda's serious crime review team 'are incorporated into senior investigative training'. The initial Garda investigation team compiled their findings for the Coroner's inquest process. A consultant forensic psychiatrist told the inquest he believed Alan Hawe had 'a long-standing depressive illness with anxiety and somatic concerns'. This progressed 'to a severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms'. However, the inquest process is only designed to conclude how people died, or were killed, rather than establishing motives for homicides. The 2017 Hawe family inquest concluded Mrs Hawe and her sons were unlawfully killed while Alan Hawe had died by suicide. Neither the initial Garda investigation, nor the subsequent Garda review, reached any conclusions around why Alan Hawe killed his family. Garda investigations progress in a manner that establishes how killings are carried out, and gathers proof about who was responsible. Often in murder investigations carried out by the Garda, motives are not established or are not raised as a part of the prosecution's evidence in cases that go to the courts. The murders and suicide occurred at their home in Ballyjamesduff the night before school teacher Alan Hawe (40), his wife Clodagh - who was also a teacher - and their children were due to start the new school year.
