Extra Funding Given To Police For Knife Crime Epidemic

March 13, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The government has agreed to give an extra £100m to the police to help them tackle a knife crime "epidemic" in England and Wales.

The money will mainly go to the seven forces where violence is highest. But the fund falls short of the £200m to £300m requested by police chiefs through the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) last week.

Chancellor Philip Hammond initially said police forces must use their existing budgets to tackle knife crime.

IRA Link To Explosive Devices Sent To Airports And Train Station

March 12, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Detectives investigating devices sent to addresses in London and Glasgow have said a claim of responsibility has been made in the name of the "IRA".

The Met and Police Scotland said similar packages were sent in the past by dissident Northern Ireland groups. Officers also revealed that one package may be unaccounted for.

The devices arrived on 5 and 6 March at Waterloo Station, buildings near Heathrow Airport and London City Airport and the University of Glasgow.

Prolific Serial Killer Dies

March 11, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Angus Sinclair, one of Scotland's most notorious murderers, has died at the age of 73.

Kevin Scott, the brother of one of the murder victims, described the serial killer as a "monster".

Sinclair was jailed for a minimum of 37 years after being found guilty of murdering Helen Scott and her friend Christine Eadie. Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr Scott said: "He was a monster. To treat innocent people the way he did was just evil. You would need to be a beast to commit those crimes. "I would have wanted him to live longer to serve more of the 37 year sentence, as opposed to getting the easy way out.

Humans Still Control Armed Robots US Army Reports

March 11, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Humans will always make the final decision on whether armed robots can shoot, the US Department of Defense has said.

The statement comes as plans emerge for gun platforms that can choose their own targets on the battlefield. The plans seek to upgrade existing aiming systems, using developments in machine intelligence.

The US said rules governing armed robots still stood and humans would retain the power to veto their actions.

Many Injured In Indian Grenade Attack

March 8, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Indian police have arrested an alleged member of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group after a grenade attack killed at least two people and injured more than 30 others.

The attack took place on Thursday in a bus station in the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Last month a suicide attack against security forces triggered cross-border air strikes between India and Pakistan. Hizbul Mujahideen has said it was not behind Thursday's attack. But police told BBC Urdu that the accused, Yasir Javed Bhat, had confessed. He is a Kashmiri and reported to be in his 20s.

Hundreds Of IS Militants Captured Trying To Escape Syria

March 7, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

About 400 Islamic State militants have been captured trying to escape the last piece of land the group holds in Syria, a US-backed militia says.

A Syrian Democratic Forces commander said the jihadists were caught overnight as they attempted to slip out of Baghuz with the help of smugglers. Hundreds of others have surrendered and been evacuated from the village with thousands of civilians in recent days.

Home Secretary Meets Police Chief On Knife Crime

March 6, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has met police chiefs from seven forces most affected by violent crime.

The meeting followed a spate of fatal teen stabbings which has prompted debate about falling police numbers.

Durham's Chief Constable Mike Barton said he was "heartened" by the meeting while the chief constable of Merseyside Police said the talks were "very good".

Satellite Images Suggest North Korea Restoring Rocket Site

March 6, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

New satellite images of North Korea suggest it is restoring a rocket launch site it had pledged to dismantle, say analysts.

The images were taken two days after talks between the leaders of the US and North Korea ended without them reaching a deal on denuclearisation.

The Tongchang-ri site has been used for satellite launches and engine testing, never for ballistic missile launches. Work to dismantle it began last year but stopped as the US talks stalled. The pledge to dismantle it had been seen as a confidence-building measure between Pyongyang and Washington.

Explosives Sent to Airports & Train Station

March 5, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

Counter-terror police are investigating three packages containing explosives found at Heathrow Airport, London City Airport and Waterloo station.

The "small improvised explosive devices" were found in A4 postal bags, the Metropolitan Police said.

The Met's Counter Terrorism Command is treating it as a "linked series" and "keeping an open mind regarding motives". No-one has been hurt, the force added.

The Compass Centre in Heathrow's grounds was evacuated after a package was reported to police at about 09:55 GMT.

The package has since been "made safe", the Met said.

Home Secretary Says Knife Crime Can't Go On

March 4, 2019 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The home secretary has condemned the "senseless violence" that has seen a rise in the number of teenagers being stabbed to death across the UK.

Sajid Javid was speaking after the murders of a 17-year-old girl in east London and a boy, also aged 17, in Greater Manchester at the weekend. He will meet police chiefs on Wednesday to look at ways to combat violence.

Figures show the number of children in England aged 16 and under being stabbed rose by 93% between 2016 and 2018.