London Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Armoured & Luxury

London’s £3 BILLION embassy sell-off bonanza

September 2, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A sell-off of central London embassies will create £3 billion of super-prime homes in the most exclusive streets in the capital.

Twenty diplomatic missions and residences have been prepared for sale in the last six months. More are in the pipeline as foreign governments realise they are “sitting on a gold mine”.

Almost all the diplomatic properties are being earmarked for conversion into apartments to meet the demand from wealthy buyers, mainly foreign, in areas such as Kensington, Belgravia and Holland Park. The former European Council of Foreign Relations building on Old Queen Street near St James’s Park was sold this week to developer Galliard Homes for £21.5 million.The eight-story building will continue to house the ECFR until 2015 but will then be converted into 35 apartments that could be worth £100million.

Galliard sales director David Galman said: “These diplomatic buildings were built to impress so they tend to have grand facades, opulent foyers and spacious interiors which are ideal for conversion into large luxurious homes.”

Fake Bomb Detector maker Jailed for 7 Years

August 22, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A businessman who sold fake bomb detectors around the world has been jailed for seven years.

The devices made by Gary Bolton, 47, were simply boxes with handles and antennae, the Old Bailey heard.

The prosecution said he sold them for up to £10,000 each, claiming they could detect explosives. The trial heard the firm had a £3m annual turnover selling the homemade devices.

Bolton, of Redshank Road, Chatham, Kent, had denied two charges of fraud.

As he passed sentence, Judge Richard Hone QC described the equipment as “useless” and “dross” and said Bolton had damaged the reputation of British trade abroad.

David Miranda Heathrow detained at Heathrow

August 22, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

No 10 was “kept abreast” of the decision to detain David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, a spokesman has said.

Mr Miranda was held at Heathrow for nine hours on Sunday, while in transit from Germany to Brazil.

He has launched a legal challenge over the police’s use of anti-terror laws to detain him and seize his property.

But Home Secretary Theresa May said the police must act if someone had “highly sensitive stolen information”.

Mr Miranda, a 28-year-old Brazilian national, was held at Heathrow on his way from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro where he lives with Mr Greenwald. The Guardian said he had been carrying “journalistic materials” but was not an employee of the newspaper.

Delta Airlines Flight Circles Over England To Us Up Fuel Before Emergency Landing

August 8, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

An airliner flying from France to the USA which developed a technical fault and circled over the East of England has landed safely.

The Delta Airlines Airbus left Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris at 11:50 BST on route to Detroit, but was unable to retract its wing flaps.

Soon after take-off, flight DAL99 began circling above the skies of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire at 25,000ft (7,620m).

After using up fuel, the plane landed at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

The flight had 298 passengers and 11 crew members on board.

A spokeswoman from Delta Airlines said: “Once on the ground, the aircraft will be inspected and the next step will be determined.”

Fire Safety Expert Labels Illegal Hostel Potential Death Trap

August 8, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

A fire safety expert has described an illegal hostel in east London as a “potential death trap” following a BBC London investigation.

The hostel is in a former Victorian factory within the well-known artists’ community at Cable Street Studios in Limehouse, east London.

At least 20 sleep in a commercial unit that is “unfit for residential use”.

Serious health and safety concerns were raised over gas canisters for cooking and cramped conditions.

The unit was mainly being used by migrants from Bangladesh who BBC London was told were paying up to £10 a night.

One man who wished to remain anonymous said he did not like living there, but felt he had no choice – as he had no job and the council could not provide him with accommodation.