News
'Daniel Khalife recaptured in west London after prison escape'
A former soldier who absconded from a prison kitchen by strapping himself to the underside of a delivery van has been recaptured. Daniel Abed Khalife, 21, was arrested in Chiswick, west London, on Saturday having gone missing in his cook’s uniform from HMP Wandsworth in London on Wednesday morning. His escape sparked a major police hunt involving 150 counter-terrorism officers, with ports and airports placed on alert and some passengers facing delays as extra checks were carried out. Officers also urgently tried to establish whether the 21-year-old had help fleeing from HMP Wandsworth... Khalife was being held at the category B prison awaiting trial for allegedly planting a fake bomb and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK. He has denied the three charges against him...
'Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas to be illegal by end of year'
Laughing gas will be categorised as a class C drug and made illegal by the end of the year, the UK government has announced. Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as NOS, will carry a sentence of up to two years in prison. Laughing gas is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs by 16 to 24-year-olds. Heavy use can lead to a range of illnesses including nerve-related symptoms. Supply of nitrous oxide for recreational use is currently banned - but possession is not.
The government initially announced its plan to ban nitrous oxide earlier this year as part of a plan to tackle anti-social behaviour, but on Tuesday set out new details of the law change. It said those found in unlawful possession of the drug could face up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine, with up to 14 years for supply or production. However, there will be exemptions for legitimate uses of nitrous oxide, for example in medical or catering industries. The gas is commonly used as a painkiller and for producing whipped cream in cooking...
'Barrister Mahmood takes over Labour’s justice team'
Barrister and Keir Starmer loyalist Shabana Mahmood MP has been named as shadow justice secretary in the Labour reshuffle announced ahead of tomorrow's reopening of the political season. She replaces former Law Society employee Steven Reed MP, who had been shadow justice secretary since 2021. Reed becomes shadow Defra secretary in Labour's new team. Emily Thornberry MP remains in place as shadow attorney general...
'Russian Wagner Group declared terrorists'
The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has today (6 September) laid before Parliament a draft order to proscribe Wagner Group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Wagner Group is a proxy military force of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which operates across the globe. Once agreed, the order will come into force on 13 September, making it a criminal offence to belong to, encourage support for, assist or use the logo of that group. Certain proscription offences can be punishable by up to 14 years in prison, which can be handed down alongside or in place of a fine. Wagner’s assets can also be categorised as terrorist property and seized...
'Serious flaws in ‘conveyor belt’ court system used to prosecute Londoners exposed in Standard investigation'
A Standard investigation exposes serious flaws in behind-closed-doors cases heard in just matter of minutes... The single justice procedure was deployed in the pandemic for criminal cases against tens of thousands of people accused of breaking lockdown. But a forensic inspection of this courts system — branded “conveyor belt” justice — reveals evidence of magistrates convicting and fining defendants in less than a minute, key evidence missing or overlooked, and thousands of prosecutions conducted entirely in secret. New questions are raised today after Covid fines of £15,000 handed to London businesses in unlawful prosecutions were cancelled thanks to a Standard investigation...