Boris Johnson said bus crime had gone down by 18% since he took office.

Boris Johnson said bus crime had gone down by 18% since he took office. The mayor revealed the figures as he unveiled the 32nd and final team in Brixton in south London. The units are made up of a sergeant, a constable and seven police community support officers (PCSOs) who patrol bus stations and routes.

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Posted in: Brixton in south London.

KGM Motor Insurance is upping the fight against spurious insurance claims with the appointment of a fraud manager.

KGM Motor Insurance is upping the fight against spurious insurance claims with the appointment of a fraud manager.David Wells’ role at the specialist motor insurer involves both strategic and operational aspects, developing and overseeing “rigorous fraud and financial crime management processes” across the business.Mr Wells is moving from Highway Insurance, where he has spent the past six years as special projects manager for fraud, with a particular remit to target organised fraud.
KGM’s Active Underwriter, Colin Hart, comments: “This is a key appointment for us, we are very pleased to have David on-board. He has exactly the skills and experience we are looking for in this role.”Last month, the Insurance Fraud Bureau reported that insurers are winning the battle against “crash for cash” fraudsters.
The Bureau has been working jointly with Police forces across the UK to disrupt the actions of criminal gangs involved; it currently has 25 active joint Police operations spread across 13 Police forces.Particular areas showing improvement include Luton, East London, Harrow and Walsall.

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Posted in: KGM Motor Insurance

The Scots may stop reporting crimes unless police sort out their call handling system.

The Scots may stop reporting crimes unless police sort out their call handling system.The claim comes from Glasgow MSP Paul Martin who said he has been inundated with complaints about the central contact centre from people wanting to report crime.
He said he is concerned that people are reporting a delay in answering and lack of local knowledge about locations and crime patterns in the area.Mr Martin, MSP for Springburn, said: "I tell people all the time to call the police and report crime but they are telling me it is a waste of time.

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Posted in: Glasgow MSP Paul Martin

Stephen Mallon surrounded by a gang of 30 men and hurled off a 25ft balcony.

Stephen Mallon, 49, was pelted with bottles, glasses and other missiles after going to the aid of his two teenage sons outside a village bar.He was then surrounded by the mob and hurled off a 25ft balcony.Mr Mallon, from Bournemouth, was yesterday in a coma at a hospital in Malaga, with his distraught wife Teresa at his bedside.
The attack happened in Competa, an hour from the Costa del Sol, where the family has had a holiday home for six years.One of the sons had his nose broken in the violence, while the other suffered a broken arm.A family member said: "They were set upon by a gang of 30 men because they were English."

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Posted in: Competa

1,400 luxury homes in El Paraíso

An agreement was due to be signed in Estepona this Monday which will allow the Saudi royal family to go ahead with a project to build 1,400 luxury properties in the area of El Paraíso.La Opinión de Málaga reports it as a project previously approved by the Town Hall, but which was put on hold last June with the arrests in the Astapa corruption case. Some amendments have been made since then, including, at the request of the Partido Popular, a new road to connect the new urbanisation with other areas nearby. The Saudi royal family have also accepted to cede 30,000 square metres of land for public facilities.The paper said work could start at the beginning of next year, bringing much-needed employment in the local construction sector.

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Posted in: Saudi royal family

British man accused by the business owner of stealing a barrel of beer worth 600 €.

British man named by Ideal newspaper as Leslie James B. has been arrested by the Almería Civil Guard for a spate of thefts from a business in Turre and selling the stolen items on to beach restaurants in Mojácar. He’s accused, according to Europa Press, of passing off cakes he allegedly stole from the shop as ones he had made himself.He was caught red-handed gaining access to the premises via a terrace and leaving with his haul. The suspect is reported to have a previous record for theft, and is also accused by the business owner of stealing a barrel of beer worth 600 €.

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Posted in: Mojácar

Body found in the Alicante mountains where Michael Egglestone disappeared

Body found in the Alicante mountains where a British holidaymaker disappeared at the end of May is not believed to be that of the missing man, the UK Northern Echo reports this Thursday. The newspaper spoke to residents of Benichembla, where Michael Egglestone was staying when he disappeared, who said they had been told by the Guardia Civil that the body found on the mountains had not yet been identified. The newspaper said it’s believed to be a local man, and was being transferred for autopsy in Dénia on Wednesday night.52 year old ex soldier, Michael Leslie Eggleston, was last seen on 31st May when he set off on a hiking trip from Benichembla, a village where almost half the 750 or so inhabitants are foreign residents. He’s reported to be an experienced walker and set off well-prepared for the trip. A Civil Guard search has so far failed to find any trace of him and his wife, Janice, returned home to Nettlesworth, in the North East, this Wednesday night. She’s believed to have helped in the search for her missing husband, the paper said.The couple have two children and are reported to have been married for around 10 years.

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Posted in: Benichembla

Top-level prostitution in Elche

Residents of a building in Elche, only constructed 18 months ago, say they have been fighting top-level prostitution in the block for the past five months.It’s because one of the flats on the fifth floor has become a luxury prostitution venue, and sees a never ending parade of prostitutes and their clients. The residents say they often have to put up with ‘unpleasant comments’ and so now they have started to protest by putting banners over their balconies saying ‘whores out’ and even hanging up some blow-up dolls. They have spent 19,000 € on a new video camera security system and a private guard, in an effort to intimidate possible clients heading for the 5th floor. One of the people thought to have rented the premises concerned told Público newspaper that they are doing no damage and bother nobody. 'When a client comes they ring the bell and the door opens, no more', and that they only operate from 11am to 11pm.

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Posted in: Top-level prostitution in Elche

Michael Leslie Eggleston went missing in the Alicante village of Benigembla a week ago

Guardia Civil has been continuing its search for the 54 year old British hiker who went missing in the Alicante village of Benigembla a week ago.Ex Soldier, Michael Leslie Eggleston, has not been seen since last Sunday when he went out hiking.
His wife reported his disappearance on Tuesday, but so far the search, using mountain teams and a helicopter, has revealed nothing. It is concentrated in the mountain areas of La Solana and La Laguna.Benigembla is a village with some 750 residents, 45% of them are foreign residents, mostly from the EU.

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Posted in: Benigembla